Grayson County has confirmed plans for a proposed $11 billion data center campus at Wildwood Commerce Park — a development that would drop one of the largest single investments in Virginia history into a rural corner of Southwest Virginia. The scale rewrites the county's tax base, power draw, road needs and land-use rules overnight, and it lands in a region long defined by the decline of tobacco and coal, not hyperscale computing. The unanswered questions are the whole story: the county has not yet named the developer, published project documents, or detailed how much electricity and water the campus will require. Watch the next 24 to 48 hours for a developer name or a public-meeting notice — and watch whether Grayson moves straight to land-use approvals, which would signal this is real, fast, and headed for the same power fights convulsing Northern Virginia.

Frederick County's Board of Supervisors voted 6-1 on September 24 to strip data centers as a permitted or conditional use entirely — deleting the definitions and regulations in the same stroke — making it the first Virginia locality to shut the door this completely, per the Winchester Star and Northern Virginia Daily. In the same meeting, supervisors unanimously grandfathered two projects already under review, but with a catch: those applicants must appear before the board for a public hearing by October 28. That hearing is now the whole game. If the board rejects both grandfathered projects, "vested rights" — the legal shield developers everywhere lean on to argue an entitled project can't be killed — stops being reliable, and every county eyeing a ban takes note.

The State Corporation Commission will hold six public hearings — three in person — on the proposed $67 billion merger of Dominion Energy and Florida's NextEra, a deal that would create the largest regulated utility in the country and shape who pays for the state's data-center power surge, per Virginia Mercury. The in-person dates: October 7 at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, October 9 from 6–8 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, and November 5 from 2–5 p.m. at the SCC building in Richmond, with a written comment deadline of November 9. Attorney General Jay Jones has asked the SCC to reset the 180-day review clock, arguing that NextEra's September sweeteners — expanded bill credits, 1,000 new jobs, a $100 million workforce fund, and a downtown Richmond office tower — amount to a materially new application; the commission hasn't yet ruled. Gov. Abigail Spanberger has intervened, the first Virginia governor ever to do so in an SCC case, and House Speaker Don Scott has signaled a special session may follow. Watch the Fairfax and Newport News turnout: if ratepayers pack those rooms, the SCC's math shifts from balance sheets to political pressure.

The U.S. Navy has signed a five-year, $1.7 billion agreement with Hunt Military Communities to build or renovate 8,098 beds for sailors across Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, per Virginia Business. More than $450 million of that funds two 17-story housing towers in downtown Newport News; the rest covers 5,272 bedrooms at Naval Station Norfolk, 712 at Naval Air Station Oceana, and 614 at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story. For the roughly 100,000 active-duty personnel in Hampton Roads, this targets years of documented quality-of-life complaints about barracks conditions. It also puts sailor housing on the same strained regional grid that data centers and utility mergers are all fighting over — a collision worth watching as the SCC weighs who gets power first.

Early voting is underway and runs through Saturday, October 31, ahead of the November 3 election, with Virginians deciding three constitutional amendments — on reproductive rights, marriage, and post-felony voting rights — plus dozens of local sales-tax measures for school construction, per WDBJ7. Question 3, which would automatically restore voting rights to people who've completed felony sentences, would end Virginia's status as one of the last states requiring a governor's individual sign-off. On the ballot too: Sen. Mark Warner seeks a fourth term against Republican Bert Mizusawa, and in the 2nd District, Democrat Elaine Luria is trying to unseat Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans in one of the nation's most-watched House races. Watch for a surge in voter-education efforts if confusion grows over what the amendments actually do — the ballot language is dense, and more than 150 Virginia pastors have already signed a letter urging "no" votes on the abortion and marriage questions.

A judge has vacated the murder conviction of a Virginia man who spent 25 years in prison, and he has walked free, per the Associated Press. Beyond the man himself, the ruling reopens scrutiny of the evidence and prosecution that put him away — the kind of unraveling that rarely stops at one case. If the vacated conviction traces back to flawed forensic or medical-examiner work shared across other prosecutions, one exoneration can become a docket of them. Watch for whether prosecutors signal a broader review or an appeal.

• Judge vacates Justin Wolfe's Prince William County murder conviction after 25 years. Judge Carl Weimer vacated Wolfe's conviction in the 2001 Bristow killing of Daniel Petrole after the sole witness linking Wolfe to the shooting recanted; Wolfe was released after more than a decade on death row and accepted a plea deal on unrelated charges with a sentence of time served. WTOP

• Michael C. Davis sentenced to 178 years in the killing of Tatiana David. A Prince William County court handed down the sentence in one of the area's most significant recent criminal-justice cases. Potomac Local News

• Manassas mourns mayor remembered for "showing up." Residents and officials said goodbye to the city's mayor, who had asked to be remembered for his consistent presence and engagement with the community. Potomac Local News

• Arlington Public Schools ranked No. 3 school division in Virginia, behind Falls Church. A statewide assessment placed APS third among Virginia school divisions, with Falls Church ranking higher and providing a pointed local comparison for neighboring jurisdictions. ARLnow

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Girls on the Run of NOVA - 5K Celebration Volunteers Needed! Girls on the Run of NOVA ✨ Serve as event support staff. Girls on the Run of NOVA seeks volunteers in Northern Virginia to provide event support staff for its 5K celebration.

