"The Relay" Online Newsletter
May 2026 Issue

This is the monthly online newsletter for the car club council. All car hobbyist events are listed on this site under "Calendar." Just click on the link above to view the list of car shows and other activities.

President's Message

Register now for the 7th Annual Breakthrough Show and the 31st Anniversary of the council. We need you and your vehicle there! We have food vendors, silent auction, dash plaques, awards for all classes of vehicles, musket and cannon firings. We need you there so we can have a great show that will be a lot of fun. Don't miss out on it. Go to carclubcouncil.com/carshow for complete info and a printable registration form. Thanks!

We had to move the meeting to another restaurant in April. I got a call about 8:30 PM on the Friday before the meeting. I was told that the restaurant had a problem and needed to close. Bottom line - restaurants don't want to handle a large group. A restaurant I worked at in high school loved large groups. The business not only made money but the wait staff did too - everyone wanted the large groups. Things have changed. Restuarants now want to charge a $50 fee for the room. They say it is because groups have scheduled and then didn't show. They don't care if we have always shown up. They are having trouble hiring enough staff to run the business. It is not uncommon for there to be three people running a restaurant - a wait person, a cook and a supervisor. If you have a restaurant suggestion please email it to me. It needs to be in this general area. I've got a couple of places that I am going to explore - please send a suggestion if you know of a good place that can host a meeting on Monday evenings.

Be sure to read the car hobbyist news. Looks like we are going to get "safety red zones" where photo speed cameras will be used. This is nothing but a money maker for a state with a large budget surplus. There is a bill in the Minnesota assembly to limit the use of antique vehicles. We'll monitor it because sometimes other states copy what is done in another state. Virginia has brought back RGGI where millions will be collected from people's electric bills with half the money going to pay the electric bills of low income people. Despite this being a climate change bill less than 5% of the money collected will be for climate change. But then climate change is just an excuse to send the government more of your money.

The calendar is full, warm weather is here. There are lots of places to take your special vehicle. The future is always going to be uncertain so get it while you can, do it before it becomes illegal and don't wait for tomorrow.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be Monday, August 24th at 6:30 PM at a location that will be announced in the August newsletter.

The 7th Annual Breakthrough Car Show is May 9.
Get all the details and a registration form at carclubcouncil.com/carshow

Car Hobbyist News

National Report

Minnesota has a bill to limit use of antiques: A person may operate a vehicle registered in the collector class under subdivision 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, or 1h, or under section 168.105 [the categories listed above, as they appear in the Statute], solely as a collector’s item and not for general transportation purposes. Operation as a collector’s item includes: (1) transportation for a collector vehicle club activity, exhibition, tour, parade, or similar use; and (2) operation on Saturday and Sunday from sunrise to sunset.

This is not good and I don't know if this bill will pass but other states' legislatures will see this. As the saying goes here in Virginia - a lot of legislative ideas travel south down 95 to Richmond. I don't think there is any problem with operating antique vehicles like we do in Virginia. Very few people drive them daily and most of the people with antique vehicles drive them very little - sometimes less than 500 miles a year. And most people who drive their antiques try to avoid interstates, busy highways and stop and go rush hour traffic.

The bill would ban commercial vehicles such as hearses, ambulances, or trucks from being considered classic cars. Of course firetrucks, ambulances and big trucks can be antiques. Minnesota has some other problems to solve instead of making up solutions for problems that do not exist.

The Trump administration was handed a set back in court for the Hawaii fossil fuel case. The state wants to sue several energy companies over alleged climate impacts. Other states have also done these lawsuits - they are just a shake-down for money. The energy companies did not violate any law and were in the business of providing necessary energy to people and businesses. The states that have tried the lawsuits are ones that need better management of finances instead of going after so called climate impacts - impacts that cannot be proven to have been caused by the energy companies. But some judges have allowed the suits to go forward.

Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor issued the decision Wednesday, dismissing the federal government’s case with prejudice. The administration had filed its complaint on April 30 of last year—just days after Hawaii signaled its intent to sue several energy companies over alleged climate impacts. The state followed through with its lawsuit on May 1. That judge was appointed by Bill Clinton. I've noticed that the judges that allow these lawsuits were appointed by either Clinton, Obama or Biden.

The war in the Middle East has affected gas prices which in turn increases inflation. We get our oil from our United States and not foreign sources but oil is a global commodity and prices are influenced by global supply and demand dynamics. Hopefully this war will be over soon and we can return to sub $3 a gallon gasoline.

State Report

Governor Spanberger amended several bills that were sent to her for review and signing. She changed bills on Cannabis sales, assault weapons ban, collective bargaining, paid sick leave for all, prescription drug cost and immigration. You can see her changes at this web page.

On April 22 the General Assembly met to review the governor's changes to the bills. Both houses voted to "pass by for the day" ALL the bills. This was a big surprise and the even members of the Assembly were not sure what this meant. By passing by the bills the Assembly has rejected EVERY change in them added by the governor. The ball is back in her court and she has 30 days to decide what to do. She has three choices for each bill - sign it into law as the Assembly passed it without her changes, veto the bill - with the makeup of the Senate this would most likely mean the bill would fail, and the third choice is she does nothing and the bill will become law without her signature.

I think even the blind can see the governor and the leadership in the Assembly are not getting along. I believe the governor has changed since the Washington Post printed the poll which showed over half the state doesn't approve of what she has been doing. I think this led to her changes in those bills. In fact I agree with the changes I've read she put in several bills. But the leadership of the General Assembly want the bills to go into law just like they passed them.

The governor has already blinked and signed a couple of gun control bills on April 23 as the Assembly passed them. Both bills are considered unconstitutional and will face court challenges.

She also signed into law some photo speed camera bills including one that creates a "safety red zone". From the bill: "Safety red zone" means a highway with a speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less that is located in a priority pedestrian corridor as identified by the Department of Transportation in the statewide Pedestrian Safety Action Plan or other high-risk pedestrian corridor as designated by the Commissioner of Highways. Bottom line there will be more photo speed cameras. This is also in the bill/law: The governing body of any locality may also provide by ordinance for the placement and operation of a speed safety camera by a law-enforcement agency in a safety red zone for the purpose of recording vehicle speed violations in such safety red zone. The Commissioner of Highways shall develop criteria for designating a highway segment as a high-risk pedestrian corridor for purposes of identifying safety red zones. You can read the bill at this link: HB994.

The governor signed the RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) bill into law. From the bill here is where that $500 - $550 million collected from electric bills will go: 1. Forty-five percent of the revenue shall be credited to the account established pursuant to the Fund for the purpose of assisting localities and their residents affected by recurrent flooding, sea level rise, and flooding from severe weather events.

2. Fifty percent of the revenue shall be credited to an account administered by DHCD to support low-income energy efficiency programs, including programs for eligible housing developments. DHCD shall review and approve funding proposals for such energy efficiency programs, and DOE shall provide technical assistance upon request. Any sums remaining within the account administered by DHCD, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in such account to support low-income energy efficiency programs.

3. Three percent of the revenue shall be used to (i) cover reasonable administrative expenses of the Department in the administration of the revenue allocation, carbon dioxide emissions cap and trade program, and auction and (ii) carry out statewide climate change planning and mitigation activities.

4. Two percent of the revenue shall be used by DHCD, in partnership with DOE, to administer and implement low-income energy efficiency programs pursuant to subdivision 2. You can read the bill, now law, at this link HB397.

