Author
A settlement in the Irvo Otieno case and more Va. headlines
• “The family of a man who died while handcuffed and pinned to the floor for about 11 minutes as he was being admitted to a Virginia psychiatric hospital has reached an $8.5 million settlement with the state, county and the sheriff whose deputies were involved in restraining the man.”—Associated Press • A congressional committee advanced a […]
Migrant child labor at an Eastern Shore poultry plant and more Va. headlines
• A 14-year-old Guatemalan boy’s arm was mangled by a machine while working the night cleaning shift at a poultry plant on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, drawing attention to the open secret of migrant child labor in American slaughterhouses.—New York Times • Virginia’s new budget allows breweries to distribute some of their own beer, a step back from […]
Wexton won’t seek reelection after diagnosis and more Va. headlines
• U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Loudoun, announced that she won’t seek reelection in her competitive Northern Virginia district next year after being diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, an incurable neurological condition. “People I know know I’ve struggled for a long time,” Wexton said. “I’ll be able to relax and enjoy the time I have left and […]
Climbing child poverty rates and more Virginia headlines
• Child poverty rates are climbing in Virginia, according to recently released U.S. Census data.—WVTF • Data centers have signed agreements with Dominion to use the equivalent of 35% of the peak electricity demand seen during last year’s Christmas cold snap, which used a record amount of the utility’s power.—Richmond Times-Dispatch • “The U.S. government has warned a […]
Lynchburg man sues police over injuries from horseback pursuit and more Va. headlines
• Two Virginia civil rights activists have filed a lawsuit, one of several nationwide, to keep Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot based on a provision in the 14th Amendment prohibiting anyone from holding office who engaged in rebellion or insurrection or offered aid and comfort to those who did.—Roanoke Times • A Lynchburg-area man is suing […]
FOIA Friday: Spotsylvania closed meeting and Fauquier records withholding
One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealth’s leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in […]
Capping Henrico senior citizens’ real estate taxes and more Va. headlines
• After high pandemic-era home prices drove real estate taxes up, Henrico County is proposing to cap those costs for seniors in what it says could be the first program of its kind in Virginia.—Richmond Times-Dispatch • “A Confederate monument slated for removal from Arlington National Cemetery will be placed at a Civil War site owned by […]
Va.’s data center developments spread south and more state headlines
• Attorney General Jason Miyares announced that agricultural products giant Monsanto would pay the state $80 million for allegedly distributing harmful chemicals known as PCBs, which are present in “1,300 river miles, 75,000 lake acres and over 2,000 square miles of bays and estuaries” in Virginia.–WRIC • The Equity Commission on Enrollment reported that speciality […]
Va. Democratic House candidate live streamed sex acts for tips and more state headlines
• “What I’ve been very clear on — and I’d appreciate you writing it clearly — is that I support a bill to protect life at 15 weeks,” Gov. Glenn Youngkin said after a Republican rally Saturday in Prince George, highlighting abortion as a pivotal issue ahead of November’s high stakes general elections.–New York Times […]
Youngkin pardons Loudoun man arrested at school board meeting and more Va. headlines
• “The father of a Virginia student sexually assaulted in her high school bathroom has been pardoned after his arrest two years ago protesting a school board meeting became a flashpoint in the conservative push to increase parental involvement in public education.”—Associated Press • Spotsylvania schools have rolled out a form in line with new state transgender […]
Windsor police lawsuit settled with state and more Va. headlines
• In a settlement of a lawsuit over Windsor police officers pepper-spraying a Black and Latino Army lieutenant during a traffic stop, the town has agreed to independent reviews of misconduct allegations and more officer training.—Associated Press • “Thirteen people died in 10 traffic crashes over the 2023 Labor Day holiday weekend in Virginia, according to preliminary […]
FOIA Friday: Disclosing dollar amounts of local government settlements
One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealth’s leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in […]