Podcasts about Virginia General Assembly

Today's sponsor is Piedmont Master Gardeners: Now accepting applications for their 2026 training class. Apply by December 1, 2025No study of American history or macroeconomics would leave out the impact played by the Great Crash of the New York Stock Exchange of 1929 which culminated on Black Tuesday, 96 years ago today. Stock prices had continued to increase throughout the Roaring Twenties but would generally decline until 1932, marking the era of the Great Depression. This edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement does not have the time or resources to delve into the causes of a financial panic that transformed the United States. I'm Sean Tubbs, and I think people should look back on their own time.In this edition:* Earlier this year, President Trump asked officials in Texas to redraw the Congressional maps to give the Republican Party an advantage in the 2026 midterms* Other states with Democratic majorities such as California have countered with redistricting proposals of their own* This week, the Virginia General Assembly is meeting in a special session to take a first step to amend the state's constitution to allow for a mid-Census redistricting* The podcast version features an audio version of yesterday's story on 530 East Main Street (read the story)Charlottesville Community Engagement is the work of one person and that one person sometimes neglects the marketing. You can help fill the gap by sharing with friends!First-shout: The new WTJU mobile app is here!WTJU is pleased to announce our brand new mobile app! You can download a version from either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Here are the links to both:* iPhone version* Android versionThe WTJU app is the place to tune in and listen live to WTJU, WXTJ, and Charlottesville Classical. Aside from the live stream, listen to archived shows, view recent songs, playlists, and program schedules, check out videos of live performances, stay up-to-date on WTJU's most recent news and articles, and more!Live chat with your favorite hosts, share stories with your friends, and tune into your community all in the palm of your hand.Virginia General Assembly takes up redistricting amendment during special sessionThe second presidency of Donald Trump has introduced many novel approaches to governance in the United States, including pressure on legislators in Texas to break from precedent to redraw Congressional districts in advance of the 2026 mid-term elections.Traditionally redistricting happens every ten years as mandated in Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. States can determine the method of how they draw districts but for many years Southern states were required to submit boundaries for review to ensure compliance with civil rights legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965.The Republican Party currently holds a narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives with 219 members to 213 Democrats with three vacancies. One of those vacancies has been filled in a special election in Arizona won on September 23 by Democrat Adelita Grijalva but Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has so far refused to swear her in until he calls the full House of Representatives back into session.According to the Texas Tribune, redistricting in Texas is expected to create five additional safe seats for Republicans. The state's delegation of 38 Representatives consists of 25 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and one vacancy. Governor Greg Abbott signed the new Congressional map on August 29 with no need for voters to approve the measure.In response, California Governor Gavin Newsome, a Democrat, suggested legislation called the “Election Rigging Response Act” in direct response to the new maps in Texas, and a voter initiative to redraw maps in the nation's largest state mentions efforts underway by Republicans to redistrict in Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Nebraska, and South Carolina. Proposition 50 is on the ballot on November 4.Last week, the Virginia Political Newsletter reported that Democrats who control a narrow majority in the General Assembly are seeking to follow California's lead. On Monday, the House of Delegates agreed to take up House Joint Resolution 6007 which would amend the Virginia Constitution to allow the General Assembly to make a one-time adjustment.The General Assembly is able to meet because a special session from 2024 was never technically adjourned. To allow consideration of the Constitutional amendment, the joint resolution that sets the rules for the special session had to be changed and agreed to by both the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate.One adopted on February 22 of this year lists six items of acceptable business including memorials and resolutions commending people or businesses. A seventh was added to House Joint Resolution 6006 which was introduced by Delegate Charniele Herring (D-4) on October 24. This would allow a “joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia related to reapportionment or redistricting.”Both the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate convened on Monday, October 27.As the debate in the House of Delegates began, Delegate Bobby Orrock (R-66) made a parliamentary inquiry.“My first inquiry would be given that special sessions have by their very nature only occurred for specific reasons. Ergo, we have resolutions controlling what can be considered during them. And subsequently, to my knowledge and experience here, they've never extended for more than a one year period.”Orrock said the 2024 Special Session was continued to allow progress toward adopting a budget that year. He said that had taken place and the stated reason for the special session was moot.The amendment itself was not made available until Tuesday afternoon. More on that later.Delegate Jay Leftwich (R-90) read from §30-13 of the Virginia Code which lays out what steps the Clerk of the House of Delegates has to take when publishing proposed amendments to the Constitution.“It goes on to say, Mr. Speaker, the Clerk of the House of Delegates shall have published all proposed amendments to the constitution for the distribution from his office and to the clerk of the circuit court of each county and the city two copies of the proposed amendments, one of which shall be posted at the front door of the courthouse and the other shall be made available for public inspection,” Leftwich said.Delegate Herring countered that that section of code predates the Virginia Constitution of 1971 which does not have those requirements. Leftwich continued to press on this note but Speaker of the House Don Scott ruled that his questions were not germane to the procedural issue.Delegate Lee Ware (R-72) said the move across the United States to redraw districts mid-Census to gain partisan advantage was a bad idea no matter what party was proposing it.“Just because a bad idea was proposed and even taken up by a few of our sister states such as North Carolina or California, is not a reason for Virginia to follow suit,” Ware said. “ For nearly two and a half centuries, the states have redistricted following the decennial census, responding to the population shifts both in our country and in the states.”A motion to amend HJ6006 passed 50 to 42.The House of Delegates currently only has 99 members due to the resignation of Todd Gilbert. Gilbert had been named as the U.S. Attorney for Western Virginia but lasted for less than a month. Former Albemarle Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Tracci was appointed to the position on an interim basis.Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Second-shout out: Cville Village seeks volunteersCan you drive a neighbor to a doctor's appointment? Change an overhead lightbulb, plant a flower, walk a dog for someone who is sick, visit someone who is lonely? If so, Cville Village needs you!Cville Village is a local 501c3 nonprofit organization loosely affiliated with a national network of Villages whose goals are to help seniors stay in their own homes as long as possible, and to build connections among them that diminish social isolation. Volunteers do small chores for, and have gatherings of, professors and schoolteachers, nurses and lawyers, aides and housekeepers. Time and chance come to all – a fall, an order not to drive, failing eyesight, a sudden stroke. They assist folks continue living at home, with a little help from their friends.Cville Village volunteers consult software that shows them who has requested a service and where they are located. Volunteers accept only the requests that fit their schedule and their skills.Volunteering for Cville Village can expand your circle of friends and shower you with thanks.To learn more, visit cvillevillage.org or attend one of their monthly Village “meet-ups” and see for yourself. To find out where and when the next meetup is, or to get more information and a volunteer application, email us at info@cvillevillage.org, or call them at (434) 218-3727.Virginia Senators pre-debate the amendment on TuesdayThe Virginia Senate took up the matter on Monday as well. Democrats have a 21 to 19 majority and were unable that day to suspend the rules to immediately consider an amendment to HJ6006. They had a second reading on Tuesday.The initial discussion of the Constitutional amendment took place during a portion of the meeting where Senators got to speak on matters of personal privilege. As with the House of Delegates, many inquiries from Republican legislators happened because the document itself was not yet available for review.Senator Bill Stanley (R–20) rose to remind his colleagues that the General Assembly passed a bipartisan Constitutional amendment to require that redistricting be conducted by a nonpartisan committee.