on the news
Virginia’s Congressional Delegation Pressures USPS on Postal Issues
As Virginia continues to have problems with mail delivery, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said: Seven other members of Virginia’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the U.S. Postal Service’s inspector general expressing their concerns.
The letter comes in the wake of delays and disruptions to the local postal service and a recent trial involving mail theft by a former mail carrier. Mr. Cain’s office requested a tour of the Richmond Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Sandston, which is currently under audit by the Office of the Inspector General.
Others are also reading…
On Wednesday, March 13, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, will talk about mail delivery issues and an upcoming tour of the Richmond Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Sandston.
The letter’s signatories include Kaine, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, No. 1 Republican Rep. Rob Whitman, No. 2 Republican Rep. Jen Quiggans, No. 3 Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott, and No. 4 Democratic Rep. Jennifer McClellan. Congressman Bob Goode. R-5th place, Abigail Spanberger, D-7th place.
Development failure: Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has rejected a request by Virginia lawmakers for VCU Health to terminate its $56 million contract with the city due to a contract breakdown.
An agreement to redevelop the downtown public safety building was signed in 2021, but fell through months later due to rising construction costs and weak demand for downtown office space. VCU Health paid him $73 million to exit the project, which would have cost more than $300 million.
Capital City Partners planned to redevelop Richmond’s aging public safety building into three buildings, with VCU Health serving as the anchor tenant.
capital city partners
As part of the agreement, VCU Health committed to sending a pilot at a cost of about $56 million, said Kara Gunter, VCU’s vice president for foreign affairs and health policy. VCU Health, as part of the state agency, does not pay property taxes on its buildings. The city essentially asked for the pilot in exchange for giving away the lucrative land.
In the General Assembly’s budget proposal, lawmakers called on VCU Health to terminate the deal.
they said it
“This budget that has been presented to me will set Virginia back.”
— Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin explains the state budget approved by the Democratic-led General Assembly. He claims it would amount to a $2.6 billion tax increase after lawmakers rejected his proposal to cut income taxes across the board.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin addresses the audience about the state budget at Eggs Up Grill on March 14 in Richmond, Virginia.
Nicholas Galindo, Times-Dispatch
“It was like the biggest challenge of my life. But when you go up there and look down at the clouds, it’s the most breathtaking thing. “When I realized that I had just done this, it was It’s a feeling I’ve never felt before.”
— Jennifer Scherer, owner of Fredericksburg Fitness Studio, about a group of 12 people who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania last month. Eight were from the Fredericksburg area, and half were over 60 years old. They climbed a 6,340-foot snow-covered volcano during a 77.5-mile round trip hike.
Look at the numbers
6 billion
Since 2017, oysters have been added to the Chesapeake Bay by the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance. The alliance brings together more than 100 partner organizations in Virginia and Maryland, and its goal is to introduce 10 billion oysters through restoration and aquaculture efforts. According to the coalition, one adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water each day.
1,000
Approximate number of Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores that Chesapeake-based Dollar Tree will close. The company announced it would close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of this year, and about 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores over the next few years.
calculated fun
Fifth graders Maggie Huey, 10, and Avery Brooks, 10, celebrate Pi Day Thursday at Watkins Elementary School in Chesterfield County. Ashley Wilson’s fifth grade class spent her day doing activities related to pi, the mathematical constant that represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.
Mike Kropp, Times-Dispatch
Victory, defeat and outcome
JUDGE: Charlottesville attorney Jasmine Yun was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday to be a U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Virginia. She will be the state’s first Asian American jurist and the district’s first judge of color. Mr. Yun will assume the role when Chief Justice Michael Urbanski becomes senior judge in July 2024. Mr. Yun is Vice President of Corporate Integrity, Ethics and Investigations at Capital One Financial Corporation and previously served as General Counsel at the University of Virginia and as an Assistant United States Attorney. For the Eastern District of Virginia.
on the news
Virginia law adds new rules to e-cigarette sales
The General Assembly is stepping up efforts to crack down on e-cigarettes, including legislation that imposes stiffer penalties for underage sales and a registration system aimed at banning the sale of e-cigarettes that evade oversight by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Congress also revised the tax treatment of heated tobacco sticks, another alternative to cigarettes. Philip Morris International said the move would delay the launch of its products scheduled for this spring and put it at a competitive disadvantage as it and Henrico County-based Altria Group move into reduced-risk tobacco products. He claimed to fall.
Senate Bill 582 and House Bill 790 would add nicotine vapor products to the list of tobacco products that cannot be sold to people under 21 years of age. These sales come with stiff new penalties, including a $10,000 fine and revocation of the seller’s or retailer’s license. Tax registration for fourth offense.
Spotsylvania school principal fired
The Spotsylvania County School Board voted 5-0 to fire Superintendent Mark Taylor during a special meeting Tuesday night.
Fourteen books, including two by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison, will be “excluded” from Spotsylvania County school libraries, Superintendent Mark Taylor has decided.
Taylor, who was hired by the previous board and started the job in September 2022, sparked a firestorm last year when he removed more than 30 books from county school libraries.
In November, voters removed three members who supported Taylor, replacing the majority of the board.
Kelly Guempel, assistant superintendent and chief academic officer, has been selected as acting superintendent and attends school board meetings in that capacity.
From the Archives: Virginia State Capitol
January 29, 1970 (Cutline): The Capitol is the focus of female lobbyist activity during the session.
staff photo
January 23, 1973 (Cutline): Probably the last time we see it – David King, 13, stands on the page of the Legislature, drawing from Thomas Jefferson’s State House building, which may soon be removed from the building. looking at the model.
bob brown
February 6, 1962 (Cutline): Byrd (left) and Del Pollard look at a model of the Capitol during yesterday’s committee session.
staff photo
October 10, 1963: Lunchroom at the Capitol.
staff photo
March 13, 1972: Inside the Capitol.
Amir Pishdad
January 13, 1962 (Cutline): Early today, the Virginia State Capitol was ready for Harrison’s inauguration.
staff photo
February 21, 1968 (Cutline): Signs proclaiming a “firebreak” along the north side of the Capitol. Most parked cars collide bumper-to-bumper, but the fire chief is lenient.
times dispatch
March 20, 1964: Easter Sunrise Service at the Virginia State Capitol
Don Pennell
March 12, 1974: In March 1974, Virginia First Lady Catherine Godwin (front row, second from right) unveiled a painting of the Virginia Declaration of Rights at the Virginia State Capitol. This work is by Jack Clifton of Hampton (front) and published by the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution. We commissioned this painting in collaboration with the Virginia Bicentennial Commission. Assisting in Mr. Godwin’s unveiling were State Sen. Edward E. Willey Sr. of Richmond and DAR employee Mrs. John S. Biscoe.
bob brown
The Associated Press and The Virginian-Pilot contributed to this report.