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Status of $20 million federal grant for Southwest Virginia programs is in limbo

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Status of  million federal grant for Southwest Virginia programs is in limbo


The status of a $19.9 million grant that would fund eight Southwest Virginia projects remains unclear after a group of Senate Democrats said it appears on a list of federal grants slated for cancellation.

Among other things, the grant would help pay for a new community center in Dickenson County, energy-efficiency improvements for child-care centers and research to identify locations for telehealth hubs that could double as safe places during natural disasters.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the money in January to the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. The school would lead a coalition focused on “local, on-the ground projects that reduce pollution, increase community resilience and build community capacity,” according to a UVa news release at the time.

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Christine Mahoney, the Batten school’s chief innovation officer and a professor of public policy and politics, said that the school has received no recent communication about the grant from the EPA “other than that they are reviewing our project to ensure that it is in line with the Trump administration’s goals.”

“We are confident that they will find that it is; our project diversifies energy production, saves American childcare centers energy costs to direct toward childcare workers, advances workforce development, creates jobs, and creates disaster preparedness for a region that has been hit by numerous natural disasters,” Mahoney said in an email.

Without the money, many of the projects likely cannot move forward, she said.

According to UVa, other projects planned to be funded by the grant include:

  • building 22 units of energy-efficient workforce housing in Buchanan County;
  • research on the environmental health and biodiversity of the Clinch River Valley;
  • research on using brownfields for renewable energy generation;
  • a renewable-energy jobs training program led by James Madison University’s Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Energy; and
  • climate-resilience strategic planning for 10 communities.

The EPA’s award to UVa was announced Jan. 17, three days before President Donald Trump took office. The money came from the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

On March 10, Trump’s newly appointed EPA administrator, Lee Zeldin, announced that the agency would cancel more than 400 grants totaling $1.7 billion to “rein in wasteful federal spending.”

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“It is our commitment at EPA to be exceptional stewards of tax dollars,” Zeldin said in a news release.

The release did not provide details on the specific grants that the EPA would cancel.

The grant does not appear on a list of canceled grants on the Department of Government Efficiency website, which says it lists more than 9,500 canceled federal grants totaling more than $33 billion.

But on March 25, a group of nine Democrats on the Senate Committee for Environment and Public Works published a list that they said their staff “obtained exclusively” and which comprised the impacted grants.

Included in that list was the award to UVa to fund the Southwest Virginia projects, called the Appalachian Environmental Resilience Community Change Grants Program.

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The senators sent Zeldin a letter of protest, saying the planned grant cancellations would violate federal law and the EPA’s own contracts.

“As he continues to deliver for the fossil fuel industry, Administrator Zeldin is escalating his assault on the Constitution, on the environment, and on the American people by gutting investments that would lower household energy costs, spur economic growth, and cut pollution,” the senators said in a news release.

When asked to confirm whether the UVa-led program’s grant is marked for cancellation, the EPA said in an April 11 email to Cardinal News that “the agency is reviewing its awarded grants to ensure each is an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars and to understand how those programs align with Administration priorities.”

“The agency’s review is ongoing,” the EPA said.

Mahoney said that UVa received assurance from the office of U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, that the program would continue.

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Griffith said in a statement to Cardinal News this week that his office has not received any communications from the EPA about the matter since he asked the agency in February about the “freezing of certain grant funds” and was told that previously frozen money was being disbursed.

Separately, the EPA in February canceled a $500,000 grant to pay for recreation and flood-resilience projects in five Southwest Virginia communities, according to the nonprofit Appalachian Voices.

EO, an organization that spun off from United Way of Southwest Virginia, operates the Regional Workforce and Child Development Hub in Abingdon. Courtesy of EO.

EO — an organization that spun off from United Way of Southwest Virginia last year; the initialism stands for “endless opportunity” — is slated to receive $4.2 million of the UVa grant for a three-year program to analyze the energy efficiency of about 40 child care centers in the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell and Wise and the city of Norton.

Utility expenses, such as power and water bills, are among the largest costs for child care facilities. Savings achieved through energy efficiency could be used to increase worker pay, helping to attract and retain child care workers, said Travis Staton, president and CEO of EO.

