NORTHAM ANNOUNCES ASSISTANCE FOR LOCKED-OUT BLACKJEWEL MINERS

Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday announced several relief efforts to assist hundreds of Virginia miners affected by the July 1 bankruptcy of major U.S. coal producer Blackjewel, LLC, which operates 10 mines in the southwestern portion of the state.

LAWYER FOR VIRGINIA LT. GOV. FAIRFAX SAYS WITNESS WILL CORROBORATE THAT SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WAS CONSENSUAL

A lawyer for Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) has told a prosecutor that a witness was present at Fairfax’s sexual encounter with Meredith Watson at Duke University in 2000 and can corroborate that it was consensual. Fairfax lawyer Barry J. Pollack has written to a prosecutor in Durham, N.C., to say that the witness — whom he did not identify — backs up Fairfax’s claim that Watson’s charge against him is “demonstrably false.”

VIRGINIA LT. GOV. FAIRFAX SAYS EYEWITNESS BACKS UP HIS STORY

An attorney for Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax says there’s a witness who can corroborate his story that he did not rape a woman while they were students at Duke University nearly 20 years ago. Fairfax lawyer Barry Pollack sent a letter Tuesday to a North Carolina prosecutor saying the unnamed witness “has stated unequivocally” that the allegations made against Fairfax are false.

LAWYER TELLS DURHAM DA THAT WITNESS HAS TESTIMONY TO CLEAR VIRGINIA LT. GOV. OF RAPE

Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax’s lawyer says an eyewitness to a spring 2000 encounter that fellow Duke University student Meredith Watson said was rape will state that the action was consensual. A letter sent Tuesday from Barry Pollack to Durham District Attorney Satana Deberry, obtained by the News & Observer, provides a detailed account of what they say happened on the night 19 years ago at a fraternity house in Durham.

KAINE SAYS IT’S ‘COMPLETELY BOGUS’ TO COMPARE HIS VIRGINIA TECH PANEL TO GOP’S GUN PLAN

After Republicans voted to adjourn Tuesday’s special session on gun legislation less than two hours after it began, they compared their plan to send bills to the State Crime Commission for study to the approach then Gov. Tim Kaine took following the 2007 killings at Virginia Tech.

DECISION TO ADJOURN SPECIAL SESSION WAS "INSULT" TO MASS SHOOTING VICTIMS’ FAMILIES, LAWYER SAYS

An attorney representing a man who lost his wife in the mass shooting said Wednesday that it was an "insult to the victims' families" that Virginia Republicans immediately adjourned the special session Tuesday. The abrupt decision came as a shock less than two hours into the legislative session, which Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, called for just four days after the May 31 shooting that left 12 people dead and four others injured.

VIRGINIA REPUBLICANS PUSH AID FOR VIRGINIA BEACH

Virginia Republicans announced Wednesday that they will seek to advance a package of bills to provide aid to Virginia Beach and the victims of the mass shooting that occurred there in May. “The Beach is hurting, and I will do everything in my power to see that the victims, their families, and the city get the help they need,” Del. Barry Knight, R- Virginia Beach, said about his home district in a news release.

VIRGINIA IS NOW ELECTION BATTLEGROUND IN FIGHT OVER GUN LAWS

Deep-pocketed interest groups and activists on both sides of the long-running fight over gun laws are gearing up for a major clash in Virginia, now a key election battleground in the issue after Republicans on Tuesday adjourned a special legislative session called by the governor to consider gun-control measures in the wake of a mass shooting.

HANGER: GUN CONTROL DISCUSSION TO 'PLAY OUT' IN FALL ELECTIONS

There may have been plenty of political theater in Richmond on Tuesday, but little productive discussion on the divisive issue of gun control. But that’s a discussion that needs to happen, said Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon.

DEL. LOPEZ PICKS UP NEW CHALLENGER IN CANDIDATE TERRY MODGLIN

A new independent candidate has thrown his hat in the ring to challenge Del. Alfonso Lopez’s bid for re-election this year. Terry Modglin is a retired U.S. Army officer who’s running against the Democratic incumbent to represent parts of Arlington and Fairfax County in the Virginia House of Delegates. This is the second candidate to run against Lopez, who recently defeated Democratic challenger Julius “JD” Spain, Sr. in the primary election.

BLAMING HIGH COSTS OF MATERIALS IN U.S., DANVILLE'S IKEA TO SHUT DOWN, LEAVING 300 TO SEARCH FOR NEW JOBS

Ikea will shut down its operations at Cane Creek Centre industrial park in December, forcing its nearly 300 employees to find work elsewhere. The company announced the decision Wednesday afternoon, citing high costs for raw material in the United States.

END OF AN ERA – LAST DAIRY OPERATION LEAVES POWHATAN COUNTY

An industry that helped shape Powhatan into the community it is breathed its last when the only remaining commercial dairy operating in the county recently moved to a neighboring locality. After 15 years of operating a dairy in Powhatan County, Tommy Adkins recently made the decision to move his operation of 80-plus cows to Cumberland County and go into partnership with another dairyman, Glen Landis.

