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Virginia Law Establishes Penalties for Disarming Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers

Virginia Law Establishes Penalties for Disarming Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers

Virginia has enacted a law, § 18.2-57.02, that criminalizes the act of disarming a law-enforcement officer or correctional officer. This statute applies to individuals who knowingly and without permission remove a chemical irritant weapon or impact weapon from an officer's possession, or deprive them of its use, with the intent to impede or prevent the officer from performing their official duties. Such an offense is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, if the weapon involved is the officer's firearm or stun weapon, the offense is elevated to a Class 6 felony. The law specifies that a violation constitutes a separate and distinct offense. This legislation aims to protect officers and ensure they can effectively carry out their responsibilities without interference.

Virginia Law Prohibits Carrying Dangerous Weapons to Places of Worship

Virginia Law Prohibits Carrying Dangerous Weapons to Places of Worship

Virginia law, specifically Section 18.2-283 of the Code of Virginia, makes it a Class 4 misdemeanor to carry a dangerous weapon to a place of religious worship while a meeting for religious purposes is being held. This includes guns, pistols, bowie knives, daggers, or any other dangerous weapon, unless there is a good and sufficient reason. The statute has historical roots, with amendments and codifications dating back to 1950 and 1975. The law is part of Chapter 7, Article 4 of the Code of Virginia, which addresses crimes involving health and safety, and dangerous use of firearms or other weapons. The provision aims to ensure the safety and sanctity of religious gatherings by restricting the presence of weapons without proper justification.

'We’ve been screwed': A wealthy county is overrun with data centers

'We’ve been screwed': A wealthy county is overrun with data centers

Loudoun County, Virginia, became the world's data center capital and became flush with tax dollars. Now the county is hitting the pause button.

Virginia Automatically Seals 415,000 Criminal Records Under Clean Slate Act

Virginia Automatically Seals 415,000 Criminal Records Under Clean Slate Act

Virginia's Clean Slate Act has fully taken effect, leading to the automatic sealing of approximately 415,000 criminal records. This process, which began on October 1st, involves the state's systems identifying eligible records and closing them from public view without requiring an application, fee, or hearing from the individuals. The state is not notifying those whose records are being sealed, prompting Bryan Kennedy, board chair of Justice Forward Virginia, to advise individuals to check their status online. The Act, passed in 2021, was implemented in stages, with the ability for Virginians to petition to seal convictions becoming available on July 1st. Further changes are anticipated on December 1st, which will broaden eligibility for petitions and allow for the expungement of dismissed traffic infractions. The law was a bipartisan effort, co-authored by Democrat Charniele Herring and Republican Carrie Coyner, and signed by Ralph Northam.

Virginia's Residential Building Code Lags on Energy Efficiency, Costing Homeowners Thousands

Virginia's Residential Building Code Lags on Energy Efficiency, Costing Homeowners Thousands

Virginia's residential building code has not strengthened its key energy efficiency provisions in over a decade and a half, falling significantly behind national model standards. The state's Board of Housing and Community Development (BHCD) is set to propose an updated building code with efficiency standards that are even less stringent than the 2012 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This means new homes in Virginia are being built to lower standards compared to states like Maryland, which regularly adopts the latest IECC. Despite legislative efforts in the last ten years to push for stronger energy conservation standards, including a 2021 act requiring the BHCD to consider amendments at least as stringent as the latest IECC, the board has consistently failed to adopt them. Activists and attorneys involved in the BHCD process attribute this failure to a requirement for 'consensus,' which the board interprets as unanimity, effectively allowing builder interests to block more stri...

