Surprise! We’re into spring cleaning, and that means freshening up our look. You might’ve noticed on our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) that we’ve switched from teal to green over the past few weeks. Well, we’re swapping colors in the newsletter, too—and on our website pretty soon.

Speaking of which, our website will be undergoing an overhaul in the coming days. I’m hearing from our web team that it’ll likely be Thursday, March 19, but I’ll mention it again when the date’s set in stone. When that happens, our site will be down for a few hours; but not to worry—your favorite stories (and some new ones, too) will be accessible as soon as the new look goes live.

How does this impact you? In two major ways: 1) We’ve noticed our articles are taking forever to load. The refresh should fix that. 2) There will be no newsletter that day. Everything should be back up and running the next day, and I’ll be looking forward to seeing y’all then because I’m so glad you’re here. 

Dominion Energy says AI‑driven data centers are now asking for nearly 70,000 megawatts of electricity—almost three times its record winter peak. A bill proposed by Sen. Louise Lucas (D-District 18) would make those companies, not regular Virginia families, pay for the pricey imported power, substations, and high‑voltage lines needed to keep the lights on. 

The Lucas bill has cleared the Virginia Senate and is awaiting action in the House of Delegates. An SCC analysis says it would cut a typical Dominion household bill by about 3%, while raising rates for the biggest power users—mostly data centers—by roughly 15% to 16%.

I could see the anticipation in his eyes at the True Grit Rodeo’s Extreme Bull Bash as we approached the attraction, my 8-year-old, Colton, had talked about all day. Walking into the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham, it didn’t take him long to spot the mechanical bull.

Admittedly, Colton has a healthy dose of both his dad’s love of caution and his mom’s need for adrenaline—what a combination. Once he has his mind set on something, that kid is locked in. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him back out of doing something once he said he wanted to try. He stayed on for a minute and 24 seconds, way longer than the eight seconds required for a qualified bull ride. 

That’s something I admire about him: He’s amped to give things a go, whether they come naturally to him or not. Oftentimes, I wish more of us—myself included—were more comfortable trying things that we normally wouldn’t. Be that sampling new foods, exploring hidden gem small towns, or learning a new skill, that’s what I’m hoping to bring to this new little space, “What I’m trying.” Will you come along for the ride with me? 

By Aila Boyd

Although he’s perhaps best known now as the father of current NBA player Stephen Curry, Dell Curry had a distinguished career of his own. Born in Harrisonburg in 1964, he attended Virginia Tech before being drafted into the NBA in 1986. 

He is most associated with the Charlotte Hornets, where he played as a guard-forward, but he finished his career during the 2001-02 season with the Toronto Raptors. Having played in 1,083 games, he scored an average of 11.7 points per game.

His son, Stephen, who was born in Ohio, followed in Dell’s footsteps. With 16 years of NBA experience, he currently plays as a guard for the Golden State Warriors.

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 Pokémon. This edition includes stories from Aila Boyd and Lisa Hayes. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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