Well, Virginiaâs special election came, and it wentâand, as usual, people landed on both sides. The only thing that doesnât divide a crowd? Whether to enjoy a cookie. The answer there is always yes.
The short answer is, the referendum passed. The majority of Virginians voted “yes.” Whichever âsideâ of the redistricting referendum you found yourself on when you voted, I appreciate the fact that you made your voice heard. Now, it’s time to remember that it takes all of usânot just one or the otherâto foster a beautiful, vibrant, diverse commonwealth. And whether this one went âyourâ way or didnât, Iâm so glad youâre here.
P.S. Weâre rebranding our website tomorrow. Your next Dogwood newsletter will arrive Friday, April 24. Stay tuned for the new homepage!
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The Potomac River provides drinking water to thousands in Washington, DC, and other communities. (Adobe Stock)
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By Zamone Perez
Hereâs what you need to know: An iconic Virginia river was just listed as the âmost endangeredâ river in the country, and clean water advocates urge more action to be taken in order to prevent further threats to drinking water.
Top facts:
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A new report by the American Rivers group listed the Potomac River as the most endangered, facing several pressing threats. Earlier this year, a sewage line failure spilled more than 250 million gallons of untreated sewage into the river.
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In the area around the sewage spill, bacteria levels were more than 12,000 times higher than the recreational limit. The Potomac River basin is home to more than 6 million people across the Commonwealth and four other states.
- Adding to the issue, little information has been gleaned on how water consumption from hundreds of data centers will impact the Potomac.
Want to know more? Weâve got the details at the link below.
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The Virginia State Seal, adopted in 1776, depicts Virtus conquering Tyranny with the phrase âsic semper tyrannis,â meaning âthus always to tyrants!â
Curious about more state symbols? We’ve got the details at the link below.
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YouTube screenshot of âSave My Soulâ lyric video by Noah Rinker. (YouTube/Noah Rinker)
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By Amie Knowles
When I need some wind-down time at the end of the day, I enjoy scrolling through Instagram reels. The short videos are often set to music, and itâs a neat way to hear new songs.
One of my favorites reeled in from that formula is âSave My Soulâ by Noah Rinker. Iâd never heard of the singer-songwriter from Californiaâs Yosemite region beforehand, but Iâve been going through his discography and, boy, if this guy doesnât make it âbig time,â itâll make me second-guess everything I know about good music.
His voice, lyrics, and overall style are what Iâd call âfolksy.â In my humble observation, itâs not quite the steel guitar youâd hear in country and not the vibe youâd find in indie, but itâs got all of the harmonica solos and intuitive feelings you could ever hope to hear.
I wasnât expecting to find his songs when I did. And maybe thatâs the beauty of quick little Instagram clips discovered late at night. Iâm happy to share them with you, too.
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Job: Natural Resource Specialist Senior
Location: VA Department of Transportation in Salem
Salary: $65,198-$105,946/year
Qualifications:
- Considerable knowledge of federal, state, local transportation, environmental rules, regulations, policies and practices
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Experience in the application of environmental requirements to transportation or similar operations
- Experience in wetland delineation and permitting
- Experience reading highway engineering plans
- Experience working with project proponents to avoid, minimize, and mitigate environmental impacts
- Skill in the use of computers and software applications
- Training and experience in construction inspection, asbestos safety awareness and hazard communications
Job description on jobs.va.gov: âTo support VDOT construction and maintenance programs and to protect the natural environment by providing sound engineering and environmental consultation and services.â
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Have you shared this newsletter with a neighbor?
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves PokĂŠmon. This edition includes a story from Zamone Perez via Public News Service. It was edited by Paula Solis.
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