Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1788, James Madison published Federalist Paper No. 42. It argued in favor of a compromise written into the U.S. Constitution that allowed a short-term continuation of the slave trade in the new United States. The importation of enslaved people was banned in 1808.

If your rent is going up, you are not alone. Rents in the Commonwealth are growing twice as fast as the national average. Our Around Virginia section has more, along with a warning for families that use PowerSchool.

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The State of Gaming in Virginia

A subcommittee of the Virginia Senate is considering a bill that would create the Virginia Gaming Commission as an independent agency of the Commonwealth to regulate all forms of legal gambling.

In an address to lawmakers last week, Gov. Glenn Youngkin supported the proposal. "We must take action to enable the creation of the Virginia Gaming Commission to consolidate the regulatory oversight of our vast gaming ecosystem under one entity," he said.

There are three casinos in the Commonwealth. Last year, Rivers Casino in Portsmouth took in more than $309 million, Caesars Virginia in Danville brought in around $240 million, and Hard Rock Bristol generated more than $182 million.

Another casino project is in development after voters in Petersburg approved a $1.4 billion proposal last year. State lawmakers recently advanced a measure that could also allow a facility in Fairfax County.

Gun Rights Lobby Day in Richmond

The Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) hosted its annual Lobby Day in Richmond on Monday.

The organization annually brings citizens to the state capital on MLK Day to advocate for their gun rights. "If we want a government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people, we must participate in the process," VCDL's Virginia Webb told the gathering.

Outside the capital building, lawmakers addressed the crowd. "We know that guns save lives," Republican Del. Eric Zehr said.

Fewer people participated than in past years as the event fell on the same day as President Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington.

Remains Found in Missing Woman's Home

Police in Virginia Beach found human remains while searching the home of Vicky Kay Cartwright, age 63.

A department representative stated that the remains were discovered in a room that authorities had not previously searched. The spokesperson did not say what room was searched this time or why it hadn't been searched in the year-and-a-half since Cartwright disappeared.

Because the remains may or may not be those of Cartwright, the police announced that they would conduct two parallel investigations—one for the missing person case and a death investigation—until the remains are identified.

Cartwright last made contact with someone in September of 2023 and hasn't been heard from since.

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➤ Statewide: The real estate publication Construction Coverage predicts that median rents in Virginia will jump 11.6% this year—more than double the national median growth rate of 4.8%. This would mean a $210 increase in the median rent payment, bringing it to more than $2,000 per month. (More)

➤ Oakton: Dr. David Allingham pleaded guilty to improperly prescribing opioid and amphetamine pills. Over five years, he wrote more than 7,300 prescriptions, totaling 400,000 pills. (Details)

➤ Mosley: A crane that died at the Metro Richmond Zoo tested positive for H5 bird flu. Another bird at the zoo is also presumed to have contracted the virus. "The affected birds did not live in any of our aviaries where the public share a common space with birds," the zoo announced. (More)

➤ Arlington: The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority selected a coalition known as the Long Bridge Rail Partners to build the south span of a railroad bridge over the Potomac River. Skanska/Flatiron will build the north span of the $2.3 billion project. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: Five additional women have been charged with conspiracy, mail fraud, and wire fraud in connection with a $31 million coupon fraud scheme. The founders of the ring are already serving federal prison terms. (More)

➤ Statewide: PowerSchool, a software company, revealed that its customer portal was hacked last year, potentially exposing confidential information about students in the 85 school systems it serves in Virginia. (Details)

➤ The Commanders visit the Eagles for Sunday's NFC championship. The running game will be crucial. Philadelphia is anchored by the dominant Saquon Barkley, while Coach Dan Quinn said Washington's ground game made the difference in the win over Detroit. (Details)

➤ James Madison visits Old Dominion tonight in men's basketball. The Dukes are 3-4 in the Sun Belt, while ODU has lost two straight to drop to 4-3 in the conference. (Preview)

➤ UVA signed AD Carla Williams to a five-year contract extension. The deal reportedly gives Williams a 29% salary bump. (More)

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➤ Globalinx announced that four more subsea cables are scheduled to arrive at its 11-acre Virginia Beach cable landing station by the end of March. (Details)

➤ Appalachian Power has asked the Department of Energy for grants to support site exploration for two potential nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). (More)

➤ BlackChamber Group has secured more than $1 billion in financing to develop data centers across Virginia. (Details)

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➤ Clinton Carawan, the Virginia Beach father whose Girl Scout daughter saved his life by performing CPR last November, said he is living a healthier lifestyle. He quit cigarettes, and "I'm kind of pushing the red meat away and eating more chicken and vegetables," he said. (Details)

➤ The "Thank a Teacher" art contest is accepting online submissions through Feb. 3. Public school students in any grade can compete to win money for their schools and themselves. (How to Enter)

➤ Stage workers at three Virginia venues reached an agreement to avert a potential strike. About 200 workers at the Altria Theater and Dominion Energy Center in Richmond and the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville had threatened to walk off the job this week. (More)

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