Virginia

Maryland must not duplicate Virginia’s data center errors | READER COMMENTARY

Published

2 years ago

May 21, 2024

Maryland must not duplicate Virginia’s data center errors | READER COMMENTARY

In 2020, the Maryland General Assembly passed a sales and use tax exemption for qualified data centers that substantially lowered the construction cost to between 55 to 65% of initial expenses (Please note that Gov. Larry Hogan had no involvement in this bill except for signing it).

In a recent commentary, former Maryland Commerce Secretary Michael Gill suggests that we “take a page from Virginia’s playbook and cut out unnecessary red tape while encouraging the growth of promising new industries” (“Let’s make Maryland ‘open for business’ again,” May 17). Unfortunately, what the author calls red tape are the environmental laws and regulations that protect people and the environment.

Virginia has now seen the errors in its approach and is now scrambling to protect its people from the harmful effects of data centers. Here are a few things to consider when thinking about data centers: Greenhouse gas emissions from the power usage, air and noise pollution caused by the use of diesel backup generators that need to be run almost weekly to ensure working order, noise from the server themselves, water consumption, water runoff and installing miles of underground fiber optic cable to mention a few.

In fact, Virginia in 2024 had 17 pieces of legislation introduced to restrict data centers and Loudoun County just passed local restrictions. In Northern Virginia, there are now over 4,000 commercial backup diesel generators, many times the size of a typical household generator.

The numbers are stunning: One data center can use the same amount of energy as 50,000 homes. This demand has real-world consequences: Virginia’s Prince William County saw a 19% rise in greenhouse gas emissions between 2005 and 2018, a time-period that matches the data center expansion in the county.

Data centers are increasingly essential to our modern life and have the potential to bring economic gains to Maryland. However, we must implement essential guardrails that protect our climate and our communities. I hate to say it, but there are no jobs on a dead planet.

— Dave Arndt, Baltimore

The writer is co-chair of the Maryland Legislative Coalition Climate Justice Wing.

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Virginia

Deranged West Virginia man accused of shooting father in face with crossbow captured following snowy manhunt

Published

34 minutes ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Deranged West Virginia man accused of shooting father in face with crossbow captured following snowy manhunt

A West Virginia man was arrested after allegedly shooting his father in the face with a crossbow and leading police on a multicounty manhunt through snow-covered terrain, authorities said.

Chase Fleming was charged this week with malicious assault, with additional charges possible, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.

Police said Fleming was taken into custody after an “exhausting search” and a “lengthy foot pursuit” through snow-covered parts of Jackson and Roane counties.

The victim is in stable condition, the department said.

Fleming was admitted to a hospital for observation after deputies attempted to get him medically cleared for incarceration.

Jackson County Sheriff Ross Mellinger told WV MetroNews that Fleming entered his father’s home with a preloaded crossbow.

The two got into an argument, and Fleming allegedly fired the weapon, the outlet reported, hitting the victim in the face.

Chase Fleming was charged this week with malicious assault, with additional charges possible. Jackson County Sheriff’s Department

The bolt reportedly entered the victim’s face just below his left eye and exited the back of his head.

“How the guy is still alive is beyond me, it’s really remarkable,” Mellinger told MetroNews.

After fleeing the scene in his pickup truck, Fleming later crashed, police said.

A snowy road with a forest in the background. — The victim is in stable condition, the department said. WSAZ

Mellinger said the sheriff’s department used multiple K-9s and drones while searching for Fleming, covering roughly seven miles through snow and wooded terrain.

Fleming was found hiding under a rock on a remote ridge and taken into custody without resistance, according to the outlet.

Bond has not been set, according to the sheriff’s department.

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Virginia

How to buy Virginia 2026 March Madness second round tickets, schedule

Published

13 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Press Room

How to buy Virginia 2026 March Madness second round tickets, schedule

The Virginia Cavaliers will continue dancing in the 2026 NCAA Tournament!

Despite a scare against No. 14 Wright State for much of the game on Friday afternoon, the No. 3 Virginia Cavaliers pulled away late 82-73 with help from Jacari White, who went 10/12 from the floor and 26 points.

With that, the Round of 32 is up next for Virginia as they’ll play either No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio) on Sunday. While you wait, tickets for Sunday’s NCAA Tournament second round game are available now, which you can find below:

Shop Virginia basketball tickets

Shop Virginia March Madness tickets

Virginia March Madness next opponent

Virginia earned a No. 3 seed in the Midwest regional, where they knocked out No. 14 Wright State in its opening game. They’ll play the winner of No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio) on Sunday. Tickets to Virginia’s Round of 32 game start at $125.

Virginia March Madness basketball tickets

Limited Virginia NCAA Tournament tickets are still available for the Round of 32. Get your Virginia March Madness tickets today as the Cavaliers continue their quest to cut down the nets.

Shop Virginia basketball tickets

Virginia March Madness schedule

After defeating No. 14 Wright State, No. 3 Virginia advances to the Round of 32, where they will play the No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Miami (Ohio) winner on Sunday. The time of the game is to be determined. Tickets to Virginia’s Round of 32 game start at $125.

More March Madness: Everything fans need to know about the 2026 NCAA Tournament

Virginia March Madness game locations

Virginia will play its Round of 32 game in Philadelphia against either Tennessee or Miami (Ohio).

Limited tickets for Sunday’s NCAA Tournament action in Philadelphia are available. Shop your Virginia NCAA Tournament tickets now.

Shop Virginia basketball tickets

When is March Madness 2026?

The First Four tipped off the 2026 March Madness tournament on Tuesday, March 17. The two rounds run between Thursday, March 19 and Sunday, March 22. The tournament concludes with the Final Four on Saturday, April 4 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 6.

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