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Virginia Lt. Gov. race: Republican John Curran announces write-in campaign
John Curran, a business consultant from James City County, announced Monday that he intends to reenter Virginia’s lieutenant governor race as a write-in candidate. Curran initially ran for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor but did not turn in enough signatures to qualify for the ballot ahead of the April deadline. He alleges he had gathered 10,000 signatures but many of them were stolen by a former campaign staffer, a matter he says Virginia State Police are investigating. “I know that write-ins are historically a long shot,” he said.
Yancey: How George Washington paved the way for the first American pope
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago was announced as Pope Leo XIV, people went racing to find some connection to the first American pope. Chicago White Sox supporters found a fellow fan; photos have turned up showing the future pope at a World Series game in 2005. Villanova grads found one of the most impressive alumni notes of all time; some students in the 1970s shared classes with the math major who went on to become pope. There’s no clear Virginia connection that we know of, except for a philosophical and constitutional one: It was Virginians in the 1700s who embraced what was then the radical concept of religious liberty, which allowed the Catholic faith to flourish in a place that once banned its practice.
VCU withholds degrees of several students over Pro-Palestinian gathering
Several Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) students [participated] in commencement ceremonies but with degrees currently withheld pending an investigation. “I think these policy violations shouldn’t have happened in the first place, they shouldn’t have been given out to us,” said Sereen Haddad, a senior at VCU. According to VCU officials, the matter pertains to a gathering on the lawn of the Cabell Library on April 29, 2025 where about 40 students were gathered.
Martinsville council member questions legality of city manager pay raise, signals court challenge
A 15 percent raise awarded to City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides has ignited public controversy and deepened divisions among Martinsville City Council members, with at least one council member indicating he will pursue a legal challenge. Following a May 6 community budget meeting, council member Aaron Rawls said that to his knowledge, there had not been a vote on the city manager’s salary increase, but he believes there should be.
Feds undo Federal Executive Institute decision in Charlottesville
Just over a week after it awarded the former Federal Executive Institute campus to Charlottesville City Schools, the US Department of Education has reversed course and announced that it will instead transfer the property to the University of Virginia. In a letter sent Friday to CCS Superintendent Royal Gurley, USED management analyst Barbara L. Shawyer wrote the department believes “that UVA will meet Presidential Executive Orders and that the University best meets the Secretary’s priorities for property reuse.” It was not immediately clear what US Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s “priorities for property reuse” are.
City audit finds Richmond Retirement System paid $550K to dead people
The City of Richmond’s retirement system paid out more than $550,000 to 44 deceased retirees over nine years, a new audit found. Most of the money has not been recovered. City Auditor Riad Ali on Friday released an audit of the Richmond Retirement System, which administers the benefits and pensions of former city employees. The new city audit found, among other issues, inadequate oversight of the retirement system, outdated operating procedures and incomplete death audit reports.
U.S. Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
The U.S. Department of Education reversed course, passing off the now-shuttered Federal Executive Institute to the University Friday. The Department previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools. In a statement to The Cavalier Daily, University Spokesperson Bethanie Glover said that the decision was “completely unexpected,” and that they received the notice Friday. “We are currently reviewing it and seeking additional information,” Glover said.
When Trump visits, the Loudoun sheriff’s office assists with security. But who pays?
When President Donald Trump visits Loudoun County the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office assists in providing protective services to the president but isn't being reimbursed for the cost. On May 5, Trump was transported from Leesburg Executive Airport to the Trump International Golf Course in Lowes Island, in the Sterling area, halting traffic starting at about 6:55 p.m. . . . Sawyer said the LCSO's overtime budget is not designed to support Trump's visits.
Alexandria police officer awarded full compensatory damages in racial discrimination lawsuit against city
An Alexandria Police Department officer has been awarded full compensatory damages in his racial discrimination lawsuit against the city. Delton Goodrum and his family erupted in tears of joy after the verdict was read. After a four-day-long trial before U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, the jury deliberated for less than three hours to find that then-Police Chief Don Hayes, who is Black, racially discriminated against Goodrum, who is also Black, in his years-long bid to be promoted to Captain.
Facing backlash, School Board shelves editorial oversight changes to Alexandria high school’s student publications
What started as a simple policy change has erupted into a full-blown fight over the First Amendment in Alexandria City Public Schools. Facing backlash from city leaders, the Alexandria School Board officially went back to the drawing board Thursday night (May 8), by announcing that its intended policy changes on the oversight of Alexandria City High School’s student publications have been put on hold.