Javascript is required to run this page
VaNews

Search


Jury sides with Fairfax school system in suit accusing it of ignoring middle-schooler’s sex assault claims

By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press

A jury on Wednesday rejected a woman’s lawsuit seeking tens of millions of dollars from Virginia’s largest school system over allegations that she was raped multiple times as a middle schooler. The woman, who was identified in court papers only by her initials, sued Fairfax County Public Schools under Title IX, a law that guarantees girls and women equal educational access. The lawsuit alleged school officials at Rachel Carson Middle School in Reston ignored her complaints that she endured sexual harassment and sexual assaults inside and outside of the school back in 2011 and 2012, when she was a seventh-grader.

VaNews April 25, 2024


Virginia sex offender registry displayed inaccurate data for months

By RYAN NADEAU, WRIC-TV

There are nearly 1,800 registered sex offenders who live, work or go to school in the City of Richmond — but it still isn’t the community with the most registered sex offenders per capita in Central Virginia, according to new data from Virginia State Police. Following a recent report stating that the City of Richmond has the highest rate of registered sex offenders per capita among over 430 total major cities surveyed, 8News investigated more local cities and counties to learn how many registered sex offenders are in the Richmond region and some surrounding localities. As the 8News team looked into this topic, multiple issues were discovered in how Virginia’s sex offender registry returns information to users.

VaNews April 25, 2024


Justices’ $1 billion suit against Carter Bank transferred to Virginia court

By MATT BUSSE, Cardinal News

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered that a $1 billion federal lawsuit filed by West Virginia’s governor, his family and their companies against a Martinsville-based bank and its board be transferred from a court in West Virginia to Virginia. Gov. Jim Justice; his wife, Cathy; their son, Jay; and more than a dozen of their family companies filed the suit in November. They allege that Carter Bank & Trust and its directors have violated banking laws and prevented the Justices from working with other lenders so that the bank can continue collecting interest on the family’s loan portfolio.

VaNews April 25, 2024


Feds require airlines to automatically refund passengers for canceled or delayed flights

By NATHANIEL CLINE, Virginia Mercury

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday new rules that will put refunds quickly back into air travelers’ pockets for canceled or delayed flights. The agency estimated that the new regulations will save consumers over a half billion dollars every year in airline fees. Under the new rules, which will go into effect beginning in late October, airlines must issue full refunds including imposed taxes and fees within seven business days for credit card purchases, and within three weeks for other payment methods. Virginia has nine major airports commonly used by consumers including Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Richmond International Airport.

VaNews April 25, 2024


Hampton Roads terminals help with thousands of diverted shipments after Baltimore bridge collapse

By TREVOR METCALFE, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Thousands of containers, dozens of construction vehicles and tons of coal are moving through Hampton Roads terminals as the port helps Baltimore with diverted shipments due to a recent bridge collapse. “To me, it’s an example of how our industry needs to be nimble and responsive to the situation at hand,” said David White, executive director of the Virginia Maritime Association. ... The Port of Virginia’s state-run terminals could process anywhere from 18,000 to 20,000 rerouted containers this month, Virginia Port Authority spokesperson Joe Harris said.

VaNews April 25, 2024


Cordish wins Petersburg’s casino business, but council members’ reaction is muted

By BILL ATKINSON, Progress Index (Metered paywall - 10 articles a month)

City Council unanimously chose a familiar face as its preferred casino vendor Wednesday night, but the choice took a back seat to what happened once the special meeting was adjourned. Instead of sticking around to talk about the economic potential of that decision or the next steps in the process of pushing the idea to Petersburg’s voters, councilors quickly dashed to their cars in the Petersburg Public Library parking lot. Some of them declined to comment while others walked stone-faced without saying a word as they approached reporters waiting outside for reaction.

VaNews April 25, 2024


Youngkin will head to Europe on third trade-mission trip

By DAVE RESS, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Gov. Glenn Youngkin is headed to Europe next week on his third international trade mission. He is scheduled to meet with President Alexander Stubb of Finland as well as with business executives, trade associations and officials there and in Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Munich, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Zurich, Switzerland. … The aim is to further strengthen Virginia’s economic and cultural connections, which already include the 119 German firms operating here, 30 from Switzerland, 13 from Denmark, and eight from Finland.

VaNews April 25, 2024


New College Institute, philanthropic board move toward mediation, board committee indicates

By LISA ROWAN, Cardinal News

The New College Institute in Martinsville appears to be starting a mediation process with its estranged philanthropic arm, but the details remain unclear. In a meeting Wednesday, the state-run higher education center’s executive committee voted to name board vice chair Richard Hall as sole spokesperson for the board in mediation with its foundation. Adam Kane from the state attorney general’s office attended the meeting, including the closed session that preceded the vote. The office serves as legal counsel for NCI.

VaNews April 25, 2024


Vindman has huge fundraising lead in 7th District race

By CHER MUZYK, Prince William Times

The race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District is shaping up to be very competitive — and very expensive. In the Democratic primary race, retired Army Col. Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman, 48, of Woodbridge, has a solid financial edge, raising more money than all the Republican and Democratic candidates in both primary races combined — by far. Since launching his campaign late last year, Vindman has raised nearly $3.8 million. That’s more than four times the amount raised by his Democratic rivals, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

VaNews April 25, 2024


Youngkin will visit Europe for his third international trade mission as Virginia governor

Associated Press

Glenn Youngkin will visit Germany, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland next week for his third international trade mission as Virginia governor. Youngkin, a Republican, will meet with Finland’s president, government officials, strategic business associations, company executives and global industry leaders “to further strengthen Virginia’s economic and cultural connections,” his press office said Wednesday as it announced his itinerary.

VaNews April 25, 2024