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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.
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.
Va. House Republicans pick Del. Kilgore as new leader
Republicans in the House of Delegates on Sunday chose Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, as their new leader. The chamber's prior GOP leader, former Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, is a candidate to become the next U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.
Funding cuts tearing holes in region’s health care safety net, officials say
Federal and state funding cuts, freezes and delayed payments are hammering Richmond’s free clinics, the region’s health care safety net, officials from the groups told a community town hall at Health Brigade’s clinic near Scott’s Addition. The cuts, some of which date back to last year, have been particularly deep for services for prevention and treatment of HIV, the virus than can cause AIDS. It also leaves people vulnerable to difficult-to-treat tuberculosis and other contagious disease.
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 Dem-backed school cellphone ban
Governor Glenn Youngkin spent Friday in Hopewell where he ceremonially signed a bill authored by state Democrats that will ban cellphones in the state’s public schools. ... Youngkin started pushing cellphone-free schools years ago, but only after an effort was approved by Democrats in the legislature earlier this year did it become a reality. “We know that a cell phone free classroom is good for instruction, it's good for classroom dynamics and it's good for the overall school day and school environment,” Henrico Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg, one of the authors of the bill signed by Youngkin Friday, told Radio IQ.
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.