James City County is open to welcoming data centers, with restrictions

Plus: Historic Jamestowne is commemorating Bacon's Rebellion, a majority of York residents said they oppose renaming Magruder Elementary and a Gloucester man has been removed as a church deacon after allegedly filming men in Williamsburg restrooms.

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Sept. 13, 2025 Good morning, Historic Triangle! A weekend of beautiful weather is ahead. Today's afternoon highs will reach the mid-70s, according to Meteorologist Tony Nargi of WTKR News 3. Overnight temperatures will drop into the upper 50s and 60s. Sunday will be partly cloudy with highs in the mid-70s to near 80s. Mainly dry conditions are expected, and dew points will be comfortable, in the low to mid-60s. Meteorologist Tony Nargi's weekend weather outlook. (Photo via Facebook)  Monday's weather will be similar, though spotty showers are possible in the afternoon. Rain chances increase significantly for Tuesday and Wednesday before drier weather returns to close out the work week. Now to the news. -Christin James City County is open to welcoming data centers - with restrictions Server racks in a data center. (Photo by Shock via Adobe) The James City County Board of Supervisors is open to the idea of bringing data centers into the county, but with restrictions. The board voted on Tuesday to approve a zoning ordinance update that would require permits for prospective data centers and limit the areas in which they could be constructed. The decision comes just weeks after York County developed its own guidelines regulating data center development amid concerns the facilities could strain local energy sources and disturb nearby residents. The county's planning commission, by a vote of 6-1, recommended that the Board of Supervisors develop a comprehensive policy to identify best practices for reviewing data centers. The policy, they said, should include regulations surrounding size, electrical and water source demands, noise, fencing and storage of equipment.  Supervisor John McGlennon expressed concern with the planning commission's recommendation that data centers should be exclusively allowed in the southern portion of the county, where other industrial sites are present.  Those zones are adjacent to established neighborhoods, he said, and data centers there would still impact residents. "We need to make sure we have the opportunity to do a full investigation into the implications of approval," McGlennon said. "I can't predict the future, but I can speculate that like computers, data centers are likely to shrink in size, increase in efficiency and improve over time as long as they are around." Some context: Data centers are large facilities used to store computing machines and their related hardware. They often require specific supporting equipment like back-up batteries and power generators, water cooling centers and various electric utility systems. The high-tech sites have been a source of contention in recent years, particularly in Northern Virginia, which is home to the largest data center market in the world.  One mega data center campus in Manassas consumes "as much energy as an entire city," according to Business Insider. The facilities are popping up at a rate of two per week nationwide as artificial intelligence continues to have an increasingly powerful role in the U.S. economy. In addition to consuming large amounts of water and energy, data centers have gained a reputation for being noisy. In Northern Virginia, some residents living near large data facilities say they hear a continual humming sound. According to proponents, sound shrouds can address that issue. On the economic front, data centers have provided considerable economic boosts. Virginia's existing centers have provided more than 74,000 jobs and add $9.1 billion to the Commonwealth's GDP annually, according to a report by the state legislature's Audit and Review Commission. Supervisor Michael Hipple stressed the need to "be careful" when considering how to handle prospective data centers but said the newer sites have a smaller footprint than their predecessors. "The older systems, the bigger systems, they're noisy, they [use] a lot of power, a lot of water and everything else," Hipple said. "But it's changed a lot, and it's not that way now." Hipple added that data centers could provide needed jobs, unlock a new source of revenue and make it possible to reduce the burden on taxpayers. Resident Chris Henderson, who has represented BASF Corporation for the past 25 years, said the current BASF site would be ideal for a data center. He urged the supervisors to avoid setting up barriers that could prevent economic growth as the county considers funding a costly new government center. "We need the additional revenue," Henderson said. "You're contemplating spending $250 million, and here's an opportunity for you to get that facility paid for without that money having to come off the backs and wallets of the taxpayers." Historic Jamestowne commemorates Bacon's Rebellion in September with educational walking tours, special events Ordinary citizens were aggrieved that the governor seemingly sided with Virginia Indians over increasingly violent land disputes as the English colonists moved west. (Photo courtesy of the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation) Jamestown historians are reflecting on the anniversary of Bacon's Rebellion this month, nearly 350 years after the history-altering incident took place. The events surrounding the rebellion peaked on the night of September 19, 1676, when rebels led by Nathaniel Bacon marched on the capital, burning it to the ground.  The group was trying to overthrow the government of Sir William Berkeley, a wealthy planter who was perceived to be too accommodating to Indigenous tribal nations as the colonists moved further west. Why it matters: The rebellion ended after Bacon's death, American patriots came to view the events as a symbol of the power of the common man.  