Venomous, floating fire ants are invading Virginia and more state headlines
The state Capitol. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)
• 'Venomous, floating fire ants are invading Virginia.' — Axios
• 'Virginia Breeze sets ridership record.' — CBS19
• 'Virginia Beach introduces program to address school-related threats.' — WAVY
• 'Police: Driver killed in Virginia State Police shooting had a knife.' — WTVR
• 'Fairfax County seeks input on update to vision for Fair Lakes area.' — FFXnow
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Seattle police prepare for daily protests
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Axios
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Fireworks snitches wanted: Des Moines offers tips to help police
Des Moines is helping residents become fireworks finks by offering tips on how to report, testify against, and assist in convicting those who use them illegally. Why it matters: City leaders are facing a frustrating dilemma — they must legally allow fireworks on certain days due to a new state law, while also dealing with hundreds of resident complaints, persistent property damage, and limited resources to enforce violations each year. Driving the news: On Monday, the City Council voted to allow fireworks during certain times to celebrate the Fourth of July and New Year's. Context: The city was one of several metro cities that had year-round personal fireworks bans until the Legislature took precedence over its authority this year. Flashback: Police have long warned that widespread enforcement is impractical and that it can take police hours to respond to complaints. Only a few tickets have been issued in recent years, mainly because securing a conviction requires a witness who can identify perpetrators and is also willing to provide testimony. What they're saying: Among the most significant concerns is damage to Des Moines parks, Councilperson Joe Gatto said during this week's council meeting. Mayor Connie Boesen said the city is also working to help the public understand what they should do to assist police in issuing a citation. Zoom in: Videos of incidents are valuable, but sharing them on social media alone is insufficient for a conviction, Sgt. Paul Parizek tells Axios. If an officer does not witness a violation, the department needs a complainant who will make themselves available for court hearings if needed, he said. The intrigue: Generally, law enforcement can write citations up to a year after an illegal fireworks event, allowing time for investigations, Parizek said. The City Council reduced fines from $625 to $200 last year to better align with consequences in other metro cities. What's next: DSM's ordinance now permits fireworks on private property from 9am-10pm on July 3; 9am-11pm on July 4; and 9am to midnight on Dec. 31.
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Schumer outlines multi-pronged strategy to save climate law
The Senate's top Democrat tells Axios he's activated a multi-pronged strategy to salvage the 2022 climate law that he helped craft. Why it matters: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer sees multiple pressure points to counter House-passed GOP legislation that largely halts the Inflation Reduction Act's unprecedented low-carbon energy tax credits. Schumer said 16 GOP senators — whom he didn't name — may be open to persuasion, and he's assembled a team of eight Democrats who have "good relationships" with them to lobby. "We want a critical mass of Republicans to go to [Majority Leader John] Thune and say, 'You've got to change this, because I'll lose thousands of jobs in my state,'" he said in an interview. Democrats are citing analyses — like this one from the firm Energy Innovation — that show IRA-linked jobs and investments flowing heavily to red states. There are also efforts to have Democratic governors lobby GOP governors. The pitch is heavy on consumer cost arguments and the risks of ceding clean tech sectors to China, too. The intrigue: Schumer is looking to leverage bipartisan interest in U.S. AI leadership. "We've gone to the AI industry and said, 'You say you need more energy. Why would you cut off the quickest, cheapest way to get more energy to the grid?'" He pointed to a recent letter from the Data Center Coalition — which includes Google, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon — to Thune arguing that tax "certainty" is needed. There's also collaboration with green groups, low-carbon energy associations, and unions on lobbying efforts. Friction point: Schumer hopes Democrats' floor strategy can produce changes before the bill gets that far. "We are going to have a lot of amendments that are going to be very difficult for Republican senators to vote against," he said. "That helps them push their leadership to do something so they can avoid the painful vote." "Then we have another bite at the apple in the House," Schumer noted. The other side: Republicans are confident they can get the bill to President Trump's desk, even as some acknowledge it may take longer than initially expected. What we're watching: The Senate Finance Committee, which has yet to release its version of the budget plan's tax provisions. Its text will be the next tangible sign of whether Senate Republicans will make big changes to the House plan. Reality check: It's tough to see how the IRA emerges from the reconciliation fight without getting significantly pared back. The White House and many top Republicans call it a "green new scam" and say the law's hundreds of billions of dollars in subsidies are wasteful.
