Nick Larson

New: The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police is urging lawmakers to reject a skill games compromise. President Ray Clemons says, “Make no mistake: the illegal skill game problem in Virginia was created by slot manufacturers. They did not stumble into this market. These out-of-state companies deliberately flooded convenience stores, gas stations, and restaurants with illegal machines.” “The General Assembly needs send a clear message that Virginia will not reward operators who deliberately defy state law,” he added.

Good on these localities. If these neighborhood slots are as popular as the manufacturer claims, they’ll have no problem with an opt-in referendum.

If you’re gonna run for office in Virginia, the least you can do is make sure you don’t leave the eastern shore off your logo

"What we’re seeing in the NFL has been troubling and now it’s become personal with my Browns, who are moving from a historic setting on a landmark natural resource that’s walkable from downtown to a charmless slab of concrete 20 miles outside of town near the airport and known as 'that area where the strip clubs are.' The slab is available for a reason, and no amount of mixed-use development benefitting the owner’s bank accounts will make it better than the traditional lakeside home of the Browns. To make matters worse, there is that conveyor-belt aesthetic from the renderings and a dome that gives it zero sense of place and makes it indistinguishable from dozens of other stadiums around the country. Adding to your list above, it seems like the Bears might also be moving from their historic lakeside home, too. Should we move Pebble Beach somewhere with more land for more comfort stations, a Hilton, Sweetgreen, and Orange Theory that they could get a cut of? "I do not doubt the commercial potential of these new stadiums or the architectural expertise of the people designing them. But we’ve got just one or two architecture firms creating very similar-looking stadiums marrying up with teams abandoning history and regional identity in pursuit of cash. I think we will look back on this era as a 'dark ages' similar to late last century in golf course architecture, finding ourselves 30 years from now wondering why we did this and making efforts to renovate, restore, or return to original historic sites with regional identity. The Commanders are doing this at the moment, realizing a move out of the city to what seemed like a cutting-edge stadium design at the time was a complete disaster, now returning to the original, cherished RFK site. I’d heed that if I were the Browns or Bears. It all does feel like a TPC-ification. Misguided mimicry. A keeping-up-with-the-(Jerry)Joneses chase to the bottom without stopping for enough time to think about all the reasons why. It may work for a couple, but will come with regret for many others. What’s on trial here is also the purpose of a stadium venue — is its first priority simply to make as much money as possible for the owners involved? Should it foster increased pride and an overall greater sports product with emphasis on tradition and community fandom? The balance seems to have tipped strongly in one direction. As noted in that New Yorker article (I can occasionally read more than the cartoons in there), the high-end, commercially driven venue is overwhelming the stadium experience right now. I’ve spent this week in Chicago listening to natives grumble about what’s become of the anodyne overdeveloped neighborhood around Wrigley Field. There is an eventual cost that comes with this chase, even if it doesn’t immediately show up on the balance sheet. We’ve seen golf courses and golf entities that pushed back on the commercial maximization in favor of the character, unique charm, and quality of their playing fields now be able to stand out in a sea of sameness. NFL teams seem to be deemphasizing those traits for the possibility of a concert, some inclement weather, and more cash. Do you think there will be that level of regret some historic golf courses faced when they jumped in with dark ages trends? "Golf can be impacted to the point of unplayability much more often than football, of course. But these are the risks we run in pursuit of something good and variable. And that pursuit is and always will be worth it." - @BrendanPorath on the TPC-ification of NFL stadiums in today's newsletter

Nothing like proposing a BS solution to a problem you created!

Protecting the integrity of our elections and the confidence Virginians have in their government is one of the most important responsibilities of public service. The redistricting reforms voters approved in 2020 were a promise - a promise political power should never outweigh the will of the people. I’m honored to help lead @VA_forFairMaps as Co-Chair as we work to defend that promise and ensure our Commonwealth continues to set the standard for fair, transparent, and accountable redistricting. Join me today in protecting fair maps: vafairmaps.com

The Tribe -> NFL head coach pipeline continues. Will make 3 when Tomlin returns in ‘27

This illegal product isn’t allowed, but that other illegal product in gas stations, that’s ok….

The greatest anthem in sports. Hope soldier field claps and cheers throughout like the UC

"In the coming months, the fate of the National Links Trust may become bogged down in details of this sort. It will revolve around lease agreements, cure proposals, rent offsets, and other such legalities. If that sounds tedious or intimidating, I'm right there with you. I have about as much desire to study the machinations of government lawyers as I do to stand naked at the 100-yard marker at the East Potomac driving range. But I think it's worth staying informed about the specifics of the NLT's dealings with the Trump administration. This isn't just a D.C. story. It's a story about the fragility of affordable public golf in America, and about the difficulty of doing the right thing for the game." - @garrett_TFE on the National Links Trust’s battle with the Trump administration in today's newsletter

Virginia House of Delegates members @TerryAustin4HOD and @DelegateTorian, along with Curry Roberts of the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, share a laugh during a panel moderated by PFT’s @bradviator. The discussion took place at a summit bringing together legislators, regulators, utility experts, and economic development leaders to examine Virginia’s energy future—focusing on reliability, affordability, and growth. Panelists agreed that expanding generation is essential to meet rising demand driven by economic growth and increasing reliance on data- and technology-intensive services. #energytwitter

🚨BREAKING: Pennsylvania jury finds Pace-O-Matic negligent in the 2020 shooting of a convenience store clerk. “We hope Pace-O-Matic listens to the jury’s clear verdict that placing profits over safety can and does lead to dangerous consequences,” attorneys said in a statement. stopneighborhoodslots.com/breaking-skill…

@AndyBitterVT @FBIDirectorKash

I mean, what? Roughing? Montgomery was ticked on the sideline. Rightfully so, I’d say. #Hokies

Manassas Park Police seized over 30 illegal gambling machines Thursday across the city according to @UriahKiser at @PotomacLocal. “Skill” slots are illegal in Virginia. VA Supreme Court reaffirmed the ban. Well done @AmyAshworthVA & @ManassasParkPD 🇺🇸 potomaclocal.com/2025/10/10/pol…

When’s the last time Virginians were this unified on an issue?

October is why. (Narrated by Anthony Rizzo)

A column published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch by Neil Amin, CEO of @ShaminHotels, emphasizes the critical need for reliable, affordable electricity for businesses across Virginia. "We’re not alone in this either. Across Virginia, countless businesses — hospitals, manufacturing plants, grocery stores, local retailers and restaurants — face the same serious risks to their operations and livelihood without reliable power." powerfortomorrow.org/blog-pft/comme… #energytwitter

America. Made in Virginia. 🇺🇸 Of the thirteen original colonies, none played as fundamental a role as Virginia in the formation of our country. From the ideas that inspired it, to the battlefields that decided it, there is simply no America without it. (a thread 🧵 )