Latest news with #WWBT
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rain and lack of prolonged heat helps drought issues and more Virginia headlines
The state Capitol. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) • 'Rain, lack of prolonged heat helps drought issues.' — WWBT • 'Abigail Spanberger launches her first TV ad in Virginia governor's race.' — NBC News • 'Democratic candidates for attorney general talk opioids, Trump and Southwest Virginia.' — Cardinal News • 'Wave Children's Learning Center in Virginia Beach abruptly shutting down.' — WAVY • 'Redevelopment proposals in Seven Corners draw pushback from some neighbors.' — FFXnow SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Va. community colleges end diversity, equity and inclusion practices
J. Sargent Reynolds Community College in Henrico. (Photo courtesy WWBT) Virginia's 23 community colleges will be required to ensure all of their programs and practices comply with federal regulations to ensure everyone is treated fairly and equally, ending policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion. The decision by the Virginia Community College System's State Board is in response to President Donald Trump's executive order to eliminate DEI initiatives, which are designed to overcome historic inequities and discrimination that blocked progress for minorities and women. The VCCS directive applies to several areas including admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, and graduation ceremonies, according to the March 20 resolution. The Trump Administration has also warned colleges and universities to end race-based decision-making or risk losing federal funding, which many institutions rely on to cover Pell Grants and the federal student loan program. Feds to Virginia schools: End race-based policies or risk losing funds The VCCS' resolution also directs Virginia community colleges to avoid attempts to get around the new rules and to end reliance on third-party organizations that assist in implementing race-conscious policies. 'Adopting a resolution to affirm our values and compliance with recent guidance on discrimination and merit-based opportunity and amending language in our policies and strategic plan are critical necessary actions to ensure federal funding for Virginia's Community Colleges is not compromised,' said VCCS State Board Chair Terri Thompson, who was reappointed by former Gov. Ralph Northam. 'It is our continued ability to provide students with high-quality educational and training opportunities that is at the heart of our mission.' The board's decision also led to several changes to the system's strategic plan, which outlines the VCCS' goals and objectives, including removing the goal of increasing the diversity of full-time faculty and staff by 5% by 2030. The decision also changed some areas of the policy manual, including renaming its advisory council on 'diversity, equity, inclusion and culture' to 'culture of care and success.' David Doré, VCCS chancellor, said the changes made don't impact the system's mission, which is to help people learn new things and glean better skills to enhance their lives and help their communities get stronger. Del. Michael Jones, D-Richmond, told WRIC last week that the board needs to reverse the decision, adding that VCCS' diversity policies help ensure minorities, who he says have been subject to systemic racism, have the same opportunities as their white counterparts. 'It bothers me when people come up to me (and say), 'I don't see race,'' Jones said to the television news station. 'You need to see race because when you see race you will understand and see the obstacles that I had to face, the challenges I had to overcome, just simply being born the color that I am into the system or the country that I was born in.' State Republicans applauded the board's decision, including Del. Mike Cherry, R-Colonial Heights, and Del. Tom Garrett, R-Buckingham, both members of the House Education Committee. During the past two sessions, Garrett introduced proposals to amend the Virginia Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on race and sex. After the proposal failed to pass in 2024 and was revised to exclude 'sex' in January, the Democratic-controlled House did not hear the proposal. 'We need to be aware of the negative impacts of our past mistakes, but (also) that we do not correct those going forward by considerations for promotion and opportunity beyond merit and one's ability to serve their community,' Garrett said. Cherry added that Virginia's community college system is an 'important link' in the state's higher education offerings, particularly for first-generation and working adult families. 'Ending the divisiveness of DEI programs at VCCS and all public colleges and universities allows them to stay focused on one of their main objectives, which should be making a college degree attainable and affordable for all Virginians, and I support their decision.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Axios
11-02-2025
- Climate
- Axios
Axios Richmond's (tongue-in-cheek) forecast for yet another 2025 snow event
Richmond could see up to five inches of snow Tuesday, making it the area's fourth noteworthy snowfall of 2025 — just seven weeks into the year. Why it matters: Forecasted snow accumulation was once something locals celebrated as a pop-up winter holiday, but this year, after back-to-back snow events, the forecast has become trauma inducing. Sure, Richmonders have gotten to enjoy a smattering of sleigh riding and snowman building this year, but winter storms have also brought widespread power outages, closed or delayed school openings and, of course, a week-long water crisis. Richmond is emotionally done with snow. For this year, and maybe many, many more. The big picture: Precipitation, likely snow, will start between 7 and 10am Tuesday and 3-5 inches of accumulation is expected, according to forecast from WWBT, as-of Monday afternoon. Southern Chesterfield and Eastern Henrico will get less, likely closer to 1-3 inches. North of Richmond will see a lot more, likely 5-8 inches. The snow will stop just after sunset. Zoom in: Since this is feels like our 138th time time dealing with snow this year, we thought we'd give our own (tongue-in-cheek) forecast for what to expect. 🤷🏻♀️ 50% — Chance that we'll actually get snow. Or get no snow. Or 12 feet of snow. 🚱 0% — Chance bread or milk — or water or beer — is left on store shelves. ❌ 87% — Chance that schools will be closed for at least two days, regardless of snowfall amounts. ⚒️ 3% — Chance your landlord or neighbor will clear their portion of the public sidewalk, as they're required by law to do. 🛷 91% — Chance of locals attempting to sled down a large hill, regardless of presence of snow. 🚷 100% — Chance of suburbanites parking illegally and/or blocking bike lanes, crosswalks and private driveways to access prime sledding spots. 👌 0% — Chance that any of them will be towed or ticketed. ✅ 99% — Chance that city residents parked illegally in the Fan or downtown, even for 90 seconds, are ticketed or towed on the snow day. 🌫️ .5% — Chance that every vehicle on the road has been cleared of snow before driving. 😭 175% — Chance that RVA parents will have an emotional breakdown if schools close. Again. The bottom line: It might snow. It might not. But Richmond is always going to Richmond.
