Virginia

The U.S. Army finalized an $8.6 million purchase of the Middleburg Training Center in Virginia on August 6, 2026, to house and train the 73 horses of the Old Guard's Caisson Detachment, which support burials at Arlington National Cemetery. The relocation follows a 2022 internal review that found inadequate facilities at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall and Fort Belvoir contributed to four horse deaths. The Army revamped its equine program, creating a Military Working Equid Task Force and a new equestrian military occupational specialty. While residents support improved horse care, they mourn the loss of a premier thoroughbred training facility.

6 reports · 2 sources · Updated Aug 18, 07:22 PM UTC

Mia Bieniemy (57), wife of Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, was shot on July 26, 2026, at the couple's home in Ashburn, Virginia. She was hospitalized with serious injuries. The couple's 27-year-old son, Elijah Zion Bieniemy, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in a felony, and discharging a firearm within a dwelling. He is being held without bond. Eric Bieniemy, who was at Chiefs training camp in Missouri on Sunday, was absent from practice on Monday. The Chiefs released a statement acknowledging the incident but provided no further details. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 27, 03:42 PM UTC

The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a contract valued at up to $400 million to develop the ground segment for Tranche Three of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This ground infrastructure serves as mission control, enabling communication with satellites and providing near-instant missile launch warnings. General Dynamics, which previously built ground systems for Tranche One and Two under a $491.6 million contract, will extend its existing architecture. The sole-source award emphasizes technical continuity. Work will be performed in Arizona, Washington, North Dakota, Alabama, and Virginia, with completion expected by September 30, 2030. The SDA has obligated $60.7 million from fiscal year 2026 funds. The PWSA aims to deploy hundreds of smaller, cheaper satellites for resilient missile tracking, with Tranche Three satellites expected to launch no earlier than 2029.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 25, 10:50 AM UTC

The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) awarded General Dynamics Mission Systems a contract valued at up to $400 million to develop the ground segment for Tranche Three of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). This ground segment serves as the mission control infrastructure that communicates with the satellite constellation, directing tracking and relaying data to commanders. General Dynamics, which previously built ground systems for Tranche One and Two under a separate $491.6 million award, received this contract as a sole source acquisition to maintain technical continuity. Work will be performed in Arizona, Washington, North Dakota, Alabama, and Virginia, with completion expected by September 30, 2030. The SDA has obligated $60.7 million from fiscal year 2026 funds. The PWSA Tracking Layer aims to provide near-instant missile launch detection and fire-control quality tracking, with Tranche Three satellites expected to launch no earlier than 2029.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 25, 10:50 AM UTC

The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee voted to make South Carolina the first presidential primary state for the 2028 election cycle, scheduling its primary for January 22. The decision marks a significant shift from past schedules, prioritizing a state with a large Black voting bloc amid concerns over Supreme Court restrictions on the Voting Rights Act. South Carolina edged out Nevada, partly due to concerns about Nevada's ability to process election results quickly. The early calendar also includes Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia. Michigan replaced Iowa as the Midwest's early state, a notable departure from decades of tradition. The vote became tense when New Mexico was scheduled before Michigan, breaking a regional representation plan. The full DNC will vote on the proposed calendar in August. The new order elevates the South and Southwest while weakening Northeast and Midwest voices, significantly shaping the 2028 nomination race.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 05:26 PM UTC

The Trump administration, through the Department of Justice (DOJ), filed a lawsuit against Milwaukee on Thursday challenging the city's ban on law enforcement wearing face coverings while on duty. The DOJ argues that the measure is unconstitutional when applied to federal agents, citing recent legal victories in similar cases against California, Virginia, and Philadelphia. The lawsuit is part of a broader federal effort to override local ordinances that restrict federal law enforcement activities, particularly regarding mask-wearing. The DOJ is asking the court to join the growing number of rulings that have sided with the administration on this issue.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 01:54 PM UTC

