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Staff Report
Virginia Mercury staff report. For questions, comments or concerns, contact [email protected]
No completed budget and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 27, 2023
• “Democrats were still counting votes on Sunday night in a three-way primary for the party nomination to run for the 9th District Senate seat that Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, will vacate when she is sworn in as a member of Congress to succeed the late Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th, who died suddenly on Nov. 28.”—Richmond […]
Combative texts from controversial UVA appointee and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 24, 2023
• The General Assembly won’t have a budget deal before its scheduled adjournment Saturday, but lawmakers leading the negotiations say they hope they can work something out for next week.—Richmond Times-Dispatch • Text messages released under the state Freedom of Information Act show the combative approach of UVA Board of Visitors member Bert Ellis, an appointee of […]
Group plans to seize Arlington scooters on private property and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 23, 2023
• An activist group whose founder has ties to the fossil fuel industry is working to stop solar projects in Virginia and rural areas in several other states.—NPR • Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, a disbarred lawyer, abstained from a vote on a bill advancing in the General Assembly that would give disbarred lawyers more avenues to get […]
Two former classmates war over VMI’s future and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 22, 2023
• “At VMI, two classmates — one Black, one White — war over school’s future.”—Washington Post • Gov. Glenn Youngkin participated in a history discussion about the origins of slavery that was broadcast to classrooms throughout Virginia. “It’s really important history starting in 1619, where the first Africans were brought to this country as slaves,” Youngkin said. […]
Special election to fill McEachin’s seat today and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 21, 2023
• Federal authorities are trying to seize money in the prison account of the white supremacist behind the 2017 car attack in Charlottesville. In court filings, prosecutors say they want to use the money James Alex Fields Jr. is receiving behind bars to pay off the $81,600 he owes in victim restitