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National Democrats to send $1.5 million for Virginia races
The Democratic National Committee is pledging $1.5 million to the party in Virginia to boost Democratic candidates in elections this year — from races for statewide offices to every seat in the House of Delegates. The national committee called the pledge “one of the largest and earliest initial investments the DNC has ever made to the Virginia Democratic Coordinated Campaign in an off-year election cycle.”
Hanover leads state in removing books from school libraries
Hanover County Public Schools has removed twice as many books from its school libraries as any other school division in the state and accounts for more than one-third of removed books over the past five years, according to a new report from the state legislature’s watchdog commission. The Monday report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shows that the Hanover school division has removed 125 book titles from its school libraries between July 2020 and March 2025.
State report: Hanover County leads Virginia with most removed books
The question of what books should be in a school library has been a lightning rod for controversy recently. A report released Monday morning by a state watchdog agency revealed details on what’s been removed and where it’s happening. About two-thirds of the over 90 Virginia school divisions that responded to the survey did not remove any books from their school libraries. Among those that did, Hanover County led the pack with 125 titles removed. That’s according to a new report from the state’s non-partisan research group the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission, or JLARC.
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.
DNC pours large donation into Virginia’s high-stakes elections
The Democratic National Committee will contribute $1.5 million to help elect Democrats in Virginia this year, highlighting the national significance of the state’s contests for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates ahead of next year’s congressional midterms. The donation to Virginia’s combined campaign, announced Tuesday, comes on the heels of an even bigger political windfall from House Speaker Don L. Scott Jr. (D-Portsmouth), who last week made a total of $3 million in contributions for his party’s legislative candidates.