“We listened to Virginians who were tired of the gerrymandering,” Stanley said. “In 2019, polls showed 70 percent of Virginians supported redistricting reform. Not 51 percent, not 55 percent, [but] 70 percent. The Mason Dixon poll showed 72% support. And crucially, over 60 percent of Republicans and Democrats alike supported this amendment. Equally when it came to a vote in the Commonwealth. This was not partisan.”Senator Mamie Locke (D-2) served on the bipartisan redistricting committee and reminded her colleagues that the process broke down in October 2021, as I reported at the time. The Virginia Supreme Court ended up appointing two special masters to draw the current boundaries.“There was constant gridlock and partisan roadblocks,” Locke said. “[Those] Were the reasons why the Supreme Court ended up drawing the lines because the commission ended up discussing things as tedious as which university could be trusted to provide unbiased data.”Locke said the proposal in Virginia would still have a bipartisan commission draw new maps after the 2030 Census and that voters in Virginia would still have to approve the amendment.Senator Scott Surovell (D-34) said the amendment is intended to step in when other branches of government are not exercising their Constitutional authority to provide checks and balances. He echoed Locke's comment that the redistricting commission would continue to exist.“There's no maps that have been drawn,” Surovell said. “There's no repeal of the constitutional amendment. The only thing that's on the table or will be on the table later this week is giving the General assembly the option to take further action in January to then give Virginia voters the option of protecting our country.”Senator Richard Stuart (R-25) said he thinks President Trump is doing a job of bringing manufacturing back to the country and dismissed Surovell's notion that democracy is at threat.“I'm not seeing any threat to democracy,” Stuart said. “I heard the word king, and I would remind the Senator that if he was a king, he would be beheaded for what he just said. But in this country, we enjoy free speech. We get to say what we want to say, and that is a valued right and privilege.”Senator Barbara Favola (D-40) said many of her constituents are concerned about cuts to federal programs due to the recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill including threats to Medicaid. She explained why she supports her Democratic colleagues in Congress in the current state of things.“We are in a shutdown situation because the Democrats are standing up and saying we must extend the tax credits that are available on the health marketplace so individuals can afford their insurance,” Favola said. “Health insurance. This is not going unnoticed by the Virginians we represent.”Senator Mark Peake (R-22) said Republicans were entitled to govern how they want because they are in control of the federal government.“The current president won an overwhelming majority in the Electoral College and he won the popular vote by over 4 million or 5 million votes,” Peake said. “That is called democracy. That is what we have. And the Republicans won the Senate and they won the House of Congress. We will have another election next year and it will be time for the citizens to vote. But we are going under a democracy right now, and that's where we stand.”The points of personal privilege continued. Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-72) said elections are a chance for citizens to weigh in on a presidency that started the process of mid-Census redistricting.“The key point is this,” VanValkenburg said. “The president's ideas are unpopular. He knows it. He's going to his ideological friends, he's asking them to carve up maps, and now the other side is upset because they're going to get called on it in elections.”The Senate adjourned soon afterward and will take up a third reading of HJ6006 today.Democrats file Constitutional Amendment for first referenceEarly discussions about a potential constitutional amendment in the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate this week did not include a lot of details about how a mid-Census Congressional redistricting would take place.House Joint Resolution 6007 was filed with the Virginia Legislative Information System on Tuesday, October 28. As of this publication it is in the House Privileges and Elections Committee because the Senate has not yet given itself permission to take up the matter.The amendment would amend Article II, Section 6, of the Virginia Constitution to insert language into the second paragraph.Here is the full text, with italicized words indicating new language.The Commonwealth shall be reapportioned into electoral districts in accordance with this section and Section 6-A in the year 2021 and every ten years thereafter, except that the General Assembly shall be authorized to modify one or more congressional districts at any point following the adoption of a decennial reapportionment law, but prior to the next decennial census, in the event that any State of the United States of America conducts a redistricting of such state's congressional districts at any point following that state's adoption of a decennial reapportionment law for any purpose other than (i) the completion of the state's decennial redistricting in response to a federal census and reapportionment mandated by the Constitution of the United States and established in federal law or (ii) as ordered by any state or federal court to remedy an unlawful or unconstitutional district map.Take a look at the whole text here. I'll continue to provide updates. Stories you might also read for October 29, 2025* Charlottesville Ale Trail brings people to craft beverage makers, Jackson Shock, October 27, 2025* U.Va. leaders defend Justice Department deal in letter to Charlottesville legislators, Cecilia Mould and Ford McCracken, Cavalier Daily, October 28, 2025* Council agrees to purchase $6.2 million office building for low-barrier shelter, Sean Tubbs, C-Ville Weekly, October 29, 2025* Republican legislators slam Virginia redistricting proposal, Colby Johnson, WDBJ-7, October 27, 2025* Democrat Abigail Spanberger backs Virginia legislature's redistricting push, Steve People and Olivia Diaz, Associated Press, October 27, 2025* Va. Democrats roll out redistricting amendment to counter GOP map changes in other states, Markus Schmidt, October 28, 2025* Virginia Republicans Sue to Block Democratic Redistricting Push, Jen Rice, Democracy Docket, October 28, 2025* Redistricting session to resume Wednesday, WWBT, October 29, 2025Back to local again shortly after #947This is a unique version based on me wanting to go through the General Assembly recordings myself. I have a lot of local stories to get back to in the near future and I'm working extra this week to make sure I get back to them.They include:* Coverage of the discussion of 204 7th Street at the October 21, 2025 Charlottesville Board of Architectural Review* Coverage of last night's Albemarle Planning Commission public hearing on Attain on Fifth Street* Coverage of two discussions at last night's Greene County Board of SupervisorsAs expected, I work longer hours when I'm out of town on family business because I don't have the usual places to go. This is okay. Summer is over and it's time to hunker down and get to work. Today's end video is The Streets: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Why is Speaker of the Virginia House Don Scott trying to call a special session of the Virginia General Assembly? The story is that they are going to try and redistrict the Commonwealth's 11 Congressional districts. Small problem, that Constitutional Amendment that was passed in 2020 establishing first a ‘bipartisan redistricting commission' and in the event of that failing (which it did) turning redistricting over to the Virginia Supreme Court to name two special masters that would draw the districts. Virginia Delegate Tom Garret sits down with us to tell us what the long and short term agenda appears to be. Keep Up With The Daily Signal   Sign up for our email newsletters:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.dailysignal.com/email⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠     Subscribe to our other shows:    The Tony Kinnett Cast: ⁠https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL2284199939⁠ The Signal Sitdown: ⁠https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL2026390376⁠   Problematic Women:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL7765680741⁠   Victor Davis Hanson: ⁠https://megaphone.link/THEDAILYSIGNAL9809784327⁠     Follow The Daily Signal:    X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://x.com/intent/user?screen_name=DailySignal⁠ Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thedailysignal/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Facebook:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.facebook.com/TheDailySignalNews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Truth Social:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://truthsocial.com/@DailySignal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  YouTube:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal?sub_confirmation=1⁠    Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is Speaker of the Virginia House Don Scott trying to call a special session of the Virginia General Assembly? The story is that they are going to try and redistrict the Commonwealth's 11 Congressional districts. Small problem, that Constitutional Amendment that was passed in 2020 establishing first a ‘bipartisan redistricting commission' and in the […]

