CHESAPEAKE — “We win Virginia, the race is over,” former president Donald Trump told a crowd of more than a thousand at Historic Greenbrier Farms in Chesapeake on Friday.

Former President Donald Trump speaks to a crowd over 1,000 people at a June 28 rally in Chesapeake, Virginia. (Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

He and opponent President Joe Biden each held rallies following their debate the night before. Biden held one in Raleigh, North Carolina earlier in the day.

In a roughly hour and a half-long speech, Trump took several victory laps for not entering America into new wars and pressing Congress to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 during his first term.

Trump made several factually inaccurate statements during his remarks. One example was his false claim that in 2020, protesters in Portland, Seattle and Minneapolis were “ripping people apart and killing people” during demonstrations that roiled the nation after a Black man, George Floyd, was killed by a white police officer.

With border security still a key issue for Trump in this election, he alleged without proof that other countries are releasing droves of people from prisons and mental institutions to come into America.

Before the former president took the stage, the gathering had a county fair vibe, but Trump-themed. Attendees milled about, perused Trump merchandise, and visited food trucks in a large field on Historic Greenbrier Farms.

Chesapeake resident Renee Cobb said she’s not been particularly pleased by either presidential candidate and that this presidential election feels like picking between the “lesser of two-evils.”

Policy-wise, she gravitates Republican, so attending the rally was a way for her to hear directly from Trump more about his plans should he be elected.

“He really skirted a lot of questions that I would have been interested in,” Cobb said of the debate the night prior.

Cobb described the debate as a “s— show” for both candidates, though she thinks it went worse for Biden. The president, age 81, spoke in a voice that was often soft and raspy, stumbled over his words at points, and appeared to lose his train of thought a few times. A June Gallup poll found the American voters surveyed “are nearly twice as likely to say Biden is too old to be president (67%) as say this about Trump (37%).”

“My biggest thing from the debate last night was that the Democrats are even saying Biden isn’t fit,” Cobb said.

Trump played into those impressions throughout his speech Friday, taking jabs at Biden and often calling him “Crooked Biden” and “Sleepy Biden.”

Meanwhile, Rich Vanderford’s vote for Trump has never been in question. The North Carolina resident drove to Chesapeake on Friday to attend the Trump rally.

He said that he’s been frustrated with the rising cost of living and inflation in recent years and hopes that Trump will be able to help alleviate that. He also supports Trump’s plans for tighter U.S.-Mexico border security and the former president’s more assertive stance when engaging with foreign governments.

“I feel like World War III is right around the corner,” he said of international conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions between Israel and Hamas, which governs Gaza in the West Bank.

Trump mentioned that he’s the only “competent” candidate that can prevent that, saying he wants America to have defense systems similar to Israel’s dome.

Former President Donald Trump shakes hands with Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin at a rally in Chesapeake, June 28, 2024. (Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury)

Speakers at the event included Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, GOP U.S. Senate nominee Hung Cao, former Republican governors Bob McDonnell and George Allen and U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents the second congressional district.

Youngkin, who endorsed Trump in March, said “Joe Biden’s path to retirement runs through Hampton Roads.”

Kiggans’ race against Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal could likely be close by November, as the Virginia Beach-anchored district often oscillates between partisan control.

“What we saw last night was elder abuse,” Kiggans said Friday afternoon of Biden’s performance in the presidential debate.

Smasal’s campaign is buffeted by investments from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and potential next Speaker of the House, Hakeem Jeffries, has endorsed her.

The Democratic Party of Virginia organized a nearby gathering earlier in the day that was supposed to support Smasal’s campaign, but she pulled out at the last minute. The event, featuring military veterans and DPVA chair Susan Swecker, put Trump on blast for past comments referring to military members killed in action as “suckers” and “losers.”

Representatives from Smasal’s campaign, DPVA and DCCC did not provide comment by the time of this publication as to why Smasal — a Navy veteran — did not attend.

by Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and X.

The Virginia House of Delegates voted 92-0 Friday to reverse recent cost-cutting measures aimed at a state program that helps the families of killed or wounded soldiers go to college without paying tuition.

In a quick and drama-free morning at the Capitol, the House easily passed a repeal bill nearly every Democratic and Republican member had co-sponsored, drawing sustained applause from military families who had filled the House gallery to support its passage.

The outrage many of those families have expressed over what they saw as an underhanded effort to strip benefits for military service is what drew delegates back to Richmond for a rare late June workday.

