Virginia Mercury: “Virginia lawmakers are moving forward with a bill to crack down on the misuse of the âhomelessâ designation by school officials to recruit student athletes. House Bill 1656, introduced by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, also prohibits officials from accepting money or gifts intended to influence a studentâs decision to transfer schools for athletic purposes.
The legislation narrowly advanced to the full House on an 11-10 party-line vote in the House Education Committee. No lawmakers spoke on the bill ahead of the vote.
The bill comes in the wake of multiple controversies involving high school sports programs. In November, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) found Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria violated its eligibility rules for transferring by allowing multiple students to play on its football team.”
Prince William Times â "Landowners who want to sell their properties for the Prince William Digital Gateway data center development and are suing Prince William County over their higher real estate tax bills were recently dealt a blow in court when a judge ruled against their case.
But they might have a Plan B, thanks to a bill sponsored by state Sen. Jeremy McPike."
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With the swearing-in of Donald Trump as America's 47th President on Monday, considering the new administration, we asked some of the Fredericksburg area's elected representatives about their visions for 2025.
Senator Mark Warner (D) said:
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The Center Square: Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered the final State of the Commonwealth address of his term Monday after a delayed start to the 2025 General Assembly session, urging the state legislature to âkeep Virginia winningâ with bills it passes this year.
The governor began his speech by recounting how his administration and the General Assembly have delivered on priorities and policies that have made Virginia stronger.
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In this episode of the Potomac Local Podcast, Uriah Kiser interviews Delegate Paul Milde, a Republican representing Stafford County in Virginiaâs 64th District. Delegate Milde discusses his reelection campaign, his work on transportation funding, data center growth, land preservation efforts, and revitalizing blighted areas like Aquia Town Center.
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Delegate Ian Lovejoy (R-22, Prince William County) has introduced a suite of legislative proposals targeting the rapid proliferation of data centers in Northern Virginia, addressing concerns about campaign finance, land use, and energy infrastructure. The legislation, rooted in what Lovejoy calls "common sense reforms," aims to tackle issues of public confidence, community impact, and the strain on utilities.
Curbing Campaign Influence on Local Decisions
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In this episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, Delegate Ian Lovejoy joins us from Richmond to discuss key issues impacting Virginia residents:
Richmondâs Water Crisis: Hear about the ongoing water outage in Richmond, its effects on families, businesses, and schools, and what it means for state leadership as former Mayor Levar Stoney campaigns for Lieutenant Governor.
Data Center Development: Delegate Lovejoy explains his legislative efforts to address the rapid expansion of data centers in Northern Virginia, including:
- Prohibiting officials from voting on projects tied to campaign donors.
- Establishing zoning reforms to protect schools, parks, and residential neighborhoods.
- Proposing a moratorium on new data centers and revisiting tax incentives.
Energy Infrastructure Concerns: Learn how unchecked data center growth could threaten Virginiaâs power grid by 2030 and what steps are needed to prevent a crisis.
This in-depth conversation explores the challenges facing Virginia communities and the solutions Delegate Lovejoy is working to implement.
Subscribe for more updates on local news and issues affecting Virginia.
You’ll learn about:
- 1:15 – Richmondâs Water Crisis
- 4:30 – Data Centers and Campaign Donations
- 7:45 – Zoning Reforms and Community Impacts
- 10:30 – Power Grid Concerns and Tax Incentives
Join the conversation and share your thoughts in the comments.
Stafford County Public Schools announced that Nevaeh Lewis of Colonial Forge High School and Emma Siegmund of Rodney Thompson Middle School have been selected for prestigious roles in Virginiaâs legislative programs.
Lewis will serve as a House of Delegates Page, while Siegmund has been chosen as a Senate Page. These appointments provide hands-on opportunities to learn about government and leadership during the upcoming General Assembly session in Richmond beginning January 8.
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Prince William County's Board of Supervisors and School Board members convened at the Kelly Leadership Building to address pressing legislative priorities for 2025. Among the key issues discussed was the urgent need for enhanced authority to mitigate speeding and improve roadway safety throughout the county.
Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry emphasized the ongoing dangers on local roads, including Cardinal Drive, a corridor that has seen multiple fatalities in recent years. He highlighted the limitations of current state-level control over traffic measures, stating, "We need more authority to install speed cameras and implement other speed control measures in non-school and non-construction zones." Angry also criticized the reliance on fatality thresholds before state agencies, such as the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), prioritize action, calling for more proactive measures to save lives.
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Delegate Paul Milde (R-64, Stafford County) has introduced legislation aimed at closing a loophole created last year by HB 790, which inadvertently allowed underage students to possess tobacco and vaping devices on school grounds without facing legal consequences.
The proposed legislation comes in response to growing concerns from law enforcement and community leaders who have noted the impact of the loophole on schools and extracurricular activities. While Stafford County schools reported a 21% decrease in vaping incidents over the past year, with 23 incidents in 2024 compared to 29 in 2023, officials remain vigilant about preventing access to these products by minors.
