Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 15h

"The athlete and VCU agree to keep the agreement confidential unless required otherwise by the law or NCAA rules. Speaking publicly about the deal could cause “irreparable harm.”"

VCU is paying its athletes now, but how much is a secret

The only financial information VCU has revealed about paying athletes is that the athletics department will budget between $4 million and $5 million for the initiative this year.

richmond.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 15h

“That’s what I was expected to do as the FOIA officer, to hide evidence that was unfavorable to the city. So while I’m disappointed that they’re still doing it, I am not surprised at all.”

Officials won’t answer questions about Petula Burks’ missing cellphone

During a Sep. 24 hearing, Jimmy Robinson — an attorney representing the city — abruptly announced that Burks had lost her city-issued cellphone while traveling through a New York airport.

richmond.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 16h

"Cannabis operator-turned-analyst Max Jackson warned that giving medical incumbents an automatic head start is a policy choice with predictable outcomes: concentrated ownership, higher prices and a stubborn illicit market."

Virginia cannabis panel weighs retail roadmap against safety, access and equity concerns • Virginia Mercury

Virginia’s bipartisan Joint Commission to Oversee Transition of the Commonwealth into a Retail Cannabis Market spent Monday afternoon plowing through several dense presentations that, taken together, ...

virginiamercury.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 16h

"The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) did not use millions of federal dollars meant for healthcare facility oversight in recent years, according to the federal government."

Federal government says Virginia didn’t use millions meant for nursing home oversight: 'Really troubling'

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) did not use millions of federal dollars meant for healthcare facility oversight in recent years, according to the federal government.

www.wtvr.com

Reposted by Activate Virginia

Norfölkology @norfolkology.bsky.social · 17h

They keep doing the Eddie Murphy ‘wasn’t me’ move LOLOL

The memo comes after OMB edited its government shutdown guidance document this week to remove references to the 2019 law,
according to reporting from Government
Executive.

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 18h

"One agency hit hard by the shutdown is the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton. The facility has been reduced from a 1,756-person workforce during regular operations to 34 people, according to a Sept. 29 memo..."

At NASA Langley in Hampton, nearly all workers furloughed as Trump administration threatens no back pay

A NASA government shutdown plan indicates almost all of NASA Langley Research Center federal workers are furloughed, leaving just 34 employees on the job.

www.pilotonline.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 19h

"Faculty members in the university’s College of Arts and Sciences on Monday overwhelmingly voted in favor of supporting a statement...which called the compact’s existence “a threat to the values of academic freedom to which we are all committed."

U.Va. faculty call for no deal with Trump administration - Virginia Business

University of Virginia faculty members largely oppose the deal offered by President Donald Trump in exchange for improved access to federal money.

virginiabusiness.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 19h

""If you're here in opposition to this rezoning request, opposition for a potential data center, please stand," Cline said.

Nearly everyone in the audience stood."

Campbell County Supervisors say no rezoning request for three data centers

The Campbell County Board of Supervisors voted against a request that would have brought three data centers to the county.

wset.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 23h

"The Virginia Capitol Police elaborated on active criminal investigation(s) in the General Assembly while new invoices were produced in the Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney's FOIA case."

Updates: General Assembly Criminal Investigation(s), Over $250,000 Invoiced in Portsmouth FOIA Case

The Virginia Capitol Police elaborated on active criminal investigation(s) in the General Assembly while new invoices were produced in the Portsmouth Commonwealth's Attorney's FOIA case.

joshstanfield.substack.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"On Sept. 17, federal prosecutors accused Brown of stealing at least $1.5 million from the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, a not-for-profit fundraising program for Virginia state employees."

Portsmouth woman admits to stealing more than $1.5 million from state government’s charity drive

Federal prosecutors say Linda Natelle Brown stole over $1.5 million from Virginia’s state employee charity campaign, using the funds for luxury expenses. She pleaded guilty and faces sentencing in Feb...

richmond.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"Jones didn’t comment on potential environmental concerns of having a data center in Newport News, but added the city is in the “very initial steps” toward making that possibility a reality."

Newport News opens the door to add data center near Fort Eustis

The potential data center is one of 12 priority projects unveiled at the city’s EDGE Summit.

www.pilotonline.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"At the Board of Visitors meeting in September, interim UVA President Paul Mahoney revealed that two components of the Department of Justice investigation into UVA have been closed."

Two parts of DOJ investigation closed, Mahoney says

At the Board of Visitors meeting in September, interim UVA President Paul Mahoney revealed that two components of the Department of Justice investigation into UVA have been closed.

uvamagazine.org

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"But the failure last session of nearly all 33 bills on the subject, most without even getting a hearing, underscores the challenge of legislating on data centers in a state home to the greatest number of them."