Speaking about court challenges that redistricting vote was a stinker. The Supreme Court should have taken a stand instead of punting it down the road. There are now multiple court challenges and our state is getting a lot of media coverage. In fact the governor has been on TV several times. Virginia is now a battle ground state that has stepped into national politics. And after the bills that were introduced into the 2026 session I can safely say that anything, no matter how preposterous could be introduced in future sessions.

See all the photos at Opening Night for the Chesterfield Cruzing Cruz-in April 4. Photo by Jeff Malo.

America’s Pandemic Car Bubble Is Now Trapping Buyers In Debt

From MSN via The Wall Street Journal
Doug Horner has seen plenty of customers walk into his northeast Ohio Mercedes-Benz dealership who owe more on their trade-ins than those cars are worth. But being $40,000 underwater on a pickup truck is a scary sign of a growing trend.

A prospective buyer recently sought to trade in a Ford F-150 Lightning for a Mercedes GLE Coupe, but that potential customer owed about $87,000 on the pickup truck. Horner estimates the Ford pickup truck was worth about $47,000—leaving the buyer well underwater.

“This is a battle that we’re fighting every day,” Horner said in an interview.

More Americans turning in their cars to buy new ones are encountering a difficult reality: Their vehicles aren’t worth what they owe.

About 30% of borrowers in the first quarter who traded in a car to buy a new one had negative equity, whereby they owe more on their loan than their car is worth, according to car-shopping website Edmunds. Those borrowers owed about $7,200 on average before getting a new loan, a 42% jump compared with the same period five years prior.

“The higher it goes, the chances are that people are never going to get themselves out of the situation,” said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at Edmunds.

About a third of Americans trading in an older car have negative equity, which has been typical in the industry for years. But the average amount Americans are underwater has skyrocketed, Edmunds said, as buyers try to unload cars bought during the pandemic at high prices.

The increased level of negative equity represents another strain on an auto market already under pressure from pricey vehicles and elevated interest rates.

To offset those costs, more car buyers are taking on longer loan terms to keep monthly payments digestible. In the first quarter, the average loan was 70 months on new cars, according to Edmunds data. Car payments in excess of $1,000 are no longer uncommon and can stretch out more than eight years.

But consumers who are underwater on their loan end up paying more on average after rolling over the negative equity into their next car, compounding their debt even more.

The current situation dates to the pandemic’s semiconductor supply crunch, which led to a severe shortage of new cars available on dealer lots. Vehicle prices soared in response, and buyers—who either had the disposable income to spend or lacked other transit options during lockdowns—were willing to pay up.

“You had a lot of dealerships in the Covid era that were overcharging, to say the least,” said Eric Frehsée, president of the Tamaroff Group in the Detroit area. “You’re seeing a lot of those cars coming back and there’s a lot of negative equity because of that.” Frehsée said that his dealerships opted not to charge over sticker prices during the pandemic.

In 2026, buyers with negative equity financed an average of nearly $56,000 for a new car in the first quarter, about $12,000 more than the typical new-vehicle buyer, Edmunds said. That translates to a monthly payment averaging $932 for negative-equity borrowers, the highest level ever recorded. In April 2021, the average new car cost about $41,000.

At the same time, the situation reflects another sign of the current K-shaped economy, where affluent individuals are thriving while others struggle. Even with the increased level of negative equity, the average trade-in equity for a car in March exceeded $6,800, according to JD Power.

“The average consumer is in a good position when buying a vehicle,” said Tyson Jominy, JD Power’s senior vice president of data and analytics. Borrowers with negative equity, however, can have a difficult time securing a loan for a new car, and it could put them at greater risk of falling behind on their payments, studies show.

Consumers who rolled over negative equity from a prior vehicle loan were more than twice as likely to wind up having their car repossessed within two years, compared with those who netted money on a trade-in, a 2024 study from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found.

More borrowers have been defaulting on their loan payments, which typically results in a repossession. Default rates on car loans in March rose to the highest levels seen since 2010, according to Cox Automotive, an industry-research firm.

The auto industry has already been grappling with the potential woes of higher gas prices because of the war in Iran. Auto executives have said they don’t expect sales to be significantly affected by the conflict unless it continues for months.

Caldwell said that higher negative equity amounts are likely to persist in coming months. Amid the pandemic and the semiconductor crisis, interest rates rose, she said, meaning borrowers have continued to pay higher costs to take on new car loans.

“We know that people paid an increased price either way,” she said. “I don’t think it’s going to go back down.”

See all the photos at The Heights Baptist Church Cruise-in April 11

Meme Time

Is Minnesota Trying to Limit When You Can Drive Your Classic?

From Hagerty
While Michigan recently relaxed driving restrictions for vehicles with historic plates, Minnesota may be preparing to tighten its rules.

House File (HF) 3865, introduced by Representative Meg Luger-Nikolai last month, would amend the Minnesota Statutes 2024 by adding a paragraph defining “operation as a collector’s item.” This phrase appears five times in the current statute: twice in the section about pre-1936 vehicles (eligible for the “pioneer plate”), twice in the section about vehicles made between 1925 and 1948 (eligible for the “classic car plate”), and once in the section about relatively newer classic cars (eligible for the “collector plate”). As you can see, Minnesota has a fairly detailed system for collector vehicle registration.

Here’s the text that will be added to the vehicle code under HF 3865, if it is passed into law:

A person may operate a vehicle registered in the collector class under subdivision 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, or 1h, or under section 168.105 [the categories listed above, as they appear in the Statute], solely as a collector’s item and not for general transportation purposes. Operation as a collector’s item includes: (1) transportation for a collector vehicle club activity, exhibition, tour, parade, or similar use; and (2) operation on Saturday and Sunday from sunrise to sunset.

Does this proposed text limit the use of “collector class” vehicles to the weekends, if you aren’t going to a show or other event? The bill doesn’t say that in so many words, but some argue that it does, by omission. That argument is based on the idea that, if the law doesn’t explicitly tell you that you can drive on a given day, you can’t. We have reached out to Rep. Luger-Nikolai to clarify, and will update this story if we hear back.

It is worth pointing out that Minnesotans are not forced to register their vintage cars with historic plates. The advantage, of course, is financial. If you register your vehicle in one of the five categories of “collector” vehicles described in the statutes (pre-1936, 1925–48, everything else that’s at least 20 model years old, street rods, and military), you never have to renew your registration. (The plate fee is the same as it is for any other regular vehicle: $13.50 for a single plate. Older vehicles aren’t forced to wear two, thankfully.) But if your priority is maximum driving freedom, you can register your classic as you would a new vehicle. To use the Minnesota registration tax calculator, click here—and have your VIN handy.

Interestingly, the Statute says that “no commercial vehicles such as hearses, ambulances, or trucks are considered to be classic cars.”

The proposed changes to Minnesota law remind us of the latest iteration of “Leno’s Law” in California. S.B. 1392 would narrow the group of vehicles eligible for smog-check exemptions by focusing on the vehicle, not the owner, and on whether the vehicle is that person’s daily driver. As we wrote in February, “The new bill updates the language around the vehicle’s use—which, obviously, is transportation, because it’s a vehicle—to clarify that a collector vehicle is “not used as the owner’s primary mode of transportation” (emphasis added).”