In this episode of Personally Speaking Msgr. Jim Lisante is joined by Green Beret combat veteran, social media host, and politician Nick Freitas. Nick is a member of the Virginia General Assembly serving in the House of Delegates and he talks about the faith and values that matter the most to him.Support the show

Local candidates for the Virginia General Assembly discuss housing affordability; ChamberRVA to host Henrico Business Council program today at 1; your chance to hear lives blues each of the next two weekends.Support the show

Today's edition is sponsored by the Ragged Mountain Running and Walking ShopSeptember 30 is the final day of the federal fiscal New Year and one version of today's Charlottesville Community Engagement could perhaps have been about how this region might be affected by a federal shutdown. Each edition of this newsletter could be a lot of different things, but what gets selected is usually a matter of what is available for me to write.I'm Sean Tubbs and for a story on the looming shutdown, I refer you to the Virginia Political Newsletter by my colleague Brandon Jarvis.In today's installment:* Albemarle Supervisors have endorsed their legislative priorities for the 2026 General Assembly while Charlottesville City Council is still working on theirs* Jaunt turns 50 this year and is seeking stories from riders* Albemarle Supervisors get a progress report on climate action initiatives including where $522K in spending will go this fiscal yearThanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement ! This post is public so feel free to share it.First shout-out: A Week Without DrivingHow different would your life be if you didn't have a car? From Monday, September 29 to Sunday October 5, Livable Cville invites you to join the local Week Without Driving experience. The goal is to learn more about barriers and challenges that nondrivers face in our community and to reflect on the challenges you would face as a full-time non-driver.There are many reasons why people do not drive, including people with disabilities, youth, seniors and those who can't afford vehicles or gas. A third of people living in the United States do not have a driver's license, but are forced to navigate a mobility system designed almost exclusively for drivers.Livable Cville expects the Week Without Driving experience will help participants better appreciate the challenges and barriers they face. For more information and to register your participation, please visit: https://livablecville.org/weekwithoutdrivingLocal elected officials preparing for 2026 General AssemblyThere are over a hundred days left until the 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly and less than two months until legislators can begin to pre-file bills.Across Virginia, localities are determining what priorities they would like to see turned into legislation.At their meeting on September 15, Charlottesville City Council went through a long list of suggestions from the Planning Commission, the Human Rights Commission, and the Office of Sustainability.“Energy prices are going up,” said Kristel Riddervold, the city's sustainability director. “Legislative priorities related to expanding distributed energy, meaning solar, all over the place in different ways.”Riddervold said city priorities are for the Virginia General Assembly to maintain the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act, full funding for the Virginia Clean Energy Innovation Bank, and reform of rules for construction of data centers. You can see the full list here.The Human Rights Commission submitted a three page list including a request for legislation for expanded rights for those who rent, a request for localities to have right of first refusal to purchase supported housing units, and a $60 million state fund for housing assistance to support 5,000 families. Another legislative request is to require all Virginia localities to maintain a public homeless shelter. You can view this list here.Vice Mayor Brian Pinkston said many of those ideas seem very aspirational and may not take into account political realities.“The one that says here, ‘require that each county and city in Virginia maintain a public overnight homeless shelter or fund a private equivalent,'” Pinkston said. “I mean, that would be lovely because we're, we're doing this. I have a sense for neighboring counties and communities, the work that we're doing here. But does that have any hope of being passed?””City Councilor Michael Payne said many of the Human Rights Commission's requests are part of statewide efforts and many of the aspirations could get through depending on who holds the majority in 2026.“There definitely [are] some that potentially I think really could get passed this year, including like the 5,000 family funds or first right of refusal, but for example, the homeless shelter one you mentioned. I mean, I would feel. I think we could all feel confident saying there's no chance that passes this year.”The Planning Commission submitted a list of 15 potential pieces of legislation. The first addresses the section of state code that is at the heart of the lawsuit against the city's zoning code. Number six is a reintroduction of failed legislation that would allow localities to tax land and improvements at different rates. (view the list)Council will have a further discussion on October 6 before adopting their legislative agenda on October 20.The Albemarle Board of Supervisors is a little further ahead and had the third of three work sessions at their meeting on September 17. Albemarle has four legislative priorities, three of which would involve legislation and the fourth being a budget amendment.“First, we're seeking as a priority enabling localities to enforce the Virginia Landlord Tenant Act,” said County Attorney Andy Herrick. “We're also carrying over from past years expanding the authority to use photo speed monitoring devices.Currently those are limited to road construction work zones and school zones and Albemarle wants to be able to use them on rural roads. Albemarle also wants the General Assembly to try again on legislation to allow localities to hold a referendum on whether to levy a one cent sales tax to fund school construction.“This is an initiative that has been sought in prior years, that's passed the Assembly and been vetoed by the Governor in the past two years,” Herrick said.The budget amendment relates to another item Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed this year. The legislature's version of the budget had funding for a connector trail to connect Biscuit Run Park with the Monacon Indian Nation Tribute.Supervisors adopted their legislative priorities and the next step is to schedule a meeting with area legislators.To learn more about some of the statewide issues, read this story in the Virginia Mercury from Charlotte Rene Woods.Jaunt turns 50 this year and seeks travel storiesAs the Week Without Driving continues, one way people participating might get around is public transit. In addition to Charlottesville Area Transit, the region is served by Jaunt, a public service corporation that formed in 1975.To celebrate, Jaunt is asking people to submit their stories of using the service.“As we look back on 50 years of service, we know the most important part of Jaunt's story is the people we serve,” said Mike Murphy, Jaunt's Chief Executive Officer. “Our mission has always been rooted in community, care, and connection—and this anniversary is about celebrating the ways Jaunt has supported essential regional needs for mobility across generations.”Jaunt was created as Jefferson Area United Transportation but the acronym became the official name in 1983.Have a story from that time? Tell Jaunt at the website they've created.Second shout-out: Five Things ReLeaf has done recently!Time for a subscriber-supported shout-out, this time for ReLeaf Cville!* On April 21, ReLeaf Cville celebrated Arbor Day 2025 by talking with 40 fourth grade students at Greenbrier Elementary about the importance of urban tree canopy, and then planting a tree on the preschool playground* On April 25, the Van Yahres Tree Company donated time and energy to provide tree care to 45 trees ReLeaf planted in the Rose Hill Neighborhood, Fall 2023* On May 10 at RiverFest, Green Team members Moos and Antony joined Keith Pitchford, Board vice-chair, and Cathy Boyd, Executive Director, in providing information about ReLeaf Cville and playing Tree Bingo* In May, C-Ville Weekly profiled ReLeaf Cville's efforts to help homeowners turn their yards into leafy oases - and cool their neighborhoods.