Virginia’s State Water Control Board rejected a petition to weaken wetlands protections, maintaining the state’s strong regulatory stance despite federal rollbacks.

Sarah Vogelsong reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• The State Water Control Board denied a petition by David Schnare to reduce state wetlands protections, following the Supreme Court’s weakening of federal regulations.
• Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality emphasized that the Supreme Court decision does not affect state laws or the scientific definition of wetlands.
• The decision highlights Virginia’s bipartisan support for wetlands conservation, crucial for water quality, carbon storage, and flood prevention.

Key quote:

“Think of wetlands as a big universe. Federally, only a portion of that universe is regulated by the federal government. But what scientifically is a wetland is still the same.”

— Mike Rolband, DEQ Director

Why this matters:

Wetlands are vital for maintaining water quality, reducing flood risks, and storing carbon. Virginia’s stance ensures continued protection of these ecosystems, which face threats from regulatory changes and development pressures.

ARLINGTON, Va. – Election day is just a couple of months away and all eyes are on the Commonwealth to see which way the state will swing.

As one of the key battleground states, Virginia is uniquely positioned to feel the impact of President Joe Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign and endorse his own vice president for the top of the ticket this November. 

Historically, Virginia has always been a fascinating case in American politics. Once a solidly red state, it has transformed over the past few decades into a pivotal battleground.

In recent elections, we’ve seen razor-thin margins as well as a mix of red and blue victories, proving how competitive the state has become.

Virginia voters split between Trump and Biden, poll reveals

Virginia has not backed a Republican presidential candidate since 2004 and politicians are weighing in on Biden’s decision to exit the 2024 presidential race and who could be the new nominee.

Sen. Mark Warner said in a statement that “while there has to be an orderly process and the decision ultimately rests in the hands of the DNC delegates, I believe Vice President Harris has the experience, energy, and resolve to lead our nation. this November, we must defeat Donald Trump and his backward agenda.”

Sen. Tim Kaine also said that he’s “looking forward to working with my friend Kamala Harris and a great ticket mate to keep Virginia blue so that we can continue to build on our progress.”

The Democratic Party of Virginia also shared a statement with FOX 5, saying: “President Biden has never been in politics for himself. though his decision not to run is painful for so many of us, it represents his greatest quality: unwavering patriotism and service to the American people. Joe Biden’s decision to step aside is one that we deeply respect and we thank him for everything that he has done and will continue to do.”

There is so much history in the Virginia Tech football program. From the dominance of Bruce Smith, to the historic run of coach Frank Beamer, to the legendary run of quarterbacks in the early 2000s; Mike Vick was a huge part of that.

Vick led the Hokies to a 22-2 record while he was a quarterback, earning a Big East championship and winning the 2000 Gator Bowl before he was drafted with the first pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Vick had an incredible and historic career in the NFL, and it’s safe to say that Vick is loved in Blacksburg, Virginia.

With Vick being as good as he was at Virginia Tech, he is a voice to trust when it comes to the future of the Virginia Tech program.

Vick was back around the Virginia Tech area, as he is as times, and he got a chance to stop and talk about his thoughts about the Virginia Tech program with Anthony Romano of WDBJ 7 Sports. Here’s what Vick had to say:

“Virginia tech is [good]. Coach Pry has done an amazing job, the entire coaching staff [in] making sure that we stay the course. [I] feel good about this season, got great players coming back; I look forward to some amazing quarterback play from Kyron Drones, and the rest of those guys. We know the defense is going to be up-to-par, [the] offense has made great strides, and so that’s what you want. But, it takes all three phases of the game, but most importantly we’re getting better everyday”

Obviously it is great to hear some of the praise given to Kyron Drones from such a legendary quarterback. There has been a lot of excitement surrounding Drones before this season, with Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports claiming that Drones improving in a few areas could help him lead the Hokies to a competitive year in the ACC.

Obviously, Kyron Drones has a lot of hope for the 2024 season, knowing that he has actionable ways to improve, and a fairly easy schedule to work with. It’s great to see other people excited too, especially knowing how much that Mike Vick knows about the sport. This season could be special for the Hokies, and maybe they lead themselves back into the glory days, and begin to be a perennial contender in the ACC.