Westbound Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Closes for Repaving, Diverting Traffic Through Weekend

Westbound Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Closes for Repaving, Diverting Traffic Through Weekend

The westbound lanes of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) in Norfolk, Virginia, are fully closed for critical roadway repaving work. The closure began Friday night and is scheduled to remain in effect until 5 a.m. Monday. This essential maintenance requires motorists traveling from Norfolk towards Hampton and Newport News to utilize Interstate 664 and the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) as the primary alternate route. Transportation officials emphasize that the closure is necessary for roadway improvements. Residents in areas like Norfolk's Ocean View neighborhood anticipate significant traffic backups on local streets, particularly along West Ocean View Avenue, as drivers seek alternative paths. The eastbound direction of the HRBT is expected to remain open during this period.

LG Electronics to Invest $64 Million in New Virginia HVAC Manufacturing Facility, Creating 164 Jobs

LG Electronics to Invest $64 Million in New Virginia HVAC Manufacturing Facility, Creating 164 Jobs

LG Electronics to Invest $64 Million in New Virginia HVAC Manufacturing Facility, Creating 164 Jobs

FSU's five lowest-graded players from win over Virginia

FSU's five lowest-graded players from win over Virginia

PFF's grades reveal which five Florida State players received the lowest marks in the Seminoles' 38-7 win over Virginia.

KTGY, The Pinkard Group, and Akridge Top Off Alexandria Office-to-Residential Conversion

KTGY, The Pinkard Group, and Akridge Top Off Alexandria Office-to-Residential Conversion

KTGY, an award-winning national design firm, along with developers The Pinkard Group and Akridge, has announced the topping off of 1201 E. Abingdon Drive in Alexandria, Virginia. This project involves the adaptive reuse of a vacant 1980s office building, transforming it into a 143-unit multifamily community. The development is located in the Old Town North neighborhood, offering convenient access to the Potomac River waterfront and downtown Washington, D.C. The 95,000 sq. ft. Class A office building is being converted into elegant apartment homes, including one-bedroom and two-bedroom units, with a portion designated as affordable housing. The design, refined in collaboration with the City of Alexandria’s planning board, includes converting the existing penthouse into residential units and amenity spaces, and adding a new wing to create a U-shaped configuration with an urban courtyard. The project is expected to be completed in Summer 2027.

Smithfield Foods Denied Summary Judgment in Age Discrimination Lawsuit

Smithfield Foods Denied Summary Judgment in Age Discrimination Lawsuit

Smithfield Foods Denied Summary Judgment in Age Discrimination Lawsuit

Community Transit Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Congresswoman DelBene Highlights Growth and Future Plans

Community Transit Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Congresswoman DelBene Highlights Growth and Future Plans

Community Transit, serving Snohomish County, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a reception for elected leaders, transit partners, and former employees. U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA01) attended the event, emphasizing the agency's growth within her 1st Congressional District, which now extends from UW Bothell to the Smokey Point Transit Center. DelBene highlighted her role in securing $2 million for the Swift Green Line extension, serving UW Bothell and Cascadia College. The celebration also marked the start of a fare-free week, echoing the agency's initial days of service. Additionally, a proposed interlocal agreement was released, aiming to integrate Everett Transit into Community Transit by April 1, 2027, to streamline services and prepare for Sound Transit's Link light rail expansion.

Maui County Council Faces Delays in Finalizing South Maui Growth Plan Amid Community Concerns

Maui County Council Faces Delays in Finalizing South Maui Growth Plan Amid Community Concerns

The Maui County Council is experiencing significant delays in finalizing a new legal blueprint for the long-term growth and development of South Maui, a plan that is over two decades overdue for an update. Council member Tamara Paltin, who chairs the committee responsible for reviewing the plan, indicated that the final approval is unlikely to occur with the current council. Residents from Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena, and Māʻalaea have voiced concerns that the current draft is overly developer-friendly, promoting rapid population growth without adequately addressing critical issues such as chronic flooding, water availability, affordability, and insufficient emergency evacuation routes. Many community members are advocating for changes that would mandate developers to construct affordable housing and restrict new construction until essential infrastructure upgrades and new evacuation routes are established. Conversely, attorneys representing developers argue that such stringent restrictions could lead to legal c...