I’m happy to share I won three Emmys last night, including one for Daily News Reporter! Thank you to my wife and family, God, our loyal viewers, my sources, my team at WJLA, and the judges! More information on the Emmy wins: 🏆 Talent: Reporter - Daily News ⁃Stories that were judged: My coverage of Loudoun County Public Schools and Superintendent Aaron Spence and how Spence handled student overdoses, my coverage on the Fairfax County and Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and my coverage on Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano. 🏆 Politics/Government News ⁃Stories that were judged: “Uncovering Local Politicians' Lavish International Travel” My reporting showed viewers how Loudoun County Chair Phyllis Randall and Supervisors Juli Briskman, Koran Saines, and Sylvia Glass spent tax dollars on lavish trips. My reporting also showed how the elected officials spent their time during taxpayer funded trips. 🏆 Business/Consumer News ⁃Stories that were judged: “Exposing Bogus Job Claims from Elected Officials” Loudoun County Chair Phyllis Randall claimed her lavish taxpayer funded international sister city trips brought a significant amount of jobs and investments to Loudoun County. My reporting showed viewers that was not true.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger says she’s holding data centers accountable and insists she’s setting the most aggressive data center standards in the country. But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle disagree and say she’s not going far enough. Gov. Spanberger is not pushing for a moratorium or a pause on data centers like other states and she’s not supporting a repeal of data center tax cuts. Her proposals don’t stop transmission lines from ripping through homeowners property and farmland to power data centers. Plus, for all her tough talk on data centers today, the data center industry doesn’t appear concerned about her proposals.

Statement from Nicole Riley, Director of Virginia Government Affairs, Data Center Coalition    “The Data Center Coalition and its members share Gov. Spanberger’s goals of ensuring that Virginia can compete for the significant economic opportunities presented by responsible data center development while protecting the interests of residents, communities, and ratepayers across the Commonwealth.   “We await further details on how these policy goals will be implemented by Governor Spanberger and the General Assembly, and are ready to engage with policymakers to ensure workable, balanced policies that keep Virginia competitive and honor prior commitments by the Commonwealth and its localities. Virginia’s data center industry provides transformative economic benefits to the families whose livelihoods are connected to it, and directly to the communities hosting these facilities as well as the robust supply chain of manufacturers and other businesses that support it. If done right, there is a path for continued job creation, responsible investment, and clean energy deployment that protects ratepayers and delivers benefits for families and communities. However, significant and abrupt policy changes without meaningful stakeholder engagement could prove unworkable and jeopardize the real tangible benefits this industry can create. We hope the implementation of this process will be based in fact and evidence, and account for the tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity connected to digital infrastructure.   “The fact is, Virginia’s electric rates are below the national average and other states in our region, and numerous studies have found that data centers pay their full cost for electric service without driving up residential bills. The governor, legislature, and State Corporation Commission have taken actions and adopted policies to ensure data centers continue to pay their own way and that residential ratepayers continue to be protected moving forward. Water usage is about 0.5% of state withdrawals according to JLARC, and backup generator emissions are only a fraction of what is allowed.    “Data centers take compliance and accountability seriously, building only where and operating only how they are authorized to do so under local, state, and federal rules and regulations. Our members will continue to work with communities, local officials, and policymakers across Virginia to ensure the sustainable use of water, energy, and other natural resources, while promoting the responsible development of this important 21st-century industry.”

Statement from Senator Louise Lucas “The Governor is finally feeling the heat but still ignoring the fire. Her proposal does not end the $2 billion in sales tax exemptions provided to data centers. I look forward to moving substantial and effective legislation that Virginians’ demand. And, I hope the Governor will be on the same page for the 2027 Session. And to every Virginian who keeps showing up, speaking out and fighting for the place we call home, thank you. You are the reason we’re seeing movement. We’ve got a long way to go, and I’ll keep fighting right alongside you.”

New: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced a new “data center accountability framework.” Gov. Spanberger is proposing: -A ban of non-disclosure agreements for commercial data center projects -Eliminate by-right approval and require local approval of any data center more than 25 megawatts of power -Remove future large data centers from Virginia’s fast-track permitting process -Set water use standards -Expedite the new state noise regulations for data centers -Allocate a more equitable share of electric transmission and generation costs to data centers and other large load users -Accelerate clean energy deployment -Limit the amount of electricity data centers can generate from on site natural gas generation -Make it easier for data centers to bring their own clean power "My administration is also taking action to respond to the risks being posed to Virginians by the rapid development of AI technology. Today's Executive Order will create a new Al Task Force to address several of the top concerns I've heard across the Commonwealth," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "With the Trump Administration failing to listen to the growing concerns of Virginians, we are going to do everything in our power to make sure that the technology around Artificial Intelligence is developed safely and responsibly."