* The fourth annual Green Team session took place this week and was designed to equip rising 9th-12th graders in tree knowledge and tree care skills, this year's schedule includes sessions co-led by the Rivanna Conservation Alliance, Van Yahres Tree Company, Master Naturalists, Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards, Community Climate Collaborative, and Steve Gaines, Charlottesville's Urban Forester.Albemarle Supervisors briefed on Climate Action programs, $522K in FY2026 spendingFor the past eight years, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors has been in support of efforts to monitor greenhouse gas emissions as part of an international bid to keep global temperatures from rising. For six years, though, a different set of elected officials opted out of the program.On September 17, 2025, the six elected officials got a briefing from staff on county and regional efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to a world of higher temperatures and more volatile storms. They were also briefed on how staff plans to use $300,000 the Board dedicated to the issue at the end of the FY2026 budget process as I reported at the time.Resources:* 44-page progress report from Albemarle staff* Slide presentation from the briefingBut first, some recent history.Recent historyIn June 1998, local leaders signed a document called the Sustainability Accords, a series of statements intended to solidify the work of several environmental groups working in the area. While climate action itself was not mentioned, the document called for the development of “attractive and economical transportation alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use” and called for the promotion of “conserv[e]ation and efficient use of energy resources.”In December 2007, Albemarle Supervisors voted to adopt a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. At the time, Supervisor Ken Boyd voted for the “Cool Counties” initiative though he expressed concern about the potential impacts. (read a story I wrote then)In the years that followed, a group called the Jefferson Area Tea Party raised concerns about both the resolution and the county's membership in the International Council for Sustainability. The ICLEI group provided resources to measure greenhouse gas reductions and Boyd sought to end participation“We are being infiltrated in local government by an agenda that is set by this international organization,” Boyd said in early May 2011 as I reported at the time. “I think it's now a cancer that is infiltrating our local government here.”By that time, two other Republicans had joined the Board of Supervisors giving Boyd votes he needed to change direction. Democrat Lindsay Dorrier Jr. was a swing vote.Lane Auditorium was packed on the night of June 8, 2011 with some in the crowd defending sustainability efforts and continued participation in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Members of the Tea Party claimed that civil liberties were being threatened.At the end of the meeting, Supervisors voted 4-2 to end participation in ICLEI as I reported at the time. Three months later, they ended participation in Cool Counties as reported in the Charlottesville Daily Progress.However, the Republican majority would come to an end in 2013 after Democratic candidates defeated Duane Snow in the Samuel Miller District and Rodney Thomas in the Rio District.Back on the jobIn September 2017, Supervisors voted to adopt a resolution to “support local actions to reduce climate pollution.”“In October 2019, the Board adopted greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in line with the Paris Agreement,” said Jamie Powers, a county employee since 2023 who is now Albemarle's Climate Program Manager. “The next year, October 2020, the board adopted the Climate Action Plan and stood up the Climate Action Program to implement that plan and help get the community's emissions down in line with the board's targets.”The targets now call for a 45 percent in emissions reductions from 2008 levels by 2030 and to be carbon-free by 2050.Powers said emissions continue to climb across the world and the effects of climate change are here now as a present crisis rather than one for the future to deal with.“The impacts are generally going to be worse over time and increasingly unpredictable unless we can get global emissions under control,” Powers said. “And we do have a role to play locally.”Albemarle's reduction targets are in line with the Paris Agreement which set a framework to reduce emissions so that the increase in global warming could be kept below 2 degrees Celsius. The increase is now at 1.5 degrees.Powers said climate change itself is not the underlying problem.“It is a symptom of a set of problems,” Powers said. “This socioeconomic system that we have, it works exactly as designed and it brings us to a climate crisis and a biodiversity crisis and all these sorts of things. So if we are going to effectively address the climate crisis, we need to take a look at our systems and address things appropriately.”The models used by Albemarle and other local governments are complex and conform to the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories. These are put together by ICLEI and emissions come from many source sectors.“The major sectors of emissions are transportation, stationary energy, and that includes solar,” said Greg Harper, Albemarle's chief of environmental services. “That would be kind of like reducing that stationary energy. Ag force and land use is a smaller contributor and then waste as well.”Albemarle resumed doing inventories in 2018 and Harper said emission levels dropped during COVID but increased for 2022. Data is about two years behind. Harper said reductions can be decreased many ways, such as if many groups can work together to reduce a metric known as “vehicle miles traveled.”“We don't want to stop activity in the county, obviously, but we want to shift people from driving a car by themselves to taking mass transportation, getting on their bicycle for smaller commutes,” Harper said.Powers said Albemarle has been active in many ways to encourage reductions such as supporting home energy improvements, providing “climate action activity kits” through a nonprofit, installing electric vehicle chargers, and creation of the Energy Resource Hub.Albemarle also provided several grants including $20,000 for the International Rescue Committee's New Roots farming program to allow them to electrify equipment and improve their agricultural practices.“If we break down some of the things that they were doing from their composting practice, we calculated that about 25 tons of carbon dioxide is sequestered by them using the composting practices,” Powers said. “About 5 tons of avoided emissions by removing synthetic fertilizers from their operations.”All told, Powers said about 38 tons of carbon dioxide emissions were prevented.Albemarle County is also collaborating with the City of Charlottesville and the University of Virginia on the Resilient Together initiative which seeks to create a resilience plan to adapt to a different weather pattern. That will come before the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors in early 2026.FY2026 fundingPowers also outlined a recommendation of how Albemarle might put that $300,000 to use, as well as another $222,000 in carry over funds for climate action.“The Board made it clear we wanted to emphasize projects that are going to get the most value in terms of emission reductions in FY26,” Powers said.The Residential Energy Improvements line item is intended to assist property owners with lower incomes and that $237,000 does not include another $150,000 the county received through the federal Community Development Block Grant program.“A lot of times, especially in low income households, energy is going out the window, literally,” Powers said. “And so how can we help those folks tighten up their envelopes so when they're turning the AC or the heat on, it's still staying in the home instead of heading out the window.”The Local Energy Alliance Partnership (LEAP) and the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program (AHIP) are partners on that project. Powers said the goal will be to reach up to 50 homes, decreasing emissions classified as “stationary” energy. He estimates the return on investment will be about $3,000 per ton of emissions prevented.Another $100,000 will be spent on energy efficiency in county-owned buildings.“Most likely implementation looks like LED installation, LED fixture installation, likely at two different buildings,” Powers said. “If we transition the equivalent of the space of Northside Library to those fixtures, we would reduce again in that stationary energy category, one of those four categories by 0.03 at $700 per ton and annually that'd be a 143 ton reduction.”Albemarle funded the Energy Resource Hub in FY2025 at the $100,000 level and an additional $63,000 for this year. This is a program that helps homeowners find rebates and other incentives.Partners have not yet been found for the Climate Action Collaboration initiative.For previous coverage on climate action issues, visit Information Charlottesville.Reading material for September 30, 2025* Whistleblowers accuse HUD of ‘systematically undermining' fair housing laws, Ryan Kushner, Multifamily Dive, September 25, 2025* HUD cuts multifamily mortgage insurance premiums, Julie Strupp, Multifamily Dive, September 26, 2025* Albemarle County to consider delay on data center ordinance, Jenette Hastings, WVIR 29NBC, September 28, 2025* Watershed mapping project shows rapid loss of forests, offers new view of Va.'s changing landscapes, Evan Visconti, September 29, 2025* Charlottesville's schools are old. Local officials are trying to change that, Brandon Kile, Cavalier Daily, September 29, 2025* Afton Scientific breaks ground on $200 million expansion in Albemarle, Kate Nuechterlein, September 29, 2025What's the ending, #929?Today I could not get moving. Something is off but my job is to bring people information. I picked up four new paid subscribers since posting the May 2025 transactions, and it is important to get out what I can.The story I wanted to tell today was an accounting of yesterday's traffic congestion caused by a truck hitting a bridge under construction that carries Old Ivy Road over the U.S. 250. I lack the resources to get such a story together but I have questions about whether such an incident is covered by emergency management officials in the area.There are so many stories I want to tell, and sometimes the best I can do is link to other people's coverage. Here's a story from VPM. Here's one from 29NBC News. Here's another from CBS19. How about Cville Right Now?There is a lot of rhetoric about climate action and moving people out of automobiles. Is any of it having any effect? Are fewer people driving alone? How many people are paying attention to this issue? What is the community supposed to do when a major highway is shuttered for hours? Are we all so endless trapped in a news cycle that solutions remain elusive, situations remain intractable?I don't have the answer but I know I want to be part of an information ecosystem that seeks to do better than what we have at the moment with a series of wicked problems that are difficult to solve in this era of fragmentation.So what's today's ending? A note that David Bowie's Diamond Dogs helped me think this morning and this 1973 special seems important. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

