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Richmond school bus drivers fired after speaking about overtime pay
A union says Richmond Public Schools fired five bus drivers after speaking up about overtime pay at a school board meeting. But the district says the firings came after an unlawful strike. It's the latest in a multiyear controversy over whether RPS bus drivers are being paid overtime for hours they haven't worked, which an audit found last year has cost the district about $150,000 per month. The school bus drivers' union, LiUNA Local 804, has disputed the allegations.
State inspector general announces investigation into Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center
Tuesday, the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG) announced it will open an investigation into the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center, which is Virginia's only youth prison. The news comes in response to a request from the Commission on Youth amid "disturbing reports" of incidents at the facility in recent months.
Youngkin and Miyares announce new investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools
On Tuesday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares said they were outraged over 7News' exclusive report about Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) investigating three male students who complained about the presence of a biological female in the boys' locker room at Stone Bridge High School. “It’s deeply concerning to read reports of yet another incident in Loudoun County schools where members of the opposite sex are violating the privacy of students in locker rooms. Even more alarming, the victims of this violation are the ones being investigated—this is beyond belief ..." said Governor Glenn Youngkin in a statement.
Fairfax Supervisor James Walkinshaw declares candidacy for Congress
A former longtime adviser to Rep. Gerry Connolly appears to be running to succeed his political mentor. James Walkinshaw, a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for the past five years, filed paperwork today (Tuesday) to formally seek the Democratic nomination for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. Walkinshaw’s campaign sent out a mass text to supporters announcing his candidacy this afternoon.
Gerry Connolly backs former chief of staff to fill his Northern Virginia seat
A former aide to Rep. Gerry Connolly has quickly jumped into the race to replace the longtime member of Congress from Northern Virginia — with the blessing of his former boss. James Walkinshaw, a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors who served as Connolly’s chief of staff for more than a decade, cast himself as a fierce opponent of President Donald Trump’s agenda as he announced his candidacy Tuesday for the seat in the heavily Democratic suburb of Washington.
Will politics keep Canadians away from Virginia Beach? The local tourism industry hopes not
With U.S. destinations reporting double-digit drops in Canadian tourists amid political tensions, Virginia Beach is hoping to keep its largest group of international travelers from looking elsewhere. Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney met at the White House to try and simmer down tensions between the neighboring countries related to ongoing trade disputes and "51st state" rhetoric from Trump. At least on the U.S. side of things, the fallout has been swift in recent months, with double digit percentage drops in Canadian tourism to many American destinations in protest of U.S. politics.
Virginia Beach council supports referendum on voting system
Virginia Beach voters will likely find a referendum on the city’s voting system on their ballots this November after City Council approved asking a court to place it on the ballot. After hearing 14 passionate speakers, council members on Tuesday voted 7-4 in favor of having the referendum.
Chairman of Virginia GOP says Youngkin did not consult him before calling on Reid to drop out
The chairman of the Virginia Republican Party says Gov. Glenn Youngkin did not consult him before asking the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor to withdraw from the race last month over alleged social media postings. Youngkin called on John Reid, the nominee for Virginia’s lieutenant governor, to leave the race last month in response to alleged findings surfaced by GOP researchers. Virginia Sen. Mark Peake, the chairman of the state’s Republican Party, told WTOP that Youngkin made that call without his input.
Richmond school system, bus drivers clash over alleged strike and firing of five employees
Tensions between Richmond Public Schools and the union that represents its bus drivers are at an all-time high after the division fired five drivers earlier this month over what it says was an unlawful strike that led to the cancellation of afterschool activities for thousands of students. Chris Hollins, the assistant business manager with LiUNA Local 804, on Sunday said the union plans to file a lawsuit in Richmond Circuit Court over the firings, as well as a federal lawsuit against RPS for infringing on the workers’ freedom of speech and freedom of assembly rights.
Virginia Beach council votes to put election system question on November ballot
Voters in Virginia Beach will have the opportunity to cast a vote for the method in which they want to elect their City Council members. Seven of 11 council members voted Tuesday in favor of a charter change referendum on the election system to be placed on the November ballot. The referendum question would ask voters whether they want to keep the current single-member district system or if they support a voting system with some at-large seats on council.