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Virginia panel aims to put court actions in clear language
In a state where many still live by the adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the idea of replacing ancient terms of legal procedures in state law feels more than a little daunting, the Virginia Code Commission says. But the commission is going to try, accepting Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell's request to make sure the language that tells non-lawyers how to navigate courts is clear to people who haven’t gone through three years of law school. It could get hairy.
Decline to opine: Virginia attorney general will not weigh in on Hopewell firings issue
Virginia’s attorney general will not intervene in the question of whether a Hopewell city councilor’s vote to fire the city manager earlier this month represented a conflict-of-interest because he is a city employee. Hopewell Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Newman confirmed last week that Attorney General Jason Miyares would not offer an opinion on the vote by Ward 4 Councilor Ronnie Ellis. Newman had asked council to delay any action on the future of Dr. Concetta Manker until Miyares could opine on Ellis’ ability to vote.
State Sen. Favola receiving treatment for uterine cancer
State Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, announced Monday that she has been diagnosed with uterine cancer and underwent a hysterectomy on Friday. "The operation was successful and my care team at Virginia Hospital Center was wonderful," Favola said. Favola said a series of chemotherapy treatments is likely to follow, but she expects to continue her Senate duties between these sessions.
Virginia revenues still strong, with warning signs ahead
Virginia remains more than $200 million ahead of its forecast for tax revenues to meet its budget obligations with two months left in the fiscal year, but state policymakers remain concerned over the potential economic fallout from shifting federal government policies on spending and tariffs. State tax collections through April were $1.5 billion ahead of the same 10-month period a year ago, but the margin shrank to $211.1 million when compared to the revenue projections that Gov. Glenn Youngkin used to assemble a revised two-year budget that he introduced in December and signed earlier this month.
It’s past time to prohibit personal enrichment by office holders
So many Americans seem to reflexively believe their elected officials are corrupt — at least two-thirds of adults, according to a recent poll by YouGov — it sometimes seems as if such suspicions are a requirement of citizenship. It certainly doesn’t help, though, when the president and lawmakers do less and less to avoid the appearance of wrongdoing or commit acts that, by any reasonable standard, defy the responsibilities of holding elected office. One of the most egregious examples of potential corruption lately is President Donald Trump’s direct involvement in peddling a meme coin called $Trump.
Jenkins: Academic freedom means rejecting book bans
While grading narrative essays in the school library when I was teaching, a parent tour entered. The parents focused on a bookcase full of books on display in the front of the library, with yellow caution tape draped across it — the same type you would see at a police crime scene. “Why is there caution tape across these books?” asked a parent.
UVa professor defends academic freedom amid Trump attacks at Final Exercises
As nearly 8,000 soon-to-be graduates sat on the University of Virginia Lawn Saturday thinking of their futures, they were asked to consider the past. UVa English professor Michael Suarez delivered an impassioned keynote address Saturday hearkening to the university’s founding 206 years ago and its place in the future of an American republic on the precipice of its 250th birthday next year. . . . “Our ability to pursue the truth and communicate it freely is a national asset,” said Suarez. “The American university must compromise neither its moral provision nor its vision.” Suarez’s words come at a time when many in American academia feel as though they have been asked to compromise their values.
Richmond’s new top watchdog has ‘deep concerns’ about predecessor’s firing, email shows
Richmond’s interim inspector general says he has “deep concerns” about the firing of the city’s former top watchdog, Jim Osuna, according to correspondence obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. In a Tuesday email sent to 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell, interim Inspector General Foster Curtiss wrote that he and Osuna “shared a vision about what this office should be.” “I believe we may be headed in a different direction after his departure,” Curtiss wrote in the message to Trammell. “My overarching concern is for the employees of the OIG who are demoralized.”
Columbia Gas will roll back part of October rate hike
Columbia Gas‘ residential customers in Virginia will get a break on their bills as the State Corporation Commission rolls back part of the 11.68% increase the utility began charging in October. A settlement between the company, SCC staff and major customers will still leave residential rates 8.14% above where they were before the interim increase went into effect in October. The full commission formally approved the agreement [last] week.
Read the texts: Richmond mayor found out about city’s fluoride discharge from Henrico county manager
Staff at Richmond’s water treatment plant never informed their boss, Department of Public Utilities Director Scott Morris, that excess fluoride had been discharged into the region’s drinking water on April 23, text and email correspondence between officials shows. Instead, Morris found out about the incident four days later from the Virginia Department of Health. And Morris didn’t notify Mayor Danny Avula, the correspondence shows. Avula found out when Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas sent him a frustrated text message regarding the situation — to which Avula replied that he had not even heard about it.