Search
Marshall and Pressley: Students hate it, teachers love it. Our research shows cellphone bans work
Over the past year, several states have moved to ban cellphones in school as part of an effort to eliminate distractions in the classroom, improve student mental health, and increase post-pandemic learning. Beginning Jan. 1, an executive order restricting student cellphone use in Virginia schools from bell to bell, including during lunch and in the hallways between classes, went into effect. Research on the effects of such bans is still emerging, so we partnered with a school division in Virginia to assess how the policy was working in practice.
Army suspends helicopter flights to Pentagon after airliners abort landings
The Army said Monday that a Virginia-based helicopter unit was suspending flights to the Pentagon after an incident last week that led to two airliners being directed to abort landings at Reagan National Airport. Army spokeswoman Heather Chairez said the service’s 12th Aviation Battalion was pausing the operations until an internal inquiry is completed. The battalion operates a fleet of Black Hawk helicopters and was the unit involved in the Jan. 29 midair crash with an American Airlines flight that killed 67 people.
Army pausing helicopter flights near Washington airport after close calls
The Army is pausing helicopter flights near a Washington airport after two commercial planes had to abort landings last week because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that was flying to the Pentagon. The commander of the 12th Aviation Battalion directed the unit to pause helicopter flight operations around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following Thursday’s close calls, two Army officials confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday. One official said the flights have been paused since Friday.
Racial tensions, community outrage rises over firing of Hopewell city manager and clerk
There was an uproar in Hopewell’s city council chambers Thursday night. Some city leaders sat sobbing at the bench, and some stormed out. Mayor Johnny Partin lost control of the meeting. “Step down, Johnny Partin, step down!” Shouted community members from the crowd, after the decision to terminate City Manager Dr. Concetta Manker and City Clerk Brittani Williams without cause. The community now wants to know if the vote was legal because it concerns a conflict of interest.
ACPS ‘censorship’ of Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper Theogony ignites firestorm of criticism
After a firestorm of criticism from city leaders and student journalists over proposed oversight changes to Alexandria City High School’s student newspaper, Theogony, this morning (May 2), the Alexandria School Board’s Governance Committee returned to the drawing board. ... With City Council members warning of potential “censorship” and “authoritarian” behavior from the school system, student journalists are alleging a concerted effort from the administration of Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt to suppress touchy or controversial stories from appearing in the monthly publication.
Virginia Beach charter change referendum may have enough council votes to advance
Mayor Bobby Dyer and other members of City Council who want to place a charter change referendum question on the November ballot likely have enough support for it to move forward. The referendum question would ask voters whether they want to keep the current single-member district system or if they support a voting system with some at-large seats on council.
House Democrats Are Having a Public Fight About Their Oldest Lawmakers
When then-74-year-old Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly defeated 35-year-old progressive star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a top Democratic attack-dog role during President Trump’s second term, he was immediately confronted with questions about his age and health. “I think that’s a false narrative, frankly, propounded by the media,” Connolly said in December, when asked whether his colleagues were effectively rejecting younger voices in the party by electing him as the senior Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform committee. “We’re looking at capability; we’re not looking at age,” he said.
Jam-packed GMU board meeting becomes battleground in national school diversity fight
George Mason University Board of Visitors meetings aren’t typically jam-packed, but a battle over diversity programs among the school’s leadership has stirred up the university’s student body. At a meeting yesterday (Thursday), board members questioned university staff on whether the school is complying with the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in education.
Georgia-Pacific closes Emporia plywood plant; ‘very sad day’ sees 550 workers lose jobs
Hundreds of employees at the Georgia-Pacific plywood plant in Emporia, Virginia, are losing their jobs after the facility ceased operations immediately on Friday. The company delivered the news to the plant's just over 550 employees during a series of meetings Friday morning and through a letter distributed to workers, according to Rick Kimble, Georgia-Pacific's director of public affairs. ... Officials blamed a combination of factors, including high home prices and a 30-year low in existing home sales, for the closure.
Bon Secours Harbour View Medical Center opens after 10 years in the making
Bon Secours Harbour View Medical Center held its ribbon-cutting ceremony on [Monday], May 5, where they welcomed members of the Bon Secours family as well as local and state officials to view the completed building. The first patient is expected on [Tuesday], May 6. Market President for Bon Secours Hampton Roads Pat Davis-Hagens said the vision for this building started 10 years ago.