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Virginia House Speaker Scott joins national Democratic campaign board
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, is joining the board of directors of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), the national party’s state-level strategy arm, just as Virginia enters one of its most consequential election years in recent memory. The DLCC will draw on Scott’s experience — alongside that of six other new board members from around the country — to help shape its plans to support state legislative races this year and beyond.
Alexandria police officer awarded full compensatory damages in racial discrimination lawsuit against city
An Alexandria Police Department officer has been awarded full compensatory damages in his racial discrimination lawsuit against the city. Delton Goodrum and his family erupted in tears of joy after the verdict was read. After a four-day-long trial before U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, the jury deliberated for less than three hours to find that then-Police Chief Don Hayes, who is Black, racially discriminated against Goodrum, who is also Black, in his years-long bid to be promoted to Captain.
Facing backlash, School Board shelves editorial oversight changes to Alexandria high school’s student publications
What started as a simple policy change has erupted into a full-blown fight over the First Amendment in Alexandria City Public Schools. Facing backlash from city leaders, the Alexandria School Board officially went back to the drawing board Thursday night (May 8), by announcing that its intended policy changes on the oversight of Alexandria City High School’s student publications have been put on hold.
When Trump visits, the Loudoun sheriff’s office assists with security. But who pays?
When President Donald Trump visits Loudoun County the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office assists in providing protective services to the president but isn't being reimbursed for the cost. On May 5, Trump was transported from Leesburg Executive Airport to the Trump International Golf Course in Lowes Island, in the Sterling area, halting traffic starting at about 6:55 p.m. . . . Sawyer said the LCSO's overtime budget is not designed to support Trump's visits.
City audit finds Richmond Retirement System paid $550K to dead people
The City of Richmond’s retirement system paid out more than $550,000 to 44 deceased retirees over nine years, a new audit found. Most of the money has not been recovered. City Auditor Riad Ali on Friday released an audit of the Richmond Retirement System, which administers the benefits and pensions of former city employees. The new city audit found, among other issues, inadequate oversight of the retirement system, outdated operating procedures and incomplete death audit reports.
Martinsville council member questions legality of city manager pay raise, signals court challenge
A 15 percent raise awarded to City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides has ignited public controversy and deepened divisions among Martinsville City Council members, with at least one council member indicating he will pursue a legal challenge. Following a May 6 community budget meeting, council member Aaron Rawls said that to his knowledge, there had not been a vote on the city manager’s salary increase, but he believes there should be.
Yancey: How George Washington paved the way for the first American pope
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was announced as Pope Leo XIV, people went racing to find some connection to the first American pope. Chicago White Sox supporters found a fellow fan; photos have turned up showing the future pope at a World Series game in 2005. Villanova grads found one of the most impressive alumni notes of all time; some students in the 1970s shared classes with the math major who went on to become pope. There’s no clear Virginia connection that we know of, except for a philosophical and constitutional one: It was Virginians in the 1700s who embraced what was then the radical concept of religious liberty, which allowed the Catholic faith to flourish in a place that once banned its practice.
Virginia overhauls SOL testing to boost student achievement
In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on education policy, Virginia leaders have enacted sweeping changes to the state’s K-12 testing system, aiming to raise student performance and make the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments more meaningful. Despite ongoing political clashes over broader education policy, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and state lawmakers united earlier this month behind a plan they hope will strengthen student outcomes.
Virginia and East coast fishery managers remain vigilant over status of Atlantic striped bass
Virginia fishery managers and others from Maine to North Carolina, as well as members of the public, convened on Tuesday to decide the next steps to protect the future of Atlantic striped bass, a valued and remarkable animal facing consecutive years of low spawning success and an overfished stock. Atlantic striped bass have been referred to as “everyman’s fish” because they are caught by such a wide population of anglers up and down the coast, said Alex McCrickard, the aquatic education coordinator for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Hampton Roads leaders, businesses fear loss of clean energy tax credits
About a decade ago, retired Navy doctor Doug McNeill started getting online advertisements from residential solar companies and decided to do some research. After weighing the costs and benefits of installing a solar system, he chose to put up a 28-panel array on a detached garage at his home in Chesapeake. One big financial factor in McNeill’s calculation was the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which saved him almost $8,000 in upfront costs. “That brought it down by at least a quarter, which made it an easy decision,” he said.