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Leighty: How America drifted from shared power to centralized control
The government of the United States was never designed to be efficient. It was designed to be safe — from tyranny. Having just fought a war to escape centralized power, the founders intentionally created a government that divided authority in every possible direction. They built a system of pluralistic governance — one that splits power across three branches (executive, legislative, judicial) and three levels (federal, state and local). It was a system of friction by design, built to slow down decision-making so no one person — or branch — could dominate.
Jerrauld Jones—civil rights pioneer, judge and state delegate—dies at 70
Jerrauld C. Jones, a longtime judge and state delegate, has died at 70. Jones became one of the first African-American students to integrate Ingleside Elementary School in 1961 and later the Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg in 1967. ... He became the first African American law clerk to the Supreme Court of Virginia, served as a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates for 14 years, represented Norfolk’s 89th District and served as the long-time chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus.
Williams: Asians beware. MAGA doesn’t care about racial justice
The prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology — a Northern Virginia magnet school not to be confused with Richmond’s TJ — has become yet another Trump administration battleground in its war on diversity, equity and inclusion. At issue is an admissions process, adopted by the Fairfax County School Board in 2020, that a parents group argued was biased against Asian applicants. A lower court agreed, but the Richmond-based U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that ruling in May 2023. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the matter.
Warner discusses affordable housing in Williamsburg
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner said housing needs “more fresh ideas” during a Thursday community roundtable focused on affordable housing. More than 40 people, including Williamsburg and James City County civic, community and faith leaders, filled the Williamsburg Community Building to listen to Warner’s ideas on increasing the housing supply and helping homeowners. Among the initiatives he discussed was the historic tax credit, which provides state tax credit to property owners helping to rehabilitate historic buildings.
Vienna energy expert launches bid for 11th Congressional District seat
A special election to fill the late Rep. Gerry Connolly’s now-open seat in Congress still hasn’t been officially ordered, but the number of Democrats seeking to stake a claim is now up to six. Amy Roma, a Vienna resident and lawyer who specializes in energy policy, officially launched a campaign for the 11th Congressional District yesterday (Thursday) — the same day that Leopoldo Martínez, who’s also a lawyer, announced his own bid to become the Democratic nominee.
Women’s rights group launches ad campaign against Spanberger in Virginia: ‘She’s an extremist’
Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia, is portraying herself as a centrist ahead of a competitive race to replace Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) in November. But one women’s rights group believes the former representative’s voting record during her time in Congress reflects an “extreme, anti-woman” agenda. Independent Women’s Voice launched a campaign [last] week to educate Virginia voters on Spanberger’s Democratic record.
Legislators suggest Virginia needs to take more active role in food safety
Virginia may need to enact more food safety requirements at the state level in response to cutbacks and deregulation efforts by the Trump administration, two legislators and several advocates said at a recent forum. “We have historically, in my opinion, not done the kind of oversight we need to do. We’ve let the federal government do most of it,” Del. Mark Sickles (D-17) said during the press event on May 28. Sickles, who chairs the Virginia General Assembly’s House Committee on Health and Human Services and represents the Franconia and Huntington areas in Fairfax County, was joined by state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-15), chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health.
Youngkin signs Virginia law limiting ‘bell-to-bell’ cellphone use in public schools
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law Friday limiting cellphone use for all Virginia public elementary, middle and high school students. Youngkin, who built his political career championing parents' rights in education, ceremoniously signed two versions of the bill, HB1961 and SB738, at the Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, Virginia. Youngkin said it was a fitting location for a day filled with such "hope."
From VPAP New Episode: The Virginia Press Room Podcast
In the latest episode of the podcast from VaNews and VPM, Michael Pope is joined by Elizabeth Beyer of Cardinal News, Tyler Englander of WRIC ABC 8, and Chris Suarez of VPM. They discuss the week's top headlines: Virginia's western congressional delegation forming a search committee for a U.S. attorney position, new campaign ads, and Richmond's second water crisis. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Youngkin: FEMA review won’t affect hurricane response
President Donald Trump’s call for dramatic reform of FEMA is on a fast track but won’t affect current preparations for this year’s hurricane season, said Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who serves on the panel that will recommend ways to transform the agency. The Federal Emergency Management Agency leads the nation’s response to natural disasters, and Trump has called the agency “a very big disappointment” that is too costly and too bureaucratic.