RICHMOND-BASED LOVING'S PRODUCE CO. SHUTS DOWN AFTER NEARLY 75 YEARS

Loving’s Produce Co., which supplied Richmond-area restaurants, caterers and schools with fruits and vegetables for nearly 75 years, has shut down its operations. The company closed June 15, said Mary Rhoten, Loving’s Produce’s office manager for the past 30 years.

AMAZON'S HQ2 IS UPENDING NORTHERN VIRGINIA’S ALREADY UNSTABLE HOUSING MARKET

Amazon has yet to break ground in Northern Virginia for its second headquarters, but residents are already turning away persistent speculators, recalculating budgets for down payments on homes and fighting rent increases.

VIRGINIA IS AMERICA’S TOP STATE FOR BUSINESS IN 2019

In a year marked by historic economic development deals and marred by a damaging trade war, Virginia lands at the top of CNBC’s 2019 ranking of America’s Top States for Business. This is the Old Dominion’s fourth win in the 13 years since the study began.

VIRGINIA REGAINS NO. 1 RANKING BY CNBC OF BEST STATES FOR BUSINESS

Virginia has regained its status as the best state in the country to do business in the annual CNBC rankings that placed the state No. 1 for the first time in eight years. The financial news cable network extolled Virginia’s “world-class workforce, high-performing education system and business-friendly regulations” — the same reasons Amazon chose the state for its coveted second headquarters last year after a transcontinental sweepstakes.

GROWING HEMP: TO 'BLINDLY' GO WHERE NO PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY FARMER HAS GONE BEFORE

There is no instruction manual for growing industrial hemp in the United States, but that isn’t stopping tobacco farmers Robert Mills, Robert “Bob” Harris and 29 others in Pittsylvania County from trying. Mills said that both Virginia Tech — the university he grew some research hemp for in 2018 — and North Carolina State University have done research and provided some assistance, but there are only recommendations. There aren’t any proven processes for the soil conditions in the county.

FORMER VA. GOV. DOUG WILDER KISSED A 20-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE STUDENT AGAINST HER WILL, INVESTIGATION FINDS

Former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder kissed a 20-year-old student at Virginia Commonwealth University without her consent, according to an investigation conducted by an outside attorney hired by the school. The investigation found Wilder was responsible for “non-consensual sexual contact” but cleared him of three other allegations made by the woman: sexual exploitation, sex- or gender-based discrimination, and retaliation.

JAMES COULD BE FIRST BAY RIVER TO GET MORE PROTECTIONS AGAINST HARMFUL ALGAE

Algae are simple aquatic plants — but when they grow willy-nilly into a slimy expanse, they can pack an outsize punch. On Sunday, for instance, Mississippi announced it had closed all its 21 beaches because of widespread toxic blue-green algal blooms.

FLOODING CHALLENGES AT PAIR OF PENINSULA COMMUNITIES TO INFORM FEDERAL IDEAS ON CLIMATE

After the heavy rain Monday afternoon, the people in Paula Maria Village in Hampton started looking anxiously out the window. Many in the low-cost community for seniors and people with disabilities have seen Newmarket Creek flood their parking lot and sometimes even the apartments. At its worst, the water can get waist-deep, requiring firefighters to use boats to rescue people.

POPULATIONS OF HENRY COUNTY, MARTINSVILLE AND PATRICK COUNTY ARE PROJECTED TO DECLINE

The rural-urban divide in Virginia is expected to grow into more of a canyon in the next two decades, meaning the population of greater Martinsville is expected to continue a steep decline. By 2040 Henry County, Martinsville and Patrick County will have nearly 20,000 fewer residents – about the same as the population of Patrick County in the 2010 census – even as Virginia’s overall population is projected to increase by about 1.9 million.

ESPORTS BEING ADDED AS PILOT ACTIVITY BY VHSL

Esports are coming to Virginia high schools. The Virginia High School League executive committee approved a one-year pilot program for esports. Two seasons will be offered, with the first one running from October until January and the second one yet to be announced, although the VHSL's Darrell Wilson said it will likely be February to May.

INTRUDERS HACK ARLINGTON PAYROLL SYSTEM, POLICE SAY

Intruders broke into Arlington County’s employee payroll system recently and were able to alter the paychecks of an undisclosed number of county workers, police said Wednesday. Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage would not say exactly when the break-in occurred, when it was discovered or how many people were affected, citing an ongoing investigation.

UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WILL CONVERT AN OLD AMERICAN LEGION POST INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR VETERANS

ARLINGTON - When Bob Romano was installed as commander of American Legion Post 139 in 2014, his family attended the ceremony. Walking out of the veterans facility in Virginia Square, his wife turned to him and said, “I’m never going back in that building.” Romano has known for some time that the 60-year-old building, its walls reeking of more than half a century of cigarette smoke and needing a laundry list of expensive repairs, would no longer sustain its 300 members.

LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL CONSIDERS NEW PROCLAMATION RULES FOLLOWING CONTROVERSY

In light of last month’s proclamation controversy, Leesburg Town Council will be agreeing to several resolutions that members hope will reduce the chances of future conflict. “This is not supposed to be an adversarial process, it’s supposed to be a celebration,” Councilman Ron Campbell said. “It’s not political, it’s about the people.”

RICHMOND CITY COUNCILMAN WANTS ANSWERS TO SOUTHSIDE FLOODING ISSUES

Residents of Richmond’s Southside say flooding has become an acute problem in their neighborhood. At a town hall Wednesday night, residents complained about a lack of functioning drainage and standing water that lasts for days. The problem has been made worse by higher than average rainfall over the last few years....Some neighborhoods in Southside, particularly the suburban areas annexed from Chesterfield in 1970, are completely lacking in stormwater infrastructure.

FLIPPING BIRDS: FLOCK OF IMPOUNDED SCOOTERS HEADED FOR AUCTION

Left for dead by their California-based owner, hundreds of electric scooters that were impounded by the city last year are now up for grabs. More than 300 scooters owned by Silicon Valley startup Bird are for sale by Seibert’s, the local towing company that rounded them up at the city’s order in 2018.

SCOOTERS WILL BE ALLOWED ON TROLLEY LANES OF ATLANTIC AVENUE IN VIRGINIA BEACH

After more than a year of wrangling with electric scooters at the Oceanfront, city leaders have decided to allow them in a designated area: The trolley lanes on Atlantic Avenue. But it's only for six months to test if it's a viable option. The City Council approved the measure 10-1 on Tuesday as part of an effort to improve mobility for residents and visitors. The Atlantic Avenue trolley lanes currently encompass a bike route along the north-south thoroughfare.

WITH CITY COUNCILORS OUT, JURY TRIAL NO LONGER SOUGHT IN STATUES LAWSUIT

A jury trial is no longer being sought to resolve a lawsuit filed over Charlottesville City Council votes to remove two Confederate statues downtown. The Monument Fund filed the lawsuit in March 2017, claiming that in 2016 the City Council violated a state code section that bans the removal of war memorials when it voted to remove the statue of Robert E. Lee. The suit was later amended to include the council’s vote on the Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson monument.

STATUS QUO WILL NOT SUFFICE WHEN IT COMES TO VIRGINIA'S GUN LAWS

Lawmakers erred in failing to act on any gun legislation during the special session Apparently, there is nothing the commonwealth can do to curb gun violence in our communities — no bills that can be passed, no policies that can be changed, no equipment that can be prohibited or penalty that can be strengthened.

SCUTTLED SESSIONS SHOULD HAVE VOTERS AGHAST

Apparently there is nothing the commonwealth can do to curb gun violence in our communities — no bills that can be passed, no policies that can be changed, no equipment that can be prohibited or penalty that can be strengthened. What other conclusion are Virginians left to reach following a special legislative session, called by Gov. Ralph Northam to tackle gun violence, that the Republican majority shockingly scuttled?

PLANS, PROCESSES CAN BE CRITICAL TO ZONING ISSUES

And the pendulum swings again. From fast growth, to no growth, to slow growth, to managed growth, Albemarle County has seen its share of policy changes over the past several decade

THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR VIRGINIA TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY

People can argue about the details, now that Dominion Energy has started building Virginia’s first offshore wind energy project off the coast of Virginia Beach. But no one should minimize the significance of this move toward a more sustainable future. Among the questions are: Is Dominion moving too slowly as it takes its first steps toward generating offshore wind energy? And, will offshore wind projects lead to steep rate increases for Dominion’s power customers?

VIRGINIA IS FOR BUSINESS

We’ve long known that Virginia is a great place to live, work and to do business. The people are friendly and industrious. We have a well-educated workforce and plenty of readily available workers. Amazon recognized that last year when it chose Arlington as home for its second headquarters. And Wednesday, CNBC confirmed that when the financial cable news network released its annual scorecard on the economic climates of all 50 states. The report, “America’s Top States for Business in 2019,” named Virginia as the best state in the nation for business.

5 TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SPECIAL SESSION

Well, that was quick. The special session of the General Assembly that Gov. Ralph Northam called in the wake of the Virginia Beach massacre lasted only about 90 minutes. To hear Democrats tell it, the Republican-controlled legislature did nothing. To hear Republicans tell it, they did what Northam should have done —set in motion an independent investigation of the slaughter. Who’s right? To some extent, that depends upon your politics. Here are five other ways to look at what happened:

JONES: LET’S INVEST IN COMMUNITIES, NOT PRISONS

Safety, belonging and opportunities to thrive are key qualities that attract people to communities. As Virginia reflects on the second anniversary of the closure of the Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center in Powhatan County, we must reassert the call for community over incarceration. Since the Beaumont closure, Virginians have soundly rejected new youth prison proposals in both Chesapeake and Isle of Wight County. The state’s next move should be deeper investment in community-based alternatives and ending the reliance on incarceration.

Candice Jones is president of Public Welfare Foundation.