We hope that the goal of Minnesota’s HF 3865 is similar, though its phrasing sounds more restrictive. After all, it’s only logical that the discounts applied to collector vehicle plates aren’t available to all, but only to a specific set of vehicles that are treated differently from a daily driver. For now, however, HF 3865 simply raises more questions.

See all the photos at The Muscle Car Club of Richmond Show April 18

Jewels Found On Ebay

Here are a couple of hot finds from Ebay Motors.

eBay item number: 306874871479
$3,900 - no bids
eBay description: Selling several project cars for local Estate, here's a 1970 Dodge Challenger project car basically a rolling body that came from the factory as a Sublime FJ5, black interior 340 4 speed car. Body work was started at some point with the floors being repaired with original panels as well as a new 4 speed hump being installed. in spite of the rust staining and rough looks, majority of the remaining body is very solid. Solid areas include floors, roof, cowl, cowl sides, radiator support, frame rails, passenger quarter, A pillars, rockers, B pillars, rear seat area, etc. areas needing rust repair include trunk floor, windshield lower channel, hood hinge area and driver quarter panel. this body isn't anything like a midwest or back east rusted body. A nice K frame and front suspension has been installed, has an 8 3/4 inch rear end not posi. Was a factory dual exhaust car. Parts included with purchase not pictured: original dash pad with Vin plate, dash pad has several cracks. Vin number matches both stampings on the cowl and radiator support. Nice dash frame, rust free driver and passenger doors, rear seat frames, 1970 Challenger grille, Challenger deck lid, original rust free Challenger trunk floor. several small interior parts. We will be adding parts to this list as they are found in storage.

Real opportunity to purchase real 1970 Challenger 340 4 speed car great color for a great price!

Car will be sold with a Colorado Bill of Sale, has been off the road for over 30 years. No fender tag. Upon purchase, a non refundable deposit of $500 is due, balance to be paid within 7 days whether car is picked up or not. Car to be picked up within 30 days of purchase. Reliable auto delivery to most 48 continental states available, we can get you a quote. We have many years experience in selling to out of state Buyers. Will help you or your transporter load the vehicle.

Have confidence in your purchase, we are in our 28th year on eBay with 100% feedback.

Hot dog, another one wants to escape from the junkyard. Here we have a desireable car if there was enough to call it a car. It is a shell with four wheels and a rusty shell at that. But there is great news - no title! And there is more - seller has a few parts that go with it including doors and grill - but no pictures which should give you an idea of what they look like. Just another junkyard car that has been stripped and put up for sale because inflation has caused it to be worth something.

Next up is another "project".

eBay item number: 137187085105
$5,700.00or Best Offer
eBay description: 1976 BMW 2002 project for sale. This is an original Arizona car from the Phoenix area, which shows in the overall condition of the body. The car has been taken down to bare metal and is a great candidate for restoration. Overall, the body is very solid for its age. The passenger front floor pan will need replacement, but the rest of the structure appears straight and clean. The vehicle is currently disassembled, and a large amount of original parts, trim, and components are included. Everything removed from the car has been kept and will go with the sale. The car includes a mechanical fuel injection setup!

This car might have been rust free at one time but someone took it down to the metal so that it could really rust. Here's some free advice - if you buy a car in this disassembled condition and the seller says that have all the parts in boxes, plastic bins and old metal coffee cans - they are lying to you - there will be about one ton of parts missing, never to be found - don't ask how I know this, I just do.

eBay item number: 336488501742
$37,950.00 Buy It Now
eBay description: FOR SALE: 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Big Block Project – Zero Rust, NOS GM Metal
Location: Holden, MO 64040 / Kansas City Area
Price: $37,950
Title: Clean and Clear Title from 1992 (Missouri)
The Overview: I am selling a disassembled 1969 Camaro Big Block Coupe Project. This is the ultimate clean slate for a high-end RESTOMOD or a stunning PRO-TOURING build. The absolute hardest and most expensive part of any Camaro build—finding good metal and getting the bodywork right—is already 100% finished using the best possible materials. Of course if your desire is a concours, historically correct GROUND-UP restoration, this is also a great candidate, especially because it is one of the most sought after and rare color combinations ever. This car is an Azure Turquoise car with Ivory Interior (White) and Parchment Vinyl Top (White). L@@K OUT !
I began this project but I am also in the midst of restoring a 1966 Corvette Coupe 427 BB and I cannot do both. I have reluctantly decided to sell this project.
The Body & Paint:
All Original Factory Metal: Zero rust, no Bondo, and no cheap aftermarket patch panels.
NOS GM Front Fenders: The front end features genuine New Old Stock (NOS) GM replacement fenders. The original GM factory stickers are still intact and showing—absolute proof of the quality of this foundation.
Bodywork Completed: The shell is straight, solid, and ready for final prep and paint.
Original Colors: Originally the highly desirable Azure Turquoise car with a white stripe, Ivory/Black interior, and a Parchment vinyl top.
Modifications: The rear has been professionally mini-tubbed. It’s perfectly set up to fit massive rear rubber for a restomod/Pro-Touring stance, but it can still be finished out with a classic street look if preferred.
Cowl Tag Decoding (Verified Originality):
ST 69 12437: 1969 V8 Sport Coupe
NOR 116674: Norwood, Ohio Assembly Plant (Fisher Body #116674)
TR 727: Ivory/Black Standard Interior
PNT 55 E: Azure Turquoise lower body (55) with a Parchment vinyl top (E)
10C: Built the 3rd week of October, 1968
Since this car has a build date of "10C" (October 1968), it was built before the Norwood plant started using "X-codes" in mid-December. This is perfectly normal for early '69 Camaros!
The Drivetrain:
Engine: 396 Big Block V8
Transmission: Turbo 400 (TH400) Automatic
Rear End: Heavy-duty 12-bolt rear
What’s Included vs. What’s Missing:
Included: Comes with a large haul of brand-new parts purchased for the restoration. Please look at pictures in Gallery Link below or serious buyers can feel free to call to review anything they would like to clarify that comes with the car.
Missing: The front and rear seats, as well as the center console, are not included.
Summary: You won't find many '69 shells this solid. Between the all-original factory metal and the highly sought-after NOS GM front fenders, this is a premium starting point. Whether you want to drop in the 396 and finish a day-two classic, or use the mini-tubs to build a modern Pro-Touring killer, the foundation is completely set.

Hurrah - this one has a title. Looks like someone put a lot of money and time in this car and they should finish it. $38K for a project like this is just too much. I found another 69 with a 396 and 4-speed (!) bid to $69K on eBay and that car was in number one condition. Looking at photos of the engine, transmission and rear they appear to need to be redone. I doubt many guys can tell their wife they want to spend 40 grand (with shipping) to have this sit in the garage for many months.

See all the photos at Hot-Rod & Muscle Car Night April 18.Photo by Jeff Malo.

Virginia Beach Police Want To Deter Loud Car Meet Ups After Complaints

From The Virginian~Pilot
This is becoming a nationwide problem ~ Fred

Virginia Beach police intend to enforce trespassing laws at a parking lot near Holland Road and Independence Boulevard in an effort to mitigate car meetups that have generated complaints from residents.

The property, 4300 Commuter Drive, consists of the Silverleaf Transit Center bus stop and a Virginia Department of Transportation park and ride lot.

Officers are now permitted to issue trespass notices to those in the lot without permission, and to make arrests to those who return after receiving a warning, according to a statement posted Thursday on the department’s Facebook page.