This past Virginia General Assembly, lawmakers approved two constitutional amendments that would tear down family and Biblical values in the areas of gender, marriage, and life. And these amendments, if approved by voters in November of 2026, directly impact every Virginian and every church. So why is this November's election so crucial and maybe even more important? We dive into those issues in today's podcast with Pastor Jonathan Falwell and our partner from the Family Foundation, Michael Morisi.

It's likely that the Washington Commanders will be leaving their current home in Prince George's County for a new stadium in the District. What would happen to the Northwest Stadium site? How about the land currently home to Six Flags, which is closing close to the end of the year? Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy weighed in, saying the county is already preparing for the team's departure from the 200-acre-site. Redeveloping the land, Braveboy said, could be a boon. “We didn't really get to yield the kind of revenue that, let's say a National Harbor, yields for us. I mean, we make about 70 million off National Harbor and 14 million off the Commanders," she said.Braveboy also noted the redevelopment of the soon-to-be-closed Six Flags, which sits on 500 acres, could also provide additional tax revenue for the county. Arlington County was the first local jurisdiction in the region to end single-family-only zoning, but the county is now embroiled in a lawsuit over the change. As other counties and cities make similar moves, Arlington County Board member Maureen Coffey joined the show to share lessons learned and the challenges that lie ahead. The D.C. area is feeling the effects of the federal cuts and job losses as unemployment claims rise and layoffs increase. We asked County Board member Coffey what it means for local budgets and how Arlington County is preparing for an uncertain financial future.We also discussed the Arlington Housing Commission potentially asking the Virginia General Assembly to make it easier for houses of worship to build affordable housing on their land.Coffey said the legislation could be a win-win. "I think it's reasonable to look at these properties. Faith communities own a lot of property," Coffey said. "Faith attendance is down, and a lot of these congregations are really struggling to even keep up the properties that they do have." However, Coffey noted the bill would mandate all Virginia jurisdictions to allow for this type of development. Plus, we discussed President Trump's renewed threats for the federal government to take over policing the District.Send us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885Follow us on Bluesky: bsky.app/wamu.org

It's unclear what the extent of the effects will be or when they'll hit Virginia. Plus: Richmond's finance director resigns and VPM News will be hosting a Mug Stop in Charlottesville!

Civilian supremacy over the military remains inviolate in our history and constitution. But what happens when a civilian Commander in Chief, such as Pres. Washington or Pres. Trump, legally deploy the U.S. military or federalized National Guard on American soil? This story is as old as our democracy. One could even argue that the use of militia to crush rebellion in America was a major contributing factor in the founding of the United States. In this interview, we discuss the history and evolution of the civil-military relations in the United States and draw comparisons to and lessons from other countries.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly and the governor are considering how the Virginia code should adapt to the new world of artificial intelligence. Michael Pope reports.

Congratulations! You are seeing the first version of Thursday's VPM Daily Newscast. Podcast production ended on Wednesday before the veto session in Richmond did; we'll be updating this episode with the latest General Assembly news as soon as we can. —Managing Editor Dawnthea M. Price Lisco    In other news: Multiple Red Onion State Prison inmates are suing the Virginia Department of Corrections, an advocate has lodged complaints about the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center with the state, Hanover County broke ground on two elementary school construction projects last week — and more Central Virginia news. 

Members of the Virginia General Assembly were back at the Capitol Wednesday, voting on hundreds of vetoes and amendments from the governor. Michael Pope has this story about one of those amendments on the fentanyl crisis.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly will be back at the Capitol this week. Michael Pope has this report about how lawmakers will be considering legislation related to immigration.

This week WAMU will look at D.C. leader's reactions to Donald Trump's executive order to make D.C. "safe and beautiful," the Virginia General Assembly's one-day session and a weekend at AwesomeCon.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly will be returning to the Capitol next week, and Michael Pope reports that they’ll be considering an important gubernatorial amendment about surveillance.

WMAL GUEST: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - GEARY HIGGINS - Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates – Recapped this legislative session, his legislative priorities and what’s next SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/GearyHiggins ABOUT THIS SESSION OF THE VA GENERAL ASSEMBLY On the evening of Feb. 22, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned after a short, 45-day session. The session got off to a rocky start after a winter storm and power outage disrupted the water supply system in Richmond and the surrounding area, delaying the start to the session. In the beginning of the session there were nearly 2,000 bills introduced. Of those, roughly 900 are headed to the desk of Gov. Glenn Youngkin. He now has until March 24 to sign, amend or veto each of these bills. After he has done that, the general assembly will return to Richmond on April 2 to vote on the governor’s actions. The bills that the governor and both chambers agree to then become law on July 1. GEARY’S BILLS: More than 150 bills sponsored by Republicans were never given a hearing at all, including 5 of Geary’s bills – Banning Sanctuary Cities, Parent’s Bill Rights, School Safety, etc. Dems did however hear and pass a bunch of absurd bills that the Governor already vetoed last year. JAMES MONROE’S HOME: Geary is working very hard on getting James Monroe’s home, “Oak Hill”, which is in his district in Loudoun, to be a State Park. This would be huge for the Commonwealth and Nova specifically. Might be a good question to ask “Did the Democrats fail on getting this in the budget?” CBS: A plan to make James Monroe's Virginia estate a state park was rejected. Now, it's in limbo. Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Monday, March 24, 2025 / 8 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 8 AM Hour: Larry O’Connor and Julie Gunlock discussed: WMAL GUEST: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - GEARY HIGGINS - Delegate, Virginia House of Delegates – Recapped this legislative session, his legislative priorities and what’s next SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/GearyHigginsABOUT THIS SESSION OF THE VA GENERAL ASSEMBLY On the evening of Feb. 22, the Virginia General Assembly adjourned after a short, 45-day session. The session got off to a rocky start after a winter storm and power outage disrupted the water supply system in Richmond and the surrounding area, delaying the start to the session. In the beginning of the session there were nearly 2,000 bills introduced. Of those, roughly 900 are headed to the desk of Gov. Glenn Youngkin. He now has until March 24 to sign, amend or veto each of these bills. After he has done that, the general assembly will return to Richmond on April 2 to vote on the governor’s actions. The bills that the governor and both chambers agree to then become law on July 1. GEARY’S BILLS: More than 150 bills sponsored by Republicans were never given a hearing at all, including 5 of Geary’s bills – Banning Sanctuary Cities, Parent’s Bill Rights, School Safety, etc. Dems did however hear and pass a bunch of absurd bills that the Governor already vetoed last year. JAMES MONROE’S HOME: Geary is working very hard on getting James Monroe’s home, “Oak Hill”, which is in his district in Loudoun, to be a State Park. This would be huge for the Commonwealth and Nova specifically. Might be a good question to ask “Did the Democrats fail on getting this in the budget?” CBS: A plan to make James Monroe's Virginia estate a state park was rejected. Now, it's in limbo.Rosie O’Donnell says leaving US was part of therapy plan for a second Trump term WMAL GUEST: 8:35 AM - INTERVIEW - CHRISTIAN TOTO - Film critic and host of the Hollywood in Toto podcast - Discuss Snow White’s soft launch weekendSOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/HollywoodInTotoTOTO: ‘Snow White’s’ Box Office Collapse Suggests Ominous Trend AXIOS DC: A few days left until peak bloom Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Monday, March 24, 2025 / 8 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Candi & Todd bring you the final review from the Virginia General Assembly session. Plus, hear more about bills we're urging Gov. Youngkin to act on.Check out the full session update for information on bills:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60d201847c78ef1e9e5ff099/t/67be29088d3a7c334bcc3e5f/1740515592975/2025+GA+Legislative+Update.rev+2-25-2025.pdf