“If we want to expand access to early care and education, we’ve got to help existing providers be really good at their operations and efficiencies and minimize costs and things of that nature,” Staton said.

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If the grant money doesn’t come through, Staton said his organization will continue to work with regional child care facilities to help them improve their operations.

“This grant would really help us to do that even better, and if it doesn’t happen, then we’re going to keep doing it anyway and doing everything we can in other capacities to help them,” he said. “It may not be from the energy-efficiency lens. It may be accounting services and other things that we can do to help them look at their costs and where they’re allocating dollars that they may have savings and efficiencies.”





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Giants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia

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Giants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia


The New York Giants will be forced to hold their 2026 training camp, the first with John Harbaugh as head coach, out of state.

Per a report from the New York Post, the Giants will hold what will likely be the first two weeks of training camp in West Virginia at the Greenbrier Resort, located in White Sulpher Springs.

Part of the reason for the move is the fact that World Cup games will be held at MetLife Stadium this summer. There is also ongoing construction at the Giants’ facility at 1925 Giants Drive. The Giants are expanding their locker room, weight room, dining facility and office space at their headquarters, constructed in 2009. That work began before Harbaugh was named head coach.

NFL teams have used the Greenbier extensively since 2014, when it was first established to host training camp for the New Orleans Saints. The Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns have held training camps there, and other have practiced there during extended road trips.

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The facility has two grass fields and a FieldTurf field, as well as all of the other accommodations an NFL needs.

The Giants have trained at their own Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, N.J. since 2013.

Exact dates for NFL training camps have not yet been set, but the starting date is generally some time in late July. Per the Post, most practices at the Greenbrier are expected to be open to the public.



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Senate approves lawmaker pay raise as teacher pay hike stalls in Virginia budget talks

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Senate approves lawmaker pay raise as teacher pay hike stalls in Virginia budget talks


As the legislative session in Richmond comes closer to an end, lawmakers are still hard at work hammering out the budget for the year ahead. This year, the Senate has approved a pay raise for lawmakers after tabling bills that would have provided larger pay increases for teachers.

With the cost of living rising, teachers across Virginia have been watching the proposed budget closely and hoping for higher pay.

In February, a bill that would have raised teacher salaries by 4.5% each year until reaching the national average of $77,000 was tabled until next year. The decision left some educators disappointed.

“It’s definitely disappointing. We’re at a time where we are struggling to keep highly qualified staff in the buildings and in the profession, to be quite honest, because we have to compete with other industries,” Karl Loos, president of the Lynchburg Education Association, said.

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SEE ALSO: ‘Strangest election cycle:’ Registrars prepare for referendum vote despite legal limbo

There is still a 3% increase for teachers included in the proposed Senate budget, and a 2% increase in the House of Delegates’ proposed budget. But Loos said a 3% raise only matches the rate of inflation, and will likely not be appealing enough to fill vacant positions.

“I think certainly teacher pay is a deterrent for a lot of people, especially as they see the amount of work that goes into it and the compensation for that work,” Loos said.

The Virginia Education Association also advocated for the 4.5% pay increase. Chad Stewart, the interim director of Government Relations and Research, said they believe budget uncertainty may have made lawmakers hesitant to commit to long-term increases they might not be able to sustain.

According to the State Fiscal Impact Statement, seen below, it would have required an additional $159.0 million in 2027, and increasing amounts for the next couple of years to meet the goal of reaching the national average.

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“We’ve seen commitments going back decades from previous governors who have all stated they want to get the national teacher pay average, but no governor has ever delivered on it,” Stewart said.

Stewart said the average national pay for teachers they are hoping to meet is $77,000, and that the current average salary for teachers in the Commonwealth is around $70,000. He said ultimately it comes down to the budget, and he hopes in the following years teachers will receive that larger pay increase. Stewart said the organization hopes Gov. Spanberger will be the first to follow through on that promise.

Meanwhile, legislation that would increase pay for state lawmakers was passed in the Senate on Thursday. Republican Del. Tim Griffin of the 53rd District said he voted against the measure.

“I was outraged last week when they raised their own pay. I voted against it,” Griffin said. “When you run on affordability, I think people expected it to be more affordable for the people that live and work in Virginia, not for ourselves. It kind of defeats the purpose.”

