Virginia
Google partners with Youngkin and offers AI training courses to Virginia job seekers
RESTON, Va. — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced on Tuesday that Google will partner with his administration to provide free and low-cost artificial intelligence certification courses to Virginians as part of his office’s ongoing effort to connect citizens to new jobs amid changes to the state’s economy.
The partnership, which he has described as an AI career launchpad, will provide Google-sponsored AI training courses for up to 10,000 Virginians at any given time, officials said at Google’s office in the northern part of the state.
The training opportunities will be listed on a job website that Youngkin launched earlier this year, in response to significant layoffs among federal workers by the Trump administration, including many workers from Virginia.
“All fields, all career movements somewhere along the way, are going to incorporate this next generation of technology,” Youngkin said at the news conference.
The initiative comes with unemployment rising in Virginia, which has roughly 20,400 continued unemployment claims, state Secretary of Labor George’ Bryan’ Slater said after the news conference. Roughly 2,800 people initially filed unemployment claims during the first week of July, which is about 6.1 percent higher than the previous week.
The AI webpage will feature the free courses as well as some low-cost learning opportunities, ranging “from beginner friendly courses on AI fundamentals and practical workplace applications of artificial intelligence to bootcamps and degree programs offered by Virginia’s leading-edge community colleges and universities,” according to the governor’s office.
Nicole Overley, commissioner of Virginia Works, said businesses have told her office that AI proficiency has become increasingly necessary in their industries. She said the training would help Virginians become competitive in the job markets where these very businesses are hiring.
Overly confirmed that the training courses won’t cost taxpayers anything and are being donated by Google. Bronagh Friel, head of partnerships at Google, said she was proud of the collaboration with the state.
“Google is committed to championing economic growth and opportunity in Virginia,” she said.
Virginia
Virginia High School Football Top 25 State Rankings – Nov. 24, 2025
After an impressive inaugural season, The Saint James Performance Academy has a spot in the latest High School on SI Virginia Top 25 poll.
St James, which debuts at No. 9, posted an 8-1 mark, only losing to national No. 1 Saint Frances Academy (Md.) in its season finale. St. James posted a win over perennial Maryland powerhouse Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Thomas Dale also joins the Top 25 at No. 22 after eliminating then-No. 14 Manchester in the Virginia Class 6 Region A playoffs. Thomas Dale (10-1) next plays at No. 1 Oscar Smith in the region final Friday.
Oscar Smith, in pursuit of a second straight Virginia Class 6 state title, is followed by Maury, Varina, Green Run and King’s Fork. Huguenot, Benedictine College Prep, Saint James and Louisa County make up the rest of the Top 10.
Here’s this week’s High School on SI Virginia football Top 25:
Previous rank: No. 1
Record: 10-1
Last week: Defeated Lloyd C. Bird, 50-0, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. No. 22 Thomas Dale, Virginia Class 6 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 2
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Warwick, 42-10, Virginia Class 5 Region B semifinal
This week: at No. 5 King’s Fork, Virginia Class 5 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 3
Record: 10-2
Last week: Defeated then-No. 13 Dinwiddie, 14-0, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 7 Huguenot, Virginia Class 4 Region B final, Nov. 29
Previous rank: No. 4
Record: 11-0
Last week: Defeated Salem-Virginia Beach, 28-3, Virginia Class 5 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. No. 13 Indian River, Virginia Class 5 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 5
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Bethel, 45-28, Virginia Class 5 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 2 Maury, Virginia Class 5 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 6
Record: 10-1
Last week: Defeated John Champe, 41-0, Virginia Class 5 Region D semifinal
This week: vs. No. 14 RIverbend, Virginia Class 5 Region D final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 8
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated then-No. 7 Louisa County, 34-11, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 3 Varina, Virginia Class 4 Region B final, Nov. 29
Previous rank: No. 10
Record: 11-1
SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION I CHAMPION
Previous rank: Not ranked
Record: 8-1
SEASON COMPLETE
Previous rank: No. 7
