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She Made an Offer on a Condo. Then the Seller Learned She Was Black.
Perched on a hill with a view of the Atlantic Ocean, the condo in Virginia Beach was just what Dr. Raven Baxter wanted. It had a marble fireplace, a private foyer and details like crown molding and wainscoting in its three bedrooms and three bathrooms. At $749,000, it was within her budget, too. She offered the asking price, which was accepted, and sent over a down payment. And then when she was in escrow earlier this month, her broker called her late at night on May 17, a Friday, with some bad news. The seller wanted to pull out of the deal. Why? “You could hear the fear and disbelief in his voice,” Dr. Baxter said, recalling what her broker told her next. “He said, ‘I don’t know how to tell you this, but she doesn’t want to sell the home to you, and it’s because you’re Black.’”
Va. politicians react to guilty verdicts in historic Trump trial
Within moments of the historical verdict finding former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, Virginia lawmakers turned to social media to either vent their frustration with the outcome of the so-called hush-money trial or hail the verdicts of the New York City jury as just findings. “The American people see this for what it is: a politically motivated prosecution orchestrated by those who want to ‘get’ President Trump,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement. “On Nov. 5th, Americans will render their verdict on Joe Biden’s failed leadership based on the issues that affect them every day.”
Virginia GOP condemns Trump verdict; Dems say no one is above the law
Many Virginia Republicans reacted with fury Thursday to former President Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts in the New York hush money case. Some said it will only further their determination to elect Trump in November. Virginia’s Democratic officeholders asserted that no one is above the law. Meantime, two Virginia law professors — Ilya Somin of George Mason University and Carl Tobias of the University of Richmond — said Trump remains eligible to hold the presidency again.
How a Richmond woman became a target in Trump trial defense
Former President Donald Trump cast a wide net in his defense against felony charges that he falsified business records to cover up hush money payments to an adult film star with whom he allegedly had sex. Wide enough from reach from New York City to Richmond, where the daughter of the judge presiding over the trial lives. Long before a New York jury convicted Trump on 34 counts on Thursday, Loren Merchan became a target for Trump and his defense team, who tried for more than a year to force her father, Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, to recuse himself from the case in part because of her work as an executive for a Chicago-based digital marketing firm that has worked for high-profile Democratic politicians, including President Joe Biden.
Prince William school system, local union reach updated bargaining agreement
Prince William County Public Schools and the Prince William Education Association announced Thursday the two sides had solidified negotiations for the 2024-2025 collective bargaining agreement, the school division announced in a news release. The two sides have agreed to the implementation of six weeks paid parental leave, coupled with a new short-term disability leave program that allows for up to 12 weeks of paid leave for the birthing parent. The new leave program will also guarantee the educator’s position remains available upon return to their school following the use of the leave options.
D.C.-area lawmakers react to another close call at Reagan National Airport
On Wednesday morning, an American Airlines flight bound for Boston from Reagan National Airport in Arlington had to abort its takeoff to avoid colliding with another plane. The Federal Aviation Administration said American Airlines Flight 2134’s takeoff was aborted by air traffic controllers because another aircraft had been cleared to land on an intersecting runway. The FAA is investigating the incident. … The incident has a congressional delegation from the D.C. area expressing concerns about the Senate’s vote to increase air traffic at the airport.
Virginia disability advocates celebrate legislative wins
Disability advocates celebrated rare wins at a meeting of the Virginia Disability Commission Thursday afternoon. “It’s a huge deal, it really is,” said Jen Krajewski with the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities. She was praising the record funding— about $300 million— approved by the legislature and signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin. The money will support about 3,400 families of those with disabilities in dire needs. Known as priority one waivers, it was a top concern for Youngkin and advocates as the state’s disability waiver waiting list grew to about 14,000.
In embezzlement sentencing, judge says McDonald ‘betrayed’ community she purported to love
The former director of a local economic development authority in Virginia who was accused of embezzling $5.2 million through an array of bogus transactions was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in federal prison — ending a legal drama that featured the death by suicide of a county sheriff who was also implicated in the crimes. Jennifer R. McDonald wore a blank expression inside the Harrisonburg District Court as a judge chastised her for using her position as director of the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority to siphon the money between 2014 and 2018 to buy properties, pay bills and gambling debts, and enrich relatives and friends.
Register and Huntington: Foam plastics ban helps Virginia, and restaurants
Next summer, Virginians will witness measurable improvements as they drive along Virginia’s roads, visit beaches, parks or waterways. The improvement? Less litter from polystyrene food and beverage containers. Thanks to a 2021 law passed by the Virginia General Assembly, restaurants are required to phase out their use of containers made of polystyrene. For larger restaurant chains, the change will begin on July 1, 2025. Small restaurants will have an additional year.
Deren: In Shenandoah, honoring slave owners is OK?
As a retired Virginia educator, it is disheartening to read about the Shenandoah County School Board’s decision to rename two of the schools within their district after certain Confederate Civil War generals. At a time when our nation needs to turn the corner on divisiveness and begin the arduous work of healing, some still strive to maintain outdated and hurtful policies that persist in dividing us. The Civil War was absolutely fought over the issue of slavery.