Margaret Barthel

One thing that is *not* similar in the two lawsuits. In Arlington, the county board and the county's experts were mostly aligned in determining that the impact of 'missing middle' development would be minimal.

In Prince William, the board approved the project despite the objections of county staff

I'll note that while the subjects are tremendously different, one of the plaintiffs' arguments in the case is the same as in the challenge in the Arlington 'missing middle' suit: the zoning amendment is invalid because the county messed up the public notice.

"The data center industry is on notice. Communities are gonna fight to protect their quality of life," Elena Schlossberg, who leads the Coalition to Protect PWC, just told me on the phone. Said she was sad Sup. Weir didn't live to see it.

A judge ruled in favor of plaintiffs challenging the Prince William Digital Gateway project, the massive data center development planned for near Manassas National Battlefield.

This is a very big deal for the county and for the industry, which has faced increasingly vocal community pushback.

Screenshot showing the text "Time to Grow The 51st" and a progress bar showing $70,353 raised out of the $125,000 goal, from 935 people

Last week, as part of the @51st.news campaign to fund full-time workers for our newsroom, we asked community members to do what they can to help—whether that's spreading the word or donating, and whether donations are $5 or $500: 51st.news/doubling-dow...

We've made GREAT progress, but not enough:

GMU board issues 1.5% raise to president amid Trump administration probes More than 150 faculty, students feared Gregory Washington would be fired.

George Mason University president hangs onto his job in the face of federal inquiries - a co-byline with @tyronefoto.bsky.social and friends at @vpm.org www.vpm.org/news/2025-08...

If we count the DOJ letter concerning the Faculty Senate, it’s six.

Chairmen Jordan and Roy Demand Testimony from George Mason University President Regarding DEI and Civil Rights Issues WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government Chairman Chip Roy (R-TX) sent a letter

Between the Education and Justice Departments, there were already 4 investigations open into George Mason University and President Gregory Washington. Now there's a fifth from the House Judiciary Committee. judiciary.house.gov/media/press-...

Fairfax court says some Youngkin appointees can’t serve on university boards -- for now The Tuesday ruling in a legal dispute between the governor and Democrats in the General Assembly comes before a key meeting of George Mason University's governing board at the end of the week.

Preliminary injunction today in the lawsuit between Virginia Senate Democrats and the Youngkin administration over appointees to university governing boards --

wamu.org/story/25/07/...

A new era of floods has arrived. America isn’t prepared. A Washington Post investigation reveals why so few people evacuated in the state hit hardest by last year’s deadliest disaster.

Read @sarahkaplan48.bsky.social and team on how "a cascade of decisions all stemming from the mistaken assumption that hurricanes are mainly a coastal threat" led to Hurricane Helene's death toll - and how federal cuts harm efforts to correct it in future
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Court considers the role of developers in Arlington ‘missing middle’ housing suit The Virginia Court of Appeals will decide whether a developer who has built ‘missing middle’ housing in the county should be allowed to join the lawsuit.

Increasingly thinking of the butterfly app as a hotbed of interest in local housing and zoning issues, so! If you have been confused about what's been happening to the Arlington EHO case in the Court of Appeals, well, so have I, and here's my best stab at explaining: wamu.org/story/25/07/...

In raucous session, County Council votes 8-3 to approve controversial zoning ordinance The Montgomery County Council voted Tuesday to pass a zoning change that increases the amount of housing allowed in certain transit corridors

After months of public input sessions and controversy, the Montgomery County Council has passed the workforce housing zoning change: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/22/w...

I'm sorry to hear that, Stephanie. And yes - I think we're only beginning to get a sense of what this will mean for residents and the local economy.

Republicans Are Panicking Over the Virginia Governor’s Race The party is debating how much it can afford to spend on a losing proposition.

On the contrary, the impact on people's lives in Northern Virginia - and potentially their votes - is only just beginning.

(I'm picking on this otherwise interesting column in Politico, which is still worth your time) www.politico.com/news/magazin...

Sincerely hope my colleagues in national political news do not think that the departure of Elon Musk from the spotlight (and from campaign fundraising) means that DOGE is "over" or not a factor in the Virginia elections this year.

UPDATED: Gainesville Supervisor Bob Weir dies at 62 Prince William County Supervisor Bob Weir died unexpectedly Sunday, July 20. He was 62.

More on his legacy from the Prince William Times: www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/breakin...

"You don't have to ask me where I stand on an issue, because I'm usually pretty, pretty, pretty clear about it. I'm not going to sit there and obfuscate up there. If I don't like something, I'm going to tell you I don't like something and why."

Prince William County Supervisor Bob Weir has died at 62 of cancer. A Republican representing Gainesville, he had deep knowledge (and deep concerns) about the county's handling of data centers. He was always sharp and direct from the dais. Found this gem in a 2023 interview:

We talk sometimes about "the power of the NPR network."

That was it.

I remember opening up that Google spreadsheet and seeing journalists from across the country volunteering to take shifts.

Every task line was already filled.

Meanwhile, a call went out to NPR member stations across the country: our colleagues needed help. They were overwhelmed with reporting the news as they lived it, and ... could some fellow public radio journalists help produce their web stories and update their social media?

With little internet service and phones dead, they stayed on air to keep their communities informed through an impossibly difficult time.

And they have stayed on the story ever since. Spend a minute with the @blueridgepublic.bsky.social coverage page: www.bpr.org/hurricane-he...

Today I'm thinking about this: when Hurricane Helene devastated Appalachia last year, my public radio colleagues in North Carolina, West Virginia, and Southwest Virginia stepped up. They broadcast the emergency alerts. They carried the official press conferences live.

Hello just wanted to say:

Public media is a useful public good. It is a source of great local news at a time when local news is being decimated. Also, in my 10 years in public media, I can say people who work here do it because they believe in the mission of informing people.

Just noting.

This is the exhaustion I feel in map form.

Literally the only information we have is the screenshot I posted! No rationale given...

In June they reversed and remanded the trial court's decision to not allow the developer into the suit. The plaintiffs in the case then asked for a rehearing, which happened on Monday. And now after that, the appeals court has reversed itself. If your head is spinning, well, so is mine!

Virginia Court of Appeals seems ... confused? ... about this procedural matter in the Arlington 'missing middle' lawsuit, about whether or not the trial court judge should have allowed a developer to join as a party to the original lawsuit against the zoning ordinance.

With nominees set, special election to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly will focus on federal workers The special election in Virginia's 11th congressional district will be Sept. 9.

Btw, here's my story on how the race is shaping up after the firehouse primaries last weekend. wamu.org/story/25/06/...