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Female athletes, including one from UVa, appeal NCAA settlement, saying it violates federal antidiscrimination law
Eight female athletes filed an appeal Wednesday of a landmark NCAA antitrust settlement, arguing that women would not receive their fair share of $2.7 billion in back pay for athletes who were barred from making money off their name, image and likeness. U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken approved the settlement last week, clearing the way for direct payments from universities to athletes and the end of the NCAA’s amateurism model. The athletes who appealed the settlement competed in soccer, volleyball and track. They [include] Kate Johnson of Virginia. They have standing to appeal because they previously filed objections to the proposed settlement.
No, Not That Lee. Pentagon Finds Black Hero to Rechristen Base Long Named for Robert E.
In its latest move to undo diversity efforts, the Army announced this week that it had found ways to restore the names of seven installations that long venerated Confederate heroes. But in the case of Fort Lee in Prince George County, Va., the Pentagon did it with a curious twist. Rather than restore the name of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the Confederate commander who defended slavery, the Army found Pvt. Fitz Lee, who was Black and fought in the Spanish-American War. Private Lee, who had kidney disease, died in 1899 within months of being awarded a Medal of Honor.
FBI leaders seek to move some training from Quantico, Virginia, to Alabama; Youngkin questions proposal
FBI leadership is pushing to move one of the bureau’s elite training academies from Quantico, Virginia, to Huntsville, Alabama, according to multiple people familiar with the plan who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a proposal that has not yet been made public. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino’s effort to relocate the National Academy — a 10-week training program for local and international law enforcement and federal agents who are not with the FBI — is part of the Trump administration’s broader goal of shrinking the bureau’s footprint in the Washington, D.C., area and relocating personnel to Huntsville.
Henrico, Hanover come to the table to discuss water
The governments of Hanover and Henrico held a joint meeting Wednesday in the wake of two Richmond water outages this year that left county leaders “frustrated.” The topic of conversation: how do the two counties work with Richmond and Chesterfield to make sure it doesn’t happen again? Henrico and Hanover have been talking about the need for regional oversight since January.
Democrats, Republicans fight after Cuccinelli’s UVa appointment blocked in committee vote
Ken Cuccinelli, class of 1991 alumnus and former Virginia Attorney General, will not be confirmed as a member of the University's Board of Visitors — at least according to a Virginia Senate committee, run by Democrats. The Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted not to confirm Cuccinelli’s appointment Tuesday on a party line vote, eight to four, with three Republicans absent. The Committee also blocked appointees to the Board of Visitors at other Virginia schools. The Cavalier Daily reached out to Cuccinelli, but he declined to comment. Republicans say that this is not the end of the road for Cuccinelli’s appointment.
Trump and Army plan to restore name of Fort Lee — but not for that Lee
President Donald Trump and the U.S. Army plan to restore the names of seven bases that had been named for Confederate officers. But the Army says the restored names, such as Virginia’s Fort Lee, Fort Pickett and Fort A.P. Hill, will not honor the Confederate officers, but decorated service members who had the same last names as the Confederates. For instance, the Army plans to rename the former Fort Lee in Prince George County — now Fort Gregg-Adams — for Fitz Lee, a Black Buffalo Soldier who received the Medal of Honor for helping rescue wounded comrades under fire during the Spanish American War.
Norfolk School Board fires superintendent in surprise 4-3 vote
A closely divided Norfolk School Board voted Wednesday to remove Superintendent Sharon Byrdsong as the school system faces demands from Norfolk City Council to close at least 10 schools. The vote was 4-3 with School Board Chair Sarah DiCalogero, and members Jason Inge, Tiffany Moore-Buffaloe and Tanya Bhasin voting to terminate Byrdsong’s contract without cause. Vice chair Alfreda Thomas, members Adale Martin and Kenneth Paulson voted against the resolution. In remarks before the vote, Paulson said the firing was in direct response to a May memo Byrdsong sent the board criticizing what she said was dysfunction and a loss of trust between the School Board and the public.
Long-awaited effort to limit data center noise in Prince William County hits a snag
A nearly three-year effort to revise Prince William County’s noise ordinance to limit the constant, annoying low-pitched roar emitted by some data centers will be delayed because further testing is needed to enforce the new rules. The county formed a special committee of residents and county staff and hired three different consultants to work on the new ordinance, an effort that has so far taken about two years. But one of the three consultants — a specialist on enforcement — said more testing is needed to devise a better way to identify the source of problem noise.
Norfolk School Board terminates Superintendent Byrdsong’s contract effective immediately
The Norfolk School Board has voted to terminate the contract of Superintendent Sharon I. Byrdsong, effective immediately. The contract was terminated without cause, according to the motion. The School Board made the decision after emerging from a closed session. Byrdsong was appointed superintendent of Norfolk schools in February 2020. She has worked with the Norfolk Public Schools for over 20 years. ... A large crowd of citizens was on hand for the vote, with many chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, it’s the School Board that must go” as they exited following the vote.
$2.5M in unclaimed money heading to Virginians this week thanks to new law
The state is mailing roughly $2.5 million in unclaimed money to Virginians this week. Some of that money could be yours. The Virginia Department of Treasury's Unclaimed Property Division is doling out checks for everything from funds in lost or misplaced bank accounts and unpaid wages to uncashed checks, utility deposits, refunds or insurance policy proceeds. The department has always collected and held this money for residents, but previously, one had to file a claim with the state to get it back. Under a new law, Virginia is automatically returning the money to its "rightful owners."