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Rogers: Virginia Beach School Board poised to remove student, staff protections
It was only 71 years ago, on May 17, 1954, that Brown v. Board of Education was decided and segregation was deemed unconstitutional in all schools across the country. However, instead of complying with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, school districts such as Norfolk chose to completely shut their doors ... Virginia Beach City Public Schools has worked since 1961 to distance itself from its past of segregation ... On April 8, all the work being done to support Virginia Beach students began to unravel. The School Board majority, per their own resolution, has demanded a suspension of all programs that support diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
International student workers expected to return for summer tourism season, despite immigration crackdown
Balancing a tray of folded white cloth napkins and shiny cutlery, Wattanacorn Meemaijon of Thailand began to set a table inside Becca Restaurant & Garden at The Cavalier Hotel on a recent afternoon. The fourth-year college student majoring in industrial engineering is one of dozens of international student workers temporarily living in Virginia Beach for a summer work and travel program under a J-1 visa. ... As the Trump administration has implemented stricter vetting procedures for visa applicants, and tariffs have cooled Canadians’ appetite for travel to the U.S., tourism industry leaders are wary of any potential impacts.... However, the policy changes at the federal level don’t seem to be affecting the summer work and travel program, according to several local employers and the State Department.
Richmond’s monuments still sitting at wastewater plant 5 years after murder of George Floyd
A half-decade after Richmond’s Confederate monuments fell, Del. Mike Jones, D-Richmond, said he would gladly trade their return for functional civilian oversight of Richmond police — and other signs of what he called “real progress.” “As abhorrent as they are, give me life, give me real justice. You can keep your monuments,” said Jones, who was Richmond’s 9th District City Councilman from 2017 until 2024. “S— didn’t change when they came down.”
Prosecutor dispute in Norfolk heating up
A feud between Norfolk city leaders and Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi was on display in court [last] week as attorneys argued who has authority to handle several cases. At least one case was delayed until July as City Attorney Bernard Pishko and Fatehi laid claim. [The prior] week, Fatehi forbid Pishko’s office from prosecuting all Norfolk Circuit Court misdemeanor cases. Fatehi made the decision after Norfolk City Council members — unhappy with how shoplifting cases were handled — authorized the City Attorney’s Office to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting offenses.
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 Karen Graham of the Loudoun Times-Mirror, Bill Atkinson of the Progress-Index, and VPM's Ben Paviour. They discuss the week's top headlines: coal magnates giving campaign funds for casinos, recall petitions in Purcellville, and Hopewell's city manager firing. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Former CIA officer files as GOP challenger to Don Beyer
A Vienna man who spent more than 15 years working with the CIA and Secret Service is seeking to unseat longtime U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D). Running as a Republican, Anthony “Tony” Sabio formally declared his candidacy on Wednesday for the 2026 election in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District. Sabio, who was born in Puerto Rico but settled in Northern Virginia following six years in the U.S. Navy, will officially kick off his campaign [this] week, he told ARLnow. Billing himself as a “battle-tested patriot,” the 50-year-old argues that his life experiences make him a stronger fighter for “everyday Americans” than long-tenured legislators.
Virginia Supreme Court ruling in autistic boy’s case makes clear: School boards immune from most lawsuits
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the Newport News School Board maintains broad immunity from personal injury lawsuits — a ruling expected to have implications on litigation against school boards across the state. In a unanimous decision May 8, the court said the School Board is immune from a $15 million lawsuit brought by the family of a 9-year-old autistic student who alleges he was assaulted and mistreated on a school bus in September 2022. That case will proceed against two other named defendants — a school bus driver and bus monitor — and the School Board will still be on the hook for paying their lawyer fees and any resulting judgments.
George Floyd’s death prompted calls for police reform. What changed in Virginia?
Five years have passed since the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Floyd’s death was the latest in a string of high-profile killings of Black men by law enforcement. Video filmed by a bystander went viral and catalyzed the Black Lives Matter movement into months of nationwide protests. Richmond — with its attention-grabbing Confederate monuments — became the eye of the storm in Virginia. The pressure revived criticisms of the Richmond Police Department from 2018, after the death of Marcus-David Peters, and drew fresh criticisms after the same department deployed tear gas on protesters.
What happens to Medicaid in Virginia if massive federal bill to slash billions becomes law?
[Last] week, Republicans in the U.S. House of Delegates advanced a mega bundle of bills designed to shave billions from the federal budget, which Democrats and advocates have said will take resources from the nation’s most vulnerable citizens and hinder social safety nets. Virginia’s congressional delegation was split along partisan lines on the measure, which cleared the House by one vote and is now up for consideration in the U.S. Senate. The 1,116-page package contains 11 total bills and is championed by President Donald Trump, and supported by Virginia’s Republican federal lawmakers including U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman, Jen Kiggans, John McGuire, Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith.
Jamestown loses federal grant for protection against rising waters
The Trump administration has canceled a $300,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant awarded to the Jamestown Rediscovery Foundation last year. The grant, from NEH’s Climate Smart Humanities Organizations program, was intended to support mitigation strategies at Historic Jamestowne, which continues to be under threat from rising sea levels. Since 2022, when Jamestown was listed as one of the 11 most endangered historic sites by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Save Jamestown campaign has been raising money to protect the site from climate change.