Virginia
Trump administration's cancellation of internet access grants will cost Southwest and Southside Virginia, officials say
An Abingdon nonprofit organization, looking to expand broadband access and literacy, put its blueprints in place.
People Inc. of Virginia used $55,000 in federal money and worked with multiple Southwest Virginia nonprofits to create a plan that would help a variety of Southwest Virginia residents with digital literacy, coding and consumer protection, and would provide devices for doing schoolwork to children living below the poverty line, among other actions.
People Inc. set up similar plans in Northern and Central Virginia locations with another $70,000.
The next step was to execute the plans, and People Inc. applied for another $400,000 to do that, said Rachel Fogg, the organization’s communications director. The money would have come via the Digital Equity Act of 2021, passed into law during the Biden administration.
“If we receive that funding, that would be wonderful, and we’ll be able to put the digital opportunity plan into real practice,” Fogg said. “But right now, we do not know whether or not we will receive that funding.”
Virginia stood to receive more than $18 million from the Digital Equity Act for programs ensuring internet access for all, along with the skills to navigate it.
On the night of May 9, the Trump administration sent a letter to Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development, which was to distribute the block grant money. According to the letter, the program was canceled, DHCD Director Bryan Horn said during a Broadband Advisory Council meeting on Wednesday.
That notification and others nationwide came a day after President Donald Trump wrote on social media that the Digital Equity Act was “racist” and “unconstitutional” and that he planned to end it.
Trump claimed in his post that the Digital Equity Program the law created was a “woke handout” based on race. But a former Biden administration official who worked for a time in the Trump administration said that, according to the law, white Americans are the “vast majority” of those who stood to benefit.
Evan Feinman, a Lynchburg native based in Richmond, led the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program for four years under then-President Joe Biden and for a short time under Trump. He spent almost two years deeply involved with the Digital Equity Program, as well. It was not focused on race, but it did focus on elderly people, families living in poverty, veterans and others, including minority and ethnic groups, Feinman said.
“But actually, if you look at the balance of people that are eligible across the totality of it, the vast, vast, vast majority of people who are eligible were in fact white folks, either because they were rural, they were veterans, they were elderly or because they were poor.”
All references to the Digital Equity Act were scrubbed this week from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration website and other federal sites. The NTIA administered the program.
Information about the law remained on the U.S. Census Bureau’s website, where a page said it was meant to assist the elderly, poor people, military veterans, disabled people, state inmates transitioning back to society, English learners or others with low literacy levels, members of racial or ethnic minority groups, and rural residents.
“While, yes, you could design a program that was focused on supporting an ethnic minority, you would still have to show why they had a particular disadvantage compared to other folks,” Feinman said. “That was only one way a group became eligible for the program, [along with] being a veteran also works, being poor also works, being a rural person also works.”
‘Wasteful spending’ or ‘access to opportunity’?
The $2.75 billion law was passed as part of the larger Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It established three grant programs, with money already distributed for planning grants and competitive grants filed with the federal government.
The third aspect was called the Digital Equity Capacity Grant and was to distribute $1.44 billion in block grants to the states, each of which set up a digital equity plan that organizations would refer to in applying for money. The Biden administration approved Virginia’s plan in December.
Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax County, chairs the state’s Broadband Advisory Committee. During Wednesday’s meeting, Boysko said that a national bipartisan working group of broadband-centric state legislators this week discussed the possibility of a lawsuit to overturn the Trump administration’s actions on the capacity grants.
She asked Horn, the housing director, if Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares was considering that possibility. Horn said he was unaware.
Messages on Wednesday and Thursday to Miyares’ office were not returned, nor were messages seeking comment from U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt County, and Rep. John McGuire, R-Goochland County.
U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, in a message sent through his communications director, said the “funds could probably be better spent elsewhere.”
He added: “In light of a $37 trillion debt burden on the country, I believe it is important to rein in wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars and promote fiscal responsibility.”
Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s press secretary, Peter Finocchio, wrote in an email exchange on Thursday that Virginia has “made enormous strides” in broadband deployment, dedicating more than $900 million to connecting residents via the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative. It was the first state to submit required plans in order to receive Broadband Equity Access and Deployment, or BEAD, funding of $1.48 billion, he wrote.
“Termination of Digital Equity Act funding will not impact Virginia’s work on broadband deployment,” Finocchio wrote.
