Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jefferson Lab to lay off at least 46 employees in early 2026

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 5h

"After failing to get 65 workers to agree to voluntarily resign, Jefferson Lab is now looking to lay off at least 46 in January.

Jens Dilling, director of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Newport News, told staff the step is hard..."

As the federal contractor begins the process of laying off employees, it’s also trying to make a limited budget last to pay current employees.

www.whro.org

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 5h

"VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Sentara Health has notified more than 200 employees they may be impacted by upcoming layoffs, a spokesperson said Monday."

Sentara Health notifies more than 200 employees of upcoming layoffs

Sentara Health plans to lay off around 220 employees, mainly from Sentara Health Plans, due to operational realignment.

www.13newsnow.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 8h

"When asked whether there’s a possibility of an “AI bubble,” the governor said he remains encouraged by the strong demand for new data centers amid the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence across industries."

Youngkin touts Henrico firm powering Virginia’s data center boom • Virginia Mercury

Governor highlights Hyper’s role in meeting surging demand for energy-efficient equipment as lawmakers weigh grid capacity and policy changes.

ICE detaining 13-year old boy from Massachusetts in a Virginia facility - Cville Right Now

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 8h

"ICE is detaining a 13-year old boy from Everett, MA in a Winchester juvenile detention center 500 miles away after what The Boston Globe reports was an interaction with the Massachusetts town’s police department."

ICE is detaining a 13-year old boy from Everett, MA in a Winchester juvenile detention center 500 miles away after what The Boston Globe reports was an interaction with the Massachusetts town's police...

cvillerightnow.com

Commentary: George Mason’s board is bypassing the rules — and the public

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 9h

"If this agreement is signed, Mason could again face improper donor conditions hidden from the community and the citizens of Virginia. Donors could demand influence over faculty hiring, student awards or even curriculum."

The Executive Committee of the George Mason University Board of Visitors faces scrutiny over an affiliation agreement with the Foundation for Scalia Law, raising concerns about transparency and accoun...

richmond.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"Statewide, an estimated 38% of those receiving citations from photo cameras don’t pay. Then the camera vendor gets a 15% cut of each bill paid... New Kent County might stand to collect roughly $2.8 million for the six weeks of violations..."

More than 60,000 violations from I-64 speed cameras in 6 weeks. Where is all the money going?

Four speed surveillance cameras — all of them mounted on pickup trucks — are now recording speeders in New Kent County.

www.pilotonline.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"Virginia’s Republican nominee omitted high-value gifts and donor-funded travel from ethics filings, part of what experts call a troubling pattern of secrecy and self-policing failure."

Financial disclosure gaps, questionable gifts cloud Earle-Sears’ bid for governor • Virginia Mercury

A closer look at Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears' public filings reveals a pattern of omissions and inconsistencies in her financial disclosures — including a $12,000 “gi...

Some Hampton Roads cities are making millions from speed cameras. State lawmakers voice concerns.

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"Two cities in Hampton Roads — Suffolk and Chesapeake — account for nearly half of the $57.8 million in penalties collected from speeding drivers in school zones and highway work zones across the state."

“I’m looking at these totals, and I am appalled,” said Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg. “This is outrageous. We have to do something as a General Assembly.”

www.pilotonline.com

Virginia Could Show How to Manage Data Center Growth. So Far, It’s a Case Study in Stalling Legislation - Inside Climate News

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"But interviews with a dozen state lawmakers pointed to a range of hurdles—chief among them a muscular lobbying effort by tech companies as well as the fraught politics of treading on the decision-making domain of local officials."

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

insideclimatenews.org

As concerns mounted, a local nonprofit continued to receive city money, partially at Council’s insistence

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 1d

"Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Richmond, also made a budget amendment after its approval for fiscal year 2025 that allows the group to receive $250,000 through the state DOE."

The unusual treatment city officials gave UBU highlights the concerns some city officials have about a nonprofit funding system that lacks clear rules and allows elected politicians to influence which...

www.richmonder.org

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Reposted by Activate Virginia

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"And it’s worked exactly how the politicians and business lobbies wanted it to. It’s driven down wages, busted unions and kept Virginia at the bottom when it comes to worker protections."