The announcement comes almost three weeks after seven people were injured in a shooting at the Kemps River shopping area during a large car meet in the parking lot. Police said investigators believe the shooting began with a struggle over an open carry firearm, and that all seven people injured were bystanders.

The police department said the trespassing decision was made after complaints “of quality-of-life issues” from city residents.

“We are committed to ensuring that residents, businesses, and visitors can enjoy our city safely and without disruption,” Chief Paul Neudigate said in a statement. “The majority of car meetups are peaceful and incident free; certain ones have been the subject of repeat community complaints and those specific ones are the focus of our efforts.”

The recurring complaints, according to the department’s post, regard loud noise, loud music and loud exhausts stemming from car meetups near Holland Road and Independence Boulevard.

Signs that read “no trespassing” have been placed around the parking lot. Under to Virginia law, trespassing after a warning is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which if convicted, could mean up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500.

Connected to the Silverleaf lot is Freedom Wash, a car wash open 24 hours a day. Manager Brandon Thompson, who started working there 10 years ago, said he sees the car meet ups as “a calm atmosphere.”

Referred to as “takeovers,” Thompson said, young people will drive their cars to different lots, moving consistently, from places like Planet Fitness, to Kroger to Town Center.

“It is not everybody,” Thompson said. “It’s a couple bad apples trying to rev their engines.”

State Sen. Aaron Rouse said he and his wife, Virginia Beach City Council member Jennifer Rouse, worked in partnership with the city police department and the Virginia State Police to address the complaints.

“I’m pleased to share that we’ve made meaningful progress in addressing the illegal and unruly car meet-ups,” Aaron Rouse wrote in a Facebook post Thursday.

Thompson said the car wash was in constant communication with the police department and met with Aaron Rouse and Del. Michael Feggans last year to discuss management of the unauthorized gatherings.

Freedom Wash has been staffing overnight for about two years, something Thompson said has alleviated late hour noise brought by the car meet ups. He also said two or three police cars typically patrol the Silverleaf lot at night, enforcing no trespassing.

“When the VB posted, I mean, they’ve been here, and it’s not recently. They’ve been over there,” Thompson said.

See all the photos at Parks Chevrolet Community Cruise-in April 25

Virginia set to rejoin RGGI as utilities prepare to pass the cost back to ratepayers

From Virginia Mercury
Virginia is poised to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative this summer, a move that could again add a monthly charge to electricity customers’ bills as utilities resume buying carbon credits.

State officials expect the commonwealth to participate in the program’s September auction once regulations to reestablish the CO2 budget trading program are finalized. Dominion Energy plans to petition the State Corporation Commission in June to add the cost of those credit auctions back onto ratepayer’s bills.

The Department of Environmental Quality and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources are working to complete the regulations before the May 21 deadline laid out in the legislation passed by the General Assembly.

“Our intention is that we will formally be participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative effective July 1 of this year,” DEQ Deputy Director Jonathan Rak said.

Virginia began participating in 2021 auctions that require utilities to purchase carbon emission credits when they exceed caps set by RGGI Inc., a program now involving 10 other states.

Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin removed Virginia from the agreement in 2023, calling it a hidden tax on ratepayers. The program costs an estimated $2 a month for residential customers in Dominion’s territory. When RGGI was officially paused, customers were paying about $4 due to the stop and start of the court process. A court later ruled that the removal was unlawful, and when he took office, Attorney General Jay Jones canceled the appeal of that ruling.

The cost of the credits has increased since the state last participated in RGGI, but it is not yet clear how that could financially impact ratepayers.

“I can certainly confirm that the prices have increased,” Rak said. “They’re obviously determined in the auction, but we don’t have a prediction at this point as to what the numbers will be.”

In 2027, the cap for carbon emissions under RGGI is also set to decline, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This could further increase costs for utilities working to meet mandates under the Virginia Clean Economy Act while still relying on fossil fuels to generate sufficient power.

Dominion said the cost of the “Rider RGGI” on bills will be detailed in its June filing to the SCC.

Virginia received over $800 million during the three years it participated in the program. Revenue from the fall auction allocated to Virginia will be returned to the fund and distributed as follows: 50% for low-income energy efficiency programs, 45% for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, and the remainder for climate change planning and administrative costs.

See all the photos at Central Virginia Mustang Club 19th Annual Spring Show April 25

The Briefs

Some robotaxi passengers were left stranded in the middle of fast-moving traffic in a major Chinese city after their driverless vehicles stopped running, according to police and media reports. A preliminary investigation indicates more than 100 robotaxis came to a halt because of a “system malfunction,” police in the city of Wuhan said in a statement, without elaborating. No injuries were reported. One passenger told Chinese media that their robotaxi stopped after turning a corner. An instruction on a screen read: “Driving system malfunction. Staff are expected to arrive in 5 minutes.” After no one showed up, the passenger pushed an SOS button and was told that staff were on their way. The car door could be opened, so the passenger got out on their own. It is the first time a mass shutdown of robotaxis has been reported in China. In December, many of Waymo’s self-driving cars came to a stop in San Francisco because of a power outage.

The average new-vehicle transaction price hit roughly $49,353 in February 2026—up 3.4 percent from the prior year and near all-time highs. For many families, that means heavy debt, stretched budgets, or leaving the new-car market altogether. Some trade down to older or used vehicles; others finance their way into premium models. A reliable new car without major financial strain is becoming rare.

An early morning carjacking attempt on Chicago’s South Side ended poorly for the alleged thieves, as they were caught in the act by the armed vehicle owner. On Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, around 3:30 a.m., the 58-year-old owner of the vehicle heard his car alarm and stepped outside to investigate the noise. There, he saw the driver’s side window of his white Honda Accord shattered, and two males were inside the vehicle. One of the males displayed a firearm, prompting the vehicle owner, who possessed an Illinois concealed-carry license, to fire. His shots struck one of the alleged car thieves, and the other fled from the scene, jumping into a waiting Dodge Caravan nearby. Police were called to the scene by the vehicle owner’s girlfriend, and upon arrival, they found the wounded suspect suffering from gunshot wounds to his right arm and left knee. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

A man was exiting his vehicle the morning of Jan. 27 in Chicago, when two men ran up to him and allegedly attempted to rob him. Seeing the suspects’ guns, the man drew his own concealed-carry gun and fired, striking one of them multiple times in the legs. The two suspects face felony charges of armed robbery; no injuries or charges were indicated for the armed citizen.

Tesla reports 358,023 vehicle deliveries in Q1, up roughly 6% from a year ago but below analyst expectations; Tesla shares drop more than 5%.

Voice actor and comedian Eugene Mirman thanked the "heroic people" who came to his aid after he was involved in a fiery crash at a New Hampshire toll plaza earlier this week. New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte and her security detail came upon Tuesday's collision -- with a state trooper on her detail and two other bystanders helping pull the trapped driver from the burning vehicle, according to state police. Mirman, 51, of "Bob's Burgers" fame, was seriously injured in the crash. "I am extraordinarily thankful to the heroic people that pulled me from the car and to the warm, kind and talented staff at the hospital that cared for me and got me on the mend!" Mirman said in a post on social media on Friday. "I am thankful beyond words to be here and doing relatively alright, all things considered." The "dangerous" collision occurred at the Bedford Toll Plaza on the F.E. Everett Turnpike shortly before noon Tuesday, according to New Hampshire State Police Director Col. Mark Hall. The vehicle, a 2026 Lucid Gravity electric vehicle, "immediately became engulfed in flames," Hall said during a press briefing on Tuesday. Multiple people called 911 to report the fiery crash, and that "someone in the vehicle appeared to be trapped," police said.

