Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has removed John Rocovich, the rector of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, citing ethics violations, though Rocovich has publicly refused to step down, calling the action “deeply offensive” and “legally unsupported.” This development comes as a coalition of gun rights organizations challenges the state's resumption of universal background checks for private firearms sales, arguing it violates a previous court injunction.
Governor Spanberger's letter to Rocovich accused him of conduct violating the Board of Visitors’ Code of Ethics and state statutes requiring board members to act in Virginia Tech's best interest. Rocovich, appointed by former Governor Glenn Youngkin in July 2023, was asked to resign by the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office before his removal. Edward Baine, executive vice president of Dominion Energy Virginia, has been appointed to replace Rocovich on the board, with his term expiring in June 2027.
Meanwhile, gun rights groups, including the Virginia Citizens Defense League and Gun Owners of America, filed a motion seeking to hold Virginia State Police in contempt. They contend the state's decision to resume universal background checks for private gun sales, announced Wednesday, defies a permanent injunction issued by Lynchburg-based Judge Patrick Yeatts in October, which had struck down the 2020 law entirely. The State Police website confirmed the availability of private background checks on Thursday.
Economically, Virginia is projected to face a small recession this year, according to the University of Virginia Weldon Cooper Center's latest forecast. The updated outlook, gloomier than a February prediction, reflects federal data indicating Virginia lost more jobs last year than initially estimated. The state's housing market is also expected to see continued declines in sales and new permits, despite rising sales prices and rents amidst an affordable housing shortage.
In local news, Greene County supervisors unanimously approved a $214,844 appropriation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, deepening its involvement in federal immigration enforcement. This decision was made despite unanswered questions regarding the secrecy and legality of a recent roundup that apprehended 26 Latino men. Separately, U.S. immigration officials released data showing 460 arrests of “illegal immigrants” in Loudoun County since January 2025, with some individuals linked to gang affiliations and various crimes.
Other significant developments include Governor Spanberger signing a childcare assistance bill, HB 18, aimed at incentivizing employers to contribute to childcare costs, though funding specifics remain unclear. State Farm reimbursed over 91,000 Virginia policyholders $2.5 million due to errors in a 2022 auto insurance filing. Additionally, the Newport News shipyard is the likely final assembler for the proposed Trump-class battleship, a Navy official said.
The Weldon Cooper Center's forecast suggests that while the state navigates these economic challenges, the housing market will continue to be a critical area of concern, impacting overall economic growth.