As the summer season kicks off with the 2024 Memorial Day weekend and graduation festivities, the Virginia State Police emphasize the importance of safe, sober, and focused driving. With AAA Mid-Atlantic predicting a four percent increase in Memorial Day travel, Virginia’s highways are expected to be especially crowded. This heightened activity comes with increased risks, as evidenced by the nine fatal crashes reported on Memorial Day weekend in 2023.

“By May 23, 2024, Virginia has already lost 294 lives to traffic crashes this year,” said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police. “During this busy time, it’s crucial for drivers to slow down, buckle up, avoid distractions, and drive sober. We must also talk to our teenagers and young adult drivers about safe driving behaviors. While many are celebrating the end of the school year and the start of summer, too many Virginians are mourning the loss of loved ones. Let’s prioritize traffic safety to prevent further tragedies.”

Starting Friday, May 24, 2024, the Virginia State Police will join the national Operation Crash Awareness Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E) to reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries related to impaired driving, speeding, and seatbelt violations. The Memorial Day statistical counting period will begin at 12:01 a.m. on May 24 and continue through midnight on May 27, 2024. Throughout the holiday weekend, all available state police troopers and supervisors will be on patrol to ensure safe and responsible traffic flow.

During the last Memorial Day weekend, Virginia State Troopers issued 771 seatbelt violation citations and 136 child restraint violations. They also cited 4,990 speeders and 1,924 reckless drivers and arrested 89 impaired drivers. Additionally, troopers made 169 felony arrests, assisted 1,447 disabled motorists, investigated 1,846 traffic crashes, and inspected 634 commercial vehicles.

The funds from summonses issued by the Virginia State Police go to court fees and the state’s Literary Fund, which supports public school construction, technology funding, and teacher retirement.

Drivers are also reminded of recent changes to Virginia’s “Move Over” law, which now requires motorists to either move over a lane or slow down for any vehicle on the roadside using emergency markers, flashing lights, or flares.

Colonel Settle’s message is clear: “This is a time for celebration and making memories, not mourning. By following traffic laws and practicing safe driving habits, we can all contribute to a safer holiday weekend and summer.”

Joining 23 conservative-led states’ efforts, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has signed on to legal challenges to new federal rules designed to advance emission reductions and address what scientists say is causing extreme weather events.

Attorney General Jason Miyares is introduced in the Senate gallery. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

Miyares has challenged several rules, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations for tractor trailer and passenger vehicle tailpipes, power plants and meat and poultry processors.

The crux of Miyares’ arguments in all of the legal challenges to the new emissions rules has been to combat what his office characterized as federal government overreach, which spokesperson Chloe Smith said is “a core function of state attorney general offices.”

Though Virginia follows the tailpipe emissions for passenger vehicles set by California, the different federal rules would have a “nationwide effect, including in Virginia,” on American power grids, the supply chain and consumer demand, Smith said.

President Joe Biden’s administration has rolled out the various rules as part of his agenda that has included record amounts of funding for renewable energy deployment through the Inflation Reduction Act and environmental improvement projects through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The new emissions standards — and Miyares’ actions concerning them — have met with mixed reactions in Virginia from environmental groups, the trucking industry and electric utilities.

Heavy truck rule

The latest suit over the heavy truck rule is one that could apply to Virginia, since the state defaults to following the federal government for those tailpipe emissions standards while  following California’s passenger car emissions rules.

Because of smog issues California faced, that state was granted an exception to the Clean Air Act to enforce stricter tailpipe emission regulations. No other state uses that exception,  which prevents car manufacturers from having to make more than two different types of vehicles to meet additional standards.

Though not as stringent as California, the federal passenger car emissions rules are said to lead to greater public adoption of electric vehicles, which the federal heavy truck mirrors. 

Evening traffic on Interstate 95 through Richmond. (Wyatt Gordon)

The Southern Environmental Law Center and other groups have been lauding the work from Biden — though they’d like to see previously drafted and more stringent rules around tractor trailers, or heavy trucks, get adopted — while expressing disappointment in Miyares’ actions.

“It’s very disappointing that the attorney general has joined [challenges to the rules], which will have an outsized impact on climate pollution that are not only harming the earth but also our health,” said Trip Pollard, a senior attorney with the SELC. “I can’t say I’m too surprised.”

Pollard, a leading backer of reducing car emissions, stands by the heavy truck rule because those pollutants from the transportation sector are the state and country’s largest source of greenhouse emissions that are warming the planet, leading to more frequent and severe flooding and fire events.