A Florida bus driver was charged with nearly 30 counts of child neglect as well as reckless driving after she narrowly avoided catastrophe and was clipped by a train last week. No one was injured as the bus, transporting children in the Sumter County school district, was clipped by a CSX train with 29 students and one aide aboard. The driver, Yvonne Hampton, had been employed by the district since 2015, according to Sumter County.

Nobody wants sedans anymore, and nobody, it seems, wants coupes, either. And yet, an unnamed source at a “major GM supplier” has just informed the folks at Automotive News that the General is fixin’ to dole out a bit of both. If the rumors are to be believed, beginning in 2027, GM’s Lansing Grand River assembly plant in Michigan will be the new home to the next-generation Cadillac CT5, a reborn Camaro, and Buick’s first all-new sedan since the Regal of 2020. Lansing Grand River has historically been home to Cadillac CT4 and CT5 production and, from 2016 to 2024, the sixth-generation Camaro. With GM announcing that the CT4 is going the way of the Dodo at the end of June, and that a redesigned CT5 will return for another generation with an ICE powertrain, it seems like Lansing Grand River would be a lonely place with just the one vehicle to contend with.

See photos of iconic stops along historic Route 66.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Del. Dan Helmer’s bill to end the renewal of commemorative Robert E. Lee license plates in Virginia according to a press release.

The governor vetoed HB1288 and SB17 that would have allowed towing companies to, without a court order, auction off cars valued up to $17,000 to satisfy a lien, a change from the current $12,500 cap. Spanberger said that would result in a significant increase in the number of cars that could be sold through an administrative process. “Companies often take temporary custody of a person’s vehicle, including when a car needs routine maintenance, when the person parks at the airport, when a vehicle breaks down, or in less honest cases, when a person is the victim of predatory towing,” Spanberger wrote in her veto explanation. “Regardless of the reason why, Virginians should not have to worry that the company with temporary possession of their vehicle can sell it without their permission or a court order.”

Funding to autonomous vehicle startups has seen a massive resurgence in 2026, more than tripling so far this year compared to all of 2025 globally, Crunchbase data shows. Several multibillion-dollar megadeals drove the spike in first-quarter investment. That signals investors aren’t just paying for research anymore, but betting on companies that are ready to scale up and put their AI technology into actual cars people can buy or hail. So far in 2026, we’ve seen a shift to a small number of autonomous vehicle companies capturing a disproportionate share of global capital, with a handful of giants, including Waymo, Shield AI and Wayve, getting the lion’s share of funding.

Three people in California have been sentenced for insurance fraud in a bizarre scam that involved someone dressed in a bear costume damaging luxury cars. The California Insurance Department said the three used a person in a bear suit to stage fake attacks inside a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes in 2024, then submitted fraudulent claims seeking nearly $142,000 in payouts from insurance companies. The department called it “Operation Bear Claw.” Two Los Angeles-area men and a woman pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud and were sentenced to a weekend jail program, followed by probation, the department said in a news release Thursday. Two of them were ordered to pay over $50,000 in restitution.

Trump has extended a waiver of the century-old Jones Act for 90 days, allowing foreign-flagged vessels to transport fuel and other goods between U.S. ports to ease price pressures triggered by the Iran war.

Some high school students take a limo to prom. Others, like Breckan Andrews of Topeka, Kansas, roll up in the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. According to UPI, the Seaman High School junior and his friends were at Sonic on Friday, April 17, when they spotted the vehicle at a nearby grocery store. An idea formed. "One of my buddies was like, 'Can we rent this thing?' and I was like, 'Well, what if we just ask about prom? What if they take us? It's tomorrow,'" Andrews said. "You miss all the shots you don't take," he added. Driver -- or "Hot Dogger," as they say in the wiener biz -- Maggie Dawson was happy to help and took the students to prom free of charge. "It was like a little light bulb," she said. "We were like, 'Well, what time is prom?' And from there, we checked our schedule, and we were able to make it happen."

It was an unusual sight on the side of the road on I-40 in east Tennessee: Beekeepers, donned in full gear, trying to collect 1 million bees after the truck they were in crashed on April 17 in Knoxville, the Associated Press reported. Tennessee Department of Transportation regional spokesperson Mark Nagi said the swarm shut down an exit and the truck was destroyed in the accident, but that there were no injuries. Nagi posted a photo of the bees and beekeepers on social media. "... the bees are ... well ... buzzing," he said. "Unless you are dressed in this outfit please stay in your vehicles in this area." All the bees were rescued and moved from the area.

Anthony Buhl, 56, and March Chadwick, 57, are awaiting arraignment after being charged in Florida for driving with a dead alligator on the roof of their car, The Smoking Gun reported. On April 4, witnesses and license plate readers tracked Buhl and Chadwick as they drove from central Florida to the Atlantic coast with the carcass in plain view. After learning that possession of an alligator is illegal in Florida, the two tourists came up with a solution: They covered the deceased with a white sheet. A Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) commissioner finally caught up to them and pulled them over, but it's unclear whether the pair still had the alligator at that point. The arrest report indicated that they had earlier called the FWC dispatch to inform them they had disposed of the alligator. The report also offered an explanation: Evidently, the duo "admitted taking the roadkill alligator and wanting to take it to a taxidermy office to have it stuffed." They were booked into the Brevard County jail and released after paying a $5,000 bond. They are scheduled to appear in court on April 28.

KFC isn't just about chicken anymore. The fast-food chain is partnering with BYD, China's electric vehicle company, to place car chargers at its locations across the country, CNBC reported on April 9. The ultra-fast (9-minute) chargers will provide just enough time for drivers to fill up on finger-lickin' chicken and all the fixins. BYD will facilitate the visits with onboard ordering and location displays. KFC is, according to an industry report, China's leading fast-food chain, with 13,000 outlets in 2,500 cities.

KABC-TV reported on April 6 that a man at an Orange County, California, gas station sat in his car and refused to leave until he was given $55 in gas. When Irvine Police Department officers arrived, he told them, "I sincerely believe that money as a unit of payment is not real." Police tried to reason with him, but eventually he was placed in handcuffs and taken away.

University of British Columbia engineering students have a tradition of placing Volkswagen Beetle shells in unusual locations, The Associated Press reported on April 6. This year's prank involved a Beetle shell precariously perched on a rock face above a highway in Squamish, B.C. Authorities have asked people to avoid the area as they figure out how to secure the old car and lower it to safety. Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford called the area a "sacred place" among the Squamish Nation and said what "may have felt like an innocent prank" has affected hikers and climbers, too. "This is an area that deserves respect, and that wasn't the case here," he said. Officials say the VW will be removed within the week.

Who knew? In Kentucky (and probably elsewhere), it is illegal to operate a non-motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The Smoking Gun reported that on March 26, a police officer in Bowling Green noticed a man atop a horse around 6 p.m. Jorge Hernandez, 48, was reportedly "partially slumped over" as his horse galloped through a neighborhood; the officer conducted a traffic stop when the duo moved onto the sidewalk. The arrest report said Hernandez smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech; a bag from the liquor store was tied to the saddle. He was taken into custody but was released to federal agents pursuant to an immigration warrant. No word on the horse's fate.