“It’s often been said if you find yourself in a hole you don’t want to be in, stop digging,” Del. Mike Cherry, R-Colonial Heights, said prior to the vote. “Today, I’m glad that we stopped digging.”

The legislation, which now faces an unclear fate in the Virginia Senate, would fully restore the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education program to its former state, before policymakers adopted narrower eligibility criteria for the program in May.

House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, said that as a veteran himself taking care of veterans is his “highest priority.” But he added he couldn’t predict how the Senate would react to the unanimous, bipartisan action by the House.

“Far be it from little old Don to ever presume what the Senate might do,” Scott said, adding that he’ll leave it to Senate Finance and Appropriations Chair Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, to “work her magic.”

Last week, Lucas refused to docket a bill identical to what the House passed Friday. The Senate will reconvene Monday, and can either take up the bill the House approved or continue pursuing alternative proposals it has put forth that stop short of fully reversing the actions taken earlier this year.

Virginia Senate returns to Richmond but fails to pass any bills

In a show of numbers in favor of repealing the changes, nearly all 100 delegates and 20 senators signed on as patrons for the bill the House approved Friday.

The budget is set to take effect Monday with the start of a new fiscal year, but the Democratic-led General Assembly and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin haven’t agreed on the best way to respond to an outcry from military families and veteran groups angered by policymakers doing little to seek public feedback on a significant policy decision impacting veterans.

In a statement FridayThursday, Youngkin thanked the House for its vote and called for the Senate to support the bill fully reversing the VMSDEP changes.

“We must ensure that any potential changes to the program occur transparently in a regular legislative session with input from our valued veterans and their families,” the governor said.

The recent changes to the VMSDEP program — inspired by growing concerns in the higher education world that colleges and universities were being asked to enroll a rising number of students for free — impose a stricter Virginia residency requirement, prevent the waivers from being used for advanced degrees or a second undergraduate degree and require participants to first pursue other forms of financial aid before using the program.

The changes weren’t made through regular legislation subject to committee hearings, public feedback and a recorded vote by lawmakers on the VMSDEP issue alone. Instead, the changes were tucked into a nearly 700-page budget, a process advocates for veterans have blasted as lacking both transparency and input from the families directly impacted.

Democratic leaders in the Senate have been less eager to fully reverse the VMSDEP changes, arguing the costs of the program have ballooned so rapidly they’ve become too large to ignore or push off to a later date. Data presented at legislative hearings showed the financial impact of the program on universities had swelled from about $12 million in 2019 to more than $65 million in 2023.

That growth came as more and more participants signed up for the benefit, partly due to the state ramping up efforts to market the VMSDEP program to military families who were eligible for it under the prior rules.

The Senate convened last week to take up the VMSDEP issue, but produced nothing to show for it after failing to take up any legislation. Senate leaders released a new proposal Thursday evening that would not fully reverse the changes but would instead delay them for a year and provide $45 million in funding to cover the cost to higher education institutions.

The Senate also called for legislative researchers to study the program and provide more comprehensive data on how it’s used.

“The House and Governor should accept this proposal, as it is the only solution that funds the cost of the program and provides an independent review of the data to help with additional program recommendations,” Lucas said in a news release.

Speaking to reporters after Friday’s vote, Scott, the House speaker, indicated more conversations may need to happen between the House and the Senate. He also said it’s possible the House will have to return at a later date if the Senate chooses to only pass the proposal it unveiled Thursday.

“If they vote on it and it comes to the House, we’ll give it due consideration at that time,” Scott said.

by Graham Moomaw, Virginia Mercury

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and X.

The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reminds motorists to prepare for busy travel days on the roads and stay safe as drivers head out for cookouts, fireworks, and summer activities.

To keep traffic moving during this time, VDOT will suspend many highway work zones and lift most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Wednesday, July 3, until noon on Friday, July 5.

While lane closures will be lifted in most locations, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time. Check VDOT’s Travel Advisories for the latest travel alerts in your area and around the state.

Additionally, VDOT offers several resources to help plan travel ahead of time.

Travel Trends Map Estimates Peak Congestion

VDOT’s online, interactive travel trends map shows peak congestion periods anticipated on Virginia interstates during the Fourth of July holiday period. While it cannot precisely predict when congestion will occur this year, it can help motorists avoid travel when traffic has historically moved slowly.

Based on historical data:

• The days of highest travel on the interstates are likely to be on Wednesday and Sunday, with moderate to heavy congestion likely from noon through 7 p.m. on these days.
• I-95 northbound and southbound is expected to be heavily congested in Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia on Wednesday and Friday through Monday.
• I-77 northbound is likely to be congested between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. during the entire period in the Wytheville area.
• Routes to and from Virginia Beach will likely be congested between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. during the holiday period.

