Task Force Deploys To Texas

Virginia Task Force 1 deployed to Texas to help with recovery efforts there after this month’s devastating flooding. The team includes three search dogs trained to find people buried under debris.

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department sponsors Virginia Task Force 1, but it often deploys outside the state or even the nation. The group participated in rescue efforts in Florida last year and Turkey two years ago.

As of Sunday, about 170 people were still unaccounted for in Texas. Two other specialized teams from the Commonwealth have been on the ground helping since July 6.

State To Use AI to Cut Regulations

Gov. Glenn Youngkin ordered the state’s Office of Regulatory Management and Office of Transformation to create a pilot program to use artificial intelligence to identify redundancies, contradictions, and complex language in state regulations.

State executive agencies have already reduced regulatory requirements by 26.8% under Youngkin and edited down guidance documents by 47.9%.

“Using emergent artificial intelligence tools, we will push this effort further in order to continue our mission of unleashing Virginia’s economy in a way that benefits all of its citizens,” Youngkin wrote in a statement.

Virginia is the first state to attempt to use AI in this way.

Politicians React To Drop in CNBC Ranking

CNBC dropped the Commonwealth from first to fourth in its list of top states for business last week. One reason, according to the network, is that Virginia was one of just three states whose unemployment rate rose in May after a series of layoffs in the federal government.

The downgrade has become a campaign issue in the gubernatorial election. Democrat Abigail Spanberger said the drop was “in part due to Donald Trump’s attacks on Virginia jobs and the Youngkin-Sears Administration’s refusal to stand up to him.“

Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who is now running for governor, blamed democratic lawmakers. “This frighteningly is a harbinger of things to come if Democrats continue to stand in the way of smart economic policies that foster growth and opportunity,” her spokesman wrote.

Gov. Youngkin noted that CNBC changed its methodology and insisted that Virginia has plenty of jobs available.

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➤ Virginia Beach: Naval Air Station Oceana will hold a joint emergency response exercise with local officials tomorrow. The Navy described it as scheduled training, not a response to a particular threat. (Details)

➤ Central Virginia: Heavy rain caused flash flooding in many areas over the weekend. (Photos)

➤ Charlottesville: The University of Virginia Faculty Senate passed a resolution by a vote of 46-6 that it has no confidence in the school’s Board of Visitors, stating that the board has failed to protect “the University and its president from outside interference.” (Details)

➤ Roanoke: The Sheriff’s Office stated that its CLEAN initiative—collecting litter, enriching areas naturally—has collected 4,500 pounds of trash since it launched in April on Earth Day. (More)

➤ Statewide: Virginia State Police said they seized 26 pounds of drugs, 23 weapons, and an explosive device during operations carried out between July 3 and July 9. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: The city council voted unanimously to provide $3.2 million for repairs and operations at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. The aquarium’s foundation plans to contribute $4.8 million. (More)

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➤ The Washington Nationals staggered into the All-Star break in last place in the NL East after an 8-1 loss in Milwaukee yesterday. (Wrap Up)

➤ Virginia Tech men’s basketball signee Neoklis Avdalas is playing in this week’s FIBA U20 EuroBasket tournament for his native Greece. (More)

➤ William & Mary named Zellessia Ejalonibu as the athletics department’s Director of Mental Health and Performance. She will counsel and consult with Tribe athletes. (Details)

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Wimbledon | PGA | LPGA | Indy | NASCAR

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➤ Dominion Energy is grazing a herd of sheep at a solar facility in Fauquier County to help maintain the grounds without using lawnmowers. (Details)

➤ The city of Richmond has already spent at least $6.7 million to address this year’s water crisis, according to a memo presented to the city council. The price tag is expected to climb. (More)

➤ AARP Virginia warned members that fraud has become so pervasive and successful that, if an incorporated business, its total “revenue” from theft would place it among the country’s top 40 corporations. (Details)

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➤ Alexandria earned the No. 5 spot on Travel + Leisure’s best cities list for 2025. The city rose from the No. 15 spot last year. (Details)

➤ The Southwest Virginia Jeep Invasion rolled into Tazewell for the third straight year this weekend. (More)

➤ Mount Vernon unveiled a new permanent exhibit, located in the estate’s former slave quarters, that examines the lives of the 317 enslaved people who lived and worked there. (Details)

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Should the state use AI to edit regulatory language?

1. Yes
2. No
3. What’s AI?

Friday’s Results:

Are you planning to shop for some goods during the sales tax holiday next month? 

1. Yes: 40%
2. No: 60%

Where did Richard and Mildred Loving get married and reside while they challenged Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act?

Show me the answer