Unleash America was supposed to be about supporting Va. candidates. But the money didn’t go there.

By ELIZABETH BEYER, News Leader (Metered Paywall - 3 to 4 articles a month)

Robert Landrum thought he was supporting Republicans in Virginia’s statehouse elections that year, when he donated $500 to a federal super PAC in April 2023. The super PAC, Unleash America, had one stated goal: To get Republicans elected during Virginia’s 2023 statehouse contests to support Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s agenda. “That’s how he represented the PAC. That’s what he said,” Landrum said in a phone interview with USA Today. He was referring to the PAC’s then “honorary chairman,” Hung Cao, a failed 2022 Congressional candidate from northern Virginia.

Battle lines are drawn for General Assembly and Youngkin

By MICHAEL MARTZ AND DAVE RESS, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

When the General Assembly comes back to town Wednesday, the big question is about compromise – whether one is possible on Gov. Glenn Youngkin‘s proposal to reject the legislature’s $1 billion sales tax on digital services or whether his record 153 vetoes means finding accord on a state budget is out of reach. Legislators are unlikely to overturn any vetoes – most were on legislation that passed on essentially partisan lines in a nearly evenly divided House of Delegates and state Senate. It takes a two-thirds vote to override a veto.

Richmond School Board member Jonathan Young resigns after ‘awkward’ interaction with student

By ANNA BRYSON, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Richmond School Board member Jonathan Young, who represents the 4th District, said Friday night that he is stepping down from his role following accusations that he acted inappropriately toward a student on a field trip. Young’s resignation comes days after news broke that an outside attorney conducted an investigation into his interactions with a 15-year-old girl while on a field trip in December, which was first reported by WTVR-TV.

Leighty: To leave a legacy of consequence, Youngkin must learn to adapt

By BILL LEIGHTY, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Time is a Virginia governor’s most valuable resource. From the moment a newly elected Virginia governor takes the oath of office, he or she has only 1,461 days remaining in office. As Gov. Glenn Youngkin finishes his second legislative session, he has now completed over 56% of his governorship and two-thirds of his opportunity to effectuate legislative initiatives. Virginia governors must learn quickly and “hit the ground running.” In my nearly five decades of serving the people of Virginia in various capacities in the executive branch, legislative branch and an independent agency, I had the privilege of observing Virginia’s governing processes closely, often from a front-row seat.

Leighty is the author of “Capitol Secrets: Leadership Wisdom from a Life of Public Service” and served as chief of staff to former Govs. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

This Thomas Jefferson alum helped defend the school in court. Now she’s defending DEI.

By KARINA ELWOOD, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

When April Hu heard that the admissions process at her alma mater was being legally challenged, she knew she wanted to help. She had seen affirmative action being challenged at universities around the country, but this was different. The challenge wasn’t against her college, it was against Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, a prestigious magnet school in Northern Virginia. And the case wasn’t challenging affirmative action — it was challenging a new “race-neutral” approach for admissions. Hu, a lawyer, thought the new admissions policy was admirable, and deserved to stay in place. She and her colleague, Mica Moore, a fellow TJ alum and lifelong friend, started brainstorming how they could help defend the new policy.

Youngkin explains skill games amendments, says 2020 law was inspiration

By TYLER ENGLANDER, WRIC-TV

Governor Glenn Youngkin is defending his decision to make big changes to a bill meant to legalize skill games in Virginia. Youngkin told 8News his changes include creating a more robust regulatory structure and more. “Putting in a more protective set of arrangements for public safety and for consumer protection,” Youngkin said. Youngkin’s changes include prohibiting skill games within 35 miles of a casino, and within 2,500 feet of a school or place of worship.

Alcohol industry wants ABC independent of political influence

By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposes to fill the $110 million revenue hole in the next two-year budget for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. But legislators and leaders of the state’s alcoholic beverage industry still want ABC to be independent of the executive branch to avoid the perceived “political influence” that they say led to the projected shortfall. Four influential business groups — the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the Virginia Beer Wholesalers Association, the Virginia Distillers Association and the Virginia Wineries Association — are asking legislators to reject Youngkin’s proposed budget amendments, which would reverse the General Assembly’s effort to make ABC independent of the governor’s control.

Youngkin appoints new leaders at key government agencies

By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin filled vacancies in three high-level positions in state government on Friday, including the Department of Taxation and the Virginia Lottery. Youngkin named James Alex, an executive at a global accounting firm, as tax commissioner to succeed Craig Burns, who retired last month after serving in the job for more than 13 years under three governors. … The governor also appointed Khalid Jones, an investment entrepreneur and securities litigator, to lead the Lottery, a semi-independent agency … Finally, Youngkin named Robert Ward as chief transformation officer, replacing Eric Moeller, who resigned earlier this year after two years in a job that the governor created to improve operations of state agencies ...

Youngkin proposes a second vote to remove Robert E. Lee license plate

By NATHANIEL CLINE, Virginia Mercury

While Gov. Glenn Youngkin did not veto a measure to repeal two license plates connected to the controversial history of the Confederacy, he is staving off Democrats’ effort to do so by requiring lawmakers to vote again on the measure next year. The governor also amended the bill, which received bipartisan support from the General Assembly last month and would repeal the special Sons of Confederate Veterans and Gen. Robert E. Lee license plates, by directing the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to study when special license plates should expire.

Yancey: Youngkin’s ‘skill’ game amendments make the games virtually impossible

By DWAYNE YANCEY, Cardinal News

When Gov. Glenn Youngkin sent the bill legalizing so-called electronic skill games back to the General Assembly with amendments, one of those amendments directed that 5% of the tax revenue from the games go toward improving Interstate 81 — a wonderful talking point on the western side of the state, where complaining about I-81 is more common than complaining about the weather. However, other amendments that the governor added would effectively ban the games from almost everywhere in Virginia, rendering that dedicated I-81 revenue stream almost meaningless.