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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Thursday, September 30, 2021:
The State Water Control Board held two in-person public comment hearings on a key Mountain Valley Pipeline permit this week. But an open letter to state officials called for an additional virtual hearing. Patrick Larsen reports.
The property owners who sued to stop Governor Ralph Northam from taking down Richmond’s statue of Robert E. Lee are back. This time they’re asking the Virginia Supreme Court to reconsider its unanimous decision to permit the monument’s removal. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports the group argues justices made several errors in their decision and claims the state does not own or control the monument. The 12-ton statue was removed earlier this month and stored in an undisclosed location.
Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts will celebrate the life of former dean Murry N. DePillars today, through the official unveiling of a building name after him. DePillars served as the first African-American dean of the V-C-U arts school from 1976 to 1995. He heavily contributed to the Black Art Movement. Organizers say the building was officially renamed in September of last year, but due to the pandemic the university was not able to hold a ceremony until now. The commemoration will be held today 5 to 6:30 p.m. DePillars’ artwork will also be on display in an exhibit.
Chesterfield County Schools are holding a bus driver job fair today. Like other districts in the region, Chesterfield has stepped up efforts to recruit during a national bus driver shortage by raising pay and adding bonuses. Full or part time positions are available, with pay starting above $20 an hour. No prior experience is required. The bus driver job fair is at Manchester Middle School from 4 to 8 p.m.
Flood insurance is about to get more expensive for some Virginians. Others may actually see costs go down. Sam Turken, from our partner station WHRV, reports: a new pricing system for the National Flood Insurance Program will launch Friday.
Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin held their final gubernatorial debate on Tuesday night, disagreeing on coronavirus vaccines, taxes, education and abortion. McAuliffe and Youngkin made a number of statements that were familiar to PolitiFact. Here’s a fact-checking rundown of those claims from Politifact VA Editor Warren Fiske.
