Data
- Loudoun County to Weigh Temporary Pause on New Data Center Applications
Supervisors will review staff plans for a development freeze while rewriting standards and ending remaining by-right grandfathering.
- Prince William Planners Recommend Ending By-Right Data Centers
The Planning Commission backed a smaller opportunity overlay, a 120-day grace period and a 500-foot buffer before a Sept. 22 board hearing.
- Roanoke Says May Data Breach Started With Phishing Email
The city locked a compromised account within a day but did not disclose how many residents may have had personal data exposed.
- Loudoun County to Consider Data Center Pause, Removing By-Right Grandfather Clause
A view of a data center in Loudoun County next to Chick Ford & Ryan Bickel Fields.
- Virginia Lawmakers Move Closer to Regulating Self-Driving Vehicles
Virginia lawmakers are considering regulations to allow for autonomous commercial vehicles, which could shift companies from using gas to electric, self-driving vehicles.
- Virginia’s Medical Marijuana Program Logs Big Sales, but Patient Concerns Linger
Cannabis leaves.
- Lynchburg Transit Board to Vote on Suspending Sunday Service
At their monthly meeting, the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company board of directors will decide on Wednesday whether or not to suspend Sunday service due to a shortage of drivers.
- Valley Link Transmission Line Threatens Generational Farm in Orange County
Michael Carter Jr.
- Lynchburg Expands Child Protective Services with Kinship Care and Substance Use Experts
Five new positions in Lynchburg’s human services department aim to keep children out of the foster care system and provide more support to families already in it.
- Virginia lawmakers prepare for a future filled with highly automated aircraft
Virginia lawmakers are aiming sky high as they turn their attention to the future of “advanced air mobility.”
- Destiny LeVere Bolling House Bill 427 Tracks Student Parents in Higher Education
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia General Assembly delivered a strong show of unity on Monday, March 2, 2026, when both chambers passed House Bill 427 with unanimous votes, advancing a measure aimed at enhancing data collection on student parents within the state’s higher education system. Sponsored by Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling as the chief patron,
- Kelly Convirs-Fowler House Bill 189 on Standards of Learning Grade Weight Continued in Senate
RICHMOND, Va. – A bill seeking to eliminate the requirement that Standards of Learning test scores count toward at least 10 percent of final course grades for students in grades seven through 12 faced a significant setback in the Virginia Senate this week. House Bill 189, introduced by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler, passed the House of
- Dan Helmer House Bill 184 All-Payer Claims Database Evaluation Passes Senate
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Senate gave unanimous approval to House Bill 184 on March 4, 2026, passing the measure with a 40-0 block vote after adopting a substitute from the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee. The legislation directs the Virginia Department of Health, in consultation with Virginia Health Information, to conduct a comprehensive evaluation
- As sports betting surges, Virginia weighs how to curb gambling harms
State Sen. Mike Jones, D-Richmond, left, and Dr.
- Louise Lucas and Don Scott Clash as Virginia Budget Talks Stall Over Data Center Tax Breaks
With just days remaining in the 2026 legislative session, Virginia lawmakers are running out of time to reach agreement on a new two-year state budget, even as Democrats control the governor’s office and both chambers of the General Assembly. As of Wednesday afternoon, budget con
- Louise Lucas Presses Data Center Tax Repeal After Virginia Senate Vote
RICHMOND (VA) (AP). Nearly 20 years ago, Virginia offered tax breaks to tech companies on software and equipment.
- Loudoun County Supervisors Hear Call to Fix Childcare Benefits Cliff
The speaker described a scenario involving a mother named Tiffany, who, despite diligent efforts including extra work hours, received a raise that disqualified her from subsidies. This led to unaffordable childcare costs, forcing potential withdrawal from the workforce.
- David Reid Measure to Add a Judge in Loudoun and Fauquier's Twentieth Circuit Advances
RICHMOND, VA – With the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session in its final weeks, a key provision to increase the number of judges in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit has gained significant traction through House Bill 443. Originally introduced as House Bill 46 by Delegate David R
- Loudoun County School Board Votes 5-3-1 Against Elementary School Resource Officers Expansion
Public commenters urged the board to support Sheriff Mike Chapman’s proposal, citing national statistics on mass shootings. Research from the Crime Prevention Research Center reports that 94 to 98 percent of mass public shootings occur in gun-free zones, where armed resistance is
- Fairfax County Public Schools Requests Restoration of High School Crossing Guards After Reston Incident
Fairfax County Public Schools has requested the return of crossing guards at certain high schools following an incident involving a student at South Lakes High School in Reston. On the morning in question, a 16-year-old student walking to class was hit by a car.
- Marcia Price Bill Extending Landlord Eviction Wait Passes Senate, Heads to Abigail Spanberger
RICHMOND, Virginia – In a closely divided vote, the Virginia Senate approved House Bill 15 on March 10, 2026, by a tally of 21-19, sending the measure to Governor Abigail Spanberger’s desk.
