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Friday Read Potomac River catfish are no match for Ernie the Hog Snatcher
In a secret spot on the banks of the Potomac River, just past Georgetown, a fishing rod has begun to twitch. Then it arcs with the weight of what has become Ernest Robinson’s catchphrase: “Big takedown!” “Oh. Oh my God,” says Robinson, an urban fisherman, as the catch puts up a fight. “This joker is not ready to come.” Everything about Robinson, 34, is big. There’s his social media following: Around half a million people watch him fish on both Instagram and TikTok. … Then there are his big takedowns: big blue catfish, which he pursues year-round in these waters because “catfish is the biggest fish that we’ve got in the Potomac,” he says.
5th District GOP primary draws big names, big money
When the motorcoach wrapped in former President Donald Trump’s likeness and “Take America Back” campaign slogan turned the corner into the parking lot of the Louisa County Office of Elections last Wednesday afternoon, a crowd of about four dozen supporters of Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland County, erupted in cheers. For a brief moment, one could have imagined that Trump himself had come to pay a surprise visit to the county of 40,000 in the eastern part of Virginia’s 5th Congressional District, which political observers consider to be ground zero in one of the most viciously fought GOP primary battles nationwide this year — pitting a Trump-endorsed candidate against the chair of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus who orchestrated last year’s ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
No shortage of opinions on Youngkin’s EV decision
In the week following Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s decision to scrap electric vehicle regulations designed by a California environmental board, there were no shortage of opinions on the topic. “It’s literally dangerous, we are going backward by doing that,” said Arif Sikder, an associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. “If other states decided to do the same thing, it’s going to cause more danger for public health [and] global warming.” Youngkin unveiled the decision on June 6 at a Chester car dealership, just one day after the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board met. With it, he is reversing guidelines that the General Assembly adopted in 2021.
Virginia House and Senate will take up military tuition benefit on different days
For much of the past week, some Virginia political leaders have been conveying a message that the General Assembly will undo a recent policy change that angered military families. But it became clear Thursday that the state Senate and House of Delegates haven’t agreed yet on a way out of the controversy surrounding the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program. The program waives college tuition expenses for spouses and children of military members who were killed or severely disabled as a result of their service. Senate leaders announced their chamber will return to Richmond on June 18, which is 10 days before the June 28 date the House had already selected. That schedule raises numerous logistical questions about what might happen if the two legislative chambers meet on different days to try to pass different bills on the same topic.
Decision to ditch the Virginia School Boards Association sparks public protest
On May 20th, the Orange County Board of Education met, and without notifying the public or allowing the community to comment, voted to leave the Virginia School Boards Association. Member Darlene Dawson said she had attended a VSBA event and was not happy. “They lobby for many things that I, on principle, stand against,” she explains. “If you try to disagree with them they will shut you down. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve listened to recordings where they mock our governor and anyone who holds a conservative viewpoint, which I’ve been very clear that I do.”
Gov. Glenn Youngkin visits Suffolk, touts signing of 31 mental health-related bills
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin paid a visit to Hampton Roads Thursday, promoting 31 bills recently signed into law, all with the goal of improving mental health care. He touted the 31 bipartisan bills during a ceremony at the Western Tidewater Community Services Board facility in Suffolk. Among them is the newly-signed “Irvo’s Law,” named after Irvo Otieno, 28, who died in custody last March after a mental health crisis. Otieno’s mother, Caroline Ouko joined the ceremony Thursday, saying Gov. Youngkin “kept his promise” in establishing legislation after her son’s death.
Virginia Senate to convene Tuesday to discuss military tuition program
The Virginia Senate will reconvene Tuesday to address recent changes to a state program that covers higher education costs for some military families, Senate Democrats announced in a release. In the recently approved budget, lawmakers scaled back the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program to lighten the cost burden on state colleges and universities after program participation increased exponentially over the last four years.
Trump backs Hogan in Md., teases Va. Gov. Youngkin as potential running mate
Donald Trump said he will support longtime critic Republican Larry Hogan in the Maryland Senate race, putting to rest speculation that the former president would attack Hogan — and delighting Democrats eager to keep the must-win seat in their hands. When asked about Hogan, Trump told Fox News on Thursday that Republicans have “got to take the majority” and that he would “like to see him win. … When asked in the same Fox interview with Aishah Hasnie about Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), Trump said he “could consider” making Youngkin his running mate — though it was in breezy comments that he contradicted ...
Loudoun approves first all-affordable multifamily via fast-track pilot
Loudoun County on Wednesday approved rezoning for a 100% affordable multifamily project, part of a pilot program aimed at fast-tracking review of applications that promise attainable homes. The project calls for 80 below-market rate attached units on 3.1-acres in Sterling. The property is near the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Magnolia Road adjacent to Northrop Grumman’s campus.
Warren County Democrats Host Sen. Kaine, 6th District Candidate at Pre-Primary Event
You may be a minority in your home community, but in statewide and national elections every vote is very important. That was one of the messages conveyed by Virginia’s U.S. Senator Tim Kaine during a luncheon gathering ...