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Va.’s first anti-hazing summit held at VCU, hosted by family of freshman who died after frat party
Eric Oakes’ voice cracked for a moment when he reflected on the Virginia Hazing Prevention Summit he’d helped host at Virginia Commonwealth University Tuesday. Three years after the death of his son, Adam Oakes, the pain lingers but so does inspiration. “It was great seeing everybody collaborate and come together,” Oakes told reporters following a day-long gathering on VCU’s campus June 4. “I know Adam’s was the extreme of hazing, but there’s so much physical and mental damage done by hazing. It needs to be eradicated.” Oakes was a college freshman when he died of alcohol poisoning after a fraternity party hazing event in 2021.
Yancey: Bears are back, and they have long memories
Dear Local Bear: I see you’re back. Or maybe you’re a different bear from the one who hung around last summer and banged on the window one day after one of my indoor cats said something to you that was admittedly quite unneighborly of her. In any case, I don’t mind you trespassing on my property — living out here in the woods of Botetourt County, I accept that sort of thing. However, on your most recent nocturnal visit, you had the audacity to engage in vandalism and destruction of property. Not only did you toss the contents of the supposedly bear-proof trash can, you broke the door handles off my locked car! I know it was you, but you also left your muddy paw prints on my wife’s car.
Virginia moves closer to extending passenger rail to the New River Valley
The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority on Tuesday announced that it is in preliminary discussions with Norfolk Southern about an alternative way to extend passenger rail to the New River Valley that would avoid a costly tunnel upgrade and make it easier to eventually bring service to Bristol. After receiving information earlier this year regarding the cost and timeframe for a previous plan that would use about 28 miles of the Virginian Line, which the commonwealth purchased from Norfolk Southern in 2022, the authority revisited negotiations with the railroad operator to find a more cost-effective and timelier alternative.
‘We are responsible now’: D-Day memorial finding new ways to tell veterans’ stories, honor legacy
In April Cheek-Messier’s top floor office of the National D-Day Memorial’s headquarters overlooking Bedford’s East Main Street, plenty of World War II photos and memorabilia adorn the walls. Some images especially dear are of veterans Cheek-Messier met over the years who fought, sacrificed and are like family. As uplifting and heartfelt as they are, a stinging bittersweet reality is clear when she glances at them. “They’re leaving us. It’s hard,” Cheek-Messier, the National D-Day Memorial Foundation’s president, said in a recent interview.
Virginia officials tout preparedness as ‘active’ hurricane season begins
In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel slammed the East Coast and thrashed Virginia and North Carolina most severely, prompting widespread power outages, 4 to 6 foot storm surges, flooding, and billions in damage; the storm caused at least 50 direct and indirect deaths. Lasting memories of that disaster now loom large, as the federal government forecasts this year’s hurricane season, June 1 to Nov. 30, will be a tumultuous one. “We can have 27 storms in a year,” said Shawn Talmadge, state coordinator at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. “Only one storm can cause devastation across the commonwealth.” Ahead of the active hurricane season, state leaders are urging Virginians to prepare as environmental groups call for stronger policy addressing storms that are increasing in frequency and intensity.
Spotsylvania School Board votes to record closed sessions following assault allegation
After a contentious closed session meeting on May 20 resulted in one Spotsylvania County School Board member filing assault and battery charges against another, the board voted 6-0 Monday to record future gatherings that are not open to the public. April Gillespie of the Berkeley District abstained, stating that she agrees with recording closed sessions but needs more information from school board attorney Micah Schwartz before voting. Carol Medawar of the Courtland District made the motion, which was seconded by Lee Hill District representative Lisa Phelps. It was Phelps who filed an assault and battery charge on Nicole Cole of the Battlefield District, alleging that Cole slammed a door into her shoulder and extended her leg to trip her during the May 20 meeting.
Thousands of convicted felons would benefit from Youngkin’s mercy
Hours after a Manhattan jury found former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 counts for falsifying business records before the 2016 election, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin wanted to talk about justice and voting. “The American people see this for what it is: a politically motivated prosecution orchestrated by those who want to ‘get’ President Trump,” the governor tweeted. “On November 5th, Americans will render their verdict on Joe Biden’s failed leadership based on the issues that affect them everyday.” Youngkin echoed the thoughts of many Republican officials, in Washington and Virginia, who dutifully lined up behind Trump following the Thursday verdict. Their disparagement of the 12 New Yorkers who rendered their judgment against the former president shows their commitment to “law and order” is hollow.
Education benefits for military families caught in political crossfire
Gov. Glenn Youngkin and General Assembly leaders agree that they need to take another hard look at changes that all of them had advocated to a program providing higher education benefits for the families of military veterans either killed or almost completely disabled while on active duty. The question is how and when. The Republican governor and Democratic legislative leaders don’t agree on whether the assembly needs to meet this month to repeal the budget provisions that it passed and he signed to narrow eligibility for free tuition and other benefits under the Virginia Military Survivors & Dependents Education Program.
Frederick County School Board chair’s first book challenge denied by 2 high schools
A book challenge by Frederick County School Board Chairman Edward “Scott” Sturdivant has been reviewed by committees at both Millbrook and James Wood high schools. Sherando High School was expected to do so earlier this week. Ellen Hopkins’s 2004 novel “Crank,” a long-form, free verse poem which details a high school student’s descent into drug addiction, is the book Sturdivant wants removed. ... Millbrook sent Sturdivant a decision letter on May 20 stating that a committee of teachers, parents, a librarian and a school administrator voted 7-0 to retain “Crank” with certain restrictions.
With Trump’s support, Navy vet targets Tim Kaine in uphill battle for U.S. Senate seat
Political observers have already placed bets on Tim Kaine, predicting the Democrat will glide into a third term as the junior U.S. Senator of Virginia, a state that hasn’t elected a Republican to the upper chamber since 2002. But Republicans vying for a chance to unseat the former vice presidential candidate say they see an opening with President Joe Biden at the top of November’s ticket. While Biden won Virginia by 10 percentage points in 2020, GOP primary candidates say the calculus has changed with heightened food prices, illegal border crossings and crime in American cities.