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Yancey: 9 more things to know about the statewide primary results
Before we move onto the general election, let’s take another look at why Tuesday’s primaries turned out the way they did. 1. Hashmi was consistent. The lesson of the tortoise and the hare seems to apply to the Democratic lieutenant governor’s race, where Chesterfield County state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi won a narrow victory by a margin of 0.75%, the smallest in a statewide primary in Virginia since 1945. There are lots of ways this happened — Levar Stoney’ collapse in the city he governed for eight years as mayor is a big one — but here’s an important one: Her vote was pretty consistent.
Juneteenth is a moment to work toward a more just future
Five years after a national reckoning on racial inequality and injustice roiled communities and institutions throughout this nation, the Juneteenth holiday prompts us to reflect on the progress made, not only in the time since, but in the more than 400 years since the first Africans arrived in present-day Hampton.
Lynchburg School Board rescinds public comment ban of advocate
The Lynchburg City School Board voted unanimously to rescind its previous motion to ban Danny McCain, a longtime LCS advocate, from speaking at future school board meetings after he agreed not to disrupt future meetings. The motion passed 8-0 at Tuesday’s school board work session; ... The school board previously voted to ban McCain at its June 3 meeting when he went over his allotted time, saying he would only sit down after the school board agreed to meet with him to discuss the achievement gap between Black and white students in Lynchburg.
Lynchburg City School Board lifts ban on outspoken advocate
The Lynchburg School Board has reversed its decision to ban Danny McCain from speaking at its meetings, following an incident on June 3 where McCain continued speaking past his allotted time, prompting board members to consider calling the police. The board had initially banned McCain for violating their rules, but a recent unanimous vote, on Tuesday, has overturned that decision. During Tuesday's meeting, McCain apologized for his actions, saying, "I'm sorry I stayed over the 5 minutes."
Isle of Wight School Board to outsource policy updates to School Board Member Alliance
Isle of Wight County’s School Board voted 4-1 on June 12 to outsource the periodic review of its more than 400 written policies to the School Board Member Alliance, which formed three years ago as a rival to the Virginia School Boards Association. The vote comes just under a year since Isle of Wight disaffiliated from the VSBA over objections to the association’s annual lobbying of the Virginia General Assembly.
Rebuilding one of the nation’s oldest Black churches to begin at Juneteenth ceremony
A ceremonial groundbreaking will be held Thursday for the rebuilding of one of the nation’s oldest Black churches, whose congregants first gathered outdoors in secret before constructing a wooden meetinghouse in Virginia. The First Baptist Church of Williamsburg officially established itself in 1776, although parishioners met before then in fields and under trees in defiance of laws that prevented African Americans from congregating. Free and enslaved members erected the original church house around 1805, laying the foundation with recycled bricks.
Archaeologists unearth foundation of 1760s schoolhouse for Black children in Virginia
Archaeologists in Virginia have unearthed the foundation of a building from the 1700s that once supported the nation’s oldest surviving schoolhouse for Black children, William & Mary announced Wednesday. The university in Williamsburg said the foundation is nearly completely intact. Archaeologists also uncovered a cellar that is layered with centuries of artifacts, including slate pencil fragments and jewelry. The schoolhouse was later used as a dormitory, housing some of the first generations of women to attend college in the U.S.
Completed Va. tickets testing battle lines for Nov. election
The races were tight, with the definitive results coming late — and closer than has been the pattern in Virginia primaries — but the two parties’ November tickets are now complete. State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, is the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor and former Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, will run for attorney general, on a ticket led by former Rep. Abigail Spanberger — all of them promising to run as a united team. So far, there’s been no word that that’s the plan for the GOP slate of Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for governor, former radio host John Reid for lieutenant governor and Attorney General Jason Miyares, seeking re-election to that post.
Virginia Board of Education approves $83.4 million allocation for infrastructure grants
After a competitive application process, multiple school divisions and a regional technical center will receive $83.4 million in grants for school construction projects, a move the Virginia Board of Education approved on Wednesday. A total of $80 million from the fiscal year 2025 application process will be allocated to 10 school divisions, including Lunenburg County for Central High School, the city of Richmond for Woodville Elementary School, and Massanutten Technical Center in Harrisonburg. The Petersburg High School project, which received $13 million towards the project’s $91 million total, was the only project that did not receive full funding.Petersburg missed out on an additional $13 million.
State Sen. Tara Durant announces her intention to run for Congress
State Sen. Tara Durant wants to trade Richmond for Washington. Durant, a Republican from Stafford County, on Wednesday announced her intention to run for Congress. If she were to get the GOP nomination, that would likely set up a contest next year versus Democratic Rep. Eugene Vindman in Virginia’s 7th District, which includes the Fredericksburg area. Vindman, who lives in Dale City, won the seat in November in a close — and closely watched — race against Republican Derrick Anderson, who grew up in Spotsylvania County.