FBI Director Christopher Wray is stepping down from the post at the end of President Biden's administration, even though he has three years left in his term. Virginia Democratic Senator Mark Warner is concerned about the move.Preview: But Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas says Wray made a "wise decision" because he says President-elect Trump has lost confidence in him. Wray was appointed by Trump in 2017.
New regulations in Virginia are causing controversy among solar developers, farmers, and the forestry industry. The rules, stemming from House Bill 206, aim to mitigate the impact of solar projects on prime farmland and forested areas. The Virginia Mercury reports that while solar developers see the regulations as costly, farmers and forestry industry members support them to preserve valuable land. Environmental groups have raised concerns about the potential harm solar development poses to the environment, including Chesapeake Bay cleanup goals. Suggestions have been made to develop solar projects on previously mined land to avoid using farmland or forested areas.
Dominion Energy is putting some money in the stockings of dozens of Virginia nonprofit groups. The utility's charitable foundation recently announced three-million dollars in grants to nonprofits in five states. Two-thirds of that money went to groups in Virginia, with over 150 state nonprofits receiving donations. Beneficiaries include the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia, Junior Achievement of Central Virginia, the Virginia Poverty Law Center and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.
The Pentagon is pushing back on claims by a Republican Congressman that mysterious drones spotted over New Jersey could be from Iran. Jeff Van Drew said Wednesday the drones should be shot down, and claimed that evidence suggests the drones could be the work of foreign adversaries, specifically Iran.