It’s Full Steam Ahead for this Record-Breaking Motorcycle

From: Hagerty
Ashed-built motorcycle powered by a steam engine has just shattered drag strip records.

The bike, known as Force of Nature, was built by British engineer Graham Sykes at his Yorkshire home and recently headed to the track at Santa Pod, U.K. to blow all its rivals out of the water. Force of Nature is now the quickest accelerating steam motorcycle and the quickest two-wheeler over 1/8th of a mile. Its quarter-mile time of 5.5039 seconds puts it second behind a rocket-powered bike.

It’s taken Sykes six years and five different iterations to get to this level of performance from his steam machine, and he reckons there’s more to come. “I think that we can probably go 0.6 seconds quicker over the quarter mile. So, we should be able to run into the high fours. That’s the target we’re aiming for,” he told Motorcycle News.

Force of Nature works by using a jet of superheated steam that is forced through a pair of de Laval valves at 1.1 times the speed of sound. That means the bike emits an “almighty sonic boom” as it sets off down the drag strip.

It’s not a bike you can simply jump on and ride, as the 120 liters (32 gallons) of deionized and demineralized water has to be heated to 250 degrees Celsius (482 degrees Fahrenheit), and pressurized to 580 psi. It requires a separate boiler, powered by kerosene or vegetable oil, and takes up to five hours to get up to temperature.

On the go, Force of Nature expels 40 liters (10.5 gallons) of water every second, and delivers a peak acceleration force of 6.8 G. “The power is on or off. You can’t moderate the flow rate of the valves. It’s 100 percent or nothing,” explained Sykes.

Sykes has been involved in drag racing since 1979, and the idea of using steam actually came from America’s greatest daredevil. “I remember years ago watching Evel Knievel trying to jump over Snake River Canyon, and he was live on television, and I found out it was steam,” Sykes said.

Repair Mistakes & Blunders

From Rock Auto
A few years ago, my wife and I set off for our weekly shopping trip in her 2006 Town & Country. I noticed the A/C was blowing a little warm, so I lowered the temperature on my side. Noticing this, she mentioned that the A/C hadn’t seemed to cool very well lately and that maybe it needed refrigerant. I said I would throw some gauges on it when we got home.

Still feeling warm, I increased the fan speed and started to move my center vent to blow directly on me when I noticed something funny. My wife had placed an air freshener in the center vent, and it extended down to the cabin temperature sensor, causing cold air to blow directly back on the sensor. I moved the offending freshener, and the air became instantly cold. I exclaimed, “All fixed!” Of course, I had to put it back to prove it. My wife shook her head and wondered out loud how long it would have taken a repair shop to figure that out.

David in Florida

See all the photos at Hopewell Methodist Men's 5th Annual Car Show April 25

Chinese Carmaker Patents Voice-controlled 'in-vehicle toilet'

From yahoo!finance
Chinese carmaker Seres has been granted a patent for what it calls an "in-vehicle toilet" that slides under a passenger's seat for visits to the loo while on the road.

The feature is meant to "satisfy users' toilet needs on long journeys, while camping or while staying in the car", engineers wrote in Seres' patent filing in China on 10 April.

Seres, based in the south-west city of Chongqing, has not announced any cars that have toilets and it is uncertain if any will be made.

Chinese electric vehicles have become increasingly packed with unconventional features, like built-in massage seats, karaoke systems and a fridge, to stand out in a highly competitive market.

The patent filing shows Seres' plans for an onboard toilet that slides out from the bottom of a passenger's seat with a push or through voice-activated commands.

The loo will come with a fan and exhaust pipe to channel odours out of the car, according to the filing on China's intellectual property administration seen by the BBC.

Waste is collected in a tank that has to be emptied manually. The toilet also features a rotating heating element that evaporates urine and dries other waste.

When not in use, the toilet is concealed beneath the seat, making full use of the space inside a car without requiring more room.

In-vehicle toilets are rare - mostly found in long-distance coaches - but are not unheard of in cars.

In the 1950s, a special version of a Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith included an in-built television set and a toilet beneath the passenger seat, according to auction house Sotheby's.

Seres, along with its subsidiary brand Aito, are known for making electric sport utility vehicles - larger cars that stand taller off the ground and have more cargo space.

Most of the company's cars are sold in mainland China, though Seres has also expanded to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

With dozens of competing brands, China's EV market has become heavily saturated leading to a costly price war that has chipped away at companies' profits.

Seres is one of a few Chinese EV companies that have turned a profit, including world-leading BYD.

Many analysts have sounded the alarm that a vast number of Chinese EV firms are at risk of collapse.

As Fuel Prices Rise, A New Technique Of Gas Theft Is Spreading

From The Washington Post
With simple tools, thieves are “drilling and draining” fuel from vehicles, leaving drivers with costly repair bills.

Tasi Malala was driving with his girlfriend to grab some breakfast outside Scottsdale, Arizona, last month when he noticed that his Toyota pickup was very low on gas and quickly getting lower. He pulled into a station and started to fill up with premium. That’s when he spotted the leak.

“I looked under my truck, and it’s literally gas just pouring out the bottom,” said Malala, 31. “It’s pouring out like crazy. I was freaking out.”

It turned out he had been a target of a newly popular way to steal gas: just drilling a hole. All the thief would have required was a few minutes alone with a handheld electric drill and a gas can — or even some milk jugs. Malala was left with a perfectly round hole in his tank and a nearly $3,000 repair bill. His truck was in the shop for about a week.

This sort of drilling-and-draining thievery appears to be increasingly common as the war with Iran has pushed gasoline prices to their highest level in four years, and as older — and less-destructive — methods of stealing fuel have gotten harder to pull off.

In Los Angeles, where gas prices are among the nation’s highest at about $6 a gallon for regular, service adviser Lupes Armas said his repair shop is fixing a drilled-out gas tank about once a week these days. It used to be a couple times a year at most.

“It’s definitely a problem,” Armas said.

Insurers are starting to see more damage claims, too, although at this point, just weeks into the war and spiking gas prices, the reports are mostly anecdotal, according to the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. It will take time to see how bad it gets.

“Let’s hope this is a short-lived phenomena,” said Brett Odom, policy vice president at the insurance group.

The repairs are covered by comprehensive auto policies, experts say.

The drilled-out gas tanks are similar to the occasional waves of stolen catalytic converters, which can be removed from vehicles with a power saw and then sold for the precious metals inside, said Bob Passmore, vice president of personal lines for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

That, too, is an expensive repair.

The shift to drilling holes in fuel tanks comes as an old method of stealing gas has faded: siphoning.

In the 1970s, the country’s chronic gas shortages led to a surge in people dropping plastic tubing — even garden hoses — into the gas tanks of parked cars to drain their fuel. The image of someone sucking on the end of a hose to initiate the suction (and spitting out the gas when it reached their lips) became a pop culture trope.

The ploy was annoying, but it didn’t cause permanent damage.

Car owners responded by buying locking gas caps and keeping a watchful eye on their parked vehicles.

Malala said he definitely would’ve preferred that the thief who struck his pickup had gone with the older method.

“I wish they would’ve just siphoned it,” he said.

