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Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Democratic leaders say disaster preparedness will be a priority when Virginia’s General Assembly convenes in 2027. The proposed Governor’s Declaration of Preparedness would let the state mobilize resources before an expected disaster, rather than waiting until it strikes. The legislation would put key parts of an August executive order into law. That order followed seven regional readiness summits, where officials identified gaps in communication, coordination, planning, training and workforce. A statewide summit in October produced about 16 recommendations, which had not been made public as of Tuesday. The effort comes nearly two years after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Southwest Virginia. “It’s not a matter of if the next disaster happens, but when,” House Majority Leader Charniele Herring said. State officials say a standing pre-disaster declaration could help agencies coordinate across regions and speed up preparation, response and recovery. The Roanoke Outside Foundation is receiving a $2 million one-time investment from Google, tied to the company’s data center project in Botetourt County. The money will go to Project Outside, a community grant fund for outdoor projects across the region. The foundation’s director, Pete Eshelman, called the funding “transformational”: previously, grants ranged from $500 to $8,000; the new investment will allow grants of $5,000 to $200,000. Project Outside has distributed more than $200,000 to over 50 projects in five years. Google says the funding will support outdoor capital investments and recreation, including natural assets such as Carvins Cove, which supplies water to the company’s data center project. Roanoke Outside says it chose to spend the money within two years. Google asked that it be spent “as quickly as possible,” Eshelman said. He said there are no stipulations — or even a formal agreement — attached to the funding. A Smyth County resident is asking a court to void the county’s new data center ordinance, arguing that it conflicts with the comprehensive land use plan and was approved through an improper process. Charles Wassum’s lawsuit challenges a September vote that created a special-use permit process for data centers — while also adding agricultural zones to the areas where they may be considered. Before the change, data processing facilities were allowed by right in industrial and commercial zones, with no local approval required. The new rules require developers to seek a permit and go through public review, but Wassum says expanding eligibility to farmland could open up much of the county to development. Smyth County’s plan describes preserving its rural character as important to residents’ quality of life and designates much of the county as farmland. The lawsuit also alleges that changes made after a June planning commission hearing were not followed by another public hearing, and that the supervisors moved the vote ahead of public comment. Lynchburg’s final election tally did not change who won the city’s races, but it did reshuffle the Republican runners-up in the City Council contest. The late-Wednesday count added at least 133 mail ballots and 1,778 provisional ballots, many cast by people who registered on Election Day. In Lynchburg, those provisional votes came almost entirely from Liberty University students, who voted overwhelmingly Republican. The added ballots pushed Democrat Tom Perriello’s share of the city’s congressional vote below 50%: he finished with 49.47%, compared with John McGuire’s 48% in a three-way race. McGuire still won the district. The final numbers also changed the order among Republican City Council candidates — and reopened a bitter fight within the party. Lynchburg Republicans swept the three at-large council seats four years ago, then split into rival camps. This year, competing slates and a party-run nominating process produced a divided ticket. The new count has given both sides fresh numbers to argue over, without changing the winners. Virginia is moving toward a new formula for funding its public schools — a change that could reshape how the state distributes more than $10 billion a year. The General Assembly’s education funding subcommittee has approved hiring a consultant to help develop a replacement for the 50-year-old model. Virginia currently bases school funding on the number of staff positions the state says divisions should have. Most states instead start with a set amount per student, often adding money for students with specific needs. School leaders in Southwest and Southside Virginia hope a new approach will better support small, rural divisions and schools serving more high-needs students. A 2023 review by the General Assembly’s watchdog agency found the current formula does not adequately meet students’ needs. Gov. Abigail Spanberger has also pledged to modernize the system and increase state investment in public education. The details of a replacement are still to come; lawmakers have begun the work of deciding how Virginia pays for its schools.

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