The message will be shorter this week, as there are precious few days left of summer and so many more interesting things to fill them with than a newsletter.
The most notable news to share this week is from earlier today, when the Governor addressed a joint meeting of the House and Senate money committees – touting the state’s continued revenue surplus. The Executive Office has already begun to slowly share snippets of what Governor Youngkin plans to include in his budget recommendations; those will be released in December. In the meantime, stakeholders from a wide array of different entities and interests are using the interim months to firm up their own funding requests – and get them on the Governor’s radar.
Rumors are also swirling that Virginia legislators might be able to avoid a very heated and public debate on reproductive rights and abortion services in the upcoming Session. A deal is supposedly being discussed amongst various leadership, though the rumors naturally vary on the specifics. A public deal is still unlikely to dissuade numerous legislators from submitting their own legislation in 2023, but it does increase the odds that Virginia might remain a more permissive southern state in post- Roe v. Wade politics.
In closing, we present today’s unrepentant clickbait: Adorable Monkey Shocks Police and Zoo After Calling Emergency Services
Cheers –
Davis Consultants
- September 7 | Virginia Commission on Youth Workgroup
- September 7 | 2022 Special Session – Reconvened Session
- September 13 | House Appropriations Committee
- September 14 | Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee
- September 19 | Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
- September 21 | Virginia Commission on Youth
OneVirginia2021 relaunches as UpVote Virginia with new focus on ranked-choice voting
By GRAHAM MOOMAW, Virginia Mercury
The nonpartisan group that led the charge to reform Virginia’s redistricting process is relaunching with a broader “democracy reform” focus and a push for more ranked-choice voting.
Virginia brewers plot legislative leap to allow self-distribution
By MIKE PLATANIA, Richmond BizSense
Owners and staff of Virginia’s breweries were generous with their cheering last week at the Virginia Craft Beer Cup, put on by the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild.
Youngkin to set aside nearly $400 million for new tax relief in next budget
By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch
Gov. Glenn Youngkin will set aside almost $400 million for additional tax relief in the budget he will propose in December, using almost $3.2 billion in surplus revenue and unspent appropriations in the fiscal year that ended on June 30.
Analysis: No Newspaper, Low Broadband Connectivity Rates Leads to Additional Labor Costs
By KRISTI EATON, The Daily Yonder
One resident said their county rarely appeared in the news cycle. Another said they were paying hundreds of dollars for broadband Internet service. These were just a few of the takeaways from a qualitative study that examined how Surry County in Virginia dealt with being both a news desert and a broadband desert.
Fairfax County volunteer’s petition urging Home Depot to stop sales of invasive plants takes root
By ANGELA WOOLSEY, FFX Now
Once McLean resident Lauren Taylor learned how to identify invasive plants in Fairfax County’s parks, she couldn’t stop noticing them.
CCPS scrambling to fill hundreds of vacant jobs across the district
By SARAH KING, Chesterfield Observer
As school is slated to start next week, the county is still filling hundreds of vacancies across teaching, transportation, food service, facilities and central office positions.
Prince William could steal Loudoun’s title of Data Center Alley. But land use battles are raging.
By NATHANIEL CLINE, Virginia Mercury
PRINCE WILLIAM — Prince William County may be on its way to taking the “Data Center Alley” title from neighboring Loudoun County after initiating a plan to allow the development of data centers across 800 acres previously intended for agricultural use.
ACLU of Virginia sues Department of Corrections over earned sentence credits
By SARAH VOGELSONG, Virginia Mercury
The ACLU of Virginia is suing the director of the Virginia Department of Corrections and a state prison warden to try to force the release of an inmate, arguing the agency incorrectly blocked him from being let out early for good behavior in response to a last-minute change in the state budget that rolled back some sentencing reforms.
Youngkin education official recommends delaying history standards review due to 'glaring deficiencies'
By BEN PAVIOUR, VPM News
One of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s top education officials recommended the Virginia Board of Education delay discussing history and social science standards ahead of its Wednesday meeting.
Virginia’s education test results remain low compared to pre-pandemic rates
By NATHANIEL CLINE, Virginia Mercury
Virginia’s pass rates from the Standards of Learning tests and other assessments released on Thursday continue to remain lower than results before the pandemic.
Demand for mental health services outpaces expectations
By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury
At the start of December, Virginia significantly expanded its mental health coverage under Medicaid, adding six new services and boosting payments for providers as part of a multi-year effort to reduce the state’s reliance on its own struggling psychiatric hospitals.
Miyares on armed officers in schools: ‘The more we have, the better’
By NEAL AUGENSTEIN, WTOP News
As Virginia’s elementary, middle and high school students begin the 2022-2023 year, Attorney General Jason Miyares said safety and security are at the top of his — and parents’ — list of priorities.
Former Virginia deputy attorney general sues old office
By JOE DODSON, Courthouse News Service
RICHMOND, Va. (CN) — Suing Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares for defamation on Wednesday, a woman fired just weeks after she was hired as a deputy attorney general says the office falsely labeled her departure as a resignation.
Donald McEachin rejects debates with Republican challenger who questions 2020 election results
By BEN PAVIOUR, VPM News
Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) on Monday declined invitations to debate his Republican opponent, Leon Benjamin, unless Benjamin acknowledges the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
$6.4 million grant to bring 285 jobs to Duffield
BRISTOL HERALD-COURIER
A $6.4 million grant from the Economic Development Administration of the Department of Commerce is expected to create 285 jobs and generate a $5.4 million investment in a multi-tenant business facility in Duffield, Virginia.
Tim Kaine’s role on abortion bill sparks progressive concerns
By AMIE PARNES, The Hill
Progressive Democrats are expressing growing concern about having Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) as the face in the Senate of restoring abortion rights, particularly after voters in Kansas struck down a proposed constitutional amendment that would have eliminated abortions in the state.