Spanberger signs bill to add restrictions on speed cameras

From: The Virginia Pilot
Gov. Abigail Spanberger this week signed legislation to add more restrictions on speed cameras as localities across the state are adding them at a rapid pace, raking in millions of dollars in the process.

She signed the bill into law on Tuesday, and it will take effect July 1.

Speed cameras got their start about five years ago, after the General Assembly passed a law that allowed localities to raise — and keep — revenue from violations in work zones and school zones.

Under the initiative, the $100 tickets are handed down for drivers going more than 10 mph over the posted limit.

In a January report, the Virginia State Police said cities and counties across the state have rapidly added the cameras in recent years — collecting plenty of money in fines in the process.

Law enforcement agencies across the state raked in $54 million from such cameras in 2025 — a 61% increase from the $33.7 million the year before, the report shows. There are now about 50 localities using such cameras, up from none as recently as 2021.

The New Kent County Sheriff’s Office, which runs four speed cameras on an Interstate 64 construction zone, leads the way. In 2025, the agency took in about $7 million in only five months — an average of $49,000 a day.

There’s also heavy camera usage in Suffolk, Hampton and Chesapeake, among other Hampton Roads localities. Among the biggest cash cows: cameras near schools that happen to be on busy thoroughfares.

But all that money-making has raised concerns.

“Policing should not be for profit,” Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax County, the bill’s sponsor, told fellow lawmakers at a Senate hearing on her legislation during the session.

All the money being taken in, she said, has “caused concern about just the optics of whether these programs are being run for the right reason, which should be safety.”

Here’s an outline on some of the guardrails created by the legislation:

Limits on how cities and counties can spend the cash: Cities and counties can still keep the cash they collect, but must use it for traffic safety, “speed management,” bicycle and pedestrian safety; and local systemic (highway) safety initiatives.

They can’t, for example, use the money to prop up other parts of their budgets.

Moreover, if a city or county shows “a willful disregard” for the law regarding speed cameras, a judge can order the locality to stop keeping the money from the program and instead fork it over to the state.

Workers in construction zones: For someone to get a fine for speeding in a construction zone, workers actually need to be there at the time. Tickets can no longer be issued, for example, when there are traffic cones but no workers.

Better signage required: Two “conspicuous” signs — not just one as under current law — must warn drivers of an approaching speed camera. And one must be a digital “speed display sign” that uses radar to tell drivers in real time how fast they are going.

That provision is to go into effect by July 2027.

New summons forms: The Virginia Supreme Court’s Executive Secretary’s Office “shall develop a summons” for the speed cameras to be used across the state, including information on how someone can contest a violation. That replaces the “patchwork” of notices now being issued, which don’t ensure due process.

The new forms must be used by Jan. 1.

Enhanced reporting requirements: Localities with speed cameras must announce new camera locations on their websites and social media accounts, and must inform residents how to contest violations and ask questions.

State police report: The Virginia State Police must issue a report by Dec. 15 of each year about localities’ use of the program.

Aside from reporting the amount of money collected — which they’ve had to report in the past — localities must report on the “projects and initiatives funded” by the speed camera program, and the proportion of total traffic on a roadway to be hit with speed camera violations.

Used Car Prices Climb as Supply Tightens and Buyers Feel the Squeeze

From American News Nation
A closely watched measure of used car prices is climbing again, highlighting the continued strain on American consumers as strong demand collides with limited supply.

According to Cox Automotive, the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index rose 6.2 percent in March compared to a year earlier, reaching its highest level since the summer of 2023. The index tracks the prices dealerships pay for used vehicles at auction, offering a snapshot of market trends that often ripple out to everyday buyers.

The rise in wholesale prices has been building since the start of the year, driven in part by expectations of increased consumer activity during tax refund season. Those refunds, analysts say, helped unlock pent-up demand and pushed used vehicle sales higher in the first quarter.

Jeremy Robb, chief economist at Cox Automotive, noted that late March is typically the peak for pricing activity. However, he suggested that this year’s trend may extend further, given the strength of demand seen so far. At the same time, he acknowledged that global uncertainty—including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East—could eventually weigh on consumer confidence, even if the data has yet to reflect that impact.

On the supply side, the picture remains tight. Retail inventory of used vehicles fell below two million units at the end of March, marking the lowest level recorded in Cox’s data. That shortage is keeping prices firm, particularly for popular models. Three-year-old vehicles, often considered a sweet spot for value-conscious buyers, are now priced about 2 percent higher than a year ago and above typical seasonal patterns.

Affordability challenges in the new car market are adding to the pressure. New vehicle sales have declined 5 percent so far this year, while used vehicle sales have edged up 1 percent. As more consumers are priced out of the new market, they are turning to used options, further tightening supply.

That shift is also being reinforced by structural factors. Fewer new car sales mean fewer trade-ins, limiting the flow of vehicles into the used market. At the same time, lingering effects from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt. Automakers produced roughly 8 million fewer vehicles than usual in 2021 and 2022, according to data from Kelley Blue Book, leaving a lasting gap in supply.

While the average listing price for a used vehicle—$25,287 in February—remains below the highs seen in 2022, it is still rising year over year. For many buyers, the bigger concern is how those prices translate into monthly costs.

Data from Edmunds shows the average amount financed for a used vehicle reached $29,314 in the first quarter, up about $1,000 from a year earlier and significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Buyers are increasingly stretching loan terms and putting less money down in an effort to keep monthly payments manageable, which averaged $559.

For those searching for lower-priced options, the challenge is even greater. Vehicles priced under $15,000 are in especially short supply, with just 31 days of inventory available in February—well below the industry average.

The result is a market where demand remains resilient, but affordability continues to erode, leaving many Americans navigating a difficult road as they try to balance necessity with rising costs.

Nonprofit trust buys Pamplin Historical Park in Dinwiddie for $11M

From yahoo!news
The park is now preserved for history - and we can continue with our annual car show ~ Fred

A nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic battlefields across the United States has closed on its deal to purchase Pamplin Historical Park and the National Museum of the Civil War Soldier in Dinwiddie County.

The American Battlefield Trust announced March 28 it had completed the sale it began last summer on the 424-acre site where historians say Union forces broke through Confederate lines to end the Siege of Petersburg and hasten the end of the Civil War. The transaction means that ABT will own a total of 857 acres in that portion of northern Dinwiddie referred to as the “Breakthrough Battlefield.”

The purchase price was $11 million. ABT raised money for the acquisition, which included what the trust said was “a major landowner donation,” along with $660,000 in private donations.

But what put the purchase over the top was a $10.4 million grant from the American Battlefield Protection Program, a group that has helped protect more than 38,000 acres of battlegrounds across 20 states. Along with easements ABT plans to enact through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, the total land tract will be restricted from any future residential or business development.

“Unifying management of the Breakthrough Battlefield and ensuring that it will be forever available for study and appreciation is among the greatest achievements of the American Battlefield Trust’s four-decade history,” ABT President David Duncan said in a statement announcing the sale.

Pamplin Park and the museum will now be managed by the nonprofit Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation.

The transaction structure included a major landowner donation, $660,000 in private donations from Trust members, and the $10.4-million matching grant.

"The Breakthrough and battle fought here at Petersburg was more than 160 years ago, but the battle to preserve this hallowed ground and all of its stories began thereafter,” Colin Romanick, executive director of the Breakthrough Battlefield Foundation, said in a statement. “Now, thanks to the American Battlefield Trust and all of those who contributed to the cause, the battlefield is saved and Pamplin Historical Park will continue to speak for those who fought and died here in perpetuity."

