Search
Reaser: Va.’s children are safer, but we still have work to do
Virginia’s legislative season is over, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin has sifted through dozens of bills and issued a record number of vetoes. While the governor vetoed most bills increasing gun safety, he also signed two gun safety measures into law that have flown under the radar: House Bill 2055 and House Bill 2679. I, along with my chief co-patrons Dels. Michael Feggans and Laura Jane Cohen, championed these bills with one goal in mind: protecting Virginia’s children from needless gun violence. And that’s exactly what these bills do.
House clerk blocks three Youngkin vetoes of budget items
The clerk of the House of Delegates exercised his rarely used power to reject gubernatorial budget vetoes on Wednesday by declining to recognize Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s attempts to veto three items in the revised two-year budget he signed early this month. House Clerk Paul Nardo, acting in his capacity as keeper of the rolls, informed Youngkin that he cannot publish three of the governor’s vetoes because they are unconstitutional under the Virginia Constitution.
Denied for dissent?
Several Virginia Commonwealth University students who did everything they needed to do to graduate were denied their degree for sitting on the wrong patch of grass on April 29. The students were part of an event, which VCU officials said was unauthorized, that marked the one-year anniversary of a prior pro-Palestinian protest on the campus. The 2024 pro-Palestinian protest at VCU led to a clash between student demonstrators and law enforcement. It wasn’t a good look for a university that prides itself on promoting free expression and diversity of thought.
Virginia’s retention of recent college graduates needs improvement
Every May, university campuses across the commonwealth are filled with shouts of joy and raucous applause as thousands of young people receive their degrees. Graduating college is a laudable achievement — the product of hard work, persistence, curiosity and determination — which should make the heart swell with pride. Yet studies show that in a matter of years, a good many of these graduates will leave Virginia, taking their skills and talent to other states. It’s a persistent problem here and one that officials, policymakers and university officials must work together to address.
Confrontation between Misjuns, Faraldi interrupts Lynchburg council meeting
The circus-like atmosphere surrounding Lynchburg City Council over the past two years was fully on display again Tuesday night as the council’s meeting had to go into recess to deal with a confrontation between Ward IV Councilman Chris Faraldi and At-large Councilman Martin Misjuns. Yelling could be heard coming from behind the dais in the Council Chamber during the public comment period, leading people in the audience to avert their attention from the speaker. Police were then directed to see what was going on.
Chesapeake Planning Commission recommends denial of data center proposal
Applause and cheers filled a packed Chesapeake City Hall at almost midnight Wednesday as dozens of residents celebrated successful pushback against the region’s first proposed industrial-size data center. Following hours of public comment from more than 50 residents, the Chesapeake Planning Commission denied a proposal from developer Doug Fuller to rezone 22.6 acres of agricultural land to light industrial and construct a 350,000-square-foot facility dubbed the Etheridge Lakes Data Center.
Recall petition effort in Highland County dismissed
Petitions to remove Highland County supervisors Harry Sponaugle and Henry Budzinski have been dismissed. Highland County Circuit Court Judge Edward K. Stein ordered both cases dismissed on May 7. This was the second attempt to recall the supervisors started by Debbie Hodges of Doe Hill. The first try was dismissed without prejudice last fall after the registrar’s office failed to properly certify the signatures on the petitions.
Norfolk attorneys in turf war over authority to prosecute shoplifting cases
A feud between Norfolk’s city attorney and the city’s top prosecutor over whose office should handle misdemeanor shoplifting cases quickly escalated into a political turf war with both sides claiming chief authority. The Norfolk City Council unanimously approved a code change Tuesday that will let the City Attorney’s Office prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting cases after Mayor Kenny Alexander complained Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi wasn’t bringing charges.
Richmond’s inspector general staff threaten resignations over personnel changes
Multiple investigators in Richmond’s Office of the Inspector General have threatened to resign over recent personnel changes in the department, 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Wednesday evening. The inspector general is tasked with investigating allegations of fraud, waste and abuse within city government. The office reports to City Council.
Purcellville recall petitions certified; next steps begin
Petitions to recall Purcellville Mayor Chris Bertaut, Vice Mayor Carl "Ben" Nett and Council members Carol Luke and Susan Khalil have been certified, according to Loudoun County General Registrar Judy Brown. The four petitions, one each for the mayor and three council members, have been sent to Loudoun County Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary Clemens' office for the next steps in the process, she said. Clemens confirmed that he has the petitions, and he was reviewing them on Thursday morning.