“There absolutely are legitimate concerns and we just need to be sure to address those concerns,” Pollard said, referencing failed attempts this past session to build out EV charging infrastructure in rural areas.

Conversely, the Virginia Trucking Association has said the new federal heavy truck rules are “unrealistic,” because of the cost to implement the changes and charging demands they say are put on truckers, and support Miyares’ pushback against them.

“We certainly appreciate their effort to stop this rule,” said Dale Bennett, president & CEO of the Virginia Trucking Association. “Let’s take a look at trying to get something that’s realistic and technology neutral.”

Bennett and the trucking industry’s opposition stems from the increased cost the rules will put on the industry that will trickle down to consumers, Bennett said, and could even lead to trucking companies buying vehicles now before needing to buy 2027 to 2032 model year trucks that will need to comply with the federal rules.

“Operationally how do you operate them if there’s no charging infrastructure?” Bennett said.

Virginia is home to a Volvo plant in Dublin that has committed to fossil fuel-free vehicles. There’s also Mack Trucks, which recently expanded in Roanoke County.

“The Volvo Group is completely aligned with EPA’s objective of speeding the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs),” said Jonathan Miller, senior vice president of public affairs for Volvo Group North America, in a statement. “Customers won’t buy ZEVs unless they’re confident they have access to charging, which neither [manufacturers] nor EPA can guarantee.”

Miller said the EPA’s new  rules are “more realistic than what was originally proposed and support the agency’s pledge to consider further adjustments if necessary.”

As less than half of American respondents said in a recent Gallup poll they would purchase an electric vehicle, passenger vehicle manufacturer Ford said it is scaling back its commitments to transition fleets to electric vehicles amid sale concerns. The car maker, which recently began an ad campaign promoting  options to buy gas, electric and hybrid vehicles, still filed a brief in support of the new passenger car tailpipe emissions because of the “regulatory stability” it provides.

“Even more important than the power our customers choose, is what they choose to do with that power,” said Lisa Materazzo, Ford global chief marketing officer, in a statement on its ad campaign promoting choice.

Power plant rule

The EPA’s power plant rule has a similar intent of weaning the country’s electric grid off of fossil fuel-emitting generation sources, but the VCEA directly governing the state’s grid has already set up Virginia to get there.

The new federal rule, according to the Associated Press, would create standards that require existing coal plants operating beyond 2032 to capture 90% of their emissions, or close before then. Future coal or natural gas plants would need to meet that carbon capture rate, too.

“By developing these standards in a clear, transparent, inclusive manner, EPA is cutting pollution while ensuring that power companies can make smart investments and continue to deliver reliable electricity for all Americans,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in a statement.

The rules for the coal plants could come into play for the Clover Power Station that is co-owned by Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, the electricity supplier for the state’s more rural  electric cooperatives, and Dominion Energy, Virginia’s largest utility. Under the VCEA, the Clover plant is mandated to close by 2045, unless there’s a reliability concern. 

If it were to stay open up until then, it would need to adopt the carbon capture technology the federal rules are requiring that industry associations are challenging because of sequestration measures being in its nascent stage. Otherwise, the 880 megawatts of electricity Clover produces, as well as several other coal plants that are already cited to come offline, would need to close, creating a reliability concern amid unprecedented energy demand.

Despite generating less and less of its potential electricity, the full output of the plant may be needed as part of a “capacity obligation” with the regional grid operator, PJM Interconnection, to supply electricity at the highest peak the grid could face at anypoint.

But whereas the tailpipe emission rules may have a more stark division between support and opposition, the power plant rules don’t have a clear for and against delineation.

“We support EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, as well as the agency’s efforts to provide paths to additional carbon reductions and cleaner resources,” said the Edison Electric Institute, the trade association for investor-owned public utilities like Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company, in a statement. “At the same time, we are seeking judicial review of the agency’s determination that carbon capture and storage (CCS) should be the basis for compliance with other portions of the [federal] rules.”

Old Dominion Electric Cooperative’s Kirk Johnson said in a statement: “EPA’s regulation relies on the use of carbon capture technology that is not currently commercially available, despite the Clean Air Act’s requirement that regulatory standards be achievable and based on available technologies,” Without carbon capture technology, Johnson said, “the rule will require power plants to close prematurely during a time when we expect to see unprecedented growth in the need for electricity.”

Because of the recent unveiling of the rules and ongoing litigation, Dominion spokesperson Aaron Ruby said the utility “will need time to evaluate how they might impact our existing fleet or new power stations,” which includes a natural gas plant being proposed in Chesterfield.

