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The New Dominion
When the 2020 Virginia General Assembly is gaveled into session at noon on Jan. 8, for the first time in the state legislature’s 401-year history, the person wielding that gavel will be a woman. The ascension of Del. Eileen Filler-Corn of Fairfax to speaker of the House of Delegates will likely be the most visible of [&he[...]
Melissa Baker to become first female Virginia State Parks director
Melissa Baker will become the first female Virginia State Parks director in the system’s 83-year history, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. Baker comes from the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, where she served as director. She oversaw the state’s park system and administered grant programs. She has a[...]
State, CSX announce $3.7B in passenger rail improvements
The state and Jacksonville, Florida-based CSX Corp. announced Thursday they would invest $3.7 billion in improving train service between Richmond and Washington, D.C., including building a new bridge across the Potomac River dedicated to passenger and commuter rail. The improvements are set to start in the second half of 2020 an[...]
New bus routes will connect Danville to D.C., Martinsville to Richmond
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will launch two new Virginia Breeze intercity bus service routes connecting Danville to Washington, D.C., and Martinsville to Richmond in spring 2020, the department announced Tuesday. The 2-year-old Virginia Breeze, funded by the federal Rural Transit Assistance 5311 Pro[...]
JLARC recommends improvements to workers’ comp system
Virginia should pursue improvements to its existing workers’ compensation system program before considering an alternative program, the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission recommended in a study released Monday. In December 2018, JLARC directed its staff to conduct a review of Virginia’s worker’s compensation system. The report issued nine major findings regarding compensation claims, fraud […][...]
Poll finds voters support many Democratic agenda items
A poll conducted by Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center for Public Policy finds strong support for several legislative items supported by the General Assembly’s incoming Democratic majority, ranging from increasing firearms restrictions to raising the minimum wage. “This survey suggests there’s pent-up demand among voters for a lot of the Democrats’ policy agenda,” Wason Center […][...]
Northam proposes $1.2B investment in K-12 education
Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposed budget includes a $1.2 billion investment in K-12 education, he announced Monday. The budget includes the largest increase for at-risk schools in Virginia history, Northam said. It would also raise teacher salaries by 3%, fund additional school counselors and new staff supports for English language learners and makes flexible funds available […]
Fairfax County EDA CEO honored for collaborative leadership
Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, received the Ronald Kirby Award for Collaborative Leadership this week from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, the FCEDA announced Friday. The award recognizes non-elected government executives who work collaboratively with e[...]
Danville’s Telly Tucker will lead Arlington Economic Development
Telly Tucker, director of economic development in Danville, is leaving next month to lead Arlington County’s economic development department, the city of Danville announced Thursday. “It was a tremendous opportunity,” Tucker said Thursday in a phone interview. “My heart will always be in Danville for the opportunity [...]
Northam pitches $145M free community college program
Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposed budget will include $145 million to make community college tuition free for low- and middle-income students pursuing degrees in high-demand career fields, Northam announced Thursday. The Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back (G3) initiative will provide financial support to cover tuition, fees and books for eligible students at two-year public […]
SCHEV issues ‘roadmap’ for state economic development investment
The Virginia Research Investment Committee has approved the State Council of Higher Education’s Commonwealth Research and Technology Strategic Roadmap, which spells out research areas that will yield the greatest impacts from state investment in economic development with state investment for the next three years, SCHEV announced Wednesday. The report identifies these research areas as worthy […][...]
Portsmouth public housing community gets a face-lift
The Lincoln Park public housing community in Portsmouth is being redeveloped as Lexington Place in a massive redevelopment launched Tuesday. The first phase of construction of the new public housing complex, expected to cost $16 million, will include 72 townhouse-style apartments, and once the entire project is completed, Lexington Place will have 144 residential units […]
