Curated News from The Virginia Council 8/23/26

The Data Center Debate heats up:

Virginia is developing a piecemeal data center moratorium. The potential impacts are complicated. - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey

U.Va.’s planned data center expands $30 million amid statewide debate over energy use - The Cavalier Daily - University of Virginia's Student Newspaper By Jaylynn Perez

I Made a Website to Monitor Data Center Effects on Electricity Prices By Cremieux

As Va. officials weigh data center pushback, report details industry’s public service funding • Virginia Mercury By Charlotte Rene Woods & Shannon Heckt

(1) Rich Lowry on X: "“Data centers represent the best opportunity in generations for blue-collar workers to attain a portion of the American dream. A decade ago, members of my union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 26, in the Washington, D.C., region, worked about 14 million" / X

PJM Eyes Incentives for Data Centers to Supply Their Own Power | News | loudounnow.com By Hanna Pampaloni

People Say They Dislike Data Centers, but How Much Do They Really Know about Them? – Virginia Free Press By Martin A. Davis Jr.

For politicians from Ohio to Texas, Virginia to California, red to blue, data centers are the new ‘us vs. them’ fight | CNN Politics By Inside Politics

(1) Stu Smith on X: "It’s the Week of Action Against ALPRs, so I put together a collage of flyers from across the nation. The groups behind it are largely the usual suspects of the abolitionist left, from DSA and PSL chapters to local bail funds, CAIR affiliates, and other activist groups. https://t.co/zyfG3CguTX" / X

The Mid-Atlantic's electric grid operator is taking steps to rein in data center demand By Katherine Hafner

Ellwood Thompson's parent company acquired by data center owner By David M. Poole

General Assembly launches effort to study tax exemptions, consumption tax for data centers - Cardinal News By Elizabeth Beyer

Critics challenge Fairfax County police use of AI-powered license plate cameras - WTOP News By Gigi Barnett

I Went to the Data Center Town Hall at Studio Two Three - RVA Mag By R. Anthony Harris

(5) Crémieux on X: "Trump's home, Palm Beach County, has 12 operating data centers and 3 data centers in various stages of construction. The national median is 0. The national average is just over 1. Adjacent counties average 2. Why don't people grasp that rich places have more data centers? https://t.co/RL8CVyU9VL" / X

Chesterfield Board indicates it won’t approve any more data centers in the county By Eleanor Shaw

GOP Candidate Leverages Data Center Backlash in Wisconsin By Robert R. Bluey

Guest Column: Are data centers a FOIA tipping point? | Headlines | insidenova.com By Megan Rhyne

Chesapeake moves to restrict data center development, Virginia Beach presses pause By Toby Cox & John-Henry Doucette

As some states restrict AI data centers, critics call PA’s new standards ‘quixotically foolish’ - Heartlander News By Audrey Steb

Pittsylvania County OKs data center tax rate By Charles Wilborn

Texas has now surpassed Virginia for data center construction | KXAN Austin By Justin Sayers

Warren County Supervisor charged with assault following altercation after data center hearing | FOX 5 DC By Tom Fitzgerald

Jeremiah Johnson 🌐 on X: "People are about twice as likely to approve of **coal plants** being built nearby as opposed to data centers. Coal plants use more water and pollute more. They create comparable noise pollution. There's no way this makes sense outside a media panic. https://t.co/ZDG7SfU6BQ" / X

Virginia Government updates:

Spanberger talks budget delay with Virginia Association of Counties | WVTF By Michael Pope

State revenues exceed forecast; Spanberger urges 'prudent budgeting' - Cardinal News By Elizabeth Beyer

Report: A Muslim Illegal Alien Who Killed Roommate Escaped The Country After VA Officials Released Him From Custody - The Federalist By Brianna Lyman

(1) Virginians for Safe Communities (VSC) on X: "13 so far... That's how many of Fairfax County's ~50 killers got insanity pleas (NGRIs) under Fairfax "Prosecutor" Steve Descano in 3 years (10+ were just dropped) Across Virginia, ONLY 50 killers got insanity pleas nowhere else gave more than two. Fairfax has 3% of VA's murders https://t.co/nWMP7kfI8G" / X

DHS deports illegal immigrant sex offender who abused daughter in Virginia | Fox News By Peter Pinedo

Funding for Virginia’s fire service is insufficient, studies show. There are ideas for how to change that. - Cardinal News By Emma Malinak

(9) America First Legal on X: "Fairfax County refused to honor HUNDREDS of ICE detainers on criminal illegal aliens over the past year and a half due to sanctuary policies. Instead, they released criminal illegal aliens back onto the streets. Sanctuary policies are DANGEROUS. https://t.co/U2sO3Mfmqg" / X

