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Assembly interviews 2 candidates to end impasse on regulatory judgeships

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Assembly interviews 2 candidates to end impasse on regulatory judgeships


Two candidates will appear before a joint committee of the General Assembly on Tuesday for election to the State Corporation Commission – Sam Towell, a former deputy attorney general and now associate general counsel for Smithfield Foods, and Kelsey Bagot, former legal counsel at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, known as FERC.






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Sam Towell is a former deputy attorney general.




Towell and Bagot became the finalists after legislative leaders winnowed an initial field of 23 candidates to fill two seats on the SCC, which regulates some of Virginia’s most vital industries – energy, banking and investment, and insurance.

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New General Assembly seeks swift election of State Corporation Commission judges

They will appear on Tuesday afternoon at a joint meeting of the Senate Commerce and Labor and the House Labor and Commerce committees, which will interview them for an expected vote by the House of Delegates and Senate on Wednesday.

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Here’s why it matters

The SCC, created as a constitutionally independent body in 1902 to regulate some of the biggest businesses in Virginia, has been operating without a full panel of judges since early 2022.

The commission oversees regulation of public utilities, such as electric and natural gas companies, banks and financial services, and insurance companies. It runs Virginia’s new health insurance marketplace to administer the Affordable Care Act and registers all corporate and other entities doing business in the state.

The elections would end a long stalemate

The elections would end a long political stalemate that began six years ago and continues to roil an institution created in 1903 as a constitutionally independent body, but which remains dependent on the legislature to elect its members and pass the laws that it must administer.



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Jehmal T. Hudson

Jehmal Hudson is the only current full-time judge on the State Corporation Commission.




They would join Jehmal Hudson, a former FERC official elected in 2020 and the lone member of the three-judge panel since Judge Judy Jagdmann resigned at the end of 2022, in part to give a politically divided assembly the opportunity to reach a compromise to fill two vacancies instead of one. Earlier that year, the newly elected Republican-controlled House refused to re-elect Angela Navarro, whom Democrats had selected for the panel the previous year when they still controlled both chambers.

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The infighting dates to 2018

However, the political infighting over the SCC dates to 2018, when Republicans who then controlled both chambers couldn’t agree on a replacement for Judge Jimmy Dimitri after he retired early that year. The next year, they chose Patricia West, a former Virginia Beach circuit court judge and longtime Republican appointee, but Democrats retaliated after winning control of the assembly by replacing her with Hudson in 2020. They elected Navarro, a deputy secretary of natural resources under then-Gov. Ralph Northam, in 2021 to succeed Judge Mark Christie, who was appointed to FERC, but she failed to win re-election a year later.

Since then, the Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House failed to elect replacements in two consecutive assembly sessions and two special legislative sessions. In November, Democrats won narrow majorities in both chambers, giving them the opportunity to elect both judges.

Towell has been mentioned as a potential SCC candidate before. He served as deputy attorney general for litigation for almost five years under then-Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat. Previously, Towell had served as deputy secretary of agriculture and forestry under then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe. He also works as a litigation attorney at McGuireWoods law firm in Richmond and as a law clerk for Judge Barbara Milano Keenan at the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Bagot, who lives in Loudoun County, works as senior regulatory attorney at NextEra Energy, based in Florida, the third-largest electric utility company in the United States. Previously, he served as legal counsel at FERC to Christie, who had served on the SCC for almost 17 years. Bagot also served two previous stints at FERC – as trial staff counsel and as legal intern – as well as two law firms in Washington, D.C. – Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders and Van Ness Feldman.



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WVU Loses Talented Young Offensive Lineman to the Transfer Portal

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WVU Loses Talented Young Offensive Lineman to the Transfer Portal


Friday morning, West Virginia On SI learned that West Virginia offensive lineman Kyle Altuner has entered his name into the transfer portal.

Altuner was expected to push for some playing time at center as a true freshman under the previous coaching staff until he suffered a lower-body injury that cost him several weeks and months of development.

Coming out of Good Counsel in Olney, Maryland, Altuner chose the Mountaineers over offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Duke, Florida State, Liberty, Louisville, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, NC State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee, and several others.

He will have four years of eligibility remaining.

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Technically very sound football player. Seals and walls off defenders with ease in zone run blocking schemes, climbs quickly to the second level in gap schemes and pulls much better than your ordinary right tackle. The combination of his high-level diverse run-blocking scheme success and IQ make for a perfect fit at center, which is where he’ll play at West Virginia. Good knee bend and plays with consistent control and balance in pass sets that will translate even by kicking inside. I’d expect WVU to take full advantage of his athleticism and get him pulling consistently to lead the way in the run game. My number one recruit in this class for the Mountaineers. Very few concerns.

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Virginia hospital halts NICU admissions after babies found with ‘unexplainable fractures’

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Virginia hospital halts NICU admissions after babies found with ‘unexplainable fractures’


A hospital in Virginia shut down its neonatal intensive care unit after three pre-term babies were found with “unexplainable fractures” – more than a year after several newborns suffered similar injuries. 

Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond paused all admissions to its NICU and initiated an internal investigation after medical officials made the disturbing discovery in late November and December. 

“Out of an abundance of caution, we are not admitting any additional babies into our NICU at this time,” the hospital said in a statement on its website, adding that it informed families, authorities and regulatory agencies of their findings. 

“While fractures occasionally happen with pre-term babies since they lack full fetal bone development, we are actively working to determine how these fractures occurred.”

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Henrico Doctors’ Hospital in Richmond paused all admissions to its NICU and initiated an internal investigation. Henrico Doctors’ Hospital

The medical center said the injuries shared similarities to an incident involving four babies last summer, explaining that they are taking immediate steps to enhance safety measures in the hospital wing.

Safety improvements include mandatory training for staff who interact with minors, refined examinations, new security, an observer system, and live-streaming technology allowing parents to view their babies.

Footage from the NICU has also been provided to “proper authorities,” with healthcare professionals reviewing hospital surveillance, the medical center said.

“The process is thorough and time-consuming, but they are making steady progress,” the hospital wrote.

The medical center said the injuries shared similarities to an incident involving four babies (none pictured) last summer. Iryna – stock.adobe.com
The Virginia Department of Health, along with state police, is also probing the unsettling situation. Henrico Doctors’ Hospital

“So far during our review of the videos, no misconduct or accidental actions have been found. The safety of our NICU babies is our highest priority and we are actively working to pursue additional precautions to prevent any future incidents.”

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The Virginia Department of Health, along with state police, is also probing the unsettling situation, according to Fox Richmond.

Henrico police said no charges have been filed.

“Henrico County is prepared to utilize all available resources to ensure a thorough investigation,” police said in a statement to the outlet.

“Henrico police are partnering with Child Protective Services within Henrico’s Department of Social Services, Virginia State Police, and the Virginia Health Department, and the Attorney General’s Office to ensure all evidence is examined meticulously.”

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Obituary for Virginia Kay Gregory at EVARTS FUNERAL HOME

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Obituary for Virginia Kay Gregory at EVARTS FUNERAL HOME


Virginia Kaye Frederick Gregory, 45, of Ewing, Virginia, formerly of Closplint, went to her heavenly home on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at the UK Hospital in Lexington. Born September 25, 1979 in Harlan, Kentucky, she was a homemaker and believed in the Baptist faith. She loved her pets, especially Scrappy,



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