- Loudoun County Boards Reject Expansion of School Resource Officers to Elementary Schools
Sheriff Mike Chapman’s plan called for placing SROs in elementary schools, with each officer covering three to four schools. Data from the sheriff indicated that in the past three years, SROs stationed at middle and high schools were redirected over 5,000 times to handle incidents at elementaries.
- Virginia Delegates Debate Sales Tax Allocation for Local Schools in House Committee
Garrett contended that Richmond’s lack of retail infrastructure, including basic supermarkets and larger stores like Walmart, drives residents to shop across county lines.
- Fernando Martinez Introduces Legislation Enabling Local Plastic Bag Fees for Environmental Education
The Board, chaired by Phyllis Randall with Mike Turner as vice chair, oversees districts including Algonkian, Ashburn, Blue Ridge, Broad Run, Catoctin, Dulles, Leesburg, Loudoun Valley, and Sterling. Recent meetings featured testimony on the plan’s merits and drawbacks.
- Creigh Deeds Examines Data Center Job Promises Versus Expansion Scale
Virginia Senator Deeds presented questions during a hearing regarding proposed data center projects in the state. The inquiry focused on the balance between creating 2,500 jobs and approving 40 additional buildings. This line of questioning reflects the current discussion on economic development and associated demands. The session involved direct address to the chair about the […]
- How an AI-Enabled Teacher in Prince William County Provides Immediate Feedback to Students
Students in Diana Betancourt’s third-grade class at Neabsco elementary school read a story about raccoons who are smarter than dogs and cats on Thursday afternoon. The current curriculum focuses on animal behavior.
- New proposal from grid operator PJM would require data centers to bring their own power
Data center with transmission lines in Prince William County, VA. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) PJM, the regional grid operator for most of the East Coast, is asking federal regulators to approve a rule requiring new large-load customers, namely data centers, to bring their own power supply to the grid. With Virginia among the 13 […]
- Data Center Bills Dominated This Year's General Assembly. Here's What Passed.
The rapid growth of Virginia’s data center industry was a key point of focus during the 2026 legislative session, as lawmakers sought to balance the sector’s benefits — including over $80 billion in state investments and thousands of jobs — against its enormous electricity and water needs, which are a growing concern for communities statewide. Legislators filed dozens of bills directly aimed at re
- Ghazala Hashmi calls on regulators to extend review period for NextEra-Dominion Energy merger
In a letter sent to the State Corporation Commission this week, Ghazala Hashmi urged the commissioners to more closely scrutinize the planned merger of Dominion Energy, the commonwealth’s largest electric utility provider, and Florida-based NextEra Energy. If the merger materializes, it would create the largest utility company in the nation. What Dominion and NextEra Energy’s […]
- The main lesson from DEQ’s groundwater report: Virginia must budget to live within environmental limits
The timing of the release of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s report on groundwater availability last month was suspicious, given that it was completed in January but not made available to lawmakers or the public until several months after the General Assembly’s legislative session. The science presented in the report is impressive, while its […]
- Bill DeSteph Discusses Regulation Effects on Business Location Choices
Senator Bill DeSteph spoke in the Virginia Senate about the role of regulations in business decisions affecting the state. He referenced experiences from the 1990s and early periods when employers with over 600 employees considered locations in Virginia. The senator described how some of these companies ultimately selected other states for expansion. DeSteph pointed to […]
- Virginia resident seeks answers from state education superintendent over genocide definition
A Virginia resident is asking a Prince William County district court to order the state’s superintendent of public instruction to demonstrate how the Virginia Department of Education defines the term “genocide” in the state’s K-12 history curriculum. Prince William resident Gene Sokolowski filed a FOIA lawsuit in his county district court, alleging that Superintendent of […]
- Menhaden management board advances addendum with potential cuts to Chesapeake Bay fishery limits
The regional board overseeing menhaden management along the Atlantic coast on Wednesday advanced a measure to implement new restrictions on Virginia’s only reduction fishery that harvests the oily forage fish within the Chesapeake Bay. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s draft addendum would reduce the Bay-specific menhaden catch limits for the fishery, Ocean Harvesters, which […]
- Dominion asks State Corporation Commission to recover an additional $922 million for fuel costs over multiple years
Dominion Energy asked the State Corporation Commission to recover an additional $922 million in fuel costs, citing extreme power demands during as well as a national rise in gas prices as reasons for the escalation beyond its original calculations State Corporation Commission staff reported that Dominion’s “actual fuel and purchased power expenses rose dramatically from […]
- Virginia Beach doctor pushes hospitals to establish protocols for dealing with Parkinson’s patients
By Yiqing Wang/WHRO Howard Weinberg keeps his Parkinson’s medication in a small container attached to his keychain, so he always has it wherever he goes. The retired doctor from Virginia Beach has to take the medication every six hours, at 1 o’clock and 7 o’clock, day and night. For him, that schedule is not optional. […]
- Loudoun Supervisor Discusses State Role in Data Center Zoning Decisions
Loudoun Supervisor Mike Turner recently spoke about changes in how data center zoning decisions are being handled at the state level rather than locally. The discussion focuses on a shift where higher government bodies are assuming more control over these matters. This development has prompted questions about the balance between state and local responsibilities in […]
- Loudoun County Board Advances Legislative Position on Immigration Enforcement Cooperation