Black lung cases surging again in Southwest Va., Appalachia; miners blame blocked regulations • Virginia Mercury By Charlotte Rene Woods

Virginia lost $52M on failed child support system project, Spanberger says - VPM By Dean Mirshahi

(1) Scout 🇺🇸 on X: "🚨Democratic Socialists of America activist Allison Spillman, former at-large vice chair of the @k12albemarle Board, delivered an Aug 13, 2026 farewell steeped in self-pity while elementary school children paid the ultimate price 🗳 Spillman defeated @MegSBryce in 2023 after https://t.co/ubetloWmWl" / X

Could the Dominion-NextEra merger inspire the General Assembly to expand the State Corporation Commission? The constitution allows it. - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey

Dulles airport leaders clarify who will pay for $22B, 15-year makeover - WTOP News By Mike Murillo

State didn't send enough funds for nullified redistricting vote, leaving Richmond $375K short By Graham Moomaw

History, Tradition, & the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence:

'The Black Belt of Virginia' details untold African American history - Cardinal News By Grace Mamon

The Gray Ghost and the Union General: An Unlikely American Friendship | The Epoch Times By Jeff Minick

Jefferson, Sally Hemings, and the Disuse of "Lost Cause" Rhetoric - YouTube By Dr. Mark Holowchak

Facebook The Hanover County Courthouse by Kevin Long

Community gathering to mark century anniversary of Wytheville lynching turns 'tragedy ... into triumph' - Cardinal News By Randy Walker

Facebook Inside Historic Tuckahoe, 10 Minutes West of Richmond, Virginia

The Constitution, Bill of Rights, & Liberty:

The Religious Roots of Religious Freedom | The American Spectator | USA News and Politics By Shmuel Klatzkin

Calvin Coolidge’s Speech for America 150 Calvin Coolidge on the Christian Roots of American Liberty By Daniel McCarthy

Virginia's Deliberately Confusing Constitutional Amendments By Joe Thomas

BOMBSHELL: Trump Says Census Bureau Analysis Confirms Over 24,000 Noncitizens Voted in 2020 Election as 32 Million Records Remain to be Analyzed: “I WON THE ELECTION!” * The Gateway Pundit * by Jim Hᴏft

Harmeet Dhillon Details Efforts at DOJ to Make Sure Only American Citizens Are Voting (VIDEO) * The Gateway Pundit * by Mike LaChance

Justice Department to send record number 1,000 observers to watch voting during midterms | Just The News By Kevin Killough

The Democrat Fear Behind The Lawfare Being Waged Against The Trump Administration's Proposed Changes To Mail-In Voting. By William Shipley

Can District Judges Bottle Up New Postal Regulations To Block Efforts To Make Mail-In Voting Less Corrupt? By William Shipley

Judge affirms ruling in favor of former felons in voting rights lawsuit • Virginia Mercury By Charlotte Rene Woods

(1) Gun Owners of America on X: "🚨BREAKING🚨 Judge Reed O'Connor strikes down Biden's "Ghost Gun" ban after SCOTUS upheld it on statutory grounds in Vanderstok v. Garland. "[T]he Final Rule is unconstitutional under the 2nd Amendment & void for vagueness under the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment..." https://t.co/b7kiIOSA0o" / X

Federal Firearm Rights Restoration | Federal Firearm Rights Restoration U.S. Department of Justice: The DOJ has released its final regulation re-establishing a formal pathway for non-violent felons to seek restoration of their Second Amendment rights.

The U.S. Justice Department Is Not Independent | The Center for Renewing America By Jeff Clark

(1) Natalie Winters on X: "EXCLUSIVE: DSA Steering Committee member Cliff Connolly says the quiet part out loud: “Our hatred of the United States Constitution.” He calls the Constitution “the obstacle” socialists must “get over to have a revolution.” https://t.co/TMDGmsJmBd" / X

Articles, News & Quotes:

Victor Davis Hanson: Not Winning? Just Change the Rules By Victor Davis Hanson

Illegal Alien Stabs Fairfax Woman To Death. Surprised? — Kerry: By Kerry Dougherty

(1) Sean Davis on X: "A majority of Americans under the age of 50 believe that the American Dream is no longer possible for them. “Only about four-in-ten adults under 50 (42%) say it’s still possible for people to achieve the American dream,” Pew Research Center reported last month. “Just 38% of https://t.co/sio7SmzsKm" / X

Half of Democratic voters hold negative view of capitalism: Poll By Carter Schroppe

(1) DSA: Vanguard of the Radical Professionals By Ruy Teixeira