Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1863, noted Confederate raider Col. John Mosby attacked a Union outpost roughly 2 miles from Germantown. There were about 50 Union soldiers in a house when Mosby led a 4 a.m. cavalry charge. The bulk of the defenders fled after suffering four deaths and five men captured.

A lockdown disrupted the University of Virginia on Tuesday, canceling classes and forcing students to shelter in place. However, it didn’t prevent the Hoos from playing their first home baseball game of the season. Find out how they fared against visiting VMI in Sports.

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UVA Goes into Lockdown

The University of Virginia lifted a shelter-in-place order yesterday afternoon and announced that classes will resume today.

Just after 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Virginia State Police (VSP) attempted to pull over a driver near campus for an expired inspection sticker. The suspect, identified as Nyheem Hill, fled on foot after his car hit a police vehicle.

Classes were canceled while authorities searched the campus and surrounding areas for Hill. VSP worked with officers from Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University Police Department.

Hill has a known criminal history and was being sought on several charges, including malicious wounding, wounding, and gang participation. He has no known ties to the university and is believed to have left the immediate area.

DOGE Cuts Shake Up Governor’s Race

Virginia is one of only two states that will have an election for governor in 2025. With more than 144,000 federal employees residing in the state, President Trump’s DOGE cuts to the federal workforce could impact the November race.

Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the leading Democratic contender, called the job cuts “a kitchen table issue.” The Democratic Speaker of the House of Delegates stated that DOGE “decided to come in with a sledgehammer to the government and cause a lot of angst.”

Before adjourning, the General Assembly voted to potentially convene a special session to address the federal firings and spending cuts. Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that the Commonwealth has launched a website to help laid-off federal workers find jobs, noting that there are plenty of openings.

The most recent poll, conducted last week, showed Spanberger with a solid lead over Earle-Sears, while earlier surveys showed a tighter race.

APCo Rate Bill Goes to Governor

The state legislature unanimously passed legislation aimed at reducing electric rates for Appalachian Power Company (APCo) customers.

Republican Del. Jason Ballard wrote the bill, stating it “will provide the most significant electric bill relief to APCo customers in years.”

APCo serves customers in Southwestern Virginia. The bill prohibits rate increases during winter months and directs the company to set year-round rates to smooth out seasonal price jumps.

The bill would also require the company to file for a reduction in fuel costs, which could save customers money each month. It now goes to Gov. Glenn Youngkin for consideration.

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➤ Charlottesville: The UVA Health hospital will not accept any new patients under the age of 19 who are seeking sex-changing treatments, its Board of Visitors announced. Such individuals will be referred to providers who are not associated with the university system. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: John Lee McCoy III, the man who executed two Virginia Beach officers during a traffic stop last week before killing himself, had a criminal record, including several years in prison on drug charges. (More)

➤ Statewide: Under a new state law effective July 1, all passengers, including adults in the back seat, will be required to wear seat belts. The fine for non-compliance begins at $25. (More)

➤ Petersburg: A team of five Virginia State University students took first place in a national engineering design contest. They developed a system to provide real-time information on farm conditions. (Details)

➤ Loudoun: The Sheriff’s Office seized approximately $1.4 million in cryptocurrency that had been stolen by a scammer sending text messages. “This tactic is a well-documented ‘pig butchering’ scam strategy, where scammers manipulate victims into believing they are achieving financial success to extract larger investments,” the office said. (Details)

➤ Amherst County: Authorities detonated a bomb they found during an investigation at a local home. (More)

➤ James Madison University’s women’s swim team won its second straight Sun Belt Conference title. Battlefield High School graduate Jamie Cornwell led the team with four golds and a silver. (More)

➤ UVA’s men’s baseball team, ranked No. 10 in the country after its 3-3 start, won its home opener 6-4, topping previously undefeated VMI. (Details)

➤ Richmond’s women’s basketball team has won 14 straight and clinched the Atlantic 10 Conference’s regular season title. The Spiders host Davidson tonight. (Preview)

➤ George Mason’s men’s basketball team looks to regain its winning ways as it returns to Fairfax tonight to host Fordham. (Preview)

➤ College sports fans know the future is being shaped by name, image, and likeness policies. Sign up for NIL Wire and stay informed.

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➤ “I recognize the fight against inflation has been long, but it is critical that we remain steadfast,” said Tom Barkin, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. (Details)

➤ Small Business Week in Richmond is scheduled for May 4-10. (Sign Up)

➤ Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of Arlington-headquartered RTX, secured a three-year contract for up to $1.5 billion to sustain the engines that power the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 fighter jets. (Details)

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➤ Virginia Tech’s 11 Agricultural Research and Extension Centers will host public events throughout 2025, offering in-depth insights into the future of agriculture in the Commonwealth. (The Schedule)

➤ Loudoun Fire Chief Keith H. Johnson was named Virginia Fire Chief of the Year. Johnson, who is retiring this year, was noted for introducing the “Fact*r Program,” a way to transport refrigerated blood in fire vehicles to allow on-site transfusions. (Details)

➤ Sweet Briar College Farm brought home gold in the Commonwealth of Virginia Governor’s Cup 2025 wine competition. It’s the first time the school has entered the event. (More)

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