Virginia
Glenn Youngkin withdraws Virginia from California's electric vehicle mandate
On Wednesday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, announced that at the end of the year, the state would no longer comply with California’s electric vehicle (E.V.) mandate.
“The idea that government should tell people what kind of car they can or can’t purchase is fundamentally wrong,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Virginians deserve the freedom to choose which vehicles best fit the needs of their families and businesses. The law is clear, and I am proud to announce Virginians will no longer be forced to live under this out-of-touch policy.”
California first adopted its Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) standard in 2012. The rules required automakers to gradually increase sales of zero-emission vehicles as a percent of total sales in California, culminating in an 8-percent share in 2025. Plug-in hybrids, which use both electric and gas-powered motors, counted for partial credit toward the total.
The Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 1965 in 2021, which directed the State Air Pollution Control Board to adopt low-emission and zero-emission vehicle standards equivalent to California’s. The bill was signed into law by then-Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, whose support helped guarantee the bill’s passage. Virginia is among 18 states and the District of Columbia that have adopted some or all of California’s regulations.
But the following year, California adopted Advanced Clear Cars II, which greatly expanded the requirements of the original standard. Under the new rules, the zero-emission requirement would jump from 8 percent of automaker’s sales for model year 2025 all the way to 35 percent in 2026, increasing each year until 100 percent of all new vehicles sold for model year 2035 must be electric.
The following day, Youngkin and the Republican-controlled Virginia House of Delegates indicated their intent to repeal H.B. 1965 and uncouple the state from California’s rules, but the Democrat-controlled state Senate squashed their efforts the following year. In the 2023 elections, Democrats regained control of the House of Delegates while keeping control of the Senate, and the state Senate once again defeated efforts to repeal the law in January 2024.
Ultimately, California’s more aggressive rules provided the legal justification for Virginia’s withdrawal. Youngkin’s press release claims that H.B. 1965 merely authorized the state to follow Advanced Clean Cars I, the rules in place at the time that went through 2025. “An opinion from Attorney General Jason Miyares confirms the law, as written, does not require Virginia to follow ACC II,” the press release continues. “Therefore, the Commonwealth will follow federal emissions standards on January 1, 2025.”
“We are alarmed that Governor Youngkin thinks that he is above the law,” Nicole Vaughan, communications director for the Virginia Conservation Network, tells Reason in a statement. “Legislation passed in 2021 directs Virginia’s Air Pollution Control Board to adopt Advanced Clean Cars and subsequent updates to the program. In doing so, Virginia exercised an option under the federal Clean Air Act to follow the more stringent standards adopted by California and several other states to address tailpipe pollution.”
“Virginia’s legislature chose to adopt Clean Car Standards in order to increase consumers’ access to electric vehicles, improve our air quality, and save lives,” Wyatt Gordon, senior policy manager for land use and transportation at the Virginia Conservation Network, told Reason in a statement. “To unilaterally pull our Commonwealth out of these shared standards is undemocratic, short-sighted, and wrong for Virginia.”
The federal standards, released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in March, are less stringent than California’s but still anticipate that by 2035, more than 70 percent of new vehicles sold in the U.S. would be all-electric or hybrids. Even this is a daunting prospect, as E.V.s currently account for only 6.5 percent of all vehicles sold in the U.S.
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia farmers whose crops were devastated by the late spring frost may be eligible for federal disaster assistance.
On Thursday, June 26, Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved her request for federal disaster assistance, which she made after many Virginia farmers whose livelihoods were harmed by the late spring frost and freeze events.
A warm early spring allowed for the beginnings of development in many farmers’ crops — but widespread freezing temperatures swiftly followed, with temperatures on some March and April nights hitting the 20s.
“According to reports provided by Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE), losses are well above the 30% disaster trigger as a result of these freezing temperatures, with some growers anticipating a 100% loss,” Spanberger’s office said in a June 26 press release.
A total of 104 Virginia localities — or about 78% of all of Virginia’s counties and cities — are listed within the newly-issued Secretarial Disaster Declaration. This is broken down into 43 primary natural disaster localities and 61 contiguous localities.
Thirty-two Central Virginia counties and cities are listed, including:
- Albemarle County
- Amelia County
- Brunswick County
- Buckingham County
- Caroline County
- Charles City County
- Charlottesville
- Chesterfield County
- Cumberland County
- Dinwiddie County
- Essex County
- Fluvanna County
- Goochland County
- Greene County
- Greensville County
- Hanover County
- Henrico County
- King and Queen County
- King William County
- Lancaster County
- Louisa County
- Mecklenburg County
- Middlesex County
- New Kent County
- Nottoway County
- Orange County
- Petersburg
- Powhatan County
- Prince Edward County
- Prince George County
- Richmond County
- Sussex County
If you are a farmer in any of the included localities, you may be eligible for emergency loan assistance, credit extensions and other relief programs. As of Thursday, you have eight months to apply for this aid.
“These programs provide essential assistance to farmers who now face the prospect of paying for inputs, labor and debt-service for crops that will not yield a harvest and generate income in 2026,” Spanberger’s office said. “We encourage impacted farmers and growers to contact their county USDA FSA office to review eligible disaster assistance programs and begin any necessary application processes.”
You can find the full list of localities within the declaration here.
Virginia
Virginia State Police seeks information on shooting on I-64 between Jefferson Avenue and J. Clyde Morris Boulevard in Newport News
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia State Police (VSP) is requesting information from the public about a shooting that happened on I-64 eastbound between Jefferson Avenue and J. Clyde Morris Boulevard in Newport News Saturday evening, according to VSP.
At around 11:23 p.m. on June 27, the agency was notified that a patient at a hospital said he was shot earlier in the evening while he was a passenger in a Chevrolet Malibu traveling on the interstate. The man was left with non-life-threatening injuries, and the vehicle’s driver wasn’t injured.
At this time, the agency confirmed that information on a suspect isn’t available.
Anyone with information or dash cam video of the shooting is encouraged to call Virginia State Police Division Five Dispatch at 804-750-8788 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov.
This incident is under investigation.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
62ND SETTE COLLI TROPHY
Speaking after lowering her own Italian record in the 100m free at the Sette Colli Trophy, becoming the first Italian under 53″ barrier, Sara Curtis reflected on how training alongside one of the strongest groups in the world has transformed both her swimming and her mindset.
“It has been incredible,” Curtis said. “I can tell I’m a different person now. It changed me a lot, not only as an athlete but also personally.”
Curtis credited her Virginia teammates—including Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh and Kate Douglass—for helping her adapt to a new environment and continue developing.
“My teammates have helped me so much. It’s amazing to be part of such a great program.”
The 18-year-old also said that working with Virginia has introduced new elements into her training, particularly in sprint freestyle.
“I’m working a lot on things I had never really worked on before. It’s been challenging, but also really fun.”
Her record-breaking performance in Rome made the moment even more meaningful.
“It was special to be part of such a fast race and to swim faster than my Italian record, especially considering where I am in training. Yesterday and today I was probably even happier with the 100 than the 50.”
Curtis added that racing alongside Walsh before the final made the experience even more memorable.
“I spoke with Gretchen before the race, and I’m really happy she’s my teammate.”
With the European Championships approaching, Curtis believes both she and European sprint swimming continue to move forward.
“European swimming keeps getting faster every month. Racing here, in this pool and with this crowd, makes me really happy.”
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