This morning, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger is making an announcement on data center development.

New: A news outlet reported “Data centers slash property taxes in half for homeowners in Virginia's Loudoun County.” Ask any homeowner in Loudoun County if their property taxes were slashed in half and they will tell you that didn’t happen. The @TaxFoundation reportedly said, “Loudoun County has more data centers than anywhere else in the country. It's been sort of the capital of data center development for decades and because of that, Loudoun County property taxes are about half of what they would be without data centers. In fact, data centers provide about 45% of all local tax revenue to Loudoun County, not just property taxes, but all local tax revenue." Although it’s true data centers provide 45% of Loudoun County’s tax revenue, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and Loudoun County Public Schools spends that money. The county has not applied data center tax revenue to provide tax relief to “slash property taxes in half.”

Steve Descano says “People shouldn’t be afraid to go to work or do other daily activities in Fairfax County. My office will prosecute anyone who threatens that sense of safety.”

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger ended a rulemaking that would have prevented biological males from competing in girls’ sports and using girls locker rooms and bathrooms.

New: Statement from Descano’s office: "We are disappointed by the Committee’s needless escalation of this matter, part of a partisan siege on Fairfax County residents and their values that does nothing to improve public safety. For the last eight months, CA Descano has engaged in good faith with the House Judiciary Committee’s inquiries, providing over 1,100 pages of documents as well as voluntarily testifying to answer the Committee’s questions. We will continue to respond to legitimate inquiries from the Committee. Despite this political sideshow, the office remains focused on keeping Fairfax County one of the safest large communities in the country."

🚨New: Congressman Jim Jordan, the Chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, sent Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano a subpoena for documents related to the prosecutor’s policies and practices around illegal immigrant defendants. wjla.com/news/local/fairfax-…

New: Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi endorsed Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. “Dr. El-Sayed and I come from a shared tradition of education and public service, and we both understand the responsibilities that come with a focus on building resilient and healthy communities,” said Hashmi. “My decision to endorse reflects my alignment with Dr. El-Sayed’s stated priorities, including an economy that works for everyone, Medicare for All, affordable housing, clean air, water, and soil protections, and support for labor and the rights of working people.” “Lieutenant Governor Hashmi has spent her career breaking barriers and opening doors for others,” said Abdul El-Sayed. “Her leadership has always been about delivering for the people she serves—from lowering costs and expanding access to healthcare to defending reproductive freedom and voting rights. I’m proud to have her support as we fight together to put working people back at the center of our politics.”

🚨ICE arrests illegal immigrant in Virginia wanted for child sex crimes EXCLUSIVE: The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Washington, D.C. and Virginia office told me they arrested a criminal illegal immigrant from El Salvador who is wanted by authorities in Colorado for felony sexual assault on a child by a person of trust, felony solicitation of child prostitution and felony use of the internet to lure a child with intent to exploit. ICE officers arrested Jose Saul Canas-Guandique, 49, in Falls Church, Virginia, on Aug. 31, 2026. “Jose Saul Canas-Guandique is charged with some horrific crimes and represents a substantial threat to the law-abiding citizens of our Northern Virginia neighborhoods,” said ICE Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Robert Guadian. “He is exactly the type of criminal alien that ICE targets when we arrest the ‘worst of the worst.’ Make no mistake: We will arrest anyone illegally present in the United States, but aliens like Canas-Guandique remain a priority for ICE officers to remove from our American communities.” ICE said Canas-Guandique lawfully entered the United States in December 2004 with permission to remain until June 2005. However, ICE says Canas-Guandique refused to leave the country and illegally remained for more than two decades. ICE said on March 7, 2024, officers from the Glenwood Springs Police Department in Colorado arrested Canas-Guandique. ICE said it will work with authorities in Colorado to ensure that Canas-Guandique participates in the criminal justice process and he will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.

New: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted to reinstate school crossing guards after getting an earful from residents. Residents also blasted Chair Jeff McKay for making them wait for hours to speak at the meeting and for calling a sitting school board member a bimbo.

Is the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors filibustering their constituents? People came here to speak in support of school crossing guards by 10:30am. That is what time the agenda says the public hearing would begin. It hasn’t yet. It’s now close to 1pm.

New: ICE says agents arrested Yinmi Molina-Zepeda, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, in Prince William County, Virginia. ICE said Molina is wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide.