UVA President Steps Down Under Pressure

University of Virginia president James Ryan said on Friday he was resigning rather than “fight the federal government” over the changes the Trump administration is demanding in the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.

After the announcement, the Justice Department’s assistant attorney general for civil rights cheered Ryan’s departure, saying, “I don’t have any confidence that he was going to be willing and able to preside over the dismantling of DEI.“

Ryan said he planned to step aside next year in any event and noted that the university had already accomplished most of his strategic goals, including raising more than $6 billion for its Honor the Future capital campaign.

The Democratic leader of the state Senate, Scott Surovell, told the university’s governing board to move slowly in selecting Ryan’s replacement. “There will be a different ideological majority come next July 1,” he warned.

Dems Spend Big on State Races

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), a national political group, announced it will spend an additional $400,000 to support Virginia House of Delegates candidates this fall. The DLCC had already declared its intention to spend seven figures in the Commonwealth this cycle.

In a statewide race, the Democratic Attorneys General Association said it will spend $1 million to support Jay Jones’s campaign. Jones is facing incumbent Republican Jason Miyares.

Meanwhile, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger wrapped up her eight-day bus tour with a stop in Hampton Roads. If elected, she vowed to “put Virginia veterans first by providing consistent and reliable access to mental health services.“  

Students Fall Through Grate at Virginia Tech

Ten visiting high school students fell through a utility grate during a tour of facilities at Virginia Tech.

The university said the students fell approximately 6 feet after the grate near Pamplin Hall gave way under their weight.

The students were able to climb back out under their own power, although three were taken to a hospital for evaluation after the accident.

The area near the collapsed grate was blocked off after the incident.

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➤ Southwest Virginia: The CEO of Ballad Health wrote that the Medicaid changes proposed in President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill could cost his system more than $200 million each year and force it to close some rural hospitals. (Details)

➤ Statewide: The Business Facilities Rankings Report tapped Virginia as the No. 1 state for customized workforce training. It’s the third straight year the Commonwealth has earned the top spot. (Details)

➤ Portsmouth: Witnesses shot video of a giant fireball in the sky near the North Carolina border. “We absolutely know what this was,” cosmologist Paul Sutter said. “This was a rock barreling through the atmosphere, coming straight out of outer space.” (More)

➤ Burgess: A Mega Millions ticket sold last week won a $348 million jackpot, making it the largest lottery prize ever in the state. The winner has 180 days to come forward. (More)

➤ Statewide: Experts warned that recent high temperatures could take a toll on Virginia’s agricultural output but added that, so far, the unusually wet spring is keeping crops alive. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: Atlantic Park’s 2.67-acre surf lagoon is full of water and expected to open for surfers later this summer. It will be able to generate as many as 1,000 waves per hour. (More)

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➤ The Washington Nationals wrapped a 4-5 California road trip with a 7-4 win against the Angels. The last-place Nats face the Tigers in D.C. on Tuesday. (Box Score)

➤ James Madison women’s field hockey will send six players to the 2025 Senior Nexus Championship, which starts July 18 in Virginia Beach. (More)

➤ UVA finished 12th in the nation in the 2024-25 Learfield Directors’ Cup competition, which measures overall success across 19 revenue and non-revenue sports. It’s the 18th straight year the Cavaliers have made the top 25. (Details)

➤ College Sports are changing as players and administrators shape new name, image, and likeness policies. Sign up for NIL Wire and know where the games are going.

Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | F1 | PGA | LPGA

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➤ A recent report from the Commonwealth Institute estimated there are 275,000 illegal immigrants in Virginia and that they paid nearly $690 million in state and local taxes in 2022. (Details)

➤ Virginia will spend $7 billion in the next six years improving its rail infrastructure, including local subways and regional transit systems. (More)

➤ EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure said it will develop a $17 billion high-tech data center campus in Louisa County. (Details)

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➤ Filmmaker Ken Burns will speak at Monticello on July 4, part of a ceremony that will also see dozens of newcomers take the Oath of Citizenship to become Americans. (Details)

➤ CASA of Central Virginia called for volunteers, saying it has 135 children who are facing abuse and neglect on its waiting list to get help. (More)

➤ Harrisonburg area runners can lace up on Friday for the 10k Valley 4th Run. Get ready for its unique 40-foot inflatable slip-n-slide finish line. (Details)

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Friday’s Results:

Have you ever flown through Roanoke-Blacksburg Airport? 

1. Yes: 35%
2. No: 65%

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