Labor leader: It’s time to repeal so-called ‘right-to-work’ in Virginia

“Right-to-work” isn’t about freedom or choice. It’s a corporate scam dressed up in red, white and blue.

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

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"You might think the state that is the undisputed epicenter of global internet traffic has a leg up on managing the challenges of the artificial intelligence arms race.

So far, it’s not working out that way."

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

Three sheriffs who backed Jay Jones silent on whether they still support him

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

“(Democrats are) paying the price for the political malpractice of Shannon Taylor’s campaign that didn’t even find out about the 116 mile-an-hour speeding ticket in the primary, which is just almost inconceivable that could happen...” Holsworth said.

Meantime, the Republican Attorneys General Association donates $2.5 million more to Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, bringing its contributions in the race to $8.5 million.

richmond.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"And it’s worked exactly how the politicians and business lobbies wanted it to. It’s driven down wages, busted unions and kept Virginia at the bottom when it comes to worker protections."

Labor leader: It’s time to repeal so-called ‘right-to-work’ in Virginia

“Right-to-work” isn’t about freedom or choice. It’s a corporate scam dressed up in red, white and blue.

Speaker Scott Enters DPVA Defamation Suit, Delaying Release of Spanberger Answers Under Oath

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"The Speaker of Virginia's House of Delegates successfully delayed Abigail Spanberger's deposition release by relying on a special provision of Virginia law."

The Speaker of Virginia's House of Delegates successfully delayed Abigail Spanberger's deposition release by relying on a special provision of Virginia law.

joshstanfield.substack.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"If all the data centers planned for REC’s territory are completed, the co-op, which has fewer than 170,000 customers, will need enough capacity to power the combined populations of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago."

Co-Op Risks

Rappahannock Electric opens door to building own power supply. It’s not ruling out nuclear power.

thenewenergycrisis.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 2d

"Times-Dispatch review of asbestos inspection records for Richmond Public Schools has revealed that officials between 2004 and 2021 missed at least 90 federally mandated inspections for the carcinogenic fibers across the district’s schools."

Records: RPS missed 90 federally mandated asbestos inspections

Records for 78 more inspections, which school officials say were performed in compliance with federal law, are missing, The Times-Dispatch found.

richmond.com

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 4d

"What Virginians saw Thursday night was easily the most exciting gubernatorial debate in Virginia history, but exciting only in the sense that a train wreck is exciting."

Virginia sees a debate like no other. That’s not a compliment.

This was an utter embarrassment that marks the end of any pretense that we still adhere to the mythical “Virginia Way” in our civic discourse.

Here’s what Virginia Beach’s ballot referendum on voting districts means

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 4d

Virginia Beach voters are being asked to pick their preferred local voting system during this year’s election.

Virginia Beach voters are being asked to pick their preferred local voting system during this year’s election.

www.whro.org

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Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 4d

Still on the ballot – Kilgore acknowledges candidacy paperwork issues

Despite some filing errors, Virginia House of Delegates Terry Kilgore is still the Republican candidate for the 45th House District.

www.timesnews.net

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 5d

"Virginia is one of the leading states in student loan debt, according to federal data. In Virginia, 55% of college graduates have student loan debt, and the average debt exceeds $40,000."

Virginia is No. 4 in student loan debt • Virginia Mercury

Debt-burdened Virginians in limbo with new payment plans, government shutdown

Grand jury indicts 2 Virginia Beach police officers for obtaining money under false pretenses

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 5d

"A Virginia Beach grand jury indicted two police officers on charges of obtaining money under false pretenses, following an internal investigation prompted by an anonymous tip."

Virginia Beach officers Sgt. Rebecca Peyer and Officer Brian O’Connell indicted for fraud; both suspended pending review. Police stress accountability.

www.13newsnow.com

Activate Virginia @activateva.bsky.social · 5d

"I realize that many have called for Jay Jones to step aside...But, as a Republican officeholder, I have long held to the belief that it is not my place to tell the Democratic Party what candidates they should nominate or ask to step aside.”

Griffith is only Republican in Virginia delegation not to call for Jones to quit race

Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said “as a Republican officeholder, I have long held to the belief that it is not my place to tell the Democratic Party what candidates they should nominate or …