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VCU withholding degrees of three pro-Palestine student protesters
Virginia Commonwealth University is withholding the degrees of three students who helped organize a gathering in support of Palestine on campus last month that ended in a student’s arrest. The three students [were] able to participate in graduation events [this past] weekend, but the university will not officially confer their degrees until it has resolved the disciplinary process.
Meet the six Democrats running for Va. lieutenant governor
Six Democrats are competing for the party's nomination for lieutenant governor to join gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger on the Democratic ticket this fall. The crowded field in the June 17 primary features two state senators, a school board chairman, a former mayor, a former federal prosecutor and a longtime labor leader. Virginia's lieutenant governor has two constitutionally mandated duties — presiding over the state Senate and being first in the line of succession to governor. The lieutenant governor breaks ties on most issues in the Senate, where Democrats hold a 21-19 edge.
Youngkin to UVA Wise grads: Find purpose
Almost 300 UVA Wise students marched Saturday to receive bachelor’s and master’s degrees and Army commissions. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin avoided mentioning policy or national politics as he gave the commencement keynote address to the college’s class of 2025. Saturday’s graduates included approximately 270 bachelor’s candidates, 24 master’s recipients and nine Army ROTC cadets receiving commissions as second lieutenants Saturday or later in the summer.
Gov. Youngkin tells Liberty graduates to ‘emphatically respond to God’s call’
Gov. Glenn Youngkin told Liberty University graduates gathered at Williams Stadium on Friday evening to “emphatically respond” to God’s call at the university’s 52nd commencement, the largest event ever held in Central Virginia. “While there will be a time to look to the future, today is a day to congratulate you, the proud accomplishments of the largest ever Liberty University class of 2025,” Youngkin told graduates.
From VPAP New Episode: The Virginia Press Room Podcast
In the latest episode of the podcast from VaNews and VPM, Michael Pope is joined by Kate Seltzer of The Virginian-Pilot, Greg Schneider of The Washington Post, and Dean Mirshahi of VPM News. They discuss the week's top headlines: Virginia Beach Republican Party Chair ousted amidst turmoil, state officials and the Nansemond Indian Nation trade accusations of Medicaid fraud, and cuts to AmeriCorps end community service grants. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Fight at Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center spotlights requests for independent review
On May 7 — one day after the Office of the State Inspector General announced the launch of a special review into Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center — a fight broke out among youth inside the facility, resulting in two teachers being transported to a local hospital. “Two teachers fell while trying to break up a fight among students in a classroom,” Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice spokesperson Melodie Martin said in an email to VPM News. “DJJ is investigating [Wednesday’s] altercation, which involved a small number of individuals and is suspected of being gang related.”
Virginia governor’s rights restoration authority debated at federal appeals court
Virginia’s system of voting rights restoration gives the governor sole discretion to choose when to restore a former felon’s rights… or not. An effort to nix that authority was shot down in a Richmond federal court last year, but voting rights advocates returned to Richmond Friday to appeal. Critics point to Governor Glenn Youngkin replacing an automatic rights restoration system embraced by previous Democratic governors with a more rigid “responsible citizen” test which has led to a decrease in re-enfranchisement.
Their school can censor the student press. These Alexandria teens are trying to change that.
It was past midnight and James Libresco, 17, had not yet started his homework. Instead, the Alexandria City High School senior spent his evening fielding questions about a campaign to give student journalists such as himself more independence to do their work. “Please continue putting the pressure on,” Libresco said on a call with more than 40 attendees. “It’s great, but we need to keep building. We can’t let up.” Libresco is co-editor of Theogony, the high school’s newspaper, where he and fellow student journalists have been lobbying the school board to change a policy that allows their principal to review and edit stories before publication.
Virginia’s development efforts get a new brand name
Virginia government’s all-hands-on-deck approach to wooing big economic development projects now has a brand name, in a bid to make sure businesses think about the state when considering new or expanded facilities. The “Made in Virginia Investment Accelerator” is a pitch to firms thinking about facilities that employ 500 or more people and represent at least a $250 million investment.
State Democrats start to pick sides early in race to choose Rep. Connolly’s successor
Voters won’t cast their ballots in the Democratic primary election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District for another year, but that hasn’t stopped early candidates from sprinting out of the gates. Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, who was the first Democrat to enter the race to replace retiring Rep. Gerry Connolly, has already garnered support from the incumbent congressman and former 10th Congressional District representative Jennifer Wexton. But three new endorsements come from the Virginia General Assembly — the “backyard” of rival state Sen. Stella Pekarsky, who also announced her candidacy this week.