While BEAD money is meant to complete Virginia’s work connecting all parts of the state, some may be directed to digital equity efforts if a state can show that it has ensured broadband service to all “unserved” and “underserved” locations, according to an FAQ that the NTIA posted.
The same document says that NTIA “strongly encourages” states to coordinate BEAD and Digital Equity Program plans.
Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both D-Va., released statements that disapproved of the administration’s actions.
“If the Trump administration bothered to look beyond a title, it would see that the Digital Equity Act is about access to opportunity in rural communities,” Warner said through a spokeswoman. “The act of dismantling this program and continuing to block BEAD dollars months after they were approved undercuts bipartisan efforts to expand broadband to all Americans.”
BEAD has been stalled as the administration reviews aspects of its implementation, according to multiple published reports.
Kaine noted that the act was beneficial to older Americans, rural residents and veterans.
“I am troubled that the President is once again threatening to unlawfully withhold funding appropriated by Congress, and I urge him to reverse course,” Kaine said through a spokeswoman.
A focus on telehealth, workforce development, seniors
Fogg, from People Inc., said that it had planned to serve about 560 people over the grant’s three-year term. The organization’s plan noted that there “is a limited population of persons of color or non-English speakers within the region. Therefore, creating programs specifically for these populations is not considered the first priority.”
The plan would have focused on the elderly population in People Inc.’s service area: Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Grayson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties, along with Bristol and Galax. Core services would have been digital literacy, device access and affordability, privacy and cybersecurity, and broadband affordability.
Gate City-based Appalachian Community Action and Development Agency was among the nonprofits that partnered with People Inc. on the plan. Its executive director, Lisa Barton, said that recent cuts “seem to be here today, gone tomorrow, back the next day.”
She said she has learned from years in public service to keep a cool head about it.
“You learn to adapt,” she said. “You work with what you have to the best of your ability.”
But an aging population has a growing need to master online tools, she said.
“The internet is such an important tool for rural areas, especially, because sometimes we are so isolated, and transportation is an issue,” she said. “If we can help give people tools to do telehealth, you know, even apply for Social Security, those types of things online, to where they don’t have to drive an hour or two hours to a doctor, or to apply for something, or even to get groceries. You know that we owe it to them to help them all that we can.”
Another Southwest Virginia nonprofit, the Fairlawn-based New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board, had applied for a capacity grant as well, with hopes of serving 150 people over two years. Leaders there said the board was focused primarily on workforce development.
Information the development board supplied said that it cost $3.48 million to provide workforce programming in 2023. Meanwhile, the employment programs it sparked resulted in $33.34 million saved in government benefits, while adding $14.5 million to the gross regional product and delivering $3.7 million in income tax revenue.
“It’s typically a 15-to-1 return on investment,” said the board’s executive director, Marty Holliday.
Other federal grant dollars are in jeopardy, too, which could do further damage to the region’s economy, Holliday said.
“People aren’t moving here, and people are aging here, so it is important to get every able body working,” she said, adding that “the federal government doesn’t give you money because they have a big heart. They give you money because they want taxpayers. We take our job very seriously. We want people to be in the system like the rest of us, paying taxes and living.”
It was unclear what other organizations in Southwest and Southside Virginia had applied for capacity grants, or how much of the $18.3 million was at stake in those parts of the commonwealth.
The Department of Housing and Community Development, citing the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, said it would not be able to provide requested information until May 29. Other requested information included how much capacity grant money NTIA had already provided to DHCD, if any.
An email to the NTIA press office went unanswered.
Boysko, the state senator who chairs the Broadband Advisory Council, said she is not worried about the people in her Northern Virginia district.
“The people who are going to lose out are not people who live in my neighborhood,” said Boysko, a small-town Alabama native who graduated from Hollins University. “They are the people who live on the Southside, in southwestern Virginia, in areas where there is not adequate assistance to help people get connected … and I think that’s a shame.”
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Worshippers assaulted outside of Virginia mosque
A Virginia doctor has been arrested and charged with attacking a Fairfax County mosque as worshipers were leaving prayer. The mosque says it’s the second time the man has attacked the same mosque.
FAIRFAX, Va. – Community members are calling for the man accused of attacking a Muslim community center in Virginia to be charged with hate crimes after he was recently arrested. The mosque says the man has attacked its members multiple times.
Virginia mosque attack
What we know:
The latest attack happened on Nov. 28, at the Dar Al Nur Community Center in Fairfax County. In security footage shared by the mosque, a man can be seen berating a group of women leaving prayer. When they see the man, they run back through the door and threaten to call the police.