Plan Ahead with VDOT 511: Traffic Information at Your Fingertips

VDOT’s free mobile 511 app offers information about construction, traffic, incidents, congestion, access to traffic cameras, weather, electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and more. Use 511’s “speak ahead” option for hands-free and eyes-free audible traffic alerts for incidents and construction along your route. Traffic information is also available at 511Virginia.org or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.

Northern Virginia Express Lanes Schedule and Other Information

• Find directional schedules for the reversible I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes and information for the I-495 Express Lanes at expresslanes.com.

Hampton Roads HOV Schedule, Tunnels, and Other Information

• Travel to Virginia Beach — Peninsula traffic to Virginia Beach is encouraged to use the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) as an alternative to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT). If traveling to Virginia Beach, take I-664 south to the MMMBT. Then, take the Portsmouth/Norfolk exit (exit 15A) to I-264 east to Virginia Beach.
• Travel to Outer Banks — Traffic to the North Carolina Outer Banks should use I-664 and the MMMBT as an alternative to the HRBT to save time. From I-664 south, take I-64 west (exit 15, Chesapeake/Virginia Beach) to exit 291B (Chesapeake Expressway (Route 168)/Great Bridge/Nags Head). Continue south on Route 168 to the Outer Banks.

Stay Safe

Here are some additional tips for safely navigating the roadways during the holiday period:

• If you plan to drink, have a designated driver.
• If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911 as soon as it is safe.
• Always wear your seat belt — your best defense against impaired and distracted drivers.
• Put your phone down, and don’t drive distracted.
• Use caution as more pedestrians and cyclists are outdoors enjoying the holiday.
• Obey the “Move Over” law, requiring motorists to move over one lane, if possible, for all vehicles with flashing lights, flares, or warning signs stopped on the side of the road.

For questions or to report hazardous road conditions, contact VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).

Virginia farmers take note! Starting July 1, 2024, new regulations for farm-use vehicles will be enforced. These rules, enacted by Virginia lawmakers in 2023, require unregistered farm-use vehicles to display a DMV-issued permanent farm-use placard. The placard must be prominently displayed on panel trucks, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) under 7,500 pounds.

Details of the New Regulation

Key Requirements:

• Placard Purchase: Farm vehicle owners must buy a DMV-issued placard for $15. This placard is valid for the lifetime of the vehicle.
• Application Process: Owners must apply for a local DMV Select or full-service DMV location. The application must include information about the farm’s location, size, and commodities, along with signed statements confirming the vehicle’s exempt use and insurance coverage.
• Display of Placard: The placard must be displayed on the front and back of the vehicle starting July 1, 2024.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance: A first violation will result in a fine of up to $250. Subsequent violations will also be fined $250 each.

Purpose of the New Rules

The new law ensures that farm use tags are used appropriately and that Virginia’s roads are safer. “As farm vehicles are key to agricultural productivity, it is important that Virginia farmers can continue to use them in their operations while preventing farm use tags from being used on other vehicles inappropriately,” said VDACS Commissioner Joseph Guthrie.

Conditions for Farm Use Vehicles

Eligible vehicles must meet specific criteria to qualify for the DMV-issued farm use placard:

• Agricultural Use: The vehicle must be used exclusively for agricultural or horticultural purposes on lands owned or leased by the vehicle’s owner and not operated on public highways except for specific purposes.
• Limited Highway Use: Vehicles can operate on highways for up to 75 miles to transport farm produce and livestock or to reach storage houses, packing plants, markets, or sawmills.
• Seasonal Use: Vehicles can be used seasonally for specific agricultural activities, including transporting produce, livestock, and essential supplies.
• Special Exemptions: Vehicles drawn by farm tractors and used for specific agricultural purposes, such as transporting unginned cotton, peanuts, or fertilizer, are also eligible.

Exemptions and Insurance Requirements

Certain farm vehicles are exempt from needing the DMV-issued placard:

• Vehicles Over 7,500 Pounds: Farm vehicles with a GVWR greater than 7,500 pounds are exempt.
• Specific Machinery: Vehicles with attached machinery for spraying plants or specific agricultural purposes are also exempt.

All unregistered farm-use vehicles must be insured under a general liability policy that includes personal injury and property damage liability insurance. Failure to provide proof of insurance within 30 days when requested by a law enforcement officer is a traffic infraction punishable by a $600 fine.