On July 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia struck down a D.C. law that prohibited therapists licensed in other jurisdictions from conducting online teletherapy sessions with clients in D.C. The decision came nearly six years after Virginia-based counselor Elizabeth Brokamp, represented by the Institute for Justice (IJ), filed a lawsuit arguing the law violated the First Amendment. IJ Deputy Director of Litigation Robert McNamara hailed the ruling as a victory for free speech, stating that the First Amendment protects useful speech like counseling. The article also includes commentary advocating for broader telemedicine reform, arguing that patients should be allowed to consult physicians licensed in any state, without requiring separate state licenses or interstate compacts, as a form of competitive federalism.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 11:17 AM UTC

On Wednesday, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia struck down a D.C. law that prohibited therapists licensed in other jurisdictions from conducting online teletherapy sessions with clients in D.C. The decision came nearly six years after Virginia-based counselor Elizabeth Brokamp, represented by the Institute for Justice (IJ), filed a lawsuit arguing the law violated the First Amendment. IJ Deputy Director of Litigation Robert McNamara hailed the ruling as a victory for free speech, stating that the First Amendment protects useful speech like counseling. The article also includes commentary advocating for broader patient choice in telemedicine, arguing that patients should be allowed to consult any physician licensed in any state, rather than being restricted by state licensing barriers. The piece references the temporary lifting of telemedicine restrictions during the pandemic and calls for competitive federalism to enable cross-state medical consultations.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 11:17 AM UTC

Florida-based data center operator TECfusions is going public via a merger with SPAC Apex Treasury Corp., valuing the company at $4 billion. The deal includes a $35M PIPE investment at $10 per share from an undisclosed institutional investor, backed by UK-based investors including former Merrill Lynch executive Ajmal Rahman and crypto investor Hugh Cochrane. TECfusions specializes in adaptive reuse of industrial facilities for data centers, with assets in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, plus planned expansion into Chile. The transaction is expected to close by year-end. The move reflects a broader trend of digital infrastructure operators returning to public markets to fund AI-driven growth, following similar listings by Blackstone Digital Infrastructure Trust and Switch. The article notes that while some SPAC deals have struggled, TECfusions chose this route for more predictable valuations and execution.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 06:03 AM UTC

BloombergNEF (BNEF) has sharply raised its forecast for US data center electricity demand, projecting 194 gigawatts (GW) by 2035, an 83% increase from its December estimate. This would represent about 20% of total US power consumption, up from 5.9% today. The surge is driven by AI training and inference workloads, which are expected to account for nearly half of the capacity. BNEF warns that even record grid connection rates sustained through 2035 would leave a 19 GW supply shortfall. Regional impacts are significant: PJM Interconnection, serving Northern Virginia's data center corridor, could see 34% of its electricity go to data centers by 2035, while ERCOT in Texas would reach 22%. The report notes that nearly half of planned data center builds this year may be delayed or canceled due to transformer lead times of up to five years. Other forecasters, including EPRI and S&P, have also raised their estimates significantly.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 02:21 PM UTC

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), chair of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, is using his personal battle with alpha-gal syndrome—a tick-borne red meat allergy affecting at least 450,000 Americans—to push for increased research and legislation. The disease, caused by lone star tick bites, triggers potentially life-threatening allergic reactions to red meat and mammalian products. Griffith, who cannot eat beef or dairy, advocates for the Kay Hagan Tick Act to enhance monitoring and research. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also prioritized tick-borne disease elimination. The House passed its version of the tick research bill, while the Senate has yet to act. Alpha-gal syndrome is the fastest-growing tick-borne disease in the U.S., with up to 75% of sufferers experiencing anaphylaxis.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 11:20 AM UTC

Brazilian football star Vinicius Jr. made his first public appearance after undergoing chin contouring surgery, attending the opening event of his girlfriend Virginia's gym in Goiânia. The couple shared a public kiss, and Virginia posted online celebrating the gym's launch. According to reports, Vinicius had the cosmetic procedure after the World Cup, with costs ranging from £3,000 to over £14,000 in the UK. The appearance also confirmed the couple's reconciliation after a breakup before the World Cup. Photos of Virginia sitting on Vinicius's lap shortly after Brazil's World Cup exit had previously sparked controversy in Brazil.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 11:41 PM UTC

Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has launched a crowd-sourced registry (brockovichdatacenter.com) for Americans to report data center construction in their communities. Speaking on a podcast, she said she received 30 emails about data center issues, prompting her to create the site. Within 72 hours of its April 27 launch, the website crashed twice due to high volume. Over 8,200 people have reported data centers near them, with 41% concerned about water supply impacts. Other concerns include electricity supply, health effects, and harm to wildlife. Brockovich criticized local governments for keeping residents uninformed, often due to non-disclosure agreements with developers. Business Insider notes over 1,400 data centers were built or approved in the US by end of 2025, with hotspots in Virginia, West Texas, and Wisconsin.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 08:34 AM UTC

The article reports that emergency federal orders under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act, once rare, are now being used routinely to keep the U.S. power grid stable. PJM, the grid operator for 65 million people across 13 states, hit an all-time peak load of 168,158 MW in July 2026. Since January, PJM has requested the order three times; nationally, it has been invoked 43 times in the past 14 months, compared to just 20 times in the previous 50 years. The primary driver is surging demand from data centers, especially in Northern Virginia, where Dominion Energy faces a 70-gigawatt interconnection queue—nearly three times its all-time system peak. Aging power plants, extreme heat causing forced outages, and slow permitting for new generation compound the crisis. PJM's capacity auction prices have skyrocketed from $29 per megawatt-day to over $329, with data centers responsible for 63% of the increase. The article highlights that these emergency measures are becoming a permanent fixture of grid operations.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 01:54 AM UTC

The author, a lifelong East Coast resident, recommends Bethany Beach, Delaware, as the region's best beach town for a quiet, family-friendly vacation. Located between Ocean City, Maryland, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, Bethany Beach is part of 'The Quiet Resorts' and offers a slower pace with no nightclubs, early-closing shops, and a peaceful atmosphere. The author's family has visited annually for five years, staying at the Bethany Beach Ocean Suites Residence Inn by Marriott. They enjoy a routine of coffee and pastries from Maureen's Ice Cream & Desserts, pizza from Pomodoro Pizzeria, Boardwalk Fries, and visits to DiFebo's Restaurant and Market. The downtown area features Bethany Beach Books, Candy Kitchen, and a bandstand hosting free concerts and movie nights. The author recommends visiting in late May, early June, September, or October for better prices and fewer crowds.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 03:32 PM UTC

A recent report from the Pew Charitable Trusts reveals that approximately 70% of debt lawsuits in the U.S. result in default judgments, often because most defendants fail to appear in court. Debt collection lawsuits have surged since the pandemic, with Missouri seeing cases nearly triple from 2019 to 2025. Consequences for borrowers include wage garnishment, bank account seizures, and property liens. Fewer than 10% of defendants have legal counsel, though hiring a lawyer reduces the likelihood of a default judgment by over 90%. Some states, like Virginia and Washington, have passed laws requiring greater transparency in debt lawsuits and protecting consumers from aggressive collection tactics. The article highlights the financial strain on American households, which hold nearly $19 trillion in debt, and the challenges of navigating the legal system without representation.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 01:00 PM UTC

Brenda Eicher-Beard, a 70-something former teacher in Virginia, quit her job after her husband suffered a severe hemorrhagic stroke in January 2023, following an atypical Parkinson's diagnosis. She returned to work full-time as a reading specialist in fall 2024 to afford private caregiving costs of about $5,000 per month. Medicare covered initial rehabilitation and therapy but stopped after June 2025, leaving her to pay privately for a certified nursing assistant, physical therapy, and multiple caregivers. She uses proceeds from selling their Maryland home to supplement costs. The care includes $110/hour for exercise physiotherapy three times a week and $20-$29/hour for home health aides. She manages care from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. while working. The article highlights gaps in Medicare coverage for long-term care and the financial strain on families.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 09:00 AM UTC

This travel feature explores the legacy of George Washington and the early U.S. presidents from Virginia. It follows a tour through historic sites including Fredericksburg, Mount Vernon, Ferry Farm, Fort Loudoun in Winchester, and the Yorktown battlefield. The article highlights Washington's early life as a surveyor, soldier, and politician, culminating in the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781. It features interviews with Kevin Anderson, manager of Washington's mother's house, and Charles Harbaugh IV, a historical interpreter at Fort Loudoun. The piece also notes that four of the first five U.S. presidents were Virginians, and that Washington never governed from Washington D.C. The title references a local peanut soup associated with Washington's era.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 05:23 AM UTC

Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) criticized President Trump's primetime speech, arguing it demonstrates a lack of seriousness about election security. Warner specifically highlighted the recent dismissal of remaining Democratic members from the Elections Assistance Commission (EAC), an independent agency that works with local election officials. The senator claimed Trump's actions and rhetoric undermine confidence in the electoral process. The article, published by The Hill, frames Warner's comments as a direct political attack on Trump's approach to election integrity ahead of upcoming elections.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 08:46 PM UTC

This Forbes analysis argues that the AI boom is not ethereal but physically intensive, requiring vast land, water, and power for data centers. It highlights Northern Virginia as the global data center hub, where grid congestion causes 7-year hookup waits. A proposed $1 billion transmission line (Valley Link) threatens historic sites and farmland, sparking local opposition. Virginia enacted a first-in-nation tax on data center electricity consumption to offset rising residential utility costs. The article critiques industry claims that data centers use less water than golf courses, noting they consume treated municipal water, not untreated agricultural water. The piece concludes that the AI infrastructure expansion is inevitable but must be subject to strict resource accountability and true cost payment.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 12:45 PM UTC

Virginia-based Onyx Industries demonstrated its RAM-T (Rigged Alternate Method Tandem) air delivery system paired with a GPS-guided JPADS parachute built by Airborne Systems. The system uses an autonomously steered parafoil to deliver payloads precisely to a designated landing point, allowing aircraft to release cargo from higher altitudes and greater distances, reducing exposure to enemy fire. The demonstration featured an inflatable payload barrel made from rugged Hypalon-coated fabric to protect cargo such as unmanned systems, communications gear, and weapons during landing. JPADS technology, developed jointly by the U.S. Army and Air Force since 1993 and first used in combat in Afghanistan in 2006, continuously adjusts steering lines for real-time course correction. The RAM-T platform comes in four configurations, with maximum exit weight of 1,000 pounds, and includes a wheeled carriage and modular ballast system for precise weight adjustments.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 01:50 PM UTC

Virginia-based Onyx Industries has demonstrated its RAM-T (Rigged Alternate Method Tandem) air delivery system paired with a GPS-guided JPADS parachute built by Airborne Systems. The system uses an autonomously steered parafoil to deliver payloads precisely to a designated landing point, allowing cargo aircraft to release supplies from higher altitudes and greater distances (up to 25 km) to avoid flying low and slow over hostile territory. The demonstration featured an inflatable payload barrel made of rugged Hypalon-coated fabric to protect cargo such as drones, communications gear, and weapons during landing. The RAM-T platform comes in four configurations, with a maximum exit weight of 1,000 pounds, and includes a wheeled carriage and modular ballast system. JPADS technology, developed jointly by the U.S. Army and Air Force since 1993 and first used in combat in Afghanistan in 2006, has been sold in over 850 units globally. The system aims to reduce risk to aircrews while ensuring accurate delivery of critical equipment to ground forces.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 01:50 PM UTC

NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) plans to spend $59 billion annually on capital expenditures through 2032, following its acquisition of Dominion Energy (NYSE: D). The combined company aims to capitalize on surging electricity demand driven by AI, data centers, and electric vehicles, with demand expected to rise 60% between 2025 and 2045. NextEra's regulated utilities and its large contract solar/wind business will both benefit. The spending is projected to support annualized earnings growth of 9% or more, up from 8% without the deal. The company also plans to maintain its decades-long dividend growth streak, offering a 2.7% yield with roughly 6% annual dividend increases.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 12:35 PM UTC

NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) plans to spend $59 billion annually in capital expenditures through 2032, partly enabled by its acquisition of Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), a $60 billion market cap competitor. The combined company aims to capitalize on surging electricity demand driven by AI, data centers, and electric vehicles, with demand expected to rise 60% between 2025 and 2045. The acquisition expands NextEra's regulated utility reach beyond Florida into North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia—home to a major data center market. NextEra also operates one of the world's largest contract solar and wind power businesses. The capex is expected to support annualized earnings growth of 9% or more, up from 8% without the deal. The company maintains a 2.7% dividend yield with plans for ~6% annual dividend growth, appealing to dividend growth investors.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 12:35 PM UTC

