Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently issued an executive directive that emphasized the looming impact of artificial intelligence, though higher education is only beginning to grapple with how to utilize AI. Youngkin’s order is to ensure AI is used responsibly, ethically and transparently in state government, job creation and education. A survey released earlier this year found that 60% of college students polled have not been taught how to use AI tools ethically or responsibly by higher education instructors. The same percentage of students also think AI tools will become the new normal, according to the BestColleges survey. A U.S. Department...Article Link

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Home cook Diane Taylor has been awarded a blue ribbon by Just A Pinch Recipes for her recipe, "Baked Chicken And Rice Dinner." The Glen Allen resident's combination of chicken thighs, onion soup mix, creamed soup, paprika and other ingredients won praise for its easy assembly and robust flavor.   The recipe can be viewed at justapinch.com/r/ppscn.Article Link

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Virginia’s largest trade association has released its 2024 Economic & Housing Market Forecast, predicting what is ahead for the commonwealth. Among the predictions made by Virginia Realtors in the report are a net job change in Virginia of 0.1 percent (approximately 3,000 jobs) in 2024  compared to 2023, and an unemployment rate expected to rise from 2023’s predicted rate of 2.9 percent. By the end of 2024, the unemployment rate is projected to climb to 3.6 percent. As for home sales, Virginia Realtors predicts an 11.4 percent increase in sales overall in 2024. The median home price in Virginia is...Article Link

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The Fourth Annual Miles in Memory, which was to take place Sept. 23 at Deep Run Park, managed to draw a crowd despite an unscheduled appearance by Tropical Storm Ophelia.  The event was moved indoors to the Full Circle Grief Center, which organizes the remembrance walk/run, and participants simply postponed their miles to later dates.  Other activities went on as planned, however, including bubble blowing, beading and jewelry-making, journal and frame decorating, and hanging memories and photos of loved ones on a memory board.   Among the visitors were Scott and Annie Wright Kennedy and their 2-year-old son, Wilder (pictured,...Article Link

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Authors and librarians have felt the pressure of recent book challenges in Virginia, and think the system for book challenges could be better streamlined. When author Rosiee Thor discovered their book was challenged in a Virginia public library, the news was frustrating. Their book “Fire Becomes Her” now sits among more than 100 titles that have been challenged in the state, and initially through school libraries. Thor’s book, however, was recently challenged at Samuels Public Library in Warren County. A challenge “is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group,” according to...Article Link

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The Richmond Metro League of Women Voters and the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy will host a non-partisan "Meet and Greet" event Oct. 1 at Deep Run High School with local candidates running for Virginia Senate and House of Delegates seats. The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the school, 4801 Twin Hickory Road in Glen Allen. The gathering is designed for open dialogue and is not formatted as a debate. Instead, candidates will answer questions from the audience, providing voters with a chance to understand their positions and priorities. Invited candidates are: •...Article Link

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Transportation Security Administration officers at Richmond International Airport prevented a Richmond man from bringing his handgun onto a flight Sept. 21. The .45-caliber pistol was loaded with five bullets, including one in the chamber. The gun was caught as the man entered the security checkpoint. The X-ray unit alerted on the carry-on bag, which required a closer inspection. The firearm was removed by the Richmond Airport Police, who cited the man on a weapons charge. The man also faces a stiff financial civil penalty for bringing a gun to a TSA security checkpoint. The penalty for carrying weapons can reach...Article Link

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Early voting began Sept. 22 in Virginia, and stakes are high for both parties, with all 140 seats open in the state General Assembly. Republicans have pushed to take advantage of early and absentee ballots ahead of the Nov. 7 election. The party’s support for early voting is a shift from recent years. Gov. Glenn Youngkin called for early voting in a video released by the state Republican Party through its new initiative Secure Your Vote Virginia. The program encourages Republican voters to vote early and sign up for the permanent absentee list, which allows voters to vote by mail...Article Link

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CrossOver Healthcare Ministry will honor four healthcare champions from the local community at its 2023 Compassionate Care Awards Oct. 19, presented by Bon Secours.  The event will be held at The Jefferson and hosted by Isaac and Susan Wornom. More than 300 guests are expected to attend to honor Bob Burton, Gigi deBlois, Mark deBlois, and Linda Pinsky, in recognition of their work supporting CrossOver's mission to provide healthcare to those most in need.  Bob Burton has volunteered as an eye technician in CrossOver's eye clinic for the past eight years. For the past three years, he has fundraised for...Article Link

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Families and students packed the hallways of Hermitage High School to meet with employers from 150 different companies at Henrico School’s Life Ready Career Expo on Sept. 19. HCPS’ Department of Workforce and Career Development hosted its annual career fair to help sixth- through 12th-grade students, as well as adults and younger students, explore job opportunities and learn more about different industries. The career expo featured businesses from six different career clusters: business management; arts and communication; health science; human services; industrial and engineering technologies; and natural resources and agriculture. The majority of companies represented technical industries, but other industries...Article Link

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