Is the U.S. heading toward a financial cliff? In this eye-opening episode, Blake and David unpack the Government Accountability Office's sobering projection that federal debt will double the size of the economy by 2047. While exploring recent DOGE initiatives and IRS layoffs, they examine whether drastic government spending cuts are inevitable—and necessary.Meanwhile, Virginia and Tennessee join the growing movement to reform CPA licensure requirements by offering pathways that don't require 150 credit hours. Could these changes be the key to increasing diversity more effectively than corporate DEI programs?You'll also discover why the $400 million PCAOB budget might be on the chopping block, how AI research tools like Perplexity Deep Research are revolutionizing tax research, and get the latest update on the ever-shifting BOI reporting deadlines. Whether you lean left, right, or stay strictly in the debits and credits, this episode offers practical insights for navigating the changing professional landscape.SponsorsOnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpayCPA.com - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cpaBluevine - http://accountingpodcast.promo/bluevine (Bluevine is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking Services provided by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC.)Chapters(02:16) - Apologies and Clarifications (04:37) - IRS Layoffs and Government Spending (05:32) - Live Stream Interactions and Sponsorships (06:47) - Federal Debt and Fiscal Health (16:58) - BOI Reporting Deadline Extension (19:05) - Deloitte's DEI Changes (23:26) - CPA Licensure Pathways (28:37) - DOGE Dividend Proposal (33:14) - Social Security and Medicare Funding Challenges (35:40) - Impact of IRS Layoffs (38:13) - Audit Rates and Tax Compliance (42:16) - Regulatory Burdens and Economic Growth (50:09) - PCAOB and Audit Quality (59:54) - AI in Tax Research (01:05:38) - Listener Engagement and Final Thoughts  Show NotesGAO-24-106987, The Nation's Fiscal Healthhttps://www.gao.gov/assets/d24106987.pdf Corporate Transparency Act Enforcement Injunction Stayed, FinCEN Extends the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Deadline to March 21, 2025, and Announces Intention to Revise the Reporting Rulehttps://www.sidley.com/en/insights/newsupdates/2025/02/corporate-transparency-act-enforcement-injunction-stayed Trump Demands Apple Ditch DEI After It Rejects Proposal: Here Are All The Companies Cutting Diversity Programshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/02/26/trump-demands-apple-ditch-dei-after-it-rejects-proposal-here-are-all-the-companies-cutting-diversity-programs/ Breaking down Virginia's new CPA requirements: What you need to knowhttps://www.blakeoliver.com/blog/breaking-down-virginias-new-cpa-requirements-what-you-need-to-know Virginia General Assembly passes legislation widening pathways to CPA licensure effective Jan. 1, 2026https://boa.virginia.gov/2025/02/virginia-general-assembly-passes-legislation-widening-pathways-to-cpa-licensure-effective-jan-1-2026/ Bridging the Gap: New CPA Licensure Legislation To Address the CPA Shortagehttps://www.tscpa.com/news/1490-bridging-the-gap-new-cpa-licensure-legislation-to-address-the-cpa-shortage $5,000 DOGE check? Trump backs idea to send some savings to Americanshttps://www.fox9.com/news/5000-doge-dividend-check-trump-backs-savings-americans IRS plans to lay off 7,000 probationary workers beginning Thursday, AP source sayshttps://apnews.com/article/irs-layoffs-trump-elon-musk-doge-df2b3c8d53ff9f2d276c8b29f8004dde AICPA CEO Mark Koziel on the Future of Accounting Under the Trump Administrationhttps://www.nysscpa.org/news/publications/the-trusted-professional/article/aicpa-ceo-mark-koziel-on-the-future-of-accounting-under-the-trump-administration-021225 Perplexity Unveils Deep Research: AI-Powered Tool for Advanced Analysishttps://www.infoq.com/news/2025/02/perplexity-deep-research/ TaxGPT Raises $4.6M to Build the First AI Tax Co-Pilot for Accounting and Tax Firmshttps://www.taxgpt.com/blog/taxgpt-raises-4-6m-to-build-the-first-ai-tax-co-pilot-for-accounting-and-tax-firms DeepSeek on par with GPT, Claude, Llama for accountinghttps://www.accountingtoday.com/news/deepseek-on-par-with-gpt-claude-llama-for-accounting Secure your Intuit Account and prevent lockout with extra verification methodshttps://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/help-article/security-risk/verify-account-multi-factor-authentication/L2Xp0GNiT_US_en_US Need CPE?Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.comSubscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.comGet in TouchThanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and ...

Lawmakers finished the legislative session in Richmond over the weekend, but they've got unfinished business and will likely be back for a special session.

On Wednesday night, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One he thinks the federal government should take over the District: "I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely, flawlessly beautiful," Trump said. Many D.C. leaders are worried about what's next for the District's ability to self-govern. Ward 2 D.C. Councilmember and chair of the city's judiciary and public safety committee, Brooke Pinto, joined the show to give us her thoughts.Legislation making its way through the Virginia General Assembly could eventually reshape Arlington County's government. We asked Arlington County Board Chair Takis Karantonis to weigh in. Plus, why the White House's push to shrink the federal workforce leaves Arlington County with an uncertain economic future. He also discussed how the county is protecting transgender students in the wake of new federal policies.The Maryland General Assembly continues to debate how to close the state's three billion dollar budget gap. Governor Wes Moore recently pitched changes to the massive education reform plan Blueprint for Maryland's Future, but the proposal is not sitting well with everyone. Maryland State Senator Cheryl Kagan, who represents parts of Montgomery County, got behind the mic to give us her take.Become a member of WAMU: wamu.org/donateSend us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885

Members of the Virginia General Assembly are currently engaged in a number of debates about public policy issues. But as Michael Pope reports, some of the important issues are NOT being debated.

A federal judge paused the Trump administration's "deferred resignation" offer hours before the Thursday deadline. Many of the particulars of the offer remain unclear, including if it is even lawful. U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D) joined the show to weigh in on what it means for the region and what lawmakers are doing to help local federal workers.Plus, the Congressman explained why the White House's recent immigration enforcement actions could be illegal and his thoughts on legislation that would repeal D.C.'s self-governance.Debate is raging over a proposal in the Virginia General Assembly to bring a casino to Fairfax County. Supporters believe it will bring economic development and jobs to the county, while detractors argue it does not have the public's backing. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay got behind the mic to weigh in on the debate.He said he does not favor the legislation that passed the Virginia Senate earlier this week, noting it turns a potential casino into a “ATM” for Richmond with little economic benefit to the county."The way the bill is currently written right now, what passed the Senate, is absolutely not a good deal for Fairfax County," McKay said. "It's a great deal for the Commonwealth of Virginia."Plus, how the Trump administration's push to shrink the federal workforce could affect the county's economy.Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivered his "State of the State" address this week where he focused on the growing financial challenges facing his state. He called on bipartisan compromise and the need to make "tough choices" to address the state's $3 billion budget gap. We asked Maryland Matters' founding editor and reporter Josh Kurtz to break down Governor Moore's remarks and explain Maryland lawmakers' agendas. And we said goodbye to the long-time Maryland politico, who announced this week he's moving on.Become a member of WAMU: wamu.org/donateSend us questions and comments for guests: kojo@wamu.orgFollow us on Instagram: instagram.com/wamu885

This week, Candi and Victoria bring news of an incredible victory from Trump's recent executive order! Plus, hear updates on bill we're watching as the Virginia General Assembly session continues in Richmond.

The ACLU and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are suing President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services over an order to halt gender-affirming medical care for people under age 19.    In other news, Tuesday was crossover day at the Virginia General Assembly!    In the podcast: News outlets owned by Lee Enterprises had a nationwide outage that prevented Tuesday's newspapers from being printed.   

This week, Candi and Victoria review the exciting week one developments from the Trump Administration. Plus, hear critical updates on legislation currently moving through the Virginia General Assembly.

WMAL GUEST: 6:35 AM - INTERVIEW - CALLIE CHAPLOW - Director of Government Affairs for HEAV (Home Educators Association of Virginia) - Discuss new legislation in the Virginia General Assembly looking to do overreach on homeschool regulations FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/128831755261 Youngkin vows to veto proposal to remove religious homeschool exemption ‘This bill is about ensuring that it is not legal in Virginia to not educate your children’: The controversy behind religious exemptions from school Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Monday, January 27, 2025 / 6 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 6 AM Hour: Larry O’Connor and Julie Gunlock discussed: Trump Pledges to ‘Take Care’ of Recovery in Los Angeles After Wildfires WMAL GUEST: 6:35 AM - INTERVIEW - CALLIE CHAPLOW - Director of Government Affairs for HEAV (Home Educators Association of Virginia) - Discuss new legislation in the Virginia General Assembly looking to do overreach on homeschool regulations FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/128831755261 Youngkin vows to veto proposal to remove religious homeschool exemption ‘This bill is about ensuring that it is not legal in Virginia to not educate your children’: The controversy behind religious exemptions from school Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Monday, January 27, 2025 / 6 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 30 years have now passed since I began work as an intern for WVTF Public Radio, beginning a professional career that has at times included the production of audio stories. When Town Crier Productions first began putting out the Charlottesville Quarantine Report in March 2020, I finally returned back to having a sonic element as part of my work routine.The first 650 editions of this newsletter were all podcasts as well, but I made a change last February that has meant there's only one of these a week. That's because I produce a version for WTJU that airs Saturdays at 6 a.m. The idea is to produce a podcast version too, but the holidays were particularly grueling.Today's edition is produced as a reminder that audio is an aspiration, and perhaps the first time many new subscribers realize this occasional benefit. Everything you hear has already been in print and you can find the written articles over on Information Charlottesville.In this edition: * Democrats retain control of the Virginia General Assembly after three special elections on January 7 (learn more)* The General Assembly convened briefly on January 8 and recessed until Monday due to Richmond water crisis (learn more)* Governor Glenn Youngkin delivered the State of the Commonwealth address when they got back to work (learn more)* Albemarle Supervisors retain leadership for what is described as a challenging year (learn more)* A look at School Board races in Charlottesville so far (learn more)* Reids Super Save Market to close as Twice as Nice thrift store to purchase building (learn more)* Albemarle Planning Commissioners request different designations of for different kinds of rural land (learn more)* BAR members suggest changes to planned affordable housing building on Wertland Street (learn more)Sometimes there are podcast editions and this is one of them. Sign up to get them all! First shout-out: Celebrating the community's other information organizations!In today's first shout-out in the form of a house ad, I want to make sure everyone knows that every edition of the regular newsletter (not the podcast ones) ends with a section called Reading Material. Charlottesville Community Engagement is just one offering in a landscape that includes the Charlottesville Daily Progress, C-Ville Weekly, Charlottesville Tomorrow, and Cville Right Now, I curate links from these sources because I believe a truly informed community needs multiple perspectives.There's also the Cavalier Daily, Vinegar Hill Magazine, the Fluvanna Review, the Crozet Gazette, NBC29, CBS19, and other sources. But if you look every day, you'll find links to articles in national publications, all linked to give you more perspectives on some of the issues of our times.Second shout-out:What you are reading or listening to at Charlottesville Community Engagement is part of a business-venture that's based on a pretty simple idea. I will spend my time researching and reporting and will provide ways for people who want to pay for the material to be produced!bI've been a journalist for a long while now, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of the Charlottesville Podcasting Network. While that website doesn't have new content, it's part of how I demonstrate my dedication to this community. In 2025 I'm seeking ways to solidify the business, and here are some ways you can support the work.* Sign up for a paid subscription through Substack. There is not much premium content because my primary aim is to get information out to as many people as possible.* Contribute through Patreon. A major goal this year is to replace this with a way to make a tax-deductible donation, but that's not set up yet. If I had more time, I'd make more audio programs through Patreon.* Send in a check made out to Town Crier Productions at PO Box 1754, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902. This will be used as a replacement for Substack.* Ask me about advertising opportunities! Later this month, advertising will begin to appear on Information Charlottesville and I'm hoping it can have the same style as the shout-outs. Introductory pricing will be low!* Tell friends about the work!* Volunteer to design some logos because I'm very bad at graphics! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

WMAL GUEST: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - DR. STANLEY GOLDFARB - Board Chairman of Do No Harm SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/donoharm Virginia General Assembly session resumes Monday after storm delay. The Virginia General Assembly will resume its 2025 legislative session Monday after a two-and-a-half-day delay caused by Richmond’s water crisis following a winter storm. Virginia Resurrects Bill Forcing Healthcare Professionals to Submit to Divisive Trainings Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Moniday, January 13, 2025 / 8 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 8 AM Hour: Larry O’Connor and Julie Gunlock discussed: WMAL GUEST: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - DR. STANLEY GOLDFARB - Board Chairman of Do No Harm SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/donoharm Virginia General Assembly session resumes Monday after storm delay. The Virginia General Assembly will resume its 2025 legislative session Monday after a two-and-a-half-day delay caused by Richmond’s water crisis following a winter storm. Virginia Resurrects Bill Forcing Healthcare Professionals to Submit to Divisive Trainings Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Moniday, January 13, 2025 / 8 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 8 AM Hour: Larry O’Connor and Patrice Onwuka discussed: WMAL GUEST: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL JASON MIYARES - Discussed his agenda for the Virginia General Assembly coming back on Monday HERE is a link to the Attorney General's legislative agenda for this year's session Federal judge vacates Biden’s Title IX rule IWF Statement: Victory For Women And Girls: A Federal District Court Rejects The Biden Administration’s Redefinition Of Sex In Title IX WMAL GUEST: 8:35 AM - INTERVIEW - BRET BAIER - anchor of Special Report on Fox News Channel - discuss latest on the CA wildfires SOCIAL MEDIA: https://x.com/BretBaier Filmmaker and author Justine Bateman has a message for the leaders of California: If you can’t cover the basics, get out. You are useless to us, you are a liability and you have destroyed people’s lives, because you didn’t do your job. You should resign out of shame. Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Friday, January 10, 2025 / 8 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WMAL GUEST: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL JASON MIYARES - Discussed his agenda for the Virginia General Assembly coming back on Monday HERE is a link to the Attorney General's legislative agenda for this year's session Where to find more about WMAL's morning show: Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor, @Jgunlock, @patricepinkfile, and @heatherhunterdc. Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Frisday, January 10, 2025 / 8 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State Senator Tara Durant (27th District) previews the 2025 Virginia General Assembly.  We talk about some of her bills--including one on protecting your privacy when in your car.   We talk about eliminating the tax on tips and eliminating the car tax.   Because of the Richmond water crisis, the Assembly begins Monday in Richmond.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly gaveled into session Wednesday. But as Michael Pope reports, it wasn’t what anyone expected. Governor Glenn Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth address was also postponed to Monday.

This episode of VHHA's Patients Come First podcast features Delegate Rodney Willett, who represents the Henrico County-based 58th House District in the Virginia General Assembly, for a conversation on his work and legislative career, his role as Chair on the Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care, and much more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact on X (Twitter) or Instagram using the #PatientsComeFirst hashtag.

