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Anti-abortion group targets Democrats to stop Virginia’s reproductive rights constitutional amendment
Women Speak Out Virginia is sending 100 people out to knock on 150,000 doors in Richmond and Virginia Beach between now and late July. Their aim: influence voters to elect candidates this fall who oppose a proposed constitutional amendment to enshrine reproductive rights into Virginia’s constitution. “As the largest pro-life voter contact program in the country, we are known for our impact on elections,” SBA Pro-Life America Virginia state director Marlene Downing said in a statement. “Our doorstep conversations change the minds of persuadable voters and energize pro-life Americans to go to the polls.”
What to expect in this week’s primaries to replace Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly
Voters in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, centered in Fairfax County, head to the polls for yet another election — just a week after the commonwealth’s regular primary last Tuesday. This time, voters have the chance to weigh in on party-run nominating contests, or “firehouse primaries,” which will determine the Democratic and Republican contenders to succeed Rep. Gerry Connolly, who died of cancer in May after serving the district for nearly two decades. Connolly’s death opens up a highly blue district in the Northern Virginia suburbs, and leaves the district temporarily without representation — at a time when the local federal workforce is reeling from federal government cuts. The House of Representatives is also narrowly divided, meaning that every vote counts.
Lewis: To governor candidates pledging a car tax repeal: Be careful what you promise
Show of hands: who loves paying the yearly tax on your personal automobiles? Don’t be shy. Raise those hands. Anybody? As Virginians, it’s perhaps our most galling duty: paying hundreds of bucks (thousands for folks with bougie rides) to your city, county or town government for the responsibility of owning a depreciating asset you pay through the nose to buy, insure, fuel and maintain. According to the Tax Foundation, Virginia is among 27 states and the District of Columbia where tangible personal property taxes are assessed. Fourteen states broadly exempt personal property from taxes; 10 allow de minimis exemptions.
Wiegard: Virginia needs Congress to protect clean energy efforts
The U.S. House recently passed a budget bill that includes the near total repeal of all support for clean energy. For Virginia, this approach would increase energy costs, increase air pollution, accelerate climate change and decrease economic investments. Federal tax credits — designed to boost clean energy manufacturing in the U.S. — have been getting good results in parts of Virginia. Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, Rep. Jen Kiggans’ district in the Hampton Roads region has seen an estimated 3,000 new jobs, mostly related to offshore wind. Rep. John McGuire’s district in western Virginia has seen more than 5,000 jobs from solar, energy storage and clean tech manufacturing.
Local PBS, NPR stations ponder programming changes if federal money dries up
Roanoke-based Blue Ridge PBS has faced challenges before. When state budget cuts in 2013 led to the shutdown of broadcast towers in Marion and Norton, the station faced a setback to its mission to provide Central, Southside and Southwest Virginia with educational and cultural programming. Ten years later, PBS returned to Southwest Virginia with the launch of PBS Appalachia, which has its studio at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Bristol and is breaking new ground as a network station that uses an all-digital format rather than traditional over-the-air television signals. Now Blue Ridge PBS and other public media around the U.S. face a new challenge: Congress is considering a bill to cut federal funding to PBS, NPR and local public broadcasting stations.
U.S. Supreme Court rebuffs Virginia’s bid to scuttle felon voting ban challenge
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday to hear Virginia's bid to scuttle a lawsuit challenging an 1869 state constitutional provision that imposes a lifetime voting ban on convicted felons, one of the toughest restrictions in the United States. The justices turned away an appeal by Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, of a lower court's ruling that let the lawsuit led by two would-be voters in the state with felony records proceed.
Youngkin orders National Guard sexual offense ombudsman
The Virginia National Guard and the Virginia Defense Force will get an ombudsman to assist servicemembers who’ve complained of sexual assault, sexual harassment or retaliation, Gov. Glenn Youngkin ordered Friday. The executive order comes after he vetoed legislation this year that would have created a Sexual Offense Prevention and Response Officer within the state’s Department of Military Affairs. The officer was to serve as an advocate for victims, including authority to issue a protective order on behalf of a victim.
U.S. Supreme Court turns away Virginia’s appeal in felon voting ban lawsuit
The Supreme Court turned away Virginia’s appeal on Monday that sought to quash a challenge to the state’s lifetime voting ban for people convicted of felonies, allowing the lawsuit to move ahead toward trial. Two disenfranchised voters claim the ban violates the Virginia Readmission Act, a federal law that set conditions for Virginia to regain congressional representation following the Civil War.
U.S. Supreme Court allows challenge to Virginia felon voting ban to proceed
The Supreme Court declined to hear a case from Virginia officials seeking to thwart a lawsuit challenging the commonwealth’s permanent ban on convicted felons from voting in elections. The high court released its decision not to hear the case as part of its orders list Monday, rejecting a petition that was brought to the justices in March. With the rejection of the appeal from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, the lawsuit will now proceed toward a trial in federal district court.
Jon Lucci kicks off House of Delegates campaign
Democratic nominee for the Virginia House of Delegates 32nd District seat Jonathan Lucci began his first-ever political campaign with an event at Winchester Brew Works in Winchester last week. During the event, Lucci introduced those in attendance to his story, proposed solutions to issues in education and healthcare, and discussed how he will try and win in November. ... Lucci is challenging incumbent Republican Del. Bill Wiley of Frederick County for the seat.