Teresa Hall, a spokeswoman for Appalachian Power Company, Virginia’s second largest utility that also serves West Virginia, also said  carbon capture and storage is “not a viable or proven technology that can be deployed on a large scale within the timeframes required by the rule.”

Appalachian Power falls under the parent company American Electric Power, which also includes Wheeling and Kingsport power companies and had 63% and 19% of its electricity generation come from coal and natural gas, respectively, in 2023.

But Virginia has already charted itself toward an electric grid less dependent on fossil fuel through VCEA, and through the state’s previous participation in the Regional Greenhouse Initiative that required electricity producers, including utilities, to purchase allowances to emit carbon, said Walton Shepherd, Virginia Policy Director for the Natural Resources Defense Council,

“We’re already on a path to compliance,” said Shepherd, adding that technologies like battery storage are increasingly emerging as viable ways to provide electricity amid any concerns over the deployment of renewable sources, especially compared to several years ago. “The solutions are there. We have the tools.”

The lawsuit from Miyares, without an alternative solution to address the “health and welfare,” issues from emissions causing climate change for Virginia, Shepherd added, is “an insult to Virginia.”

But referencing another SCOTUS case from 2022 that arose out of West Virginia, Miyares said the EPA’s power plant rule was “overstepping its bounds,” ignoring Supreme Court guidance and “infringing upon the sovereign rights of states to manage their energy resources.”

“We are urging the Court to recognize the EPA’s illegal power-grab and ensure that any changes to our nation’s energy policies are made through the proper legislative process, not through unilateral regulatory mandates,” Miyares added.

Other action

Virginia’s attorney general has also challenged federal rules over meat and poultry waste and air quality standards, as well as some protections for solar customers. Miyares claimed wins for the withdrawal of a rule that would have allowed the public trading of corporations holding park, federal or private land with an intent to conserve it, and a settlement with Monsanto.

The additional challenges oppose regulations that would expand requirements for liquid waste produced by meat processing plants from being enacted at 171 facilities to 3,879 in the country. Details on the number of Virginia facilities the rules would apply to were not immediately available.

The EPA said the proposed rule “would reduce pollutants discharged through wastewater from [meat and poultry processing] facilities by approximately 100 million pounds per year.”

Poultry barns on the Eastern Shore. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)

But currently, meat and poultry processing plants that aren’t discharging directly into a stream have to pre-treat their waste under a Virginia Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit before sending it to a municipal waste facility, in order to prevent the system becoming overwhelmed. That works “well the way it is,” said Hobey Bauhan, Virginia Poultry Federation president.

“We’re favorable to those who are trying to say, ‘yeah let’s take a second look,’” at the federal proposals, Bauhan said.

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Anthony Edward “Tony” Casarotti, 73, of Front Royal, Virginia, passed away on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at his home after suffering from a lengthy neurodegenerative disease.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 29, at 2:30 p.m. at Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Front Royal with The Reverend Daniel Gee officiating. Interment will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Front Royal. Following the internment, a fellowship meal will be shared at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Front Royal.

Tony was born March 14, 1951, in Front Royal, Virginia, to parents Ernest and Mildred Casarotti.

Tony was a dedicated employee of Warren Memorial Hospital’s radiology department for 40 years, where he established many wonderful relationships with hospital staff and patients alike.

He was an avid reader, history lover, and music enthusiast. Tony pursued many hobbies, such as painting military miniatures and collecting toy memorabilia, but is most likely known for his love of the guitar. He enjoyed learning new techniques and styles and played with many local musicians.

Tony was a lifelong member of Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church.

Surviving is his wife of 44 years, Jane; daughters, Erin Casarotti and Emily Casarotti Straightiff; three grandchildren, Elijah Shelton, Sadie Straightiff, and Maeve Strightiff; as well his siblings, Greogory F. Casarotti, Michael F. Casarotti, and Donna M. Casarotti.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 28, from 6-8 p.m. at Maddox Funeral Home.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Blue Ridge Hospice for their care and sensitivity and to Tony’s dedicated, loving caregivers from Home Instead.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the PSP & CBD Foundation to support research into rare neurological diseases at www.pspcdbfoundation.org or to Bridge of Hope Greater Warren at  www.greaterwarren.bridgeofhopeinc.org

The American Legion Community Band will present its annual Memorial Day Concert on Monday, May 27, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. This event, held at the gazebo on Main Street, is a cherished tradition in Front Royal, honoring the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our nation’s freedom.

The concert promises an evening filled with patriotic music, stirring tributes, and community spirit. It is a heartfelt reminder of the courage and dedication of our service members, past and present. The band, known for its powerful performances, will play a selection of patriotic tunes that capture the spirit of Memorial Day.