Record: 11-1
Last week: Lost to then-No. 8 Huguenot, 34-11, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 4 REGION B SEMIFINALIST
Previous rank: No. 11
Record: 9-2
SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION I FINALIST
Previous rank: No. 12
Record: 12-0
Last week: Defeated Thomas Jefferson-Richmond, 20-13, Virginia Class 2 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. Poquoson, Virginia Class 2 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 15
Record: 10-2
Last week: Defeated Cox, 42-3, Virginia Class 5 Region A semifinal
This week: at No. 4 Green Run, Virginia Class 5 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 17
Record: 11-0
Last week: Defeated Potomac Falls, 56-6, Virginia Class 5 Region D semifinal
This week: at No. 6 Stone Bridge, Virginia Class 5 Region D final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 13
Record: 11-1
Last week: Lost to No. 3 Varina, 14-0, Virginia Class 4 Region B semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 4 REGION B SEMIFINALIST
Previous rank: No. 16
Record: 9-3
Last week: Defeated William Fleming, 37-7, Virginia Class 5 Region C semifinal
This week: vs. Hermitage, Virginia Class 5 Region C final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 18
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Smithfield, 35-6, Virginia Class 4 Region A semifinal
This week: vs. Phoebus, Virginia Class 4 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 19
Record: 7-2
SEASON COMPLETE
Previous rank: No. 21
Record: 9-2
SEASON COMPLETE – VISAA DIVISION II CHAMPION
Previous rank: No. 23
Record: 9-2
Last week: Defeated Fairfax, 28-7, Virginia Class 6 Region C semifinal
This week: vs. Lake Braddock, Virginia Class 6 Region C final, Nov. 29
Previous rank: No. 24
Record: 10-2
Last week: Defeated then-No. 9 Battlefield, 21-6, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal
This week: vs. No. 23 Woodbridge, Virginia Class 6 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: Not ranked
Record: 10-1
Last week: Defeated then-No. 14 Manchester, 27-21, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal
This week: at No. 1 Oscar Smith, Virginia Class 6 Region A final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 25
Record: 11-1
Last week: Defeated Colonial Forge, 35-34, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal
This week: at No. 21 North Stafford, Virginia Class 6 Region B final, Nov. 28
Previous rank: No. 9
Record: 10-2
Last week: Lost to then-No. 24 North Stafford, 21-6, Virginia Class 6 Region B semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 6 REGION B SEMIFINALIST
Previous rank: No. 14
Record: 10-2
Last week: Lost to Thomas Dale, 27-21, Virginia Class 6 Region A semifinal
SEASON COMPLETE – VIRGINIA CLASS 6 REGION A SEMIFINALIST
Virginia
Virginia Beach fire displaces two adults, claims life of pet
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Virginia
James Franklin appears on ESPN broadcast during Virginia Tech-Miami
College football Week 13 straight-up picks
Before The Snap’s Week 13 picks include USC-Oregon, BYU-Cincinnati, Pitt-Georgia Tech, Missouri-Oklahoma and Utah-Kansas State.
Newly hired Virginia Tech football coach James Franklin was on-site for the Hokies’ game against Miami on Saturday, Nov. 22, and made a brief appearance with the ESPN broadcast crew.
Franklin, wearing a Virginia Tech hoodie, explained his decision to the job.
“I think the first thing is, they were very aggressive from the beginning,” Franklin, who was fired by Penn State in October, told ESPN. “They had a plan in place, it wasn’t like, ‘let’s work through this together.’ they already had a plan in place, which I think was very helpful in the process.
Franklin led the Nittany Lions to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season and entered 2025 with huge expectations with numerous returning starters. However, Penn State lost three consecutive games to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern before Franklin was fired in October.
Franklin is now tasked with revitalizing Virginia Tech, which has won more than seven games just twice since 2018.
Legendary coach Frank Beamer, the best coach in Virginia Tech history, also gave Franklin his blessing, signifying his confidence in the Hokies’ next leader.
“I got a ton of respect for what he has been able to do across his career, but obviously specifically here at Virginia Tech. So I wanted to call him to pay respect, number one. He built this program. Everybody loves him and his family. … I called Frank Beamer, I said, ‘Coach, about to make this decision. Before I do, I want your blessing to be sure you’d comfortable with me taking over your program.’”
Franklin hasn’t coached, and won’t coach a Virginia Tech game until 2026, but he accomplished an important first step since being officially introduced Nov. 19.
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