When asked about the proposed pay increases in the House and the Senate, Campbell County Superintendent Clay Stanley said in a statement, “I am praying for 3%. Our teachers, at minimum, deserve a raise that matches the cost of living increase.”

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ABC13 reached out to local Democratic lawmakers for comment on the teacher pay raise legislation, but did not receive a response.



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Why a 6-year-old with diabetes is pushing for change in Virginia – WTOP News

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Why a 6-year-old with diabetes is pushing for change in Virginia – WTOP News


First grader Ruston Revell is pressing Virginia lawmakers to pass a bill that he argues will make schools safer for kids with diabetes.

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Why a 6-year-old with diabetes is pushing for change in Virginia

Speaking in front of Virginia lawmakers, 6-year-old Ruston Revell needs a wooden stool to reach the microphone for his testimony about diabetes.

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Dressed in his blue suit and red tie, he’s there on a mission.

“Living with diabetes isn’t easy, there are lots of ups and downs — just like my blood sugar,” Ruston told legislators in the Virginia General Assembly.

The legislation that brought Ruston from Prince William County to Richmond would update an existing law to specify how Virginia schools handle accommodations for students with diabetes.

“When I’m at school, my nurse and all my teachers help me when I need it, but not all kids like me are that lucky,” Ruston told WTOP. “These bills change that, so kids with diabetes can be safer in schools.”

He’s testified before committees in both chambers as corresponding bills move through the Virginia General Assembly. HB1301 and SB122 have both earned support in their respective chamber.

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“Although, I’m small, my voice is big and it can change the world,” Ruston said.

In his testimony, the first grader clearly explained the care he requires to manage his Type 1 diabetes during the school day.

“He just pops up on his little stool and takes control of the room,” said Kelly Revell, Ruston’s mom. “It’s usually a little quiet, and after he finishes, he gets a whole room full of applause.”

Today, Ruston enjoys playing baseball, swimming and spending time at the playground.

But things were different before his diagnosis five years ago.

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A life-changing diagnosis at 15 months old

During the summer of 2020, Kelly said her son started showing signs of diabetes, such as extreme thirst — symptoms she recognized because her father had been diagnosed in his 20s.

“He would just lounge around the house and have no interest in playing with his sister,” Kelly said. “He stopped eating, so he was eventually airlifted to Children’s National in D.C., where he was admitted to the pediatric ICU for nearly a week.”

At just 15 months old, Ruston was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Kelly said that news was life-changing.

“Now, in order to keep him alive, we have to hurt him multiple times a day, by giving him four to five shots and even a dozen finger pricks just to make sure his blood sugar is in range,” she recalled.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks cells that make insulin. A lack of insulin can lead to high blood sugar, which could cause serious health issues or be deadly.

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“We had to wake up at 2 a.m. every night for six weeks, before we started utilizing technology, just to make sure that he was safe and healthy with his blood sugar,” Kelly said. “A lot of times, it resulted in phone calls to the hospital because he was at a dangerous level, and then we would be up for hours making sure he was back in range.”

For the Revell family, managing Ruston’s diabetes looks different nowadays.

Ruston Revell, 6, has traveled from Prince William County to Richmond to testify in favor of a bill surrounding Virginia schools and students with diabetes.
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)

Courtesy Kelly Revell

Ruston stands alongside Virginia Sen. Jeremy McPike, who sponsored the bill in the upper chamber
Ruston stands alongside Virginia Sen. Jeremy McPike, who sponsored the bill in the upper chamber.
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)

Courtesy Kelly Revell

Ruston testifying in front of Virginia lawmakers
Ruston and other advocates say the bill would make schools safer for kids with diabetes.
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)

Courtesy Kelly Revell

Ruston and his mom Kelly (middle) have joined other advocates in Richmond to press legislators to pass the bill
Ruston and his mom Kelly (middle) have joined other advocates in Richmond to press legislators to pass the bill.
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)

Courtesy Kelly Revell

Ruston poses in Richmond
The statewide regulations on diabetes care in school haven’t been updated since 1999, Kelly said.
(Courtesy Kelly Revell)

Courtesy Kelly Revell

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How a 6-year-old handles his diabetes

Ruston knows how to prick his finger to check whether his blood sugar is in range.

