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Bill to limit local restrictions on solar projects in Virginia paused for more study – Virginia Mercury

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Bill to limit local restrictions on solar projects in Virginia paused for more study – Virginia Mercury


Legislation that would have limited Virginia localities’ ability to restrict development of solar projects is dead for the year after a House subcommittee voted Tuesday to carry the proposal over to 2025. 

But its patron, Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Richmond, said he “will be back” with the proposal next year because he sees it as crucial to meeting the mandates of the 2020 Virginia Clean Economy Act, the state’s plan to decarbonize its electric grid by midcentury.

In Virginia, new debates over who gets the final say on solar projects

“If we can’t pass a bill like this, there’s no way we’re going to meet our clean energy goals in the VCEA because this is the softest touch,” said VanValkenburg before the vote. 

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Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, said she had heard about “some very deep concerns from localities,” indicating the idea might need more study before becoming law.

“We have consistently throughout this session sought to find some middle ground with potential unintended consequences for localities,” Mundon King said. “This is something that we need to explore further.” 

Ahead of the 2025 session, the legislation will go to Virginia’s reinvigorated Commission on Electric Utility Regulation for review.

An earlier version of VanValkenburg’s bill would have prohibited local governments from banning solar installations outright. After pushback, the legislation was softened to say localities couldn’t limit the total amount, density or size of solar or energy storage projects as long as the overall area covered by panels within the locality remained under 4% of its land.

The solar industry and environmental groups argued the bill was necessary for the state to meet the requirements of the VCEA  given bans and limits imposed by some local governments on solar projects. 

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“It doesn’t mandate solar deployment,” said Greg Habeeb, a lobbyist for the Solar Energy Industry Association. “It does nothing but say counties must allow landowners to present their chosen use, their chosen development project.”

The need is particularly pressing as energy demand grows in the state, said Patrick Cushing, a lobbyist for the American Clean Power Association, a clean energy industry group.

“We are going to have to generate electricity somewhere,” he said. “We prefer that to be clean.”

But local governments and the agriculture and forestry industries said the law would unfairly usurp local control over land use decisions. Even the 4% trigger allowing localities to place limits on growth if solar development hit a certain peak “does not take into account the unique circumstances in each individual locality,” said Justin Sanders, a senior planner with Montgomery County.

Localities are “stepping up to meet the demands for clean energy,” said Joe Lerch, policy director for the Virginia Association of Counties. Sixty-nine counties, he noted, have approved solar projects that would produce about 12,000 megawatts of power and cover about 180 square miles. 

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“We really do believe that this deserves further study and the opportunity for localities and citizens to work with the patron and its supporters to find a bill that will balance the needs of increased solar energy development in the commonwealth and local land use,” Sanders said.

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Virginia Roberts Giuffre: Epstein accuser’s memoir sells 1m copies in two months

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Virginia Roberts Giuffre: Epstein accuser’s memoir sells 1m copies in two months


A posthumous memoir by one of Jeffrey Epstein’s best-known accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, has sold 1m copies worldwide in just the two months after its release.

Publisher Alfred A Knopf announced on Tuesday that more than half the sales for Nobody’s Girl came out of North America; in the US, the book is now in its 10th printing after an initial run of 70,000 copies. Giuffre’s book, co-written by author-journalist Amy Wallace, was published in early October.

The memoir helped revive criticism of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly a British prince, whom Giuffre alleged had sex with her when she was 17. And it heightened demands that the Justice Department release its files on Epstein, who killed himself in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Giuffre died by suicide in April at age 41.

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“This is a bittersweet moment for us,” Giuffre’s family, including siblings Sky Roberts and Danny Wilson, said in a statement. “We are enormously proud of our sister, and the impact she continues to have on the world. We’re also filled with so much sorrow that she couldn’t be here to witness the impact of her words. In her absence, our family remains committed to ensuring her voice is everlasting.”

Within weeks of Giuffre’s book being published, King Charles III stripped Mountbatten-Windsor of his remaining titles and evicted him from his royal residence.

Mountbatten-Windsor has long denied Giuffre’s claims but stepped down from royal duties after a disastrous November 2019 BBC interview in which he attempted to rebut her allegations.

He paid millions in an out-of-court settlement in 2022 after Giuffre filed a civil suit against him in New York. While he didn’t admit wrongdoing, he acknowledged Giuffre’s suffering as a victim of sex trafficking.