Encouragement from Authorities

DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey urged farmers to comply with the new regulations: “There is not much time left before enforcement begins, so we encourage farmers to bring their filled-out applications to their local DMV.” Similarly, VSP Superintendent Colonel Gary Settle highlighted the importance of the 12-month grace period, stating that it provided farmers ample time to familiarize themselves with the new requirements.

Conclusion

Virginia farmers must act now to ensure compliance with the new farm use vehicle regulations. By purchasing and displaying the DMV-issued farm use placard, farmers will adhere to the law and contribute to the safety and proper use of Virginia’s roads. For more information and to begin the application process, visit your local DMV Select or full-service DMV location.

Bel Air, a historic mansion in Front Royal, has been added to the Virginia Landmarks Register to recognize Virginia’s rich historical heritage. This property, built in 1795, stands as a testament to the architectural and historical evolution of the region. Initially constructed in the Federal style, Bel Air has witnessed numerous pivotal events and transformations, reflecting its storied past.

Bel Air Mansion. Photo by Maral Kalbain, 2023

Early History and Construction

Bel Air is located in Front Royal, Virginia, a once bustling center of economic and agricultural activity in the Shenandoah Valley. Captain Thomas Buck, one of Front Royal’s founders, constructed the mansion. The central brick portion of Bel Air was built around 1795, with earlier log wings predating it. According to family lore, these log wings were among the first structures on the property, signifying the Buck family’s early settlement in the area.

Captain Thomas Buck was a prominent figure in the region. Born in 1756, Buck served in various significant roles, including as a Lieutenant in the Virginia Militia, a Captain in the 8th Virginia Regiment during the American Revolution, and a trustee of Front Royal. Under Buck’s ownership, Bel Air evolved into a substantial estate, reflecting the prosperity and status of its inhabitants.

The Buck Family and the Civil War Era

Bel Air remained under the Buck family’s ownership for more than 125 years, during which it witnessed significant historical events, most notably during the Civil War. Lucy Rebecca Buck, a young resident at the time, chronicled her experiences during the war and the Union forces’ occupation of Bel Air in her diary. Her detailed accounts provide a vivid picture of life during the tumultuous period.

Bel Air’s significance is further underscored by its notable visitors during the Civil War, including Confederate spy Belle Boyd and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. General Lee’s visit to Bel Air is well-documented, with local folklore recounting how he enjoyed a glass of buttermilk on the front porch and interacted with the Buck family.

Architectural Evolution

In 1905, Bel Air was sold to the Downing family, marking the first time the property passed out of Buck’s hands. The new owners undertook significant renovations to the house, transforming it into a Classical Revival-style residence. Local builder Gustave A. Beyer spearheaded these renovations, which included removing the original log wings, adding a grand portico, and updating the interior layout and trim.

Despite these changes, Bel Air retains many of its original features. The mansion’s oldest segment, a five-bay, two-story brick structure, rests on a stone foundation. The 1905/1906 renovations added a monumental portico supported by stuccoed columns with Modern Ionic capitals. The house’s exterior walls were stuccoed, and the original multi-light windows were replaced with one-over-one wooden sash windows.

The interior of Bel Air combines elements of the Queen Anne and Classical Revival styles. The entrance hall features a grand staircase, a naturally finished paneled wainscot, and a Queen Anne-style mantel. The dining room, added during the 1905/1906 renovation, matches the hall’s trim, while the rear ell houses a pantry, kitchen, and additional living spaces. The second floor contains bedrooms with Queen Anne-style mantels, and the attic holds three rooms with original wide pine board flooring and hand-riven lath beneath the plaster.

Historical Significance

Bel Air’s inclusion in the Virginia Landmarks Register underscores its importance as one of the most significant residential properties in Front Royal. The property’s rich history, architectural evolution, and association with prominent historical figures make it a vital link to the past.

During its time, Bel Air has known only three sets of owners since the late eighteenth century, maintaining a direct familial connection to the original settlers. Its connections to historical developments and subsequent evolution make Bel Air a remarkable testament to the past. It vividly illustrates the transformation of early Federal-style brick dwellings through to the early twentieth century.

Archaeological Potential

The grounds surrounding Bel Air offer substantial archaeological potential. The area includes remnants of nineteenth-century domestic and agricultural outbuildings and sites of Civil War activity. The ruins of a stone chimney on the property could reveal insights into the estate’s early domestic arrangements, further enriching our understanding of Bel Air’s historical context.

