Virginia Archives - Page 15 of 24

Spanberger to ban airlines extra fees to seat families together

Published July 24, 2023 at 10:30AM

Spanberger

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger: “U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger is leading bipartisan legislation to make sure children can be seated next to their parents on flights for no extra fees.”

“Congress passed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill in 2016. This law included language that required the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to establish a policy — if appropriate — requiring airlines to seat young children with their family members on flights without charging them additional fees. However, families across the country continue to be separated from their children during air travel.”

Traffic

I-66 Express Lanes one of largest rubblized concrete projects in U.S.

By Madina Habib

Published July 21, 2023 at 10:00AM

I-66 E-ZPass Express Lanes at Haymarket [Photo: I-66 Mobility Partners]

“The nation’s oldest transportation-related construction group recognized the innovative partnership between I-66 Express Mobility Partners, FAM Construction, and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The announcement was made at ARTBA’s 35^th annual P3s In Transportation conference, held at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Washington, D.C.”

Schools

Virginia Department of Education ‘restores parental rights’

By Amelia Breeden

Published July 20, 2023 at 3:05PM

[Photo: Prince William County Public Schools]

“The guidance, Model Policies on Ensuring Privacy, Dignity and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools, provides clearer input for school boards regarding the role of parents in decisions relating to their child’s gender identity, as well as restricting transgender students from participating in sex segregated extra-curricular activities that don’t align with their biological sex.”

“In addition, the new directive requires students to use bathrooms or locker rooms that correspond with their biological sex; while recognizing federal law may override such policy, it provides parents the right to opt their children out from using those facilities and must provide private, alternative facilities.”

New FBI headquarters delayed by GSA as Virginia, Maryland wait

By Amelia Breeden

Published July 19, 2023 at 8:24AM

The FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover Building in Washington serves as the agency’s national headquarters. [Photo: FBI]

“The U.S. General Services Administration said Friday it has updated the site selection plan for the new FBI headquarters site to increase the consideration of cost to taxpayers and to reflect the Biden administration’s commitment to sustainability and equity.”

“In its announcement on Friday, the GSA said it revised its site selection plan process for the new FBI headquarters after meeting with officials from Virginia and Maryland. The three final sites under review — in Greenbelt, Maryland, Landover, Maryland and Springfield, Virginia — were selected in 2014 by the GSA.”

Politics

Youngkin surpasses previous governors’ annual fundraising records in a single quarter

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 17, 2023 at 10:00AM

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin

AP: “Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s main fundraising apparatus will soon report raising $5.75 million in this year’s second quarter, a sum that surpasses what any previous governor of the state has raised over an entire year, according to the group’s accounting.”

“The haul will bring to $8.5 million the total Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia political action committee has raised in the first six months of 2023, according to details provided to The Associated Press ahead of a Monday reporting deadline. And it will leave Spirit of Virginia with $6 million in cash on hand just over two months before the start of early voting in this year’s legislative elections that will decide political control of the currently divided General Assembly.”

Business

Study: Virginia ranked No. 2 for business

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 13, 2023 at 3:09PM

[Photo: Mike Petrucci/Unsplash]

Virginia ranked second in the nation in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business study – up from third in 2022 and scoring first in education.

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Health

Volunteers sought for pop-up clinic in Luray

By Madina Habib

Published July 12, 2023 at 5:00PM | Updated July 12, 2023 at 5:25PM

Remote Area Medical: “RAM urgently needs volunteers to help provide free dental, vision and medical Remote Area Medical services to the Luray, Va. and surrounding communities on Sept. 30-Oct. 1.”

The two-day clinic is to be held at Luray High School, located at 243 Bulldog Drive, Luray. RAM is also in general need of support volunteers to set up on Sep 29, and to take down on Oct 1. Individuals do not need to work on the medical field in order to volunteer as general support.

Schools

Audit indicates Virginia K-12 schools underfunded

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 12, 2023 at 10:35AM

The Center Square: “A report released Monday indicates Virginia’s K-12 education system has received inadequate state funding for years — and Republicans and Democrats are blaming each other for the results.”

“The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission staff reviewed Virginia’s K-12 funding formula – the mechanism used to determine the state’s education budget – upon being directed to do so by the 2021 General Assembly and shared its findings and recommendations in the report.”

Virginia National Guard unit sent to border

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 10, 2023 at 9:20AM

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen compete in the state’s annual small arms combat marksmanship match, hosted by the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, May 19-21, 2023, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. [Virginia National Guard]

The Center Square: “A Virginia National Guard unit will lead Joint Task Force Cardinal as part of Operation Lone Star to help secure the southern border.”

“Troops will be deployed from the Portsmouth-based 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The unit’s designation is 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, and its higher headquarters is the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.”

Politics

Virginia AG challenges Biden’s proposed regulation on gas-powered vehicles

By Uriah Kiser

Published July 7, 2023 at 1:25PM

Traffic headed south on U.S. 1 toward the Falmouth intersection frequently backs up due to a traffic signal where U.S. 1, U.S. 17, and Va. 218 converge. (Photo: Jim Lawrence/For PotomacLocal.com)

Attorney General Jason Miyares press release: “Attorney General Jason Miyares today joined 24 other state attorneys general challenging the Biden Administration’s proposed regulation on vehicle tailpipe emissions. The Biden Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan would forcibly phase out gas-powered vehicles and completely restructure the automobile industry around electric vehicles (EVs) at an alarming pace. The aggressive proposal aims to boost certain EV sales from 8.4% of total vehicle sales today to 67% by 2032.”

“The attorneys general argue such a move by the EPA would damage regional economies, undermine the reliability of our electrical grids, tax the families and small businesses who depend on them, and jeopardize our national security.”