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Virginia schools removed 200+ different books from libraries, report finds
Most Virginia school divisions surveyed by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission did not remove any books from school libraries based on content in the last five years. But a handful of school divisions account for the vast majority of the 223 different book titles that were removed based on content during that time. JLARC was directed by the General Assembly earlier this year to survey school divisions about school library book removals, and 92 of the state’s 132 divisions responded.
Survey reveals Virginia schools banned over 220 library books since 2020
A report presented to a group of Virginia legislators Monday reveals that school boards have removed over 220 books from their schools' libraries since 2020. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission survey asked Virginia's 131 school divisions if they have school library book removal policies and the number of books currently banned. The survey found that almost two-thirds of the participating divisions hadn't removed any books for content-related purposes. The survey revealed that a significant portion of the increase in banned books is attributed to a misinterpretation of a 2022 law.
FBI mum, but all signs point toward exit of well-regarded Richmond FBI executive
The FBI won’t say it, but others will: Stanley Meador, who headed up the Richmond FBI operations for four years, appears to have been quietly sidelined from his prominent position as top cop of the bureau’s Richmond field office. ... other signs confirm an exit that was first reported by The New York Times in June. The New York Times credited anonymous sources, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch has not been able to independently confirm their report. Meador is said to have upset conservatives with a 2023 memo issued by the Richmond field office. The so-called “Richmond Memo” discussed the threat of domestic terrorism from “radical-traditionalist” Catholics and was inspired by a case investigated in Henrico County.
As international threats mount, Norfolk’s NATO commands play a key role
NATO’s footprint in Hampton Roads is expected to expand in the coming years, despite President Donald Trump’s criticism of member nations' military spending levels. The two major NATO commands in Norfolk – Supreme Allied Commander Transformation and the more recently established Joint Force Command – have played a key role in bolstering the alliance’s strength against Russian aggression. The Joint Force Command in Norfolk, established in 2019, has grown from 100 to 250 personnel this year and could double its force tomorrow if its building at the Norfolk Naval Station had the space, Vice Adm. James Morley told VCIJ.
Virginia unemployment claims continue to pace ahead of last year
Unemployment claims are up 33% compared to this time last year, according to the latest numbers from Virginia's workforce development agency. Terry Clower at George Mason University says the Virginia economy is about to come to a fork in the road. "And then we have this what most of us are thinking will be a surge of new claims come in the fall as those folks who chose to take the early retirement or the separation packages," Clower says.
Report: Virginia school divisions incorrectly cited state law in book removals
Virginia school divisions are removing books from library shelves with minimal state guidance — in some cases, while incorrectly citing state law — according to a report issued by the General Assembly’s research arm Monday. Thirty-two school districts removed 223 books from libraries a combined 344 times between July 2020 and March 2025, according to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission report. While 72% of school divisions responded, representing about 84% of Virginia’s K-12 students, the report and its presentation noted a number of inconsistencies across the state due to a lack of state guidance.
Spanberger highlights law enforcement experience in Virginia governor’s race ad
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s (D-Va.) gubernatorial campaign launched a new ad on Tuesday highlighting her background in law enforcement. The 30-second ad, which is narrated by Spanberger’s father, Martin Davis, will be broadcast in the Richmond and Norfolk media markets and statewide on digital platforms. The Hill was the first outlet to view the ad. Davis notes Spanberger’s background working as a federal agent investigating child predators, narcotics cases and arresting drug dealers, as well as her record as a CIA officer working on counterterrorism cases.
Some Virginia school divisions inaccurately citing 2022 state law to remove books from libraries
A new state report has found that some school divisions in Virginia have been inaccurately citing 2022 state law as justification for removing books from school libraries. “This is an interesting circumstance where there’s a law in place that has been used, but the law was never really intended for that use in the first place,” Justin Brown, Associate Director of the non-partisan Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, or JLARC, told 8News.
Some Virginia schools incorrectly using state law to remove library books, study reveals
A new study from a nonpartisan government agency revealed that while most Virginia school divisions are not removing any books from their libraries, some are incorrectly citing a 2022 state law to justify removals. The study, released Monday by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), found that 344 books (243 titles were removed, with some being removed in multiple school divisions) have been removed from school libraries by about one-third of the divisions that responded to survey.
Number of unemployed Fairfax residents reaches a level not seen since mid-2021
Federal workforce cuts implemented by the Trump administration and, as of July 8, enabled by the U.S. Supreme Court have helped drive the number of unemployed Fairfax County residents to heights not seen in nearly four years. A total of 21,705 county residents were counted as unemployed in May, according to new data reported by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. That’s up 35% from a year before.