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Lawmakers retreat from VMI oversight transfer, advance board overhaul
The House Education Committee on Wednesday scrapped a proposal to place the Virginia Military Institute under Virginia State University’s control and instead advanced a narrower plan to reshape VMI’s governing board — a significant shift from the bill’s original approach. Instead, the committee approved a substitute for House Bill 1374 that removes all references to VSU and focuses instead on the composition of VMI’s Board of Visitors. Five Republicans opposed the proposal.
Cline: Investing in I-81 is critical for safety, commerce and the Shenandoah Valley
For generations, Interstate 81 has been the backbone of Virginia’s Sixth District. Stretching from Bristol in Southwest Virginia up through the Shenandoah Valley to Winchester, it connects our communities to markets up and down the East Coast, supports local employers, and serves as one of the most critical freight corridors in the entire nation. But anyone who drives I-81 regularly knows a hard truth: The road has not kept pace with the demands placed on it.
Virginia Democrats retreat on VMI funding threat after Trump administration warns of ‘extraordinary measures’
Virginia Democrats backed down from legislation that could have potentially revoked state funding for the Virginia Military Institute amid criticism from the Trump administration, VMI cadets and lawmakers in Congress. Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly introduced House Bill 1377, which proposed a task force that could revoke state funding for the school. After scrutiny and controversy, an amended bill passed the Virginia House last Thursday that no longer grants authority to strip the historic military college of funding. The legislation, which is now heading to the Virginia state Senate, still mandates an examination of the school’s policies, though state funding is no longer in jeopardy, according to the bill text.
Bill to dissolve VMI board of visitors rewritten; revised school-endorsed version advances
A bill to dissolve the governance of Virginia Military Institute and place it under the purview of Virginia State University has been rewritten to allow VMI to retain its board of visitors. The rewritten bill, patroned by Del. Michael Feggans, D-Virginia Beach, removes references to VSU, a historically Black university in Chesterfield County, and sets parameters regarding who can serve on the VMI Board of Visitors. It was voted out of the House of Delegates Education Committee on a 12-5 vote Wednesday.
Nett Elected to Second Term as Purcellville Vice Mayor
Carl “Ben” Nett will serve a second one-year term as Purcellville’s vice mayor after his fellow councilmembers on Tuesday reappointed him to the position on split vote. Nett was elected to the council in November 2024, taking office in January 2025 with Mayor Christopher Bertaut, Susan Khalil, Kevin Wright and Caleb Stought. His first year on the council was marked with controversy ...
VA secretary tells lawmakers the new VA Clinic in Chesapeake is still well below full-staff
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins told the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Wednesday that the North Battlefield VA Clinic in Chesapeake did not meet his announced deadline to be at full staff by January. The clinic has hired 335 out of 534 staffers. Another 199 vacant positions have not been filled. Collins had said at the groundbreaking ceremony in April that the clinic would be up to full staff by January, even though the facility opened with only 150 staffers.
VSU no longer attached to possible VMI oversight changes
Legislation addressing the future governance of Virginia Military Institute is advancing in the House of Delegates but now without Virginia State University in the picture. On a 14-7 party-line vote Feb. 11, the House Education Committee approved House Bill 1374 that significantly changes the composition of VMI's board of visitors and keeps the policy decision-making in Lexington. The updated measure, sponsored by Del. Michael Feggans, D-Virginia Beach, requires no more than eight of the 16 appointees be VMI alumni and at least five appointees have U.S. military experience.
Wendy Gooditis suspends her bid for Congress
Former Virginia House of Delegates member Wendy Gooditis announced Wednesday she is suspending her bid for Congress, roughly a month after launching it. Gooditis, a Clarke County Democrat, was seeking to oust Republican U.S. Rep. Ben Cline from his seat representing Virginia's 6th Congressional District, which stretches from Winchester to Roanoke along the Interstate 81 corridor. She was among several candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the May primary. In a news release, Gooditis announced she will now support U.S. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents the 10th Congressional District.
House panel narrows or kills multiple bills focused on data centers
A bill aimed at limiting pollution from data centers’ backup diesel generators prompted a revision that now calls for a study of more businesses’ generators. Another bill won approval from the House of Delegates natural resources subcommittee only after its sponsor, Del. John McAuliff, D-Loudoun, removed sections that would have required state environmental regulators to set up air quality monitors near data centers. This bill also required data centers to use batteries as their primary backup power supply.
House Finance Committee backs conditions on data center tax exemption
Data centers would have to meet new environmental and energy standards to remain eligible for a state sales tax exemption on their equipment under legislation that passed a House of Delegates committee Wednesday. The House Finance Committee voted 16-5 to approve House Bill 897, proposed by Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, to place new conditions on a state sales tax exemption that provided a nearly $2 billion tax benefit to data centers over the past two years ...