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She Made an Offer on a Condo. Then the Seller Learned She Was Black.
Perched on a hill with a view of the Atlantic Ocean, the condo in Virginia Beach was just what Dr. Raven Baxter wanted. It had a marble fireplace, a private foyer and details like crown molding and wainscoting in its three bedrooms and three bathrooms. At $749,000, it was within her budget, too. She offered the asking price, which was accepted, and sent over a down payment. And then when she was in escrow earlier this month, her broker called her late at night on May 17, a Friday, with some bad news. The seller wanted to pull out of the deal. Why? “You could hear the fear and disbelief in his voice,” Dr. Baxter said, recalling what her broker told her next. “He said, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but she doesn’t want to sell the home to you, and it’s because you’re Black.’”
Va. politicians react to guilty verdicts in historic Trump trial
Within moments of the historical verdict finding former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, Virginia lawmakers turned to social media to either vent their frustration with the outcome of the so-called hush-money trial or hail the verdicts of the New York City jury as just findings. “The American people see this for what it is: a politically motivated prosecution orchestrated by those who want to ‘get’ President Trump,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “On Nov. 5th, Americans will render their verdict on Joe Biden’s failed leadership based on the issues that affect them every day.”
Five Years After Virginia Beach Shooting, ’No One Is Getting Better’
The ceremony on Friday afternoon will begin with the naming of the 12 people who were killed on May 31, 2019, when an embittered city employee carried out a shooting spree at the building where he worked. At the end of the event, the site of a future memorial will be dedicated, where, eventually, the 12 names will be etched into the landscape of Virginia Beach. The children of Mary Louise Gayle, whose name will be among them, have no plans to be at the ceremony. Sarah Leonard, her daughter, is taking her children camping. Matthew Gayle, her son, is resuming a sailing trip he cut short exactly five years earlier when he learned of a shooting at his mother’s workplace. They could not bring themselves to join hands with a city that they, and members of some of other victims’ families, say let them down.
Another near collision at DCA reignites Warner, Kaine ire over new flights
For the second time this spring, two planes nearly collided at Reagan National Airport, prompting Virginia's two senators to again criticize plans to add more long-haul flights at DCA. Around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, air traffic control at DCA told American Airlines flight 2134 bound for Boston to abort its ongoing takeoff procedure as it was about to cross paths with a private plane — call sign 0-AA or zero-alpha-alpha — that had already landed on an intersecting runway.
Deren: In Shenandoah, honoring slave owners is OK?
As a retired Virginia educator, it is disheartening to read about the Shenandoah County School Board’s decision to rename two of the schools within their district after certain Confederate Civil War generals. At a time when our nation needs to turn the corner on divisiveness and begin the arduous work of healing, some still strive to maintain outdated and hurtful policies that persist in dividing us. The Civil War was absolutely fought over the issue of slavery.
University of Lynchburg cuts 17 programs, eliminates 40 staff member positions
The University of Lynchburg announced Thursday they are taking dramatic steps at the school as they enter a new era. But for some prospective students and current staff, those changes could be detrimental; 17 programs at the school are being cut, and 40 staff members’ positions have been “reduced.” Over the next three years, the school said another 40 faculty will be headed out the door for good as well.
D.C.-area lawmakers react to another close call at Reagan National Airport
On Wednesday morning, an American Airlines flight bound for Boston from Reagan National Airport in Arlington had to abort its takeoff to avoid colliding with another plane. The Federal Aviation Administration said American Airlines Flight 2134’s takeoff was aborted by air traffic controllers because another aircraft had been cleared to land on an intersecting runway. The FAA is investigating the incident. … The incident has a congressional delegation from the D.C. area expressing concerns about the Senate’s vote to increase air traffic at the airport.
Virginia GOP condemns Trump verdict; Dems say no one is above the law
Many Virginia Republicans reacted with fury Thursday to former President Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts in the New York hush money case. Some said it will only further their determination to elect Trump in November. Virginia’s Democratic officeholders asserted that no one is above the law. Meantime, two Virginia law professors — Ilya Somin of George Mason University and Carl Tobias of the University of Richmond — said Trump remains eligible to hold the presidency again.
In embezzlement sentencing, judge says McDonald ‘betrayed’ community she purported to love
The former director of a local economic development authority in Virginia who was accused of embezzling $5.2 million through an array of bogus transactions was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in federal prison — ending a legal drama that featured the death by suicide of a county sheriff who was also implicated in the crimes. Jennifer R. McDonald wore a blank expression inside the Harrisonburg District Court as a judge chastised her for using her position as director of the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority to siphon the money between 2014 and 2018 to buy properties, pay bills and gambling debts, and enrich relatives and friends.
Virginia disability advocates celebrate legislative wins
Disability advocates celebrated rare wins at a meeting of the Virginia Disability Commission Thursday afternoon. “It’s a huge deal, it really is,” said Jen Krajewski with the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. She was praising the record funding— about $300 million— approved by the legislature and signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin. The money will support about 3,400 families of those with disabilities in dire needs. Known as priority one waivers, it was a top concern for Youngkin and advocates as the state’s disability waiver waiting list grew to about 14,000.