School Cell Phone Ban Taking Shape

Districts across the Commonwealth are finalizing new policies on the use of cell phones following guidance from the Virginia Department of Education.

The state recommended that schools ban phones from “bell to bell” starting on Jan. 1. This means students wouldn’t be allowed to use them even during downtime or lunch periods.

The goal was to create a “distraction-free” learning environment. The Norfolk Public School System and the Richmond Public School system announced that their bans will begin as of January. 

Lynchburg City Schools will also follow the “bell to bell” policy for all students and will bar elementary school students from using phones on buses.

Students in Prince William County Public Schools will have slightly longer to adjust; their district’s ban doesn’t kick in until August.

Other districts, including Norfolk, are still working out the details of their new policies.

2025 Governor Candidates Speak

The leading two candidates for governor outlined their plans at the annual Virginia Economic Summit in Richmond.

The 2025 race is expected to pit Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger against Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. 

Earle-Sears promised she would continue the policies of the Youngkin administration. “We have fostered a business-friendly environment that is more efficient, less burdensome, and accountable to Virginians.”

Spanberger said she would focus on workforce and education issues. “While I don’t have the power to stop potential tariffs, what I can do is assure you that as governor, I will work to maintain a stable, predictable business climate for Virginia,” she said.

The winner will become the Commonwealth’s first female governor.

Data Centers and Energy Needs

The expansion of data centers across Virginia is expected to drive up utility spending by about 20% in the years ahead, according to a document filed by Dominion Energy. It notes that, without new data centers, electricity use would remain almost unchanged in the next decade.

A different report, this one from the Jack Kemp Foundation, predicts that Virginians may see rate increases of as much as 70 percent in the next decade. The report warns that the state could see regular brownouts and blackouts without such increases.

New data centers are coming soon. One expert said there are at least two dozen Virginia counties with data centers under development, and that those sites will cover at least 100,000 acres.

Dominion writes that Loudoun County will remain the center of development for data centers. “Roughly 80% of the industry is located in Loudoun County,” Dominion wrote. “The aggregate of the next six largest data center markets in the U.S. is not as big as Loudoun County’s market.”   

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➤ Hampton Roads: The cities of Norfolk, Newport News, and Portsmouth will each receive $800,000 from the state’s Port Host Community Revitalization Fund. The money will be used to help develop a shipyard waterfront, a new seafood market, and a new freight distribution center. (Details)

➤ Statewide: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit will allow a federal lawsuit by two felons who are attempting to regain their ability to vote to move forward. However, the court’s decision removed Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Secretary of the Commonwealth Kelly Gee from the case. (More)

➤ Danville: Caesars Virginia announced it will open on Dec. 17 instead of Dec. 12, as initially planned. Former NBA champion Dennis Rodman is booked to serve as master of ceremonies. (Details)

➤ Richmond: The city ended its contract with a streetlight contractor after an audit uncovered $1.2 million in billing discrepancies. (More)

➤ Accomack County: The Norfolk Southern railroad will get a $158,713 tax refund from the county after being double billed on 48 pieces of rolling stock in tax year 2020. (More)

➤ Louisa County: The state Department of Forestry warned that, despite the colder weather, there is still a risk of wildfires in the Commonwealth. Firefighters recently had to put out 29 such blazes in a single day. (Details)

➤ Virginia Tech accepted a bid to play Minnesota in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. The game will be on Jan. 3 in Charlotte. (More)

➤ James Madison also earned a bowl bid for the second straight year. The Dukes will take on Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl on Dec. 18. (Details) 

➤ Virginia Tech’s women’s basketball team opened ACC play with an 81-59 loss on the road against No. 8 Duke. (Details)

➤ Want to stay current on everything related to name, image, and likeness in college sports? NIL Wire is just the place for you. Sign up here with one click!

Yesterday’s results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | PGA

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➤ The CFO of Dollar Tree will resign early next year. Jeff Davis joined the Chesapeake-based company in 2022 and is the second top executive to announce his departure this year. (More)

➤ Turkeys raised in Virginia will soon be available to families in India. The state’s first shipment of frozen poultry left last month after federal policymakers worked to reduce India’s tariffs on imported birds. (Details)

➤ Developers in Roanoke announced a $50 million plan to remake the former Walker Machine and Foundry site into an apartment complex with a restaurant and pickleball courts. (More)

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➤ Children with special needs are often uncomfortable in crowds or when meeting strangers. However, thanks to the annual “Sensitive Santa” event in Virginia Beach, they can sit down with Saint Nicholas each year. (More)

➤ State lawmakers may consider a bill next year that would require high school students to pass a civics exam before they could graduate. The exam would pull questions from the U.S. naturalization test. (Details)

➤ Virginia’s three state veteran cemeteries, in Amelia, Dublin, and Suffolk, will hold holiday wreath-laying events on Saturday. (More)

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Should state high school students be required to pass a civics exam before graduation?

1. Yes
2. No

Friday’s Results:

Will you attend a Christmas parade this year? 

1. Yes: 35.5%
2. No: 64.5%

What is Virginia Tech’s record against Minnesota in football?

Show me the answer