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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 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.
Virginia localities puzzled by inclusion on federal ‘sanctuary cities’ list
The Department of Homeland Security is identifying 20 counties and 13 cities in Virginia they call “sanctuary jurisdictions.” To understand the list of 33 sanctuary cities in Virginia, perhaps it’s best to focus on one county that is NOT on the list: Loudoun County in Northern Virginia. Freddy Mejia at the Commonwealth Institute says this is the example used to strong-arm local law-enforcement officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. “Loudoun County saw a real large spike of car searches for Latino residents in that community," Mejia says. "And we know that that community, that sheriff is cooperating with ICE under a 287(g) agreement in Loudoun County.”
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.
Lynchburg business owners keep pressure on city council behavior
Lynchburg business leaders brought their concerns about the conduct of elected officials to City Hall on Tuesday, letting council members know their patience has run out and they want to see changes that will allow the city to move forward. The criticism ramped up after the previous city council meeting on May 13 when Dave Henderson ... sent an email to city leaders and the business community letting them know about his worries about council’s actions possibly costing the city business. During the public comment period Tuesday, business owners told council about the messages of support they received after they decided to speak out about council in response to Henderson’s email.
As Virginia police reforms take hold, decertifications jump
Decertifications of Virginia law enforcement officers have jumped fourfold annually since 2020, when lawmakers passed reforms during a push for police accountability, according to a data analysis by the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO and MuckRock. The dramatic jump in decertifications – once an exceptionally rare punishment – has both advocates for police reform and law enforcement officers saying the new regulations have made a difference. Five years after the murder of George Floyd energized national change for police accountability, Virginia lawmakers and advocates agree that further reforms are ahead.
Ice cream sandwich maker investing $5.8 million in facility, adding jobs
Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches is outgrowing its space after getting picked up by Kroger and is expanding to a new production facility at 2807 Transport St. in Richmond. The locally owned company is investing $5.8 million in its new manufacturing facility, which offers more than 28,000 square feet of space. “Nightingale has doubled in size year over year and is bursting at the seams at our current facility ...