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Democrats reach historic goal: A full slate in Virginia House races
For the first time in recent memory, Virginia Democrats have candidates running in all 100 House of Delegates districts — a milestone party leaders and grassroots organizers say reflects rising momentum as President Donald Trump’s second term continues to galvanize opposition. Rocco DeBellis, a 57-year-old chef, Bronx native, and Cape Charles resident, filed this week to run in House District 100, making it the final district to be contested and completing the Democrats’ full slate.
Death of Virginia Beach Autistic Boy Renews Questions About the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Schools
The week before he died, Josh Sikes had problems at school. He overturned his desk and broke a teacher’s glasses on Halloween. Amid a long behavioral episode on Oct.31, he was restricted to a “safe” or “calming” area in a classroom overseen by Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs, a regional consortium serving eight communities in Hampton Roads. What happened in that area is now the subject of multiple investigations. Josh was 11, a fourth-grader on the autism spectrum, with ADHD and an intellectual disability. He attended Pembroke Elementary School in Virginia Beach, but he was a student within a SECEP classroom, taught by special education teachers and learning among other children.
A Salacious Saga Engulfs the Virginia G.O.P. and Weakens Youngkin
When Gov. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia found out that Republican research had linked the G.O.P.’s nominee for lieutenant governor to a blog featuring photos of naked men, he tried to save his party from an embarrassing situation. Mr. Youngkin called the candidate, John Reid, a longtime conservative talk radio host in Richmond, and told him he needed to abandon his campaign because the website was certain to be discovered and would tank the party’s entire ticket. ... Then a funny thing happened. Mr. Reid did not quit. Instead, he posted a five-minute video to social media noting that he is gay and explaining that he had watched pornography and had one-night stands in the past. The Republican base in Virginia quickly rallied around him.
New James Madison University president talks DEI, research funds in first interview
JMU’s soon-to-be President James “Jim” Schmidt will inherit a university still raw from uncertainty stemming from the federal level — including diversity, equity and inclusion cuts and changes to federal funding. Schmidt, who’s the current University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire chancellor, sat down with The Breeze to discuss JMU’s current state and the responsibilities he will take over with his title come July 1. When discussing JMU’s decision, Schmidt referenced the Feb. 14 “Dear Colleague” letter released by the Department of Education, which affirmed U.S. schools’ commitment to nondiscrimination based on race. Schmidt said this letter provided a framework for many public institutions’ decisions to dismantle their DEI divisions.
Former Henrico NICU nurse now facing 20 charges
Eight new charges have been handed down to former Henrico Doctors’ Hospital nurse Erin Strotman, meaning the former health professional now faces a total of 20 charges in the ongoing investigation into the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The charges were issued by the Commonwealth, which also motioned in a court hearing on Wednesday, May 7 that Strotman’s current bond be revoked. Prosecutors argued they were in a different place in their investigation as of Wednesday, now that Strotman faces 18 more charges than she did at the time of her arrest in January.
Misjuns asks about waste, fraud in survey sent to Lynchburg city employees
Lynchburg At-large Councilman Martin Misjuns sent an online survey to city employees Monday morning asking them to identify any waste and fraud they may have seen in the operations of city government. In the email, Misjuns said the survey is part of his “commitment to collaborate with the City Manager on effective governance” and the survey results will help “enhance our financial oversight.” . . . Misjuns said the survey was not coordinated with the city manager’s office, which did not know it was going to be sent out Monday morning.
Delegate candidates speak on crime, guns, solar panels
The Three Rivers Republican Women’s Club held its third annual candidate forum on April 30. Candidates running for the House of Delegates in the 84th and 89th districts answered questions posed by the audience about local issues. Felisha Storm (R) is running for Delegate in the 84th district. Mike Lamonea (R) and Kristen Shannon (R) are running for Delegate in the 89th district. The forum was moderated by Kerry Dougherty from WTAR.
Richmond school bus drivers fired after speaking about overtime pay
A union says Richmond Public Schools fired five bus drivers after speaking up about overtime pay at a school board meeting. But the district says the firings came after an unlawful strike. It's the latest in a multiyear controversy over whether RPS bus drivers are being paid overtime for hours they haven't worked, which an audit found last year has cost the district about $150,000 per month. The school bus drivers' union, LiUNA Local 804, has disputed the allegations.
Will politics keep Canadians away from Virginia Beach? The local tourism industry hopes not
With U.S. destinations reporting double-digit drops in Canadian tourists amid political tensions, Virginia Beach is hoping to keep its largest group of international travelers from looking elsewhere. Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney met at the White House to try and simmer down tensions between the neighboring countries related to ongoing trade disputes and "51st state" rhetoric from Trump. At least on the U.S. side of things, the fallout has been swift in recent months, with double digit percentage drops in Canadian tourism to many American destinations in protest of U.S. politics.
State inspector general announces investigation into Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center
Tuesday, the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG) announced it will open an investigation into the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center, which is Virginia's only youth prison. The news comes in response to a request from the Commission on Youth amid "disturbing reports" of incidents at the facility in recent months.