Upcoming events: Historic Jamestowne is commemorating Bacon's Rebellion throughout the month of September with in-depth walking tours every Saturday. The walks retrace the most important sites of the rebellion at Jamestown and analyze the complex cultural context of local history. Additional special programming will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, including two immersive living history programs, educational tours and historic trades demonstrations. All events are included with admission to the Preservation Virginia portions of Historic Jamestowne. For more information or a full schedule of events, visit historicjamestowne.org. Majority of York County residents opposed to renaming Magruder Elementary, new survey says Magruder Elementary School. (Photo by Christin Nielsen/The Triangle) A majority of York County residents are not in favor of renaming Magruder Elementary School, according to the results of a recent survey on the matter. The survey was launched in July to gauge public opinion surrounding a petition to update the name of the school, which is located in Upper York County and serves over 650 students. A local grassroots organization called the Campaign for Honorable and Inclusive School Names requested the change because of the name's connection to Confederate soldier John Bankhead Magruder. Magruder was a prominent general who organized the defense of Richmond during the Civil War. He also oversaw the burning of Hampton in 1861 and ordered the capture and killing of slaves. According to The Hampton History Museum, he sought to establish a pro-slavery colony in Mexico following the Confederacy's Civil War defeat in 1865. The results of the community survey were presented at the school board's work session on Monday. About 2,100 people responded, which included 1,700 people directly connected to the school division and 327 county residents. According to the data, 80 people who were not county residents also weighed in. Of the 1,700 internal survey respondents, one-third said they supported the renaming, while 57% said they opposed it and 11% did not have an opinion.  Among the 408 people within the general public who responded, 47% said they supported the renaming, 51% said they were opposed and 2% said they did not have an opinion.  Supporting the renaming: The most common argument in support of the renaming was opposition to "honoring confederate figures," the survey found. Others cited a need for students to be instilled with appropriate educational values and role models. Some said the school's name did not align with the division's commitment to inclusion. Against the renaming: On the other side, the most common reason cited for opposing the renaming was the cost. Respondents also mentioned the importance of learning from history rather than erasing it, skepticism of political motivations and community attachment to the traditional name, particularly among alumni.  The price tag to rename the school would be about $64,570, which would include the cost of signage, school materials and uniforms, commemorative displays and staff time involved in the updates, according to YCSD Chief Operations Officer Jim Carroll. What's next: The school board has not yet voted on whether to move forward with the renaming. According to board chair Kimberly Goodwin, a decision is expected to be forthcoming within the next few weeks upon further review of relevant information. Gloucester man removed as church deacon after allegedly filming 'thousands' of men in Williamsburg bathrooms George Thomas West. (Photo courtesy of the City of Williamsburg) Officials are investigating after a Gloucester County man was arrested in connection to the unlawful filming of men in public restrooms in Colonial Williamsburg. George Thomas West, 76, was arrested and charged with 16 counts of unlawful filming of another person and one count of disorderly conduct, according to the Williamsburg Police Department.  The man is believed to have filmed "thousands of males" in Colonial Williamsburg and elsewhere in the region dating back to 1996, officials say. The Williamsburg-area filming is believed to have occurred primarily on Saturdays. Some of the images were shared online. West is a resident of Gloucester County and was serving as a deacon at the Union Baptist Church in Hayes, according to WTKR News 3. He has since been removed from the position. At a livestreamed church service on Aug. 10, the church's pastor, Jared Berry, said evidence collected by authorities revealed an ongoing "sin issue" that was "hidden for a very long time." The church's leadership and even West's closest friends were not aware of his behaviors, Berry said. Looking for answers: Anyone who believes they may have been filmed by West in a City of Williamsburg men's bathroom is asked to contact Investigator Steve Roberts Jr. of the Williamsburg Police Department by email and include "West 825" in the subject line.  Multiple victims who were filmed on Aug. 2, 2025 - the day West was arrested - remain unidentified. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Peninsula Crime Stoppers by phone at 888-LOCK-U-UP or online here. CRIME REWIND A registered sex offender is behind bars again for sexually assaulting a child in York County. According to the York-Poquoson Police Department, the child was taken to Virginia Commonwealth University Children's Hospital for treatment. She stated that the man, who was a family acquaintance, abused her over an extended period of time. The suspect is identified as 47-year-old Billy Ray Brown Jr. of Yorktown. (WAVY) A Yorktown sailor pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty in connection to the death of another sailor, according to a Navy news release. Master at Arms Second Class Jackson D. Bowe entered the guilty plea a year after the death of 22-year-old Sailor Lyndon Joel Cosgriff-Flax, who fell overboard on a harbor safety boat in the York River. (WTKR)  IN THE HEADLINES 4 injured in fiery crash on Humelsine Parkway in James City County (WTKR)  TRADOC at Fort Eustis to inactivate after 52 years (13News Now) Extremely rare albino dolphin spotted by tour group in Chincoteague (WTKR)  Anesthesiologist at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital fired for 'highly inappropriate' social media post following Charlie Kirk's assassination (WAVY)  Virginia drops Covid vaccine prescription rule for seniors, high-risk adults (WTVR)  Gov. Cox warns social media is a 'cancer' on society and nation is at a 'watershed moment' (Associated Press)  LOWEST GAS PRICES TODAY All prices shown are per Gas Buddy. To check the latest prices based on zip code, click here. This newsletter was written by Christin Nielsen. Thanks for reading! 📰  Sign up to receive The Triangle's weekly newsletters here. 🖥️ Visit our website to read previous articles. 📧 Want to reach out? Email christin@thetriangle.news or reply to this email. The Triangle relies on reader support to exist. Support Our Work Sent to: godlyman@alexanderofyork.com Want to change how you receive The Triangle? Update your preferences here or unsubscribe here. The Triangle, P.O Box 7003, Williamsburg, VA 23188, United States