“My mom and dad help me change my insulin pump every three days, and my CGM every 10 days,” Ruston said, referencing his continuous glucose monitor, known as a CGM.

“It hurts, but at least I don’t have to do shots. They’re the worst.”

Living with diabetes, Ruston needs to calculate the number of carbs he’s getting to determine his insulin dose, which is administered automatically through a pump.

“He is a pro at using a food scale,” Kelly said. “If he wants to eat anything, apple slices, we cut them up, and he puts them on the food scale and determines how many carbs are in that.”

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Halfway through his interview with WTOP, Ruston’s phone beeped, flagging his low blood sugar and triggering a quick juice-box break.

That’s the kind of intervention he could require at school.

“When I’m low, Nurse Barnes tells Ms. Grant for me to have a juice box or gummies,” Ruston said, describing a snack to correct his blood sugar.

At his current school, Kelly said Ruston has had all his medical accommodations met since his first day of kindergarten.

“He gets so many hugs. Everyone knows him. He walks into the front office every day to visit the clinic, and they just they really take care of him,” she said.

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Things were more complicated before Ruston began kindergarten. Kelly said the family was initially told that the accommodations requested by his doctor would not be allowed.

“What was most difficult at the time was the thought that a kindergartener would be responsible for alerting adults if his phone signaled a low or high blood sugar, rather than having trained staff receive those alerts directly through available technology,” she told WTOP.

The situation was resolved, but it drew Kelly’s attention toward legal protections for kids with diabetes.

What Kelly and Ruston are asking Virginia lawmakers to do

ruston stands at podium talking
Ruston told lawmakers about his experience managing diabetes during the school day. (Courtesy Kelly Revell)

For the past several years, Kelly has been involved with an advocacy group, FOLLOWT1Ds, which argues that unclear or inconsistent school policies can create stress for families and put kids in danger.

“Prince William County has updated their diabetes policies recently, so more students with diabetes across our county are better protected,” Kelly said. “But that’s not happening everywhere in Virginia.”

The bills moving through the Virginia legislature would require school systems to create a divisionwide plan for supporting students with diabetes.

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That would include making sure school staff are trained to follow through with a child’s medical orders.

“You really have to put in all of your trust in your school,” Kelly said. “This is a life-threatening disease, and if they forget to give him a juice box when he’s low, that can result in him going to the hospital, or it could be fatal.”

The legislation would also require schools have procedures for administering insulin and glucagon.

Families who have students with diabetes would send schools medical orders from their doctors that outline the child’s needs.

“A lot of times, the schools will either deny or modify these accommodations, even though they’re medically necessary,” Kelly said.

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The statewide regulations haven’t been updated since 1999, Kelly said.

“While we’ve had all of these technology advances, like the insulin pump and the CGM, Virginia still hasn’t advanced their laws to align with standard methods of care that we’re using today,” Kelly said.

Ruston doesn’t receive insulin shots anymore. But Virginia law is behind on that front, according to Kelly and other advocates.

“Right now, the policy in Virginia, if his pump were to fall off while at school, they would, instead of reinsert the pump, they would give him a shot,” Kelly said.

In that scenario, Kelly said the school employee would have to calculate how much insulin to dose.

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“I wouldn’t even know what to dose him, because with the pump, it’s automated nowadays,” she said. “It would require an immediate call to his doctor for guidance.”

She worries that it could lead to a miscalculation and health complications.

Kelly said the lack of consistency can impact older students, too. She said some high schoolers have gotten in trouble for having their cellphones at schools that ban the devices.

But those phones let students monitor their blood sugar, communicate medical treatments and administer insulin.

It’s the second year in a row that advocates like Kelly have asked legislators in Richmond to approve revisions to state law.

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This time, Ruston is joining the push for change by sharing his story with lawmakers.

“I want to make sure other kids in different schools can have more help with diabetes,” Ruston told WTOP.

Anyone interested in following the legislation or submitting a comment to lawmakers can find more information on FOLLOW T1Ds’ website.

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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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