Bel Air’s addition to the Virginia Landmarks Register celebrates its historical and architectural significance. The mansion not only represents a key part of Front Royal’s heritage but also serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Buck family and the broader historical narrative of the Shenandoah Valley. As a preserved piece of history, Bel Air offers a window into the past, inviting public interest and scholarly research into its storied legacy.

The Virginia Board of Education took another step on Friday to clarify how schools will be rated and student performance measured to better determine how to direct state resources.

The board, on the superintendent’s recommendation, approved four performance descriptors: “Distinguished,” “On Track,” “Off Track” and “Needs Intensive Support.”

Schools considered “distinguished” are those that exceed the state’s expectations for growth, achievement, and readiness, while “needs intensive support” schools are those that “significantly” do not meet any of the state’s expectations.

The “on-track” and “off track” descriptors mean schools are either meeting or not meeting expectations. However, questions surfaced on where the terms came from, the benchmarks, and the descriptions behind the labels.

Under the proposed plan, Virginia will begin collecting data for the new performance framework starting in August. Results will be released during the 2025-26 school year.

Board President Grace Creasey, a Gov. Glenn Youngkin appointee, said the department will do more work to flush out the descriptions as the revision of the state’s accreditation system moves forward.

Va. Department of Education begins developing new accountability system

“I would like to remind us that the purpose here is transparency and understanding on behalf of not just people in schools, not just those of us sitting here in this room, not people who do education every day,” said Creasey on Friday. “This is for people to understand who are parents and families; and so while we’re deciding what the main categories are, these descriptors have yet to be fully baked at this point.”

Earlier in the process of revising the accreditation system, the board considered two different measures to track academic performance: an achievement index and an overall school rating, which raised concerns about the potential impact on low-performing schools and efforts to recruit teachers and influencing parents to seek other school choices for their children.

Since April, teachers, parents, students, and education leaders have told the board they support using category descriptions instead of an A-F rating scale.

The category descriptors are part of a larger plan by Youngkin’s administration to overhaul the existing accountability system, which focuses on accreditation and measures schools based on academic achievement, performance gaps, student attendance and graduation and dropout rates, and factors like building safety, student-teacher ratios and licensure.

Schools are then labeled accredited, accredited with conditions or not accredited.

Members of the administration and the board have criticized the current system for being vague and failing to address declines in student performance in subjects such as math and reading.

The administration’s process includes splitting up the state’s accreditation system into two parts: an accreditation system, to assess whether schools meet all requirements laid out in state laws and regulations; and an accountability system, to provide “timely and transparent information on student and school performance.”

Under the new system, schools will be rated based on students’ success, measured by their mastery of subjects and academic growth.

Stakeholders and the board are split on the weight factors totaling the overall score for each school level.

Earlier the board expressed that “mastery” is important to make sure students thoroughly understand the concepts before graduating to the next grade level. Others have urged the board to keep “mastery” and “growth” at an equal weight.

The overall score for elementary schools consists of three weight factors: 65% mastery, 25% growth, and 10% readiness.

In middle schools, the performance score is weighted 60% mastery, 20% growth and 20% readiness; high schools’ performance score is weighted 50% mastery, 35% readiness and 15% graduation.

VDOE staff said the performance descriptors would be in addition to the three federally required support and improvement identification categories: Comprehensive, Targeted and Additional Targeted. The designations are given to schools because a specific group of students may need assistance in catching up to the instruction.

Schools identified as “comprehensive” receive full federal support for the entire school, compared to “targeted” schools, which receive support for low-performing subgroups.

Va.’s public education accountability system overhaul

“This is all about providing a holistic picture to the public that’s more transparent, more clear about where schools are performing across all the indicators in the system,” said Anne Hyslop, director of policy development for All4Ed.

Last year, the department contracted with Hyslop to work on changes to the accreditation system along with Chad Aldeman, the Edunomics Lab policy director at Georgetown University.

Board member Anne Holton, former state secretary of education and an appointee of Democratic Govs. Terry McAuliffee and Ralph Northam, was the lone vote against accepting the recommendation, saying she needed more information about the descriptors.

“There are at least a dozen significant decisions, including one of the most important decisions of these ‘where the lines are going to be drawn’ that we haven’t made yet, even though we’re implementing the system starting with the school year that starts in six weeks,” Holton said.

She added that she’s concerned that the proposed accreditation system has not been “fully thought out” and will have “unintended consequences” on teachers, families and “our neediest students.”

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and X.