Virginia to Remain in Greenhouse Gas Agreement

A circuit court judge ruled that Gov. Glenn Youngkin may not pull the Commonwealth out of the multi-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative that it agreed to join in 2020. 

“The only body with the authority to repeal the RGGI regulation would be the General Assembly,” Floyd County Judge Randall Lowe wrote in a five-page decision. “The attempted repeal of the RGGI Regulation is unlawful and thereby null and void.”

RGGI is an agreement among 11 states to create a regional cap-and-trade program aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Virginia joined after then-Gov. Ralph Northam signed the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act.

When he took office in 2022, Youngkin issued an executive order to withdraw from RGGI “whether by legislative or regulatory action.”

The Youngkin administration vowed to appeal Judge Lowe’s ruling.

NoVa High School Football Controversy

The Region 6e high school football playoffs kicked off in Fairfax County Thursday after several coaches dropped their threat to withdraw their squads and forfeit if Hayfield Secondary School, the top seed, takes part.

The Virginia High School League, which runs the playoff tournament, banned Hayfield from the postseason this year and next because of recruiting allegations against the school’s first-year coach, Darryl Overton.

Last week, the Fairfax County Circuit Court granted an injunction that allowed Hayfield to participate this year. That action delayed the start of the tournament by one week.

Fairfax County Schools Superintendent Michelle Reid met this week with the six coaches who had threatened to boycott, promising them a “comprehensive and independent external investigation” of transfer procedures before next season.

Because of the late start, the second round of the playoffs would be on Tuesday, with more games scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend. Hayfield is a heavy favorite.

Shelters Open for Winter

As Virginia prepares for cold weather, communities are opening seasonal shelters to provide sanctuary to those without a place to go.

The Salvation Army Central Virginia partners with the city of Richmond to operate a shelter from Nov. 15 until April 15. It can hold up to 60 men and 40 women.

Loudoun County’s Hypothermia Prevention Shelter is also operating. It is available for single adults 18 years or older and unhoused.

The Falls Church City Homeless Shelter will be open every evening from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. until March 30. City leaders say 28 people took refuge there last year.

Community donors are funding the men’s cold weather shelter in Petersburg. The shelter’s director thinks she can afford to keep it open every night for the next 16 weeks.

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➤ Loudoun County: On Saturday, Democrats in House District 26 will select a nominee for the Jan. 7 special election. The candidate will face Republican Ram Venkatachalam in a race that could determine which party controls the House of Delegates. (More)

➤ Richmond: A pair of bills pending in the legislature would allow Virginia to participate in a multi-state compact to recruit teachers. The agreement would allow those licensed in one state to teach in other compact-member states. (Details)

➤ Statewide: Gov. Glenn Youngkin, whose term ends in 2026, endorsed Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to be his successor. She’s attempting to become the nation’s first black female governor. (Details)

➤ Lynchburg: About 10,000 customers lost power after an early winter storm brought strong winds and precipitation to parts of central Virginia. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: A 23-year-old Navy sailor is in custody after allegedly hitting a state trooper with his car and fleeing the scene. Police say he was stopped for driving 125 mph in a 55 mph zone. (Details)

➤ Arlington: The county firefighter union is calling on Fire Chief David Povlitz to resign. More than 80% of union members voted this week that they have “no confidence” in the chief. (More)

➤ UVA has a chance to play spoiler in the ACC as it hosts league-leading SMU on Saturday, while VT visits Duke in a prime-time matchup. (Schedule)

➤ Virginia Tech’s women’s soccer team will visit UCLA in a second-round NCAA tournament game tonight. (Preview)

➤ Marshon Lattimore has not yet taken the field with the team, but Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said he expects Lattimore to participate in practice ahead of this weekend’s game with the Cowboys. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NCAAF | CFP | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | PGA | LPGA

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➤ Virginia Housing provided a $1.1 million grant to the Center for Housing Research at Virginia Tech to buy a mobile 3D construction printer and investigate ways to “print” at least 10 affordable homes by 2026. (Details) 

➤ A former bank examiner at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond pled guilty to insider trading and lying to his employer. Robert Brian Thompson will be sentenced in March and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. (More)

➤ AeroVironment, an Arlington-based defense contractor, will purchase BlueHalo in an all-stock deal worth more than $4 billion. (Details)

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➤ Norfolk may soon be known as a cold weather destination. Economic development officials are considering building a tournament-caliber ice rink to increase tourism. (More)

➤ The Museum of the Virginia National Guard announced that its new facility will be built at the Waller Depot in Richmond. (Details)

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Should Hayfield Secondary School be allowed to compete in the VHSL playoffs?

1. Yes
2. No

Thursday’s Results:

When will Caps Captain Alex Ovechkin set the all-time NHL goals record? 

1. In 2025: 27.7%
2. Never: 24.6%
3. In 2026: 23.9%
4. In 2024: 23.6%

Who was the last Virginia governor elected to non-consecutive terms?

Show me the answer