This week Giuffre’s family expressed their “deep disappointment” after the Metropolitan police announced Mountbatten-Windsor will not face a criminal investigation in the UK over allegations against him.

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  • In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. Other international suicide helplines can be found at befrienders.org



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Virginia voters nominate candidates in Fairfax, Prince William ahead of January special election – WTOP News

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Virginia voters nominate candidates in Fairfax, Prince William ahead of January special election – WTOP News


Voters in several Northern Virginia districts are nominating candidates Tuesday who could be elected to serve on the state’s House of Delegates.

Voters in several Northern Virginia districts are nominating candidates Tuesday who could be elected to serve on the state’s House of Delegates.

Whoever wins Tuesday’s contests will compete in a special election on Jan. 13, 2026, for vacated seats in the Virginia General Assembly, where Democrats currently hold a 63-37 majority.

The series of shake-ups comes as several Democratic lawmakers step down from the House of Delegates to join Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger’s administration.

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Two of the resigning lawmakers represent Northern Virginia: Del. David Bulova, of Fairfax City and Fairfax County; and Del. Candi Mundon King, of Prince William and Stafford counties.

Last week, Spanberger named Bulova as her pick for Virginia’s next secretary of natural and historic resources.

And the future governor tapped King to serve as the secretary of the commonwealth.

Each party has until Dec. 17 to submit a nominee to the Virginia Board of Elections for next month’s special election, according to a writ of special elections filed by Virginia House Speaker Don Scott.

District 11: Fairfax City and part of Fairfax County

Democrats

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Five candidates are running for the Democratic nomination in a firehouse primary, including the exiting delegate’s wife, Gretchen Bulova, as well as Vanessa Cardenas, So Lim, Douglas Shuster and Denver Supinger.

Any voter registered in Virginia House of Delegates District 11 can participate — but they have to sign a declaration of support for the Democratic Party, according to the democratic committees in Fairfax County and Fairfax City. In a firehouse primary, the political parties organize the contest, not the state.

District 11 includes all of Fairfax City and portions of Fairfax County. If you’re not sure whether your home sits within the district’s boundaries, check out this website.

The caucus locations are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at these locations:

  • Fairfax Presbyterian Church at 10723 Main Street
  • Jim Scott Community Center at 3001 Vaden Drive
  • Fairfax County Government Center at 12000 Government Center Parkway

Gretchen Bulova is the chair of the Fairfax County 250th Commission and the county’s history commission.

Cardenas is also a Fairfax City resident who works as the executive director of America’s Voice, which works to garner support for policy changes that create paths toward full citizenship for immigrants.

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At a candidate forum on Sunday, Lim introduced herself as a progressive Democrat. She served three terms on the Fairfax City Council.

Shuster is the president of the Miller Heights Neighborhood Association and works at an advisory firm.

Supinger, former chief of staff to Del. Karrie Delaney, is the founder of a consulting firm that specializes in social impact strategy, political advocacy, and policymaking, according to its website.

It’s the second time Fairfax voters have participated in a firehouse primary this year, after earlier nominating candidates who competed to replace the late Rep. Gerry Connolly in June. Democrat James Walkinshaw ultimately won that special election in September.

Republicans

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The Fairfax County Republican Committee confirmed with WTOP that Adam Wise will be the nominee, and there will be no caucus held.

Wise had previously run for the District 11 seat in November but lost to David Bulova, the incumbent.

District 23: Parts of Prince William and Stafford

Democrats

A Democratic caucus will also be going on in Virginia House of Delegates District 23 on Tuesday, according to the Democratic committees in Prince William and Stafford counties.

The caucus is scheduled to run from noon to 7 p.m. at these locations:

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  • Dumfries Community Center at 17757 Main Street, Dumfries
  • Porter Branch Library at 2001 Parkway Boulevard, Stafford

Two candidates qualified to be on the ballot: Woodbridge Supervisor Margaret Franklin and Muhammed “Sef” Casim.

WTOP will report on the full ballot once the Republican nominee is finalized.

What’s happening in January

Voters in District 23 and District 11 will head to the polls on Jan. 13, 2026, for a special election to replace Dels. Bulova and King.

Early voting will be open from Jan. 3 to Jan. 10.

Outside of Northern Virginia, a separate special election is being held on Jan. 6, 2026, to replace representatives headed to Spanberger’s administration. Voters in the Richmond area will elect a new state senator in House District 15 and a new delegate in District 77.

