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Spanberger extends financial advantage over Earle-Sears
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, raised almost twice as much money in her campaign for governor in the last quarter as Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, her Republican opponent, and had $15.2 million in hand with less than four months to election day. Spanberger raised $10.7 million in the past three months, including almost $4.3 million between June 5 and the end of June. Earle-Sears raised $5.9 million, including $2.4 million since the last campaign finance reporting deadline, and finished June with $4.5 million in the bank.
Spanberger highlights law enforcement experience in Virginia governor’s race ad
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s (D-Va.) gubernatorial campaign launched a new ad on Tuesday highlighting her background in law enforcement. The 30-second ad, which is narrated by Spanberger’s father, Martin Davis, will be broadcast in the Richmond and Norfolk media markets and statewide on digital platforms. The Hill was the first outlet to view the ad. Davis notes Spanberger’s background working as a federal agent investigating child predators, narcotics cases and arresting drug dealers, as well as her record as a CIA officer working on counterterrorism cases.
From VPAP Now Live: Mid-Year Campaign Finance Reports
VPAP has posted all mid-year campaign finance disclosures filed by candidates, referendum committees, and party committees. Use our overview page to find what interests you — including candidates for statewide office, House of Delegates, and local offices on the November ballot. We rank each group by amount raised and cash on hand. If you're interested in a specific candidate or committee, you can drill down for a sortable list of donors and expenditures reported during the filing period.
‘They literally blast horns’: Overnight Metro work keeps Virginia residents awake
Track work on the southern end of Metro’s Blue Line is underway in Northern Virginia – and people who live nearby say it’s keeping them awake overnight. The Franconia-Springfield and Van Dorn Street stations are closed, with shuttle buses replacing usual rail service. Alexandria residents told News4 that overnight and in the early morning hours they hear power tools, blasting horns and conversations on workers’ radios.
DOJ withdraws from Sentara investigation
The federal government is withdrawing from intervening in a whistleblower complaint against Sentara Health that alleges the Hampton Roads health care system improperly inflated local insurance rates in 2018 and 2019. On June 19, the federal government sent a notice of its decision to withdraw its prior notice of partial intervention, and that it is declining to intervene on the matter. The DOJ declined to comment when asked to elaborate on its reason for withdrawing.
Yancey: 223 book titles pulled from school library shelves in Virginia, but 75% were in just 5 places
Across Virginia over the past five years, 223 different books have been removed from school library shelves, many of them by more than one school system. However, those removals have been concentrated in a relative handful of communities. Hanover County has removed more books from its school library shelves than any other locality in the state — 125 in all. That one county accounts for more than one-third of the book removals in the state. Along with another four counties — Rockingham County, which removed 57 books, Goochland County with 34, Madison County with 23 and Spotsylvania County with 19 — those five counties alone accounted for 75% of the book removals in the state.
Norfolk cleared to start construction on first phase of floodwall
People passing through the eastern edge of downtown Norfolk will soon see construction for the first phase of the city’s massive floodwall project with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Norfolk Planning Commission recently approved designs for Phase 1A of the more than $2.6 billion project, which the city calls Resilient Norfolk. The effort aims to protect the city from catastrophic flooding during major storms and is part of the Army Corps’ wider Coastal Storm Risk Management program developed after 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. Virginia Beach and the Peninsula are working on CSRM projects but are still in the study phase.
Judge rules in favor of Norfolk city attorney in feud with commonwealth’s attorney
The Norfolk city attorney’s office earned a win in its ongoing feud with Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi over which office has the authority to prosecute misdemeanor cases. A Norfolk Circuit Judge Joseph Lindsey ruled last week the city attorney’s office could continue to prosecute a misdemeanor city code violation appeal. The case involves a man who was charged with being in a park after sunset, a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Norfolk judge rules the city attorney can prosecute some misdemeanors in court
Last week, a Norfolk Circuit Court judge ruled the city’s charter allows the City Attorney’s office the authority to prosecute violations of local ordinances in that court. It’s the latest round in a turf spat between Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko and Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi. Fatehi has sought to prohibit such a decision. The legal ruling stems from an appeal of Virginia Beach resident Jared Fuller's conviction in the General District Court for being in Northside Park after dark at 7:06 p.m. on Nov. 6, a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
Free Narcan, fentanyl testing available through new Richmond vending machines
Richmond is installing new harm reduction vending machines across the city, equipped with free Narcan, fentanyl testing strips and personal hygiene products. “This life-saving program is about meeting people where they are, with compassion and dignity,” Mayor Danny Avula said. The machines are part of the city’s Office of Opioid and Substance Use Response. Officials say the goal is to prevent overdoses and support Richmonders living with substance abuse disorders.