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70 years after landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling, the echoes continue in Prince Edward County
In the 70 years since the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case banned racial segregation in U.S. schools, the pursuit of quality and equitable education in Prince Edward County has taken many forms and faced many challenges, and continues strong today in its legacy and impact. As one of the five civil rights cases that were combined in Brown, Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County brought together the lion’s share of individual plaintiffs decrying the “separate but equal” doctrine as a farce — about three-quarters of more than 200 people named in Brown.
Excavation at University of Richmond does not find graves as expected
When workers found discolored soil in neatly arranged blocks at the University of Richmond, they believed they had found graves. And they had good reason — they were just a few feet from a known grave site. Immediately, the university stopped what the workers were doing and applied for a state permit to excavate graves. After it was approved, excavation began last month. Then, archaeologists made a surprising discovery — the ground they were digging did not contain graves, the university announced this week.
Future Educators Academy will train new teachers while they're still in high school
A new teacher preparation program could soon send Fauquier County students back into the classroom just years after high school graduation, only this time as teachers. The Future Educators Academy is a dual enrollment program that will allow high school juniors and seniors to complete coursework to earn their high school diploma while earning an associate’s degree in education at the same time. If they go straight to a four-year institution and immediately earn a bachelor’s degree, they could be teachers by age 20 or 21.
Henrico launching $60M housing trust fund with revenue from data centers
Less than a month after receiving a directive from county supervisors for “something transformational” to address housing affordability, Henrico officials have come up with a plan that leans heavily on a growing source of revenue: data center dollars. Henrico is contributing $60 million in cash to establish its first housing trust fund, which will be fueled by economic development revenue generated specifically from data centers.
Wilder faults Biden for apparent cancellation of VSU debate
Former Gov. Doug Wilder on Thursday criticized President Joe Biden over his role in the apparent cancellation of the Oct. 1 presidential debate at Virginia State University. On Wednesday, Biden’s campaign notified the Commission on Presidential Debates that he would not participate in its three scheduled fall forums at universities, including the debate at VSU. Instead, Biden and former President Donald Trump quickly agreed to two debates, a June 27 faceoff to be hosted by CNN and a Sept. 10 debate hosted by ABC.
Charges dropped against several arrested at UVa protest
One by one, the charges lodged against those arrested at an encampment of anti-war protesters at the University of Virginia earlier this month are being dropped. Kristen Finn, a local freelance photographer, was among the 27 people arrested on May 4 when UVa administrators called in Virginia State Police to break up the small encampment that had been quietly protesting Israel's ongoing war in Gaza for four days. ... On Wednesday, Albemarle County dropped the charges against Finn — and five others.
Leesburg eliminates by-right data center zoning
The Leesburg Town Council voted 6-1 on May 14 to require a special exception for all data centers and substations where they were previously allowed without any legislative approvals. The move gives the council more oversight on data centers, ensuring that every project comes before the Planning Commission and Town Council for approval.
February 2025 new target date for Culpeper broadband
Like a bad case of déjà vu, local supervisors at their recent meeting heard another later date for connecting to the county broadband project first launched in 2020 — February 2025. All Points Broadband Vice President of Business Development Tom Innes was back before the Culpeper County elected board for the May 7 morning session. ... It was the same explanation for the delay at the last meeting in November and the time before that, and the local politicians got pretty frustrated, again.
Riders give Metro high marks in poll but still worry about crime
Metro riders have given the system its highest ratings in the past decade, though many remain wary of crime on the rail service amid widely reported shootings in and around stations, a Washington Post-Schar School poll finds. Seventy-seven percent of regular and occasional Metro riders rate the system as “excellent” or “good.” That’s similar to last year’s 75 percent positive rating but represents a steady increase from a nadir of 45 percent in 2017, according to Post-Schar School polling.
Youngkin creates task force to calm furor over veterans benefits
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is trying to quell a furor among Virginia military families by creating a task force to address budget changes that he originally advocated to a state program. The program pays for tuition and fees at public colleges and universities for family of military service members killed or severely disabled while on active duty. Youngkin issued an executive directive on Wednesday night to create the task force, three days after he signed a new two-year budget that would limit eligibility for the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program.