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Chesley: An appreciation: Jerrauld C. Jones
Rare is the time when a state legislator — through the power of his own personal, painful narrative — changes the minds of colleagues. Jerrauld C. Jones, given that platform on the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates in January 1999 as he discussed the Confederate battle flag, displayed an oratory so gut-wrenching, so authentic, that he swayed opposing delegates to his side. There’s nothing I can compare it to in the General Assembly since that moment.
Williams: Defund the police? America gutted the rule of law, instead
Richmond was burning five years ago, at least metaphorically, in a way it hadn’t since the last days of the Civil War. People were marching the streets demanding justice in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis police officer. Police tear-gassed demonstrators, including families with children, at the Robert E. Lee monument, ahead of a curfew. Two days later, about 1,000 people showed up at the doorstep of Richmond City Hall in a show of fury that clearly unnerved then-Mayor Levar Stoney.
Youngkin: Virginia’s goal is zero maternal deaths
After sitting down Tuesday with Asher Escobar Perone, 3, by his left arm and little Harlem Steele, 6, by his right to ceremonially sign two maternal health bills, Gov. Glenn Youngkin set a new target for Virginia: Zero maternal deaths in childbirth and the often-challenging months thereafter. In an appearance at Bon Secours – Southside Medical Center in Petersburg, Youngkin highlighted Senate Bill 1279, sponsored by state Sen. Emily Jordan, R-Isle of Wight, and House Bill 2753, sponsored by Del. Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake. The measures, which Youngkin previously signed into law, say hospitals and birth centers will need to have standard protocols for some of the most dangerous ailments surrounding childbirth ...
Trump voters call president’s pardon of corrupt Virginia sheriff ‘a terrific mistake’
When Donald Trump pardoned former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins last week, the president called him a "victim" who had been "persecuted by the Radical Left 'monsters' and 'left for dead.'" Jenkins is an outspoken supporter of Trump. The reprieve spared Jenkins from what Trump called an "unfair sentence" — 10 years for bribery, conspiracy, and honest services fraud — just before the former sheriff was to start serving it. More than 60% of voters in Culpeper backed Trump in last year's election. But many there, including Trump supporters, say pardoning the former sheriff was wrong.
Youngkin: No conflict in Board of Education member’s work for Trump
Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Tuesday that Amber Northern will remain on the Virginia Board of Education and that her work as a senior adviser to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon does not pose a conflict of interest. “There is no conflict here,” Youngkin said in Petersburg after an event where he highlighted measures to improve maternal health. “We’ve looked into this in depth,” he said.
Virginia law offers hope for U.S.-born children of parents facing deportation
As President Donald Trump deports the parents of U.S. born children, advocates are pushing a Virginia law that was designed to provide hope for families the administration is targeting. The law, authored by Senator Creigh Deeds, allows a parent to name a specific person as a standby guardian in case there is a “qualifying event” which disposes of the parent. It was originally passed in the 90’s to help the children of those dying from AIDS. But in 2021, at the urging of activists, Deeds updated the law with unanimous legislative support to include parents who are undocumented and facing deportation.
In Fairfax, Earle-Sears pushes Trump agenda with national GOP leader
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears came to deep-blue Northern Virginia with the leader of the national Republican party on Tuesday to push the agenda of President Donald Trump — particularly in protecting voter ballots — to volunteers in her campaign for governor. Earle-Sears and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley told about 40 campaign volunteers they want them to reach into every Virginia community — regardless of race, ethnicity, gender and age — in statewide and House of Delegates elections this year to carry Trump’s message on energy, education, jobs and public safety, while ensuring the integrity of elections.
Special election to fill Rep. Connolly’s seat officially set
In what is already a banner year for political campaigns in Virginia, voters in the 11th Congressional District will make an extra trip to the polls in early September to choose a successor to the late Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly. Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) announced on Tuesday that a special election for the congressional seat will be held Sept. 9, formally opening another competitive race in a state that will also pick a new governor and elect two more statewide officials and 100 state delegates.
State touts low recidivism rate. Corrections’ own research says it’s due to COVID-19.
Last week, Virginia’s prison system announced it had achieved a “best-in-class” recidivism rate. Compared with 31 other states across the United States, Virginia announced the lowest rate of prisoners committing new crimes and returning into the prison system. Of the more than 12,000 individuals released from prison, 17.6% had returned to prison within three years, the Virginia Department of Corrections said. ... However, the achievement appears to be because of the effect of COVID-19 on Virginia’s court system, the department’s research team wrote in a note that was not mentioned in the agency’s news release.
Del. Gilbert reflects on tenure as House GOP leader
Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, has stepped down as Minority Leader in the Virginia House of Delegates, ending more than a decade in party leadership and formally clearing the path for Del. Terry Kilgore, R-Scott County, to lead the Republican caucus into the 2025 election. Gilbert’s leadership tenure included a two-year term as Virginia’s 57th Speaker of the House, beginning in 2022. Gilbert confirmed in an interview Monday that his decision to step aside was entirely driven by the ongoing federal selection process for the U.S. Attorney post in Virginia’s Western District.