Prince William Times – “Landowners who want to sell their properties for the Prince William Digital Gateway data center development and are suing Prince William County over their higher real estate tax bills were recently dealt a blow in court when a judge ruled against their case.

But they might have a Plan B, thanks to a bill sponsored by state Sen. Jeremy McPike.”

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Prince William Times – “Ahead of what would have been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 96th birthday, local middle and high school students delivered speeches Saturday that urged Americans to “fulfill the promise of democracy.”

Inspired by King’s writings, six students spoke about what the promise of democracy means to them during the 40th anniversary of the annual MLK Day event, which was held this year at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Triangle.

The event, hosted by the Prince William County alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, is an annual tradition that again drew a crowd in the hundreds.”

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Insidenova – “The Manassas City School Board is requesting the appropriation of state funds for a pilot alternative education program.

The board discussed the possibility of such a program in December. Manassas City Public Schools currently has an agreement with Prince William County Public Schools to use its program at Independence Nontraditional School.

The Independence program has limited spots – roughly 20 – for Manassas students, and any additional Manassas students who need alternative education are moved to online classes.”

Fredericksburg Free Press – “As approximately 40 marchers walked from the Bragg Hill Family Life Center in Fredericksburg to the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge on Fall Hill Avenue, they carried a variety of signs delivering a unified message.

Spotsylvania NAACP member Carl Pollard recites a portion of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. (Photos by Taft Coghill Jr.)

“Protect voting rights,” “More housing we can afford,” “Reform juvenile justice,” “Expand Medicare, Medicaid, “Strengthen gun safety” and “Support Public Schools,” were included among the crowd’s demands.

Nicole Cole, who represents the Battlefield District on the Spotsylvania County School Board, was the first to speak during the Spotsylvania NAACP’s “Conversation on the Bridge” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “

Fredericksburg Free Press – “Before Rep. Eugene Vindman was sworn in earlier this month, 80 constituent service cases already were waiting for his staff. That’s 80 scenarios where someone needed help or was asking for the Democrat’s ear.

Two weeks into Vindman’s two-year term, half of those cases have been closed.

That was a significant win for the office, the congressman said Friday, before he has even filed his first bill.”

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Prince William Times – For Heather Payne and her family, paying their annual car tax bill has been difficult. Together, she and her husband owe about $600 a year on two older cars, one of which is a 2014 model.

The Paynes have five children, and they’ve struggled since the pandemic. Payne said her husband was laid off from his job in sales, and she has juggled up to four jobs at a time to pay the bills.

Now, Payne has two jobs but she and her husband are still behind on their car tax payments. In June, she was surprised when her wages were garnished to pay the bill.

The Center Square — Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares hosted a press conference Tuesday with other state leaders and advocacy groups supporting legislation that would only allow biological females to compete on women’s sports teams in Virginia.

“Virginia will never roll back Title IX under the guise of false equity,” Miyares said. “Let us stand firmly with every girl and woman in Virginia to protect fairness, ensure safety, and uphold the opportunities they have earned.”

Women from the Roanoke College women’s swim team were also in attendance, as a transgender student temporarily joined their team in 2023. So was Riley Gaines, the former University of Kentucky swimmer who became a voice for the Save Women’s Sport movement after competing against transgender athlete Leah Thomas.

Insidenova.com: A bipartisan coalition of Virginia lawmakers on Tuesday presented a series of bills aimed at addressing the rapid expansion of data centers, which have become a cornerstone of the state’s economy but have raised concerns about energy use, environmental impact, and equitable cost distribution.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin highlighted the industry’s importance during his State of the Commonwealth address Monday, noting that “data centers alone support 74,000 jobs, bring in $9.1 billion in Virginia GDP, and generate billions in local revenue.” He called for Virginia to remain “the data center capital of the world” while ensuring state support for the industry.

However, lawmakers from both parties have emphasized the need for oversight to ensure the industry’s growth is managed responsibly.

The Center Square: Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered the final State of the Commonwealth address of his term Monday after a delayed start to the 2025 General Assembly session, urging the state legislature to “keep Virginia winning” with bills it passes this year.

The governor began his speech by recounting how his administration and the General Assembly have delivered on priorities and policies that have made Virginia stronger.

“In our three years together, we have built strong pillars that support a winning Virginia,” Youngkin said, listing record funding in education and learning loss recovery efforts, $5 billion in tax relief, streamlining “50,000 regulations” as some of their chief accomplishments.