Kevin O'Leary, the 'Shark Tank' investor and developer of massive AI data centers in Utah and Canada, pushed back against concerns about water consumption during a radio appearance. He argued that modern data centers use far less water than commonly believed, comparing their usage to that of a golf course. O'Leary cited advances in closed-loop cooling systems, echoing similar defenses by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who dismissed water usage claims as 'totally fake.' A previous Business Insider investigation found some large data centers were permitted to use more water daily than 49,000 Americans. O'Leary also advocated that data center developers should bring their own power and contribute excess to the grid. Separately, he faces a defamation lawsuit for accusing opponents of his Utah project of being backed by the Chinese Communist Party, a claim he later said lacked evidence.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 09:17 AM UTC

Architects are reimagining AI data centers to provide tangible benefits to host communities, moving beyond traditional industrial designs. Forma's 'Pink Thermal Baths' concept proposes a bathhouse warmed by server heat. Gensler integrates public parks and uses materials like Corten steel to blend with landscapes. Arup explores vertical designs, noise mitigation, and pairing data centers with tomato farms to reuse waste heat. The push comes as a 2025 Business Insider analysis finds over 1,400 data centers built or approved in the US, and a Gallup poll shows 71% of adults oppose local AI data centers due to noise, water use, and electricity concerns. Architects debate whether design can reduce burdens or merely camouflage them, with some ideas requiring government and developer cooperation for infrastructure like district heating.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 18, 08:11 AM UTC

Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's historic Virginia estate, is marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a new exhibition titled '1776: Road to the Declaration.' The compact exhibit features a 1795 Jefferson quotation about liberty rolling around the globe, a commemorative copy of the Declaration owned by James Madison, and a timeline linking Jefferson's life to American history. The article notes that the Declaration's principles of equality and unalienable rights have inspired freedom movements worldwide for two and a half centuries. The exhibition is part of broader semiquincentennial celebrations at Monticello, including branded merchandise like banners and T-shirts.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 17, 10:00 AM UTC

The Pentagon announced framework agreements on July 15 with Anduril, CoAspire, and Zone 5 Technologies to mass-produce affordable cruise missiles under the FAMM program. The U.S. Air Force plans to acquire 28,000 missiles over five years for $12.6 billion, with production ramping to 8,000 annually. Missiles cost about $218,000 each—far cheaper than the $1.3 million JASSM—and include variants with ranges of 250–500 miles, plus an extended-range version over 1,200 miles. Deliveries are expected to start in 2027, pending testing and congressional approval.

14 reports · 6 sources · Updated Jul 17, 12:35 PM UTC

Ribbon Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: RBBN) announced on June 30, 2026, that it is enabling MGW Telephone, a third-generation ILEC serving communities in Virginia, to modernize its network and meet BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) objectives. MGW is utilizing Ribbon's Circuit Emulation Services to migrate from TDM to an all-IP environment using the NPT platform. This approach reduces risks and costs associated with legacy networks while introducing automation, orchestration, increased capacity, and support for new services. Ribbon expressed optimism in supporting MGW's continued investment in network modernization and broadband expansion. The article also notes RBBN is considered one of the most undervalued stocks under $5, with a 6.41% stock price decline on the announcement day.

1 reports · 1 sources

In a live blog update on US politics under President Donald Trump's second term, several key developments are reported. President Trump stated he does not expect the release of imprisoned Hong Kong publisher and democracy activist Jimmy Lai, despite previous campaign promises and diplomatic efforts. Trump cited negative responses from Chinese authorities regarding his appeals based on Lai's age and health. Lai, sentenced to 20 years in prison in February 2026, remains a symbolic figure for the democracy movement. Domestically, the US Supreme Court rejected a Democratic attempt to redraw electoral districts in Virginia for the upcoming midterm elections, a decision that preserves the Republican majority in the House of Representatives. The court upheld a lower ruling that the referendum question was misleading and procedurally invalid. Additionally, the US Department of Justice announced an impending indictment against former Cuban leader Fidel Castro for a 1996 incident involving the shooting down of exile group planes. This move coincides with tightened US sanctions against Cuba, aiming to pressure the Havana government amid severe economic struggles on the island.

1 reports · 1 sources