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Youngkin senior adviser denies Reid’s extortion allegation
Matthew Moran, senior political adviser to Gov. Glenn Youngkin, issued a sworn affidavit on Wednesday denying accusations that he defamed or attempted to extort Republican lieutenant governor candidate John Reid over sexually explicit images on an online account allegedly linked to the candidate. The images prompted Youngkin on Friday to ask Reid to withdraw from the race. Reid says the Tumblr account is not his and that he did not repost the images. He says he is staying in the contest.
Youngkin PAC director breaks silence on Reid controversy
Matt Moran, executive director of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s political action committee, broke his silence Wednesday in the escalating feud with Republican lieutenant governor nominee John Reid — accusing Reid’s campaign of knowing about a controversial Tumblr account before the governor called for him to step aside. Moran’s response — delivered in part through an attorney and in part in a sworn affidavit — outlines a detailed timeline that he says shows Reid was given a chance to review the material but skipped the meeting. Moran also claims Reid’s campaign manager, Noah Jennings, acknowledged knowing of the account’s existence and asked for help finding clients this summer.
Hampton hopes to redevelop Fort Monroe into a landmark. Years of stagnation have slowed it.
At a historic site that’s been hampered by development setbacks for years, officials said ongoing projects will help Fort Monroe look completely different a year from now. Virginia took over the 565-acre former Army base in 2011 and planned to restore and convert it for private development. Those plans have since been nixed due to rising project costs and uncertainty surrounding potentially hazardous materials still sitting on the fort’s grounds.
Charlottesville beats out UVa for Trump-shuttered Federal Executive Institute
The Charlottesville school division has come out on top in a contest for the Federal Executive Institute property shuttered by the Trump administration earlier this year — beating out well-heeled competitor the University of Virginia. On Wednesday morning, the U.S. Department of Education approved Charlottesville City School’s application to acquire the 14-acre site — last assessed at $19.6 million — completely free of charge via a “public benefit allowance” available to educational institutions through the Federal Real Property Assistance Program.
Morgan: Forget DEI. For Spanberger, Earle-Sears, these K-12 issues matter more
Virginia’s gubernatorial election campaign season is gearing up, along with the usual barrage of dark money campaign ads with their grainy, unflattering pictures and histrionic narration. In 2021, Glenn Youngkin rode the hot-button education issues of “parental rights” and “critical race theory” to the governor’s mansion. Upon taking office, he even established a tip line to report the teaching of “divisive concepts” in public schools. Alas, the tip line didn’t generate much.
Speasmaker: UVa needs to stand up for its physicians
The extremely public and disparaging attacks on the credibility of the University of Virginia physicians’ motives for bringing their concerns to the UVa Board of Visitors were, at the very least, grossly inappropriate in decorum and stature. They require a thoughtful response.
Suffolk Public School Board suspends equity policy
In a 4-3 vote, the Suffolk School Board voted to suspend Board policy section 1-5.1:2 titled, “Education Equity Defined; Guiding Questions; Equity Goals; Equity Measurements; Key Terms” in order to comply with state and federal education department’s requests. The policy defines “education equity” as “fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers.”
Youngkin hails 44% drop in Va.’s fentanyl-related deaths
Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Tuesday that fentanyl overdose deaths in Virginia dropped 44% from 2023 to 2024. Preliminary figures show Virginia saw 1,086 such deaths in 2024, down from 1,939 in 2023, according to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office at the Virginia Department of Health.
ODU breaks ground on $184M biosciences building
Old Dominion University on Monday broke ground on the biggest capital construction project in the 95-year-old university’s history — a new biological sciences building. The planned five-story, 162,586 square-foot building will be located on ODU‘s campus in Norfolk, near the university’s Oceanography and Mills Godwin Life Sciences buildings.
Spanberger shares hope of sweeping victory with Albemarle Democrats
Former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger made a tour of the Charlottesville area Sunday, speaking to students at an event hosted by University Democrats before heading out west to speak to local Democrats about this year’s gubernatorial election. The event at the Greencroft Club, a fundraiser for the Albemarle County Democratic Party, was filled with supporters and local politicians — all expressing enthusiasm about Democrats’ chances this November.