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Loudoun School Board Plans Further Debate on Public Participation Policy

By ALEXIS GUSTIN, Loudoun Now

After voting March 12 to turn cameras off during public comment at School Board meetings, a committee decided Thursday to discuss broader changes to the division’s policy governing public participation in meetings. In a 6-3 vote last week, the board voted to shut off cameras during the public comment portion of its meetings ... The policy set for review lays out the procedures for public comment, including decorum, who may address the board, registration requirements for speakers, distribution of materials to the board, length of time for each speaker, and translation services.

VaNews March 25, 2024


Surovell: Gov. Youngkin can make insurance companies honor their contracts

By SCOTT SUROVELL, published in Cardinal News

Governor Youngkin is currently considering whether to sign legislation to protect consumers from unfair insurance company settlement practices which passed the General Assembly on a bipartisan basis with more than half of Senate Republicans and one-third of House Republicans voting yes. Do not believe what the insurance companies are peddling. In the 27 years I have represented people in personal injury cases, the most frequent reason that car accident victims fail to be fairly compensated for their medical bills, lost income and wages is because the person who hurt them does not have enough insurance because many drivers purchase bare-bones auto insurance policies.

Scott Surovell is Senate Majority Leader and the sponsor of SB 256. He is a Democrat from Fairfax County.

VaNews March 25, 2024


Virginia corrections department asks court to dismiss sex discrimination suit over strip search policies

By SARAH VOGELSONG, Virginia Mercury

The Virginia Department of Corrections has asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit by three current and former female employees who say its policies on body scanners discriminate against women because the technology is unable to distinguish between contraband and menstrual or reproductive products. The agency argues its policies, which permit the firing of an employee if they don’t agree to a strip search when a body scan shows an “anomaly” in an individual’s body cavity, are “gender-neutral,” allowing “consensual strip searches of any employee, regardless of gender.”

VaNews March 25, 2024


State Commission Hears Testimony on Leesburg Annexation Bid

By NORMAN K. STYER, Loudoun Now

Town of Leesburg and Loudoun County representatives on Thursday presented a united front to the members of Virginia Commission on Local Government who are reviewing the town’s plans to annex the 400-acre Compass Creek development. ... Commissioners heard unanimous support for the boundary change, with town and county representatives saying it was in the best interest of both jurisdictions.

VaNews March 25, 2024


Virginia crime stories drove readers to GoFundMe campaigns, only the victims didn’t exist

By DANIEL ARKIN, NBCNews

In early March, a tragic story showed up on NewsBreak, a website that aggregates local news from across the country. In a series of articles, the author reported on a hit-and-run accident that had left two people dead: Herman Cruz and his 4-year-old daughter, Amelia. Herman had been driving Amelia to her cancer treatments in Richmond, Virginia, when they were killed, the author claimed. In each of the articles, the author directed readers to a GoFundMe page created to raise money to pay for their funeral services. “All donations will help and be appreciated,” said the GoFundMe organizer, identified as Jamel El-Amin. The campaign raised more than $1,500. But none of this was real.

VaNews March 25, 2024


Charlottesville Democrats urge Youngkin to OK prescription drug affordability board

By JASON ARMESTO, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

A bill that aims to reduce prescription drug prices for Virginians is sitting on Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk, and Charlottesville Democrats are rallying in hopes the Republican will sign it. State Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Amy Laufer visited Trinity Episcopal Church in Charlottesville on Thursday to promote two bills that would create a prescription drug affordability board: an independent body of medical experts that would review the cost of prescription drugs and establish maximum prices.

VaNews March 25, 2024


King George supervisors ready to ‘go to war’ with Amazon

By TAFT COGHILL JR., Fredericksburg Free Press

The King George County Board of Supervisors declared that it is prepared to do battle with a corporate giant. During Tuesday’s meeting, Board Chair T.C. Collins accused Amazon Web Services — which is in contentious negotiations with the county to build a data center — of hiring a “big old company in Arlington to dig up dirt on people.” “Amazon, are you listening? Because I know we’re getting ready to go to war here,” Collins said. “I want you to know that I know what you’re doing. I’m not afraid of you. I don’t have many years left.”

VaNews March 25, 2024


Casino and tourism efforts bringing surge in hotel stays for Danville

By JOHN R. CRANE, Danville Register & Bee

Following record-high numbers of nights spent in the city’s lodging establishments, Danville continues to experience a jump in those figures. Over the first seven months of the current fiscal year, the average number of nights per month spent in hotels and other lodging facilities skyrocketed by more than 2,600 compared to the same period last year, said city of Danville Finance Director Michael Adkins.

VaNews March 25, 2024


Kaine: ‘Irresponsible’ to call illegal immigrants who attacked National Guard an ‘invasion’

By RAMSEY TOUCHBERRY, Washington Times

Sen. Tim Kaine said Sunday the U.S. has an “immigration crisis” but suggested it is dangerous to label it as anything else, including the more than 100 migrants who last week knocked over Texas National Guard troops after breaking through razor wire. “I don’t think it’s an invasion. It’s an immigration crisis. It’s a national security issue,” the Virginia Democrat said on “Fox News Sunday.” “I think you got to be careful throwing around words like ‘invasion.’ It was that kind of wording that led the deranged guy to go shoot up the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh killing folks a couple years ago. I think that kind of rhetoric is irresponsible.”

VaNews March 25, 2024


Talks ‘will not continue’ between Mary Washington hospital and free clinic

By CATHY DYSON, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Discussions between Mary Washington Healthcare and the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic about the future of the clinic, which has served the Fredericksburg area’s uninsured for more than 30 years, “have reached an impasse and will not continue,” according to the health care system. In a news release Friday, MWHC said it would honor the clinic’s decision to remain independent by allowing it to use the building for $1 per year. “After thoughtful consideration, the MWHC board has reached a disheartening and disappointing conclusion,” said Bruce Davis, chair of board of trustees.

VaNews March 25, 2024