A pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of Christopher Newport University ended abruptly. Rocio Rivera has more.Preview: On college campuses across Virginia, there are gathers and calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. About 100 people were on the UVA campus yesterday where University officials said they were free to demonstrate but could not put up tents or any form of encampment. In a statement, UVA officials say they support free speech but reserve the right to enforce reasonable restrictions on when and where those activities take place.
Some students at Virginia Tech say they feel scared with the intensity of the pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Tech's Hillel president Ethan Werner tells WDBJ many Jewish students on campus are on edge after Sunday night's protest.
Meanwhile, Governor Younkin has said that the Commonwealth will permit peaceful protests, but will not tolerate intimidation and encampments on college campuses.
Fairfax County residents will soon be paying more taxes on their homes and property. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to increase real estate taxes by three-percent. The board also voted to raise personal property taxes and to implement some fee increases. The county estimates the changes will raise the average homeowner's tax bill by 450 dollars a year.
The Virginia Department of Energy has been awarded over 156-million-dollars for a solar program. The program is the Solar for All Program and about 50-percent of Virginia households will be eligible. Virginia Energy State Energy Office Director Vince Maiden says the program is expected to bring a lifetime of economic impact to the state. The funding will be available in 2025. Minimum savings for customers enrolled in the program could be as much as 20-percent on their energy bills.