(RECAP: Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari unveiled a plot on Wednesday to prevent future government bailouts by forcing the largest U.S. banks to hold so much capital that they would probably choose to break themselves up. Kashkari’s plot would also penalize large asset managers, with the thought that so-called “shadow banks” can make systemic risks similar to that of huge banks. The plot, which would double the amount of loss-absorbing equity capital for large U.S. banks and impose a new tax on hedge funds and other asset managers, is sure to face fierce opposition from Wall Street. Lawmakers such as Texas Rep. Hensarling, who runs the House Financial Services Committee, have also argued for ratcheting up capital requirements to a level that would prompt huge banks to split apart. Senate Banking Committee members Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and David Vitter, a Republican, have also introduced legislation seeking to raise capital requirements.)

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(RECAP: It’s not surprising that for the past decade, most of the discussion of affordable housing needs in Virginia has focused on urbanized areas with growing populations and rapidly increasing housing costs. Surrounding these metro areas, but, are rural communities struggling with slow or negative population growth, along with a unique set of housing challenges that have nearly faded from view. But, just because the population center in Virginia continues to go north and east doesn’t mean we can or should neglect the challenges of those Virginians living in rural areas. For the past year, Housing Virginia has been engaged in an effort to explore housing trends and needs throughout the state’s rural regions. The work included partnering with the Virginia Association of Realtors to host meetings with rural stakeholders across the state. The results of these efforts are published in a report titled The State of Housing in Rural Virginia: Changing Needs, Challenges and Opportunities. The report will be released and presented at the Governor’s Housing Conference, which starts today in Roanoke.)

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(RECAP: A mixed-use community with 64 residential units and 7,100 square feet of commercial appears poised for development in downtown Leesburg. Town Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a special exception application for the project known as South King Street, located on nearly three acres on the east side of South King Street. The complex is being developed by Donald Knutson, one of the builders at the recently opened Crescent Place community along nearby Harrison Street. Knutson plans to demolish seven of the eight existing structures to build four four-tale buildings. Those structures will include residential living, commercial space and recreation amenities.)

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