The man is then seen swatting at the camera, while shouting, “F—ing Muslims! Get the f— out of here!”
Police arrested Dr. Tony Hsiao shortly after the incident, charging him with assault, trespassing and destruction of property. Hsiao was arrested last year on similar charges.
What they’re saying:
Hsiao has not been charged with a hate crime, and advocates say that’s unacceptable.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called pubically Friday for state and federal officials to charge Hsiao with a hate crime.
“[F]ederal authorities must hold him fully accountable by filing hate crime charges,” CAIR attorney Ahmad Kaki said in a statement. “no one should be able to get away with repeatedly attacking the same house of worship. We must send a message that all faiths are welcome and safe in Fairfax County and throughout our nation.”
The Source: Information in this story is from the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Fairfax County Police Department.
HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) – The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday.
This year’s group of athletes, coaches, administrators, and contributors whose influence spans generations, levels of competitions across the state. This includes one man from Richmond, who has also been named the 2026 Distinguished Virginian.
The Class of 2026 inductees are as follows:
- Bobby Ukrop (Richmond): Robert S. “Bobby” Ukrop has been named the “2026 Distinguished Virginian” presented to an individual with a sports background who is a distinguished citizen of the Commonwealth based on outstanding life accomplishment”. A former basketball player at the University of Richmond, Ukrop has been a transformative community leader, leading initiatives throughout Central Virginia including the founding of Richmond Sports Backers, construction of the Diamond baseball stadium, efforts to “Drown-proof Virginia” learn to swim initiative.
- Grant Hill (Reston): ACC Player of the Year; two-time consensus All American; two-time NCAA Champion; one of the ACC’s 50 Greatest Players; 19-year NBA career – 17,137 points -7-time NBA All-Star- 3-time NBA Sportsmanship Award; Olympic Gold Medalist; member of the College and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame. National broadcaster for both NCAA and NBA games. Co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Orlando City SC (MLS), Orlando Pride (NWSL) and the Baltimore Orioles (MLB).
- Marcellus “Boo” Williams (Hampton): Widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential youth basketball coaches in the nation, Williams has helped shape the careers of countless young men’s and women’s players. Walt Disney Wide World of Sports named Williams its 2001 Volunteer of the Year; The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presented him with its 2013 Human Spirit Award. Williams currently operates his youth basketball programs from the 135,000 sq. ft. Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton.
- Michael Vick (Newport News): The former Virginia Tech standout and NFL quarterback, Vick became one of the most dynamic players of his generation. At Virginia Tech, Vick led the Hokies to the 1999 National Championship game and was a 1st team All-American and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The #1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft, Vick played in the NFL for 13 seasons, earning 4 Pro Bowl selections and the 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. After his retirement, Vick was a commentator for Fox NFL Sunday. He is currently the head coach of the Norfolk State University Spartans.
- Wally Walker (Charlottesville): Often credited with starting the prominence of UVA basketball, Walker led the Cavaliers to their first NCAA tournament berth in 1976 when he was the MVP of the ACC Tournament. Walker was the #5 overall pick of the 1976 NBA draft and played for 8 NBA seasons winning two NBA Championships. Following his playing career, Walker moved to the front office, to become the President of Seattle SuperSonics.
- Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg): One of the most accomplished basketball players in Virginia history. Toliver was the 2009 ACC Player of the Year, a 2-time All-American, NCAA National Champion, 1st round WNBA selection, 2-time WNBA Champion and a 3-time WNBA AllStar. Toliver is currently the associate head coach of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
- Terry Driscoll (Williamsburg): A visionary leader in collegiate athletics, Driscoll served with distinction as the Director of Athletics at William & Mary for 22 years, during which the Tribe won 114 Conference Championships, had 118 teams with 100% graduation rates and oversaw a dramatic increase in funding for new facilities and the College’s endowment. A true “Scholar-Athlete” himself, Driscoll was an Athletic and Academic All-American, the #4 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and a championship professional coach in Europe.