What was the ‘Breakthrough?’
The Breakthrough happened in the pre-dawn hours of April 2, 1865, bringing an end to the nine-month Siege of Petersburg during the latter stages of the Civil War.

Following a period of intense hand-to-hand fighting among Union and Confederate troops along the present-day Boydton Plank Road, Union forces broke through the heavily fortified lines, prompting Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to abandon both Petersburg – a vital railroad hub for Southern forces – and Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, one week before he surrendered at Appomattox Court House, ending the war.

April 2 was also significant in Confederate history because it was the day that one of Lee’s most trusted senior officers, Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill, was shot and killed in a battle with Union skirmishers a short distance from the site of the Breakthrough.

Historians have ranked the Breakthrough as one of the fiercest of the Civil War’s latter days. It produced one of the highest concentration of Medal of Honor recipients in the entire four-year war.

Park been around 30-plus years
Pamplin Park opened to the public in 1994. Founded by Dr. Robert B. Pamplin Jr., the park was developed to protect Civil War earthworks that were overrun during the Breakthrough. That land had been owned by Pampin’s family.

The park includes an interpretation center and a series of walking trails highlighting events of the Breakthrough.

The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier opened on the site five years later.

It was declared a national historic landmark in 2006.

Virginia set to rejoin RGGI as utilities prepare to pass the cost back to ratepayers

From Virginia Mercury
Virginia is poised to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative this summer, a move that could again add a monthly charge to electricity customers’ bills as utilities resume buying carbon credits.

State officials expect the commonwealth to participate in the program’s September auction once regulations to reestablish the CO2 budget trading program are finalized. Dominion Energy plans to petition the State Corporation Commission in June to add the cost of those credit auctions back onto ratepayer’s bills.

The Department of Environmental Quality and the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources are working to complete the regulations before the May 21 deadline laid out in the legislation passed by the General Assembly.

“Our intention is that we will formally be participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative effective July 1 of this year,” DEQ Deputy Director Jonathan Rak said.

Virginia began participating in 2021 auctions that require utilities to purchase carbon emission credits when they exceed caps set by RGGI Inc., a program now involving 10 other states.

Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin removed Virginia from the agreement in 2023, calling it a hidden tax on ratepayers. The program costs an estimated $2 a month for residential customers in Dominion’s territory. When RGGI was officially paused, customers were paying about $4 due to the stop and start of the court process. A court later ruled that the removal was unlawful, and when he took office, Attorney General Jay Jones canceled the appeal of that ruling.

The cost of the credits has increased since the state last participated in RGGI, but it is not yet clear how that could financially impact ratepayers.

“I can certainly confirm that the prices have increased,” Rak said. “They’re obviously determined in the auction, but we don’t have a prediction at this point as to what the numbers will be.”

In 2027, the cap for carbon emissions under RGGI is also set to decline, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This could further increase costs for utilities working to meet mandates under the Virginia Clean Economy Act while still relying on fossil fuels to generate sufficient power.

Dominion said the cost of the “Rider RGGI” on bills will be detailed in its June filing to the SCC.

Virginia received over $800 million during the three years it participated in the program. Revenue from the fall auction allocated to Virginia will be returned to the fund and distributed as follows: 50% for low-income energy efficiency programs, 45% for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, and the remainder for climate change planning and administrative costs.

Here's What No Cash Actually Means

By Dave Ramsey
A cashless society means no cash. Zero. It doesn’t mean mostly cashless and you can still use a ‘wee bit of cash here & there’. Cashless means fully digital, fully traceable, fully controlled. I think those who support a cashless society aren’t fully aware of what they are asking for. A cashless society means:

* If you are struggling with your mortgage on a particular month, you can’t do an odd job to get you through.

* Your child can’t go & help the local farmer to earn a bit of summer cash.

* No more cash slipped into the hands of a child as a good luck charm or from their grandparent when going on holidays.

* No more money in birthday cards.

* No more piggy banks for your child to collect pocket money & to learn about the value of earning.

* No more cash for a rainy day fund or for that something special you have been putting $20 a week away for.

* No more little jobs on the side because your wages barely cover the bills or put food on the table.

* No more charity collections.

* No more selling bits & pieces from your home that you no longer want/need for a bit of cash in return.

* No more cash gifts from relatives or loved ones.

What a cashless society does guarantee:
* Banks have full control of every single penny you own.

* Every transaction you make is recorded.

* All your movements & actions are traceable.

* Access to your money can be blocked at the click of a button when/if banks need ‘clarification’ from you which will take about 3 weeks, a thousand questions answered & five thousand passwords.

* You will have no choice but to declare & be taxed on every dollar in your possession.

* The government WILL decide what you can & cannot purchase.

* If your transactions are deemed in any way questionable, by those who create the questions, your money will be frozen, ‘for your own good’.

Forget about cash being dirty. Stop being so easily led. Cash has been around for a very, very, very long time & it gives you control over how you trade with the world. It gives you independence.

If you are a customer, pay with cash. If you are a shop owner, remove those ridiculous signs that ask people to pay by card. Cash is a legal tender, it is our right to pay with cash. Banks are making it increasingly difficult to lodge cash.

Please open your eyes. Please stop believing everything you are being told. Almost every single topic in today’s world is tainted with corruption & hidden agendas.

Pay with cash & please say no to a cashless society while you still have the choice.

The Top 25 [Most Overused] Phrases In The Collector Car Maarket

From The JP Emerson Show
So you are in the market for a classic car. Like any major purchase, doing your homework is imperative, but just in case your buddy with a killer set of tools gives you a hot tip about a cool car sitting on a lot or just waiting to be scooped up on line, here's a short list to help you understand exactly what you'll likely hear.

1. Barn find = Needs more money thrown at it than it’s worth to us.

2. Matching numbers = The vin matches the title. Does it match the car?

3. 100% Original and restored= huh?

4. Great floors = ridiculously applied amount of undercoat.

5. Investment grade = If you buy it for this price, your grade is “F”.

6. 1 of (insert single digit here) = OK, so there were thousands of these made, but this is the only brown mustard colored, bench seat and radio delete car we have.

7. Completely documented = Reproduction owner’s manual included.

8. Stored in a private display for years = someone’s garage.

9. Less than XXXX miles on the odometer = since it seized up the last time.

10. Exceptionally original = we threw dirt on it.

11. Refreshed = power washed engine bay and added new pine tree air freshener.

12. Completely gone through = We couldn’t find the leak.

13. Factory correct = Every body panel has been replaced at least once but the paint color looks like something from the era.

14. The mileage on the clock is believed to be original = Probably not, but that’s what we’re saying.

15. Meticulously maintained by previous owner = They changed the oil once before listing for sale, never in the five years prior though.

16. Comes with service history = We found a receipt.

17. Undoubtedly = we don’t know. Trust us.

18. Two owner car = None of the previous brokers titled it over the last six years.

19. Original patina = as opposed to new patina?

20. Believed original = See “undoubtedly”.

21. Complete concours restoration last year by a famous restorer. = Don’t ask us who, we have no idea.

22. Frame off = quite an accomplishment with unibody cars.

23. Long history = We found more than one receipt.

24. NO RESERVE = What they meant was reservoir.. The car rolls but won’t stop.

25. Priced to move. It’s been on our lot for years and still no interest.

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