• Richmond City Council directs Mayor Avula to formalize limits on cooperation with ICE. The council directed Mayor Danny Avula's administration to establish formal policies restricting city cooperation with federal immigration authorities, a move that could reshape how local agencies respond to ICE requests. WRIC

• Richmond mourns psychiatrist Akanksha Patel and family members killed in Nepal flash floods. Patel, connected to VCU and the local medical community, died alongside family members in the disaster, prompting an outpouring of grief from colleagues and residents. WRIC

• Chesterfield parent calls for accountability after student posts deepfake involving Nolan Wells. A parent is demanding action after a student allegedly posted a sexually explicit deepfake image, raising concerns about technology misuse and how Chesterfield County schools respond to image-based abuse. WRIC

• Woman accused of hitting and killing pedestrian on Washington Street in Petersburg, then fleeing. Authorities say the suspect struck and killed a pedestrian before leaving the scene, making it a major local traffic-safety and criminal-investigation story for the Tri-Cities area. WRIC

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Respite Care Volunteers — Giving Caregivers Relief ACG Hospice Virginia ✨ Provide companionship and emotional support. ACG Hospice Virginia seeks Richmond volunteers to offer companionship and emotional support, giving caregivers a much-needed break.

• At least four hurt in aircraft mishap aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower; two pilots eject. The incident aboard the Norfolk-based carrier injured at least four people and prompted an emergency ejection by two aviators during a recovery operation. WAVY

• Records reveal 182 police calls to Eagle's Nest in six months. Newly released records show the volume of law-enforcement activity at the local property, renewing public-safety concerns about the site. WAVY

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Volunteers Needed in Norfolk to Spend Time with Hospice Patients - FLEXIBLE HOURS Suncrest Hospice ✨ Provide friendly vi. Suncrest Hospice in Norfolk seeks volunteers in Hampton Roads to spend time with hospice patients, with flexible hours available.

• David Storm appointed to Albemarle County School Board to replace Allison Spillman. Albemarle County named Storm to fill the vacancy left by Spillman as the division works through ongoing policy, budget, and educational priorities. Charlottesville Tomorrow

• Fluvanna food pantry serves as a lifeline for residents facing food insecurity. A local pantry feeds Fluvanna County residents and neighbors in surrounding communities, underscoring the importance of charitable food infrastructure as household budgets remain strained. 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.

• Stafford County voters to decide on 1-percent school sales tax in November. The measure on the Nov. 3 ballot would authorize an additional local sales tax of up to 1 percent dedicated exclusively to new school construction and major renovations, potentially generating $13 million to $20 million annually. Potomac Local News

• Caroline County approves 916-acre industrial development near Carmel Church on 4–2 vote. The Caroline County Board of Supervisors rezoned the land for the Carmel Technology and Enterprise Center, a major economic-development decision with expected impacts on jobs, traffic, and local infrastructure. Local Impact Report

• Survey finds 40 percent of families in Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank's service area food insecure. A first-of-its-kind statewide hunger survey found the rate rises to 44 percent among families with children, with grocery prices cited most often as the cause. Potomac Local News

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Administrative Assistance Community Touch, Inc.. Community Touch, Inc. seeks administrative assistance volunteers in the Fredericksburg region.

• Leaders discuss plans to renovate Lake Shenandoah Dam. Local officials met to advance plans for the infrastructure project, which would affect water management and safety in the Valley. WHSV

• Staunton Police Chief Jim Williams releases statement on Sept. 22 officer-involved shooting at Walmart. Williams issued a public statement on the shooting of a man at the Staunton Walmart, though the statement left some questions about the incident unresolved. Augusta Free Press

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Volunteer at Harrisonburg Gift and Thrift Gift and Thrift, Inc. ✨ Sort, clean, repair, price, and display items.. Volunteer in Harrisonburg by helping Gift and Thrift staff sort, clean, repair, price, and display donated items.

• HCA Healthcare plans new standalone emergency room in Roanoke County and second air ambulance in Danville. The new ER would be LewisGale Medical Center's third, and the additional helicopter based in Danville is intended to expand emergency-care access across the region. Cardinal News

• Haysi Mayor Larry Yates released on bond as Town Council pushes for his resignation. Yates, 72, was granted a $2,500 unsecured bond after facing fraud and embezzlement charges, with a court date set for Nov. 12 in Clintwood; council members say they may petition the Dickenson County Circuit Court for his removal if he does not step down. Cardinal News

• Rich Creek advances plans for new fire station to replace aging facility in Giles County. Town officials and the local volunteer fire department are working to secure funding for a replacement station, highlighting the infrastructure challenges facing small rural departments across the region. Cardinal News

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Hospice Volunteer Agape Care Group ✨ Provide companionship and support to patients. Roanoke volunteers can offer companionship and support to hospice patients with Agape Care Group.

• Northern Virginia: Girls on the Run of NOVA - 5K Celebration Volunteers Needed! Girls on the Run of NOVA ✨ Serve as event support staff. Girls on the Run of NOVA seeks volunteers in Northern Virginia to provide event support staff for its 5K celebration.

• 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.