“We aim to honor those who have given so much for our country,” said Ed Richards, one of the band’s conductors. “This concert is our way of saying thank you and ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.”

The event is free and open to everyone. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the concert comfortably. The gazebo on Main Street provides a picturesque backdrop for this meaningful tribute, making it a perfect setting for families, friends, and neighbors to come together and reflect on the importance of Memorial Day.

Community members look forward to this annual gathering, which pays homage to fallen heroes and fosters a sense of unity and patriotism. “It’s a beautiful way to honor our veterans and spend time with our community,” said a local resident who attends every year.

For more information about the event and the American Legion Community Band, visit their website at www.alcband.org.

For the third consecutive year, the Town of Front Royal will mark the three-day Memorial Day weekend with a plethora of activities designed to mark the service of those military men and women who gave their lives for their country during and since World War II, adding this year a “Salute to Service” at and around the Gazebo on Saturday afternoon.

A trifecta of events are planned beginning with, on Saturday at noon, at the Julia Wagner Animal Shelter on Progress Drive, the Humane Society of Warren County’s (HSWC) launch of the weekend activities with, for Front Royal, a unique event saluting not only our service men and women, but the dogs of war who helped them on the battlefield and are credited with saving thousands of lives of our military. Coincidentally, the first dogs of war sent into the Pacific theater following the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, came from a Front Royal-based military training facility.

That Saturday noon ceremony, expected to last about 45 minutes, will again feature the popular and talented Valley Chorale; an address by a U.S. Marine Corps dog handler, Christine George, now on the Randolph-Macon Academy staff, accompanied by an R-MA cadets’ honor guard; and the laying of a wreath honoring the war dogs and those local law enforcement K-9s that similarly protect our local citizens while going about their duties.

As the writer looks on former Executive Director of HSWC Meghan Bowers lays wreath at Dogs of War Wagner Shelter site ceremony. Below, a past K-9 law enforcement participant identified as Marley Ben relaxes prior to the start of service. That’s the Dogs of War Memorial Garden dog statue lurking behind Marley Ben.

Throughout Saturday afternoon at the Gazebo, from a 1 p.m. “hard opening” a “Salute to Service” gathering is planned with a variety of imported and local musical talent being featured, as well as veteran assistance informational booths. And on Monday, USMC Lt. Col. Rob MacDougall will again preside over the traditional Memorial Day ceremony at the county courthouse, at the East Main Street/Royal Avenue intersection, starting at noon. Not connected to the veterans’ salutes, but coinciding with the weekend activities will be Ellen Aders’ Farmer’s Market on Sunday afternoon in the vicinity of the Gazebo, an enterprise she re-established just a couple of weeks ago.

Prior to the dedication of the Wagner Shelter Dogs of War Memorial Garden three years ago, the ceremony took place in the Gazebo area of the Village Commons Park. This Memorial Day weekend Saturday the initial ‘Salute to Service’ event will take place with a ‘soft start’ at noon, and ‘hard start’ at 1 p.m. at the Gazebo. Below, the traditional Memorial Day Monday event on the historic Warren County Courthouse grounds will continue this year, beginning at noon under the stewardship of USMC Lt. Col. Rob MacDougall.

As the Royal Examiner camera records, members of the Valley Chorale opened and closed last year’s Dogs of War ceremony at the Wagner Animal Shelter. And they will be featured again this year.

Plastic, ubiquitous in everyday items from kitchenware to cosmetics, has been detected in an alarming new location: human blood vessels. Recent research highlights a concerning correlation between the presence of micro and nano plastics in the carotid artery plaques of patients and a significantly increased risk of major cardiovascular events, including strokes and heart attacks.

In a groundbreaking study, researchers discovered that patients with plastic-adulterated atheroma plaques—fatty deposits within arteries composed of proteins, cholesterol, and other substances—were four times more likely to suffer severe cardiovascular outcomes or death. This study was the first to identify plastic particles within such plaques, with nearly 60% of the 304 examined patients showing contamination.

While the exact role of microplastics in causing these health issues remains unconfirmed, the findings suggest a strong association that cannot be ignored. Scientists have considered various potential entry routes for plastics into the human bloodstream, including through ingestion or inhalation of contaminated food, water, and air, as well as through products like toothpaste and lip gloss that contain these tiny particles.

This emerging evidence points to the urgent need for further research to establish a definitive link and understand the mechanisms by which microplastics may contribute to cardiovascular diseases. The implications of such findings are profound, suggesting that the pervasive problem of plastic pollution could be contributing to health risks far more directly and personally than previously understood.