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Today’s Sponsor: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspection Report citing a critical violation, “… a 6 day-old piglet died from starvation and emaciation due to [Virginia Tech’s] failure to ensure it received a sufficient amount of food…. The piglet had been removed from its mother per a research protocol…. On day 4, the pig was described as sitting in the corner, quiet and with its head hanging down…. At no time in the 6 days were additional steps implemented such as calculating nutritional needs to maintain body weight, increasing the food offered via syringe or other method, measuring glucose levels, measuring hydration levels and/or fluid intake, or conducting weight checks. On day 6… the pig was found dead. On necropsy, the pig was… emaciated and the death was attributed to prolonged starvation.” The university was not fined or penalized.
RPV Chair Rich Anderson and Gov. Glenn Youngkin
Youngkin endorses Anderson for RPV chair
Gov. Glenn Youngkin endorsed the current chair of the Republican Party of Virginia, Rich Anderson, to keep his position when the party selects their next chair.
“I am proud to endorse my friend Rich Anderson for RPV Chairman,” Youngkin said Thursday on social media. “Rich has dedicated his life to service of our country, our Commonwealth, and our party. Under his leadership, I know the Republican Party of Virginia will remain strong, united, and successful just as it has been throughout Rich Anderson’s time as Chairman.”
Party elections take place at their June 1 meeting. At this time, no other candidates are challenging Anderson for party chair.
VA-07 candidate Eugene Vindman’s campaign says they raised $2 million in the final quarter of 2023. He is seeking the Democratic nomination to replace Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D) after her announcement that she will not be running for reelection to instead run for governor.
According to his campaign’s statement, the money comes from 70,000 individual donations, wherein 98% of donors gave $100 or less.
“The grassroots support my campaign has received has been humbling. I am inspired by the everyday hard-working Americans that have put their faith in me to restore confidence in our government,” said Vindman.
Other Democrats seeking the nomination include Del. Brianna Sewell, former Del. Elizabeth Guzman, and Margaret Angela Franklin.
Local governments wary of Youngkin tax proposals as session looms - RTD
by Michael Martz
When Gov. Glenn Youngkin challenged the General Assembly last month to eliminate the "hated" car tax, he acknowledged that his proposed two-year state budget does not mention a way to do it.
Instead, Youngkin's administration held its first meeting with local government officials two days after the governor's budget presentation on Dec. 20 to talk about how to repeal a local tax on personal property that counties and cities depend on to help pay for their share of public education and other services to their residents.
Plan to welcome two pro sports teams to Virginia is ‘bad,’ opposition group says - Va Mercury
by Nathaniel Cline
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Wizards and Capitals, are facing strong opposition to their proposal to move the teams to Northern Virginia from residents on both sides of the Potomac River in the commonwealth and Washington D.C.
On Thursday morning, a group made up of some city of Alexandria residents and their D.C. cohorts gathered to express their concerns about the proposal’s perceived lack of transparency and the negative impacts on taxpayers and their quality of life.
Richmond surplus is nearly 5 times larger than city previously disclosed - Richmond Free Press
by Jeremy Lazarus
Richmond’s 2022-23 surplus is nearly five times larger than Mayor Levar M. Stoney and his administration previously disclosed, according to the city’s annual audit report.
Instead of $8.6 million as the administration projected in September and in December, the audit released Tuesday found $38 million had gone unspent in the fiscal year that ended June 30, all of which is earmarked for city savings rather than addressing unmet needs, such as a shortage of space for homeless children and their parents.
Early voting helped Virginian Republicans in November; now they seek to limit its length - Progress Index
by Elizabeth Beyer
Early voting helped Virginia Republicans to avoid significant losses in November, yet legislation authored by conservative lawmakers to reduce the amount of time allowed for early voting are among the dozens of bills filed ahead of the 2024 Legislative session.
“We lost by the skin of our teeth, it was excruciatingly close,” Rich Anderson, chairman of the Virginia Republican Party said to a room full of party representatives from across the state.