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved a policy statement for its 2026 legislative program following a 6-3 vote on March 3. The statement supports state legislation encouraging transparency in civil immigration enforcement activities and limiting local law enforcement cooperation in immigration matters. This action was proposed by Algonkian District Supervisor Juli Briskman. Board member
- Debate Emerges Over Water Systems for Expanding Data Centers
A recent public meeting addressed the question of requiring closed-loop water systems for new data centers in regions experiencing water scarcity. The speaker referenced a total of 253 data centers in the community, with 250 already in operation. This context framed the discussion on regulating technology expansion while maintaining environmental considerations. The proposal centers on […]
- Delegate Presents Case on Concealed Carry at Virginia Rest Stops and ABC Stores
During a House of Delegates committee meeting, a delegate outlined concerns about current Virginia laws restricting concealed carry at rest stops and ABC stores. The presentation focused on potential safety issues for individuals in these locations under existing regulations. Committee attendees received information on how prohibitions affect enforcement officers and permit holders. Details on Loc
- State Corporation Commission Chair Kelsey Bagot, Former NextEra Attorney, Declines to Recuse Herself From Merger Case
On Tuesday, Virginia lawmakers heard from utility regulation experts on the potential impact of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. If approved, the merger would create the largest electric utility in the country. In the days preceding this week’s Commission on Electric Utility Regulation meeting, legislators asked State Corporation Commission Chair Kelsey […]
- Loudoun County School Board Holds Meeting on Proposed Transmission Lines
The Loudoun County School Board convened a special meeting at Rock Ridge High School to receive input from residents regarding Dominion Energy’s proposed high-voltage transmission lines. The project aims to support data center operations in the region by connecting substations with new infrastructure spanning approximately nine miles. Attendees voiced specific worries about the routes crossing […]
- More states ban child marriage, including Virginia, though it’s still legal in most of the United States
After authorities rescued 16 children last month who had been confined to a single room in a home in rural Ohio, attention turned to their mother, who had been 15 and pregnant when she married their father. The child endangerment case has recharged a national conversation around child marriage, which is defined by the United […]
- Loudoun Supervisor Mike Turner Proposes Mandatory Closed-Loop Water Systems for New Data Centers
Loudoun County Supervisor Mike Turner has proposed that all new data centers incorporate mandatory closed-loop water systems. The suggestion targets the significant water consumption associated with these facilities. Data centers account for 10 percent of the county’s potable water. Most existing operations currently rely on systems that could incorporate closed-loop features. The proposal was pre
- Spanberger signs executive order to boost Virginia’s emergency preparedness
Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Executive Order 19 Tuesday afternoon, which is designed to strengthen Virginia’s preparedness for natural disasters and other emergencies and streamline the state’s response to crises. The announcement comes ahead of hurricane season for states along the country’s southeastern coast. But the order extended beyond natural catastrophes, with the governor saying Virg
- Lowdown from Loudoun: Mike Turner shares data center tips with Maryland audience
Michael Turner, a county supervisor in Loudoun County, Virginia, estimates that the public perception of hyperscale data centers has shifted considerably in the last six to nine months — and he isn’t sure why. Turner, a government official in the county with one of the world’s highest concentrations of data centers with over 250, said […]
- Balancing optimism and caution, Spanberger says Virginia’s revenues grew $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2026
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday highlighted Virginia’s financial wins in the fiscal year that ended in July, touting a general revenue fund that increased by $2.1 billion, record investments in public services and a new energy consumption tax lawmakers levied on data centers that is projected to add $600 million to the commonwealth’s coffers in […]
- State Corporation Commission commissioner, former NextEra attorney declines to recuse herself from merger case
On Tuesday, Virginia lawmakers heard from utility regulation experts on the potential impact of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. If approved, the merger would create the largest electric utility in the country. In the days preceding this week’s Commission on Electric Utility Regulation meeting, legislators asked State Corporation Commission Chair Kelsey […]
- Loudoun County Officials Discuss Data Center Energy Options
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors convened to address questions about data center operators seeking alternatives to grid power. The discussion centered on the potential use of on-site generation methods. Officials examined various technologies that could support the county’s expanding data center sector. Presentations during the meeting referenced specific examples of on-site power projects. One
- Lashrecse Aird Proposal Emerges to Address PFAS Chemicals at Richmond Airport
Virginia Senator Lashrecse Aird has introduced a call for a detailed plan to phase out toxic PFAS chemicals specifically at Richmond International Airport. The focus rests on safeguarding Virginia’s water supply from potential downstream effects. This measure seeks to address concentrations that may occur in certain areas near such facilities. Richmond International Airport operates as […]
- School Boundary Proposal Sparks Questions on Programming Access
During a Fairfax County school board meeting a member raised questions about planned boundary changes. The exchange focused on how these adjustments might influence student access to various programs. Officials presented data on student movements between schools as part of the review process. The discussion included details on enrollment shifts. Figures showed 717 students potentially […]