President Donald Trump says he is backing off his budget request to eliminate funding for the Special Olympics, after public backlash on a proposal that was unlikely to be approved by Congress.  Trump’s announcement came after Education Secretary Betsy DeVos spent days defending the proposal. DeVos, issued a statement, saying: “I am pleased and grateful the President and I see eye to eye on this issue and that he has decided to fund our Special Olympics grant. This is funding I have fought for behind the scenes over the last several years.” The remarks were opposite from her comments to Senate Democrats in a budget hearing earlier in the day. DeVos said her department had to make “tough choices” on the budget and insisted the Special Olympics should be supported through private donations.

The higher cost of the three schools means the city of Richmond has less money going toward a fourth new school that the School Board approved in its facilities plan in December 2017. The district broke ground on three schools — a new George Mason Elementary, a new E.S.H. Greene Elementary and a new middle school on Hull Street Road — in December. They are expected to open in fall 2020.

Lyft has opened a location in downtown Richmond to serve as a support center for its local drivers. The hub opened this week on Third Street across from the Greater Richmond Convention Center. The office provides a spot where Lyft drivers in the region can stop to get refreshments and chat with other drivers. A full-time employee also works at the hub on weekdays to assist drivers with any technical issues they might be having with the Lyft app. People who are interested in becoming Lyft drivers also can stop by the hub to start the application process.