The State Corporation Commission is expected to issue a final order by August 1 on how to split the cost of billions of dollars in new high-voltage lines being built to serve Northern Virginia's data center boom — and whether that bill lands on households or on the tech giants driving the demand. At a July 14 hearing, Governor Spanberger's administration, along with Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, all weighed in on Dominion's proposed Rider T-1 transmission charge; the governor's office, through testimony filed July 9 by Chief Energy Officer Josephus Allmond, pushed a "but-for" test — data centers should pay for any line that wouldn't exist but for their arrival. If the SCC adopts that standard, every future data-center transmission project in Virginia starts with the developer, not your monthly bill, on the hook first. Watch for the final order in the next ten days; it is the most consequential utility decision pending in the Commonwealth. (Per Virginia Mercury, Utility Dive, and Henrico Citizen.)

Northern Virginians — and residents far from the data centers themselves — will help pay for a controversial rural transmission line, a cost-allocation fight that runs on the same track as the SCC's Rider T-1 case. The backdrop: Dominion warned in 2022 that its overworked lines couldn't handle new arrivals to Loudoun County's Data Center Alley and projected a four-year delay for full power; by 2024, that delay had stretched to seven years. Now the question of who subsidizes hundreds of miles of new infrastructure — built for the world's largest data-center cluster — is reaching households that will never see a server rack. The geographic politics here matter: if ratepayers in far-flung counties revolt, expect the "but-for" argument to gain momentum before the SCC's final order lands.

Virginia's primary is August 4, and July 24 is the pivotal date: it's both the last day to register (or update a registration) and the deadline to request a mailed absentee ballot. Early in-person voting runs through August 1. The ballot includes a Republican U.S. Senate primary, three Republican congressional primaries (the 5th, 7th, and 10th districts), five Democratic congressional primaries (1st, 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 9th), and Democratic local races in six localities including the Arlington County Board and the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors. With two administrative deadlines stacked on Friday, election officials across the Commonwealth are urging eligible voters to move now. (Per WSLS 10 and Cardinal News.)

The primary moved from its usual June slot to August as a push to redraw Virginia's congressional districts gained steam — a redistricting amendment voters approved in an April referendum, only to have the state Supreme Court overturn it in May, leaving the 2021 district lines intact. That reversal is a significant constitutional development that shapes how Virginia can redraw its maps going forward. All 11 incumbents are seeking reelection, and in the 7th District, Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman faces the winner of a three-way Republican primary this fall. The map fight is settled for now — but the court's ruling is the signal to watch for any renewed attempt at redistricting reform.

Governor Abigail Spanberger marked six months in office — she took the oath after the largest margin for a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in more than six decades — but a new poll suggests many Virginians remain unconvinced her Affordable Virginia agenda has moved the needle, with inflation, housing, and an uncertain economy still topping concerns. Spanberger tied the results to national politics, accusing the Trump administration of "constantly" picking fights as strategy, and said she has not spoken with the president since taking office. The six-month mark arrives just as the SCC's data-center transmission case — an affordability issue that hits electric bills directly — nears its final order. Whether the "but-for" cost test lands in her column may shape how that affordability pitch reads by fall. (Per WTOP News.)

Governor Spanberger ordered U.S. and Virginia flags on all state and local buildings flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset in memory of U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. of Richmond. Spanberger said Key's service and sacrifice exemplified the highest ideals of military service. The order applies across the Commonwealth, making Key's death a statewide moment of recognition for Virginia's military community. (Per the Office of the Governor of Virginia.)

The National Weather Service and NOAA's Weather Prediction Center warn of repeated heavy storms and flash flooding across the mid-Atlantic as a slow-moving front stalls over the region, with Hampton Roads — Norfolk and Virginia Beach — expecting 2 to 5 inches of rain and localized totals up to 8 inches. Central and eastern Virginia, including Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield, Goochland, Powhatan, Prince Edward, and Hanover, are under flood-related advisories through Wednesday evening. The immediate risk is to drivers, low-lying neighborhoods, and key transportation corridors — turn around, don't drown, and watch for road closures on your commute. [DEVELOPING] (Per USA Today, with county-level detail from weathershogun.com.)

• Manassas aviation startup Electra picks Ohio over Virginia for first factory. Manassas-based Electra has chosen Springfield, Ohio, for its first production facility for the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft, redirecting hundreds of anticipated manufacturing jobs away from Prince William County. Potomac Local News

• Bank robbed in Crystal City; suspect fled on foot. Arlington County Police are searching for a suspect who robbed a bank in Crystal City and fled the scene, and are asking the public for tips. ARLnow

• National Weather Service issues Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Fairfax County. The watch warns of possible damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain, with local officials urging residents to secure outdoor items and prepare for potential power outages. FFXnow

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: and Family Day Volunteer of Guest House ✨ Set up and take down event equipment.. Northern Virginia volunteers are needed for Guest House Family Day to help set up and take down event equipment.

