The arena that won't quit
The Baltimore Banner reported that Ted Leonsis has reached out to Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore about potentially building a new arena
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The arena that won’t quit
The Baltimore Banner reported that Ted Leonsis has reached out to Maryland’s Governor Wes Moore about potentially building a new arena for the Capitols and Wizards. This comes after Virginia’s General Assembly blocked legislation to built the arena in Alexandria.
However, all signs point to Maryland being solely focused on keeping the Washington Commanders in their state.
Moore’s office provided no comment to the Banner for their story and also provided no comment to Virginia Scope Wednesday morning.
The Banner cited an anonymous source providing them with information about any conversation between Leonsis and Moore.
Youngkin is still working to get the arena built in Virginia and many people believe he will bring it back to the table with his budget amendments ahead of the veto session in April.
Washington D.C. has made efforts to keep the teams in their city, but Leonsis rebuffed their late efforts and has not publicly indicated that he wants to stay.
This will continue to be a developing situation throughout the next month.
ABC now faces $110 million shortfall in budget revenue - RTD
by Michael Martz
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority now faces an estimated $110.1 million shortfall in the revenues it had promised for the next two-year state budget, because of falling liquor sales, changing consumer behavior and overly optimistic budget assumptions.
The ABC Board of Directors, which adopted those assumptions in August under pressure from Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s chief transformation officer, reviewed a revised revenue forecast in a special meeting on Tuesday to reflect market reality, which has worsened since the authority estimated last month that it would fall $82 million short of meeting its two-year revenue target.
Democratic legislator questions Youngkin’s appointments to environmental justice council - Va Mercury
by Charlie Paullin
A Democratic legislator is questioning Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s recent appointments to the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice. Shortly before announcing the new appointees, Youngkin had vetoed a bill from the same legislator that called for the council’s long-running vacancies to be filled.
Del. Mike Jones, D-Richmond, said in a phone interview that the five people Youngkin appointed Friday represented a “hodge podge,” who don’t “reek of environmentalism.”
The five people appointed to the council were: Lisa Kardell, director of public affairs at Waste Management; Courtney Malveaux, principal of Jackson Lewis PC; Eddie Ramirez, a managing member of Ramirez Contracting; Morgan Whayland, director of government affairs for Virginia Natural Gas and Ronald Olswyn White, vice president of Southside Electric Cooperative.
McClellan announces re-election run: 'We've got important work to do in Congress' - Progress Index
by Bill Atkinson
Monday was the first day for congressional candidates to file paperwork for the upcoming primary, and Rep. Jennifer McClellan wasted little time in doing so. McClellan, a Petersburg native and former state legislator, filed her re-election papers with the 4th Congressional District Democratic party. Her campaign said McClellan collected 3,541 signatures from district voters, more than three times the mandated total of 1,000 signatures.
Even though she is running for re-election, this is the first time McClellan has sought the term in her own right. She won a special election early last year to fill the unexpired term of Rep. Donald McEachin, who died less than a month after winning the November 2022 general election.
Powhatan residents rail against racism in county schools - RTD
by Anna Bryson
Black students in Powhatan County told the county School Board on Monday evening that they are sick of being called racial slurs at school and on their school bus.
“Something has to change. I can’t live like this,” one student said.
Hundreds of people attended an impassioned Powhatan School Board meeting amid allegations of racist incidents in the county’s school system. The board was not expected to take action at the meeting.
