Loudoun County, Virginia

Virginia voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to amend the state constitution to remove its existing ban on same-sex marriage and replace it with language affirming marriage equality. The proposed amendment also references "sex" and "gender," language that opponents say extends protections tied to gender identity. If approved, Virginia would become the fifth state to repeal a constitutional same-sex marriage ban through a ballot measure.

The measure has drawn sharp debate, with supporters framing it as codifying marriage equality and critics raising concerns about privacy, safety and religious liberty tied to gender-identity provisions. The vote is being watched as part of a broader pattern of states revisiting dormant constitutional bans following federal recognition of same-sex marriage.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., became the latest lawmaker to report a suspicious white powder mailed to his Leesburg office, which was evacuated Monday as local hazmat teams and Capitol Police responded. He joins a growing list of officials targeted in recent weeks, including Reps. Seth Moulton and Eugene Vindman, and Sens. Adam Schiff, Pete Ricketts, Ted Cruz, and Mike Rounds. Moulton noted his letter carried a return address linked to the Democratic Socialists of America, which denies any involvement. The incidents began last week with letters sent to Louisiana's and Oklahoma's election offices. The FBI, Capitol Police, Senate Sergeant at Arms, and Postal Inspection Service are investigating the apparent coordinated intimidation campaign.

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.) became the latest lawmaker to report a suspicious white powder mailing, after his Leesburg office was evacuated and tested by Loudoun County Hazmat and Capitol Police. He joins dozens of lawmakers and election officials targeted in recent weeks, including Reps. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and Eugene Vindman (D-Va.), and Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). Several letters bore a return address linked to the Democratic Socialists of America, which denies involvement. Louisiana's Secretary of State office found no harmful substances in a similar package. A federal investigation into the letters is reportedly underway.

A delegation of Spartanburg County, South Carolina officials traveled to Loudoun County, Virginia — home to the nation's highest concentration of data centers — to study how that region regulates the industry. The group, which included County Council members Monier Abusaft and Paul Abbott, County Administrator Cole Alverson, assistant administrator Kevin Stiens, Planning Director Todd Okolichany and OneSpartanburg representatives, toured facilities and met with local supervisors, economic development officials, an Amazon data center representative and a state delegate between October 4 and 6.

Loudoun County currently has 233 data center buildings completed or under construction, totaling 56.5 million square feet. Discussions covered land use, water and energy demands, noise, air quality and community impact. Abbott said local officials did not "sugarcoat" residents' concerns and emphasized the importance of proper siting near neighborhoods.

The trip comes as Spartanburg County faces criticism over tax incentives used to attract the NorthMark and Valara data center project, which includes a 457-megawatt natural gas power plant near residential areas, raising concerns about emissions and health effects.

Virginia Republican Del. Tim Griffin used his campaign Instagram page to criticize the Loudoun County School Board for approving a proclamation recognizing October as LGBTQ+ History Month, calling the move "despicable" and "disgusting" and suggesting without evidence that it was an attempt to recruit children. Griffin, who represents parts of Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties, questioned why the recognition wasn't limited to June's Pride Month.

The school board approved the proclamation in September by a 5-1 vote, with three abstentions; debate largely focused on procedural questions about how proclamations are handled rather than their content. Beyond commemorating the month, the measure affirmed the district's commitment to nondiscrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression. Board member Deana Griffiths cast the dissenting vote, while member Ross Svensen defended the proclamation as tied to creating inclusive, supportive learning environments. LGBTQ+ History Month dates to 1994, established by a Missouri teacher modeling it on Black History Month and Women's History Month.

Kevin O'Leary's "Wonder Valley" project, rebranded in Utah as Stratos, aimed to build what O'Leary called the world's largest data center on 40,000 acres in Box Elder County, backed by a 9-gigawatt gas plant. The deal moved through the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) and county commissioners at extraordinary speed, drawing scrutiny over water use near the shrinking Great Salt Lake, air pollution, and secretive dealmaking involving entrepreneur Austin Pritchett and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz.

O'Leary inflamed tensions by claiming on Fox Business that critics were linked to Chinese agents, naming local advocacy groups and individuals. He later retracted the claim, and Fox apologized on air; he and Fox were subsequently sued for defamation and have moved to dismiss the case. Commissioners approved the project after a chaotic public meeting where officials voted from a back room amid chants of "shame." Political fallout followed: Senate President Stuart Adams lost his primary, MIDA's director retired, and two commissioners were unseated. Litigation over a referendum continues, and MIDA has paused the project, with no tenant or land sales yet confirmed.

Onondaga County, New York officials are getting ahead of possible data center development, even as a statewide one-year moratorium on such projects remains in effect. County Executive Ryan McMahon said Central New York's available water, power, and land make it attractive to data center developers, and he wants local communities prepared with the right questions before deals are struck.

At the New York State Association of Counties' fall forum, McMahon consulted with Michael Turner, an official from Loudoun County, Virginia—home to the nation's largest cluster of data centers. Turner urged county leaders to set clear standards around six key impact areas: noise, power, water use, emissions, setback, and appearance, and to negotiate tax structures and community benefit agreements before approving projects. County officials are compiling a study on data center impacts, expected to be released publicly in about four months. McMahon said the county's primary economic development focus remains high-tech manufacturing, particularly the Micron Technology project, but officials are not ignoring the broader data center boom reshaping communities nationwide.