A Henrico School Board member is running for a seat in the Virginia General Assembly; county officials name the Cobbs Creek Reservoir for a former county manager; a town hall meeting planned next week in Sandston to address rash of vandalism, break-ins; Henrico supervisors establish a countywide technology zone; Support the show

Members of the Virginia General Assembly will consider a trio of constitutional amendments when they gavel into session in two months. Michael Pope has a preview.

fWotD Episode 2738: Daniel Boone Welcome to Featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia’s finest articles.The featured article for Saturday, 2 November 2024 is Daniel Boone.Daniel Boone (November 2 [O. S. October 22], 1734 – September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of the Thirteen Colonies. In 1775, Boone founded the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap and into Kentucky, despite resistance from Native Americans. He founded Boonesborough, one of the first English-speaking settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains. By the end of the 18th century, more than 200,000 people had entered Kentucky by following the route marked by Boone.He served as a militia officer during the Revolutionary War (1775–1783), which in Kentucky was fought primarily between American settlers and British-allied Indians. Boone was taken in by Shawnees in 1778 and adopted into the tribe, but he resigned and continued to help protect the Kentucky settlements. He also left due to the Shawnee Indians torturing and killing one of his sons. He was elected to the first of his three terms in the Virginia General Assembly during the war and fought in the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782, one of the last battles of the American Revolution. He worked as a surveyor and merchant after the war, but went deep into debt as a Kentucky land speculator. He resettled in Missouri in 1799, where he spent most of the last two decades of his life, frustrated with legal problems resulting from his land claims.Boone remains an iconic, if imperfectly remembered, figure in American history. He was a legend in his own lifetime, especially after an account of his adventures was published in 1784, making him famous in America and Europe. After his death, he became the subject of many heroic tall tales and works of fiction. His adventures—real and legendary—helped create the archetypal frontier hero of American folklore. In American popular culture, Boone is remembered as one of the foremost early frontiersmen, even though mythology often overshadows the historical details of his life.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 09:32 UTC on Friday, 8 November 2024.For the full current version of the article, see Daniel Boone on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Amy.

Next year, members of the Virginia General Assembly will likely consider legislation to crack down on intimate images that are shared without consent. Michael Pope reports on a bipartisan group trying to create a new felony. 

The Virginia General Assembly in 2021 approved a plan for the state's air board to adopt the standards, which required all new passenger vehicles sold in the commonwealth to be electric by 2035 — though 20% of those could be plug-in hybrids. Also: Virginia's air board adopts federal particulate matter standards; and other stories

I live in Norfolk, Nebraska which I am now 100% is a COVEN. How did I get here and WTH is up?      Why was Norfolk, Virginia founded?   Laid out as a town in 1682 following an act of the Virginia General Assembly (1680) that each county should establish a trade centre, it was named […] The post USA Experiment: 1st Coven in USA, set up Norfolk, VIRGINA. We “think” Chamber of Commerce runs local towns but run by COVENS. Astral Projection, Remote Viewing, Channeling, how it works. What is BAAL? WHY Now? appeared first on Psychopath In Your Life.

Is it worth your time to meet with your elected officials?  Narissa Rahaman Executive Director of Equality Virginia joined RHV to discuss their most recent wins at the Virginia General Assembly. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, watch our website and social media accounts for information about the upcoming Equality Virginia Community Town Halls.

WMAL INTERVIEW: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL JASON MIYARES on the Virginia General Assembly recap and immigration issues Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:  Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock,  @patricepinkfile and @heatherhunterdc.  Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Thursday, March 14, 2024 / 8 AM Hour  O'Connor and Company is proudly presented by Veritas AcademySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 8 AM Hour: Larry O'Connor and Mercedes Schlapp discussed: WMAL INTERVIEW: 8:05 AM - INTERVIEW - VIRGINIA ATTORNEY GENERAL JASON MIYARES on the Virginia General Assembly recap and immigration issues VIDEO: Dylan Mulvaney's sexist pop song WMAL INTERVIEW: 8:35 AM - INTERVIEW - TODD BENSMAN - Fellow at Center for Immigration Studies; Author of “OVERRUN: How Joe Biden Unleashed the Greatest Border Crisis in U.S. History” - Discussed Haitian immigrants heading to US and have been heading over the border Intelligence sources say that the U.S. Coast Guard has been ordered to follow illegal Haitian migrants to the coast and allow them to enter America through southern Florida. Lawmakers Cite CIS in Demanding End to Secretive Immigrant Flights Biden administration considers holding Haitian migrants fleeing gang-ravaged nation in Guantanamo Bay: report Florida border agents placed on high alert for refugees following breakdown of order in Haiti Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:  Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock,  @patricepinkfile and @heatherhunterdc.  Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Thursday, March 14, 2024 /  8 AM Hour  O'Connor and Company is proudly presented by Veritas AcademySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WMAL GUEST: 6:35 AM - INTERVIEW - FORMER VA STATE SENATOR AMANDA CHASE - Discussed the top bills she's watching in the Virginia Assembly List of Virginia Bills She's Tracking Amanda Chase's newsletter Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:  Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock,  @patricepinkfile and @heatherhunterdc.  Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 / 6 AM Hour  O'Connor and Company is proudly presented by Veritas AcademySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 7 AM Hour: Larry O'Connor and Julie Gunlock discussed: 7:05 AM - INTERVIEW - VIRGINIA DELEGATE IAN LOVEJOY - member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 22 (Manassas). He assumed office on January 10, 2024  TOPIC: Discuss the latest happening in the Virginia General Assembly: https://twitter.com/IanTLovejoy/status/1759360459344335258 Girls high-school basketball team forfeits after trans player injures 3 players in Massachusetts 7:35 AM - INTERVIEW - MARYLAND DELEGATE APRIL MILLER - member of the Maryland House of Delegates for District 4 in Frederick County, Maryland. She was previously an at-large member of the Frederick County Board of Education  TOPIC: Del. Miller is working to fight for parental rights in Annapolis  Delegate April Miller is fighting to allow parents to opt their kids out of the Health Framework, which proposed legislation this year would mandate gender ideology be taught in schools to kindergarteners It would also give the state of Maryland the right to dictate what local districts teach and change it at any time Maryland House Bill 558 was voted favorably out of Ways and Means Committee last Thursday with an amendment to not allow parents to opt their children out of gender identity and sexual orientation topics in the Health Framework.  It should come to the House Floor for second and third reader votes THIS WEEK.  Madonna falls on stage at concert after dancer drops her Where to find more about WMAL's morning show:  Follow the Show Podcasts on Apple podcasts, Audible and Spotify. Follow WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" on X: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor,  @Jgunlock,  @patricepinkfile and @heatherhunterdc.  Facebook: WMALDC and Larry O'Connor Instagram: WMALDC Show Website: https://www.wmal.com/oconnor-company/ How to listen live weekdays from 5 to 9 AM: https://www.wmal.com/listenlive/ Episode: Tuesday, February 20, 2024 / 7 AM Hour See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott joins Clay and Buck to discuss his battle with the Biden administration over securing the border and to unload on NYC Mayor Eric Adams' complaints about illegals sent from Texas. Fetterman mocks Biden impeachment. Democrat candidate for Virginia General Assembly posted sex videos with her husband on porn site. C&B take a call on normalization of porn.Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott joins Clay and Buck to discuss his battle with the Biden administration over securing the border and to unload on NYC Mayor Eric Adams' complaints about illegals sent from Texas. Fetterman mocks Biden impeachment. Democrat candidate for Virginia General Assembly posted sex videos with her husband on porn site. C&B take a call on normalization of porn.Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.