Va. could show how to manage data center growth. So far, it’s a case study in stalling legislation • Virginia Mercury

The state with the most data centers is struggling to enact laws to protect electric customers and limit the energy and environmental impacts of their explosive growth.

virginiamercury.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"The Earle-Sears campaign also did not respond to a request for background or an interview request on her policy proposals for rural Virginia..."

Spanberger makes play for rural voters in Virginia governor's race

The former congresswoman is campaigning on affordable health care amid federal cuts.

www.vpm.org

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"The Virginia House Minority Leader didn't sign his 2025 Certificate of Candidate Qualification, but the notary still notarized the form."

Terry Kilgore's 2025 Election Paperwork Problems

The Virginia House Minority Leader didn't sign his 2025 Certificate of Candidate Qualification, but the notary still notarized the form.

joshstanfield.substack.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"Why, then, would he presume that his 2022 texts would remain confidential between himself and Coyner?"

Did Jones really imagine that his malignant texts to a GOP delegate would remain confidential? • Virginia Mercury

Unless you’ve been in a coma or a cave since Friday morning, you probably know about the bloody fantasy that Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for state attorney general, shared in 2022 with a Republi...

virginiamercury.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"Daily newspapers in Richmond, Roanoke, Lynchburg and Fredericksburg will eliminate their Monday print editions starting Nov. 3."

4 Virginia newspapers cut back on print editions

Daily newspapers in Richmond, Roanoke, Lynchburg and Fredericksburg will publish print editions six days a week, eliminating Mondays.

cardinalnews.org

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"But with troops still in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. — and Trump’s thirst for sending more service members to other cities evident — the Tuesday event serves notice that Trump has no intention to stop."

Editorial: Trump, Hegseth outline a dark vision for future of the U.S. military

Americans should find comfort in service members, who swear an oath of allegiance to the Constitution — not the president.

www.pilotonline.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"A Henry County gas station is under investigation after a man allegedly attempted to break into a skill game machine following a loss. The incident has reignited the ongoing debate over the legality of skill games in Virginia."

Henry County gas station incident reignites debate over Virginia's skill game legality

A Henry County gas station is under investigation after a man allegedly attempted to break into a skill game machine following a loss.

wset.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"Albemarle County Circuit Court Clerk Jon Zug told VPM News that there’s “no doubt” that the detentions have had a chilling effect since then, with everyone from court interpreters to crime victims uneasy about engaging with the court..."

Albemarle clerk fears courthouse ICE raid had chilling effect on legal system

He told VPM News court staff and victims are scared of being detained.

www.vpm.org

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"The Franklin County School Board isn’t the only school board to see a race without candidates on the ballot this year.

Statewide, there are at least seven others: two in Greene County, and one each in Appomattox, Bland, Lunenburg, Page and Wythe counties."

At least 8 school board elections across Virginia will take place next month with no candidate on the ballot

Some observers say heightened political polarization within traditionally nonpartisan school board elections is to blame for the lack of candidates.

cardinalnews.org

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Reposted by Activate Virginia

Megan Rhyne @opengovva.bsky.social · 3d

VCOG All Access News, 10/6/25: uncollected taxes; budget presentation; video pilot; damage assessment #FOIA
opengovva.org/transparency...

Transparency News, 10/6/25 – Virginia Coalition for Open Government

opengovva.org

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 3d

"Along with reviewing the issues with the notarization and affidavits, she referenced three instances in which a voter appeared to sign a petition for their spouse as well as their own petition entry."

Longtime Roanoke County school board member charged with election-related misdemeanor

Tim Greenway, who was first elected to the school board in 2015, had been under scrutiny over the summer related to issues with his paperwork to get on the ballot for this year’s school board…

cardinalnews.org

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 3d

"The unions...have accused the division of censoring workers’ speech with the changes proposed, while opining that the method RPS followed in presenting the revisions was rushed and not inclusive of their input."

‘We believe in the process:’ Richmond School Board must decide whether to change unions’ collective bargaining process with RPS

The Richmond School Board is set to vote Tuesday on major changes to the collective bargaining agreement process Richmond Public Schools has with the four unions representing school employees.

www.richmonder.org

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 5d

"On right-to-work laws...Cole said Martin Luther King Jr. was against such regulations. He said right-to-work laws inhibit unions, which can bring higher wages to employees.

“I absolutely believe we need to repeal right to work in the Commonwealth of Virginia, without a doubt,” he said."

Cole, Steinway offer contrasting stances, styles at UMW debate - Fredericksburg Free Press

The incumbent Democrat called out his Republican challenger for dancing around questions.

www.fredericksburgfreepress.com

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