Morning notes
Gas prices still dropping in Fredericksburg region, beyond — As summer heads into the final stretch, gas prices continue to fall. [Fredericksburg.com]
Offices have reopened. Persuading commuters to fill them isn’t so simple. — Two years into the pandemic this spring, Washington-area transportation experts spotted a new trend: After months of commuters returning as more offices reopened, the numbers had begun to stagnate. [Washington Post/Paywall]
Democrat Mark Keam stepping down from Virginia House — State Del. Mark Keam announced Tuesday that he’s stepping down from the House of Delegates, setting up a possible special election this fall in a Democratic-leaning district in Northern Virginia. [Virginia Mercury]
Yesli Vega Earns Key Endorsement From Pro-Life Group in Campaign to Take Down Vulnerable Virginia Democrat — When it comes to races to watch for the upcoming November midterm elections, many of them will be in Virginia. [Townhall]
Free dinner? Free parking? Northern Virginia transportation leaders exploring creative options to incentivize commuter behavior — Imagine you’re getting ready to drive to work and suddenly an alert comes across your phone: There’s a disruption on your route causing back-ups, but if you alter your plans – maybe you take the bus or Metro, or you delay your trip slightly – you get free dinner on the higher transportation powers that be. [Insidenova.com]
Independent Hill Library story trail is a hidden gem — The Independence Hill Library’s story trail, which opened in the spring, is the first permanent story trail in Prince William County. The project was a collaborative effort between Prince William Public Libraries, Prince William County’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and Keep Prince William Beautiful. [Prince William Times / Subscription Required]
Candidates for Congress differ on how to boost caregivers’ ranks — During a recent online forum, four candidates vying to represent Prince William County in the U.S. Congress differed on ways to address an ongoing shortage in personal caregivers for people with disabilities. [Prince William Times]
Letting the light shine in: Unity Reed H.S. is 1 of 5 older county schools to get windows — After teaching in a windowless classroom for more than a decade, Unity Reed High School teacher Lori Sterne said she sometimes begins her days without switching on the overhead lights. That’s because this school year, she doesn’t have to. For the first time ever, her classroom has a huge, floor-to-ceiling window that bathes the room in natural light. [Prince William Times]
Residents turn up the volume on data center noise complaints — A few months ago, residents of Great Oak, a 30-year-old enclave of about 300 single-family homes in Manassas, started noticing a constant mechanical buzzing whenever they worked in their yards or spent time outdoors. Earlier this week, they held a protest outside the source of that noise – a nearby Amazon Web Services data center campus – to warn fellow residents that the nuisance could soon be a problem heard in neighborhoods across Prince William County. [Prince William Times]
Youngkin’s approval rating climbs to 55% — About eight months into Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s term, his approval rating has increased slightly to 55%, from 53% in May, according to a new poll published Tuesday by the Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College. Youngkin’s disapproval rating remains at 35%. [Cardinal News]
Va. congresswoman seeks answers on next steps following IG report on January snowstorm — A Virginia congresswoman wants to know what steps are being taken to prevent future snow-related traffic backups such as the one that snarled traffic and stranded motorists on Interstate 95 last January. [WTOP-FM]
‘FARTCAR’: The license plates Virginia DMV won’t let you have — Blink and you’ll miss it: a bad pun, a cryptic joke, a reference to a favorite movie or hobby. Virginia vanity license plates blanket the roadways and have tested motorists’ wit and ingenuity since they were first introduced in 1981. [WCVE-FM]
Northern Virginia officials discuss affordable housing, transportation and education during a regional chamber forum — Housing was among the many topics touched on by top elected officials Thursday at the seventh annual Northern Virginia Regional Elected Leaders Summit at George Mason University in Arlington. [Insidenova.com]
Surprise: Borrowers May Face Up to $1,100 in State Taxes on Forgiven Student Loans — Residents of New York, Virginia and eleven other states could end up with a surprise tax hit of hundreds of dollars next year on forgiven student loans. [Bloomberg]
Manassas seeks further protection for Liberia House — As Manassas officials aim to add density in and around the Mathis Avenue corridor, the city is working to maintain the green space around one of its historic assets. [Insidenova.com]
Two key Virginia congressional races could impact control of U.S. House — Voters from across the country will determine who controls the U.S. House of Representatives in November, and the outcome of two key Virginia races could affect the final result. [The Center Square]
Virginia expands monkeypox vaccine eligibility — More Virginians will be able to receive the monkeypox vaccine after the state expanded eligibility as a result of federal changes to how the shots can be administered. [Virginia Mercury]
Virginia spent most of surplus; Youngkin wants nearly $400 million for tax relief — Although Virginia has already earmarked most of its budget surplus for spending on government programs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin intends to set aside nearly $400 million for tax reduction. [The Center Square]
Virginia Blue & Yellow Line shutdown just weeks away: Here’s how to navigate the closure — On Tuesday, both Metro and the city of Alexandria warned Metrorail riders to start planning now for what promises to be a difficult seven to eight months. Starting in just a couple weeks, Metrorail riders who travel between Virginia and D.C. on the Blue and Yellow Lines will have to leave extra time to get places, with the first six weeks being the worst time period. [WJLA-TV]
Transportation authority weighs $75 billion in Northern Virginia projects — The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority is looking for feedback from the public on its long-range TransAction plan, which is supposed to guide the region’s transportation project priorities through 2045. [Insidenova.com]