• Virginia honors Richmond soldier Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. for his sacrifice. The state is recognizing Key, a Richmond soldier who gave his life attempting to save a fellow soldier, with a ceremonial flag order. WRIC

• KinderCare director arraigned in Henrico County child abuse case. A director at a Henrico County KinderCare facility has been arraigned on abuse charges, advancing a notable child-welfare case in the county's courts. WRIC

• Henrico leaders launch recovery fund and extend hotel stays for displaced seniors. County officials have created a recovery fund and extended temporary hotel accommodations for seniors displaced from their homes, responding to a local housing crisis. WRIC

• New ice rink opens to the public in Chesterfield County. The facility marks a new recreation amenity for county residents and a local development milestone. WRIC

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Richmond ReStore Volunteer🛒♻️ Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity ✨ Process donations and assist store customers. Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity seeks volunteers to process donations and help customers at its ReStore in the Richmond area.

• 19-year-old woman killed, man wounded in I-264 shooting in Norfolk. Virginia State Police and Norfolk Police are jointly investigating the shooting, which occurred on the interstate and left one dead and one injured. WAVY

• Death of man at Isle of Wight County hospital ruled a homicide. The victim's mother says authorities have classified her son's death as a homicide, raising questions about what occurred at the facility and prompting an ongoing investigation. WAVY

• Norfolk freezer murder suspect found competent to stand trial. A Norfolk man accused of killing his wife and concealing her body in a freezer has been deemed competent, allowing the high-profile case to proceed in Norfolk Circuit Court. WAVY

• Virginia Beach denies lost-profit claims from eight Oceanfront businesses. The city rejected reimbursement requests from businesses that alleged economic losses stemming from a city-imposed curfew, with officials asserting Virginia Beach bears no liability for the claimed damages. WAVY

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: SHARE SUMMERTIME JOY AS A HOSPICE VOLUNTEER (Virginia Beach area) Enhabit Hospice ✨ Provide friendship and socialization. Enhabit Hospice seeks Hampton Roads volunteers in the Virginia Beach area to offer friendship and social time to hospice patients.

• Charlottesville selects "Rooted" baobab tree design to replace melted Lee statue. The city chose the "Rooted" proposal — a bronze baobab tree for Market Street Park — concluding a long-running public-art process tied to the removal of the Confederate monument. Charlottesville Tomorrow

• Greene County Sheriff and ICE arrested 49 people one week before new state restrictions took effect. The joint operation preceded a Virginia law that would have limited such cooperation, intensifying local debate over immigration enforcement and county policy. Charlottesville Tomorrow

• Hollymead Elementary principal McCauley will not return; Albemarle County schools to eliminate social-emotional learning coach role. Interim Superintendent announced the leadership change and staffing cut at the school, raising concerns about support services for students. Charlottesville Tomorrow

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Volunteer at Camp Holiday Trails ✨ Paint fences, clear trails, or chop firewood.. It is a practical service option for families, groups, or individuals who want to give time around Charlottesville.

• Fredericksburg School Board member Jarvis E. Bailey resigns amid travel spending scrutiny. Bailey's resignation letter was read into the record at a special meeting, and the board has set a timeline to appoint a replacement to the at-large seat. Potomac Local News

• Stafford County School Board scrambles to rebalance budget after supervisors cut funding late in the process. The Board of Supervisors approved a reduction in school funding after the school budget was set, forcing the district to weigh program cuts and staffing impacts ahead of the coming school year. Potomac Local News

• Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine and Main Street Executive Director Chris Allen travel to Florida after "Garden & Gun" contest win. The pair will visit DeLand, Florida, to meet with local leaders and exchange ideas on downtown revitalization and tourism following Fredericksburg's victory in the magazine's Main Street contest. Potomac Local News

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Hospice Volunteers~amazing opportunities, FLEXIBLE schedule. Affinity Care of Virginia is seeking volunteers in Fredericksburg for hospice service with flexible scheduling options.

• Roanoke Councilman Joe Volosin apologizes after telling Black colleague Trish White-Boyd she was "owned" by another member. The comment, made during a public meeting, drew public backlash and prompted a written apology from Volosin, with the incident sparking broader discussion about race and conduct in city government. Cardinal News

• Roanoke to remove gunshot-detection devices this week following community concerns. The sensors, already deactivated, will be fully removed by week's end after residents raised objections over privacy and questions about the system's effectiveness. WSET

• Tedeschi Trucks Band cancels FloydFest appearance due to Susan Tedeschi's illness. The headliner's withdrawal forces organizers to adjust the Floyd County festival's lineup, disappointing fans and local businesses that count on the event's tourism draw. Cardinal News

• Southwest Virginia youth rescue camp trains the next generation of rural first responders. Middle and high school students are receiving hands-on fire, EMS, and technical rescue training at a multi-day camp designed to address chronic volunteer shortages in rural communities. Cardinal News

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Do you enjoy singing/playing hymns? Hospice Volunteers Needed Affinity Care of Virginia ✨ Sing hymns with hospice patien. Affinity Care of Virginia in Roanoke seeks volunteers to sing hymns or play hymns with hospice patients.

• Northern Virginia: and Family Day Volunteer of Guest House ✨ Set up and take down event equipment.. Northern Virginia volunteers are needed for Guest House Family Day to help set up and take down event equipment.

• Charlottesville: Volunteer at Camp Holiday Trails ✨ Paint fences, clear trails, or chop firewood.. It is a practical service option for families, groups, or individuals who want to give time around Charlottesville.