- Roland Lazenby (Wytheville): A former reporter with the Roanoke Times, Lazenby is best known for his award-winning author of over 60 sports books that has vaulted him to the top of his profession. Widely regarded as an “expert or authority” on NBA basketball, several of his most prominent books are “go to” references on Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
- Tony Bennett: Former University of Virginia basketball coach, two-time Naismith Coach of the Year, and national championship coach as long stood among college basketball’s most respected leaders. Over an 18-season head coaching career, including stops at Washington State and the University of Virginia, he compiled a remarkable 433-and-169 overall record. He took over Virginia in 2009 and transformed the Cavaliers into a powerhouse, amassing a 364- 136 record while becoming the programs all-time wins leader. His crowning achievement came in 2019, when his team captured the NCAA national championship- a milestone that delivered Virginia its first ever national title in men’s basketball. Under Bennett’s stewardship, Virginia won six regular season conference titles, two conference championships, and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.
The 53rd induction events are set for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa/Short Pump.
Copyright 2025 WWBT. All rights reserved.
Virginia
Feds want graduate nursing programs to reduce costs. This Virginia nurse worries changes will increase debt.
RICHMOND, Va. — University of Virginia graduate nursing student Nelly Sekyere worries that proposed federal loan cuts could prevent future students like herself from pursuing advanced nursing degrees that are helpful in filling shortages in underserved communities.
Sekyere’s parents moved to the United States from Ghana to pursue the American Dream. They worked hourly wage jobs to support their two kids and ultimately became licensed practical nurses, but they never had much money.
Nelly Sekyere
“My dad’s credit score was to the point where it was just awful. He had to file for bankruptcy. He was in so much debt,” Sekyere said.
Still, their children had big dreams and understood the value of hard work. Sekyere, who currently works as a nurse for a local health department, is now a student at UVA pursuing her doctorate to become a family nurse practitioner and to teach others who want to be nurses.
“I do plan to work in underserved communities and rural regions because that is something I am used to, and I feel that is where my expertise are needed the most,” Sekyere said.
She is able to pursue the doctorate because she qualifies for $200,000 in federal graduate degree loans. She said that without the loans, she couldn’t afford the degree.
“I would not. I physically could not afford it,” Sekyere said.
But future nursing graduate students like her may not be able to access as much federal loan money under graduate loan program changes within the One Big Beautiful Bill. Those changes would mean students enrolling in post-baccalaureate nursing programs would be eligible for half the amount of money in federal graduate loans they are currently allowed to take out.
Currently, they can take out $200,000 in federal graduate loans. That number would drop to $100,000 if the changes take effect.
“This impacts those that are pursuing a master’s in nursing, a doctorate of nursing practice or a PhD in nursing,” said Cindy Rubenstein, Director of Nursing and a professor at Randolph Macon College. “Those graduate programs actually prepare nurses to be advanced practice nurses whether that is a Nurse Practioner in primary care, midwives specialists, and also as educators and nurse scientists.”
On its website, the U.S. Department of Education states “95% of nursing students borrow below the annual loan limit and are therefore not affected by the new caps. Further, placing a cap on loans will push the remaining graduate nursing programs to reduce costs, ensuring that nurses will not be saddled with unmanageable student loan debt.”
Rubenstein said she understands the administration’s desire to control tuition costs and limit borrowing amounts. But she says the reality is that the proposal does not take into account the cost of key professional programs that we have shortages in.
“Health care training at the graduate level is more expensive than other training programs and other graduate degrees and that is because of the requirements for clinical practice,” Rubenstein said.
Both Rubenstein and Sekyere worry that reducing the amount of federal loan money a person can take out to pursue those higher nursing degrees will stop people from entering the programs because they either don’t qualify for a private loan or the interest rate is too high.
“I likely foresee in the future that graduate students are going to get themselves into private loan debt and with these programs there is no student loan forgiveness, there is no leniency, there is no income driven plans for you to be able to pay that back,” Sekyere said.
The federal loan changes are slated to take effect July 1 of next year. The Education Department is still working to define exactly which professional programs will no longer be eligible for the higher loan amounts and may make changes based on public comments.
CBS 6 asked Congressman Rob Wittman (R-1st District), who voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill, about the changes to the graduate nursing loans, and he sent us the following statement:
“Our healthcare professionals, especially our nurses, work tirelessly to serve our communities and ensuring pathways to training and education is essential. This proposed rule from the Department of Education has not yet been finalized, and there will be another opportunity for public comment. I will continue to monitor this situation as it develops and I remain committed to addressing the affordability of higher education.”
CBS 6 is committed to sharing community voices on this important topic. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom.
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This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. To learn more about how we use AI in our newsroom, click here.
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