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Top 25 Virginia Girls High School Basketball State Rankings – Dec. 15, 2025

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Top 25 Virginia Girls High School Basketball State Rankings – Dec. 15, 2025


The high school basketball season is underway in Virginia and it’s time to unveil the first High School on SI girls Top 25 of the regular season.

Princess Anne, the preseason No. 1, remains at the top, followed by The Saint James Performance Academy. Bishop Ireton, Catholic-Virginia Beach and Menchville complete the Top 5.

The second 5 include Virginia Academy, Saint Anne’s-Belfield School, Osbourn Park, Saint Paul VI Catholic and Shining Stars Sports Academy. Shining Stars moved into the Top 10 after defeating then-No. 7 Norfolk Christian Academy at the She Got Game Classic at The St. James Complex in Northern Virginia over the weekend.

Five teams – Clarke County, Briar Woods, Loudoun Valley, Potomac Falls and Washington-Liberty – enter this week’s poll. 

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Here’s this week’s High School on SI Virginia girls basketball Top 25:

Preseason rank: No. 1

Record: 5-0

The Cavaliers are averaging nearly 80 points a game.

Preseason rank: No. 2

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Record: 5-2

The Strivers’ two losses have been by a total of 18 points.

Preseason rank: No. 5

Record: 4-1

The Cardinals defeated then-No. 4 Osbourn Park at the She Got Game Classic. 

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Preseason rank: No. 3

Record: 4-4

The Crusaders went 1-2 at the She Got Game Classic.

Preseason rank: No. 6

Record: 4-0

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The Monarchs topped Rosedale Christian Academy (Md.) and Mallard Creek (N.C.) at the She Got Game Classic.

Preseason rank: No. 8

Record: 6-0

The Patriots have wins over then-No. 9 Saint Anne’s-Belfield School and Maryland Top 25 schools Elizabeth Seton, St. Mary’s Ryken and Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Preseason rank: No. 9

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Record: 6-2

The Saints split two matches at the She Got Game Classic.

Preseason rank: No. 4

Record: 4-2

The Yellowjackets defeated Saint Neumann-Goretti (Pa.) and Southern-Garrett before falling to then-No. 5 Bishop Ireton at the She Got Game Classic.

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Preseason rank: No. 10

Record: 4-2

The Panthers dropped decisions to then-No. 4 Osbourn Park and Christ the King (N.Y.) at the Art Turner Memorial.

Preseason rank: No. 11

Record: 5-2

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The Panthers handled then-No. 7 Norfolk Christian Academy at the She Got Game Classic.

Preseason rank: No. 7

Record: 3-3

The Ambassadors have dropped decisions to then-No. 5 Bishop Ireton and  then-No. 11 Shining Stars Sports Academy.

Preseason rank: No. 12

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Record: 4-1

The Lancers’ only setback came against No. 1 Princess Anne. 

Preseason rank: No. 13

Record: 5-1

The Knights dropped a 57-48 decision to then-No. 6 Menchville in the opening week.

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Preseason rank: No. 14

Record: 5-2

The Panthers have won five straight, including victory over Whitney Young (Ill.) at She Got Game Classic.

Preseason rank: No. 18

Record: 4-0

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The Wolverines have won their four decisions by an average of 31 points.

Preseason rank: No. 22

Record: 6-0

After back-to-back two-point wins (then-No. 20 Centreville and then-No. 23 Gainesville), the Saxons routed Lake Braddock and West Springfield.

Preseason rank: No. 23

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Record: 6-1

The Cardinals’ only blemish is a two-point loss to Langley.

Preseason rank: No. 15

Record: 5-1

The Stallions dropped a 56-534 decision to Gainesville in the season opener.

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Preseason rank: Not ranked

Record: 5-0

The Eagles own a pair of victories over Loudoun Valley.

Preseason rank: Not ranked

Record: 4-0

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The Falcons opened the season with a win over then-No. 16 Heritage.

Preseason rank: Not ranked

Record: 5-2

The Vikings are riding a three-game winning streak after loss to Clarke County.

Preseason rank: Not ranked

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Record: 5-1

The Panthers own victories over then-No. 16 Heritage and then-No. 19 Chantilly.

Preseason rank: No. 19

Record: 5-1

The Chargers’ only loss is a 44-43 decision to Potomac Falls.

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Preseason rank: No. 20

Record: 3-2

The Wildcats’ losses to Langley and Gainesville are by a total of seven points.

Preseason rank: Not ranked

Record: 4-1

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The Generals have won four straight by a margin of 44 points.



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