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Segregation skyrocketed among Virginia’s Latino students in past 30 years
Richmond Public Schools had the highest levels of school segregation between white and Latino students in Virginia in 2022, according to a Stanford University analysis of federal data. The combination of ethnicity, poverty and language create a “triple segregation” among Latino students that’s been overlooked for decades and “left to fester,” said Gary Orfield, co-director of the UCLA Civil Rights Project. Latino students’ federal right to desegregation didn’t happen until nearly 20 years after the Brown v. Board ruling with the 1973 Supreme Court case Keyes v. School District No. 1, Denver.
Search warrants claim ‘pattern of money laundering’ at some Va. cannabis-related stores
Newly unsealed search warrants in Washington County allege that some of the cannabis-related stores that were targeted in a region-wide raid last fall were involved in money laundering. Dozens of stores across Southwest Virginia were raided in September. While the ownership structure of many of the shops is unclear, the search warrants show that the homes and banking records of two people who owned multiple locations also were searched. Among the items that were seized were a number of guns — pistols, rifles and shotguns — as well as ammunition, computers, cellphones and vehicles, including two Rolls-Royces.
The Post’s choices in Northern Virginia’s U.S. House primaries
Two Democratic congresswomen in Virginia who defeated Republican incumbents in 2018 have opted not to seek reelection this year: Rep. Jennifer Wexton of the 10th Congressional District suffers from a rare neurological disorder; Rep. Abigail Spanberger of the 7th District is running for governor in 2025. Nineteen Democrats are vying to succeed them in the state’s June 18 primaries. Ten Republican contenders are also running for their party’s nominations that day.
Earned sentence credit expansions, new parole board operations to take effect this year
Eligible incarcerated people in Virginia will be able to further reduce their sentences through an earned sentence credit program beginning this July. While expansions to the program stemmed from a 2020 law, it had a delayed start date in 2022 that was later blocked by Gov. Glenn Youngkin through language in a previous state budget. A renewed attempt by the Youngkin administration to block the expansions this year did not make it through final negotiations in the budget that the governor and lawmakers agreed on this week.
GOP senators push to use skill games to help pay for schools
A pair of Republican senators are looking ways to legalize electronic skill games and use the state revenues they generate to pay for school construction. Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, and Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, want to take advantage of the General Assembly remaining in session to act on potential revenue bills as a way to overcome a political roadblock from Gov. Glenn Youngkin. (The legislature did not adjourn after it passed the budget on Monday.)
Craigsville granted $3.8 million by newly passed state budget
Craigsville’s infrastructure debt and incorporation woes are over. Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed Virginia’s 2024-2026 biennial budget just hours after it was passed by the General Assembly Monday. Craigsville has waited through the entire process, with residents and Mayor Richard Fox nervous about the town's incorporation and debt payments.
UVa president says he’s willing to accept consequences for breaking up campus protest
“If all of you decide I’m not the right leader, that’s your choice,” said University of Virginia President Jim Ryan. “That’s how I feel.” Though no university officials have publicly called for Ryan to resign, Ryan's tone and demeanor were marked by a resignation of their own at the university's Faculty Senate meeting last Friday. Ryan, alongside Provost Ian Baucom, university Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis and UVa Police Chief Tim Longo, spent an hour answering questions during Friday's meeting of the Faculty Senate, a governing body of roughly 90 faculty representatives from across the university’s 12 schools charged with advising UVa’s leaders on “matters affecting the welfare of the University."
Speakers show up to debate solar in Mecklenburg
Speakers for and against solar development showed up for the monthly meeting of the Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors Monday in Boydton despite there being no public discussion of any solar projects. The agenda for the meeting included a closed session discussion on a siting agreement for 7 Bridges, a proposed 80-MW facility that Longroad Energy wants to build on 499 acres northeast of Chase City near Scotts Crossroads, Courthouse Road and the Meherrin River. ... On Monday, company officials asked neighbors of the project to share their views with the supervisors.
For Luna Innovations, another delay in financial reporting
Luna Innovations Inc., already behind on 2023 financial reports, has reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission that it will not have its 2024 first quarter report ready any time soon. The Roanoke-based publicly traded technology company, which has parted ways with its chief executive officer and chief financial officer this year, had previously determined that its revenue recognition was irregular and that accounting errors affected its 2022 reports, as well.
Congress clears major aviation policy bill adding flights to Reagan airport
The House voted Wednesday to send the biggest aviation bill in five years to President Joe Biden’s desk. The bill, H.R. 3935, cleared on a 387-26 vote, would inject $105 billion into the Federal Aviation Administration over five years and guide policy for everything from drones and air taxis to technology intended to help planes avoid runway collisions. It will also add five long-haul, round-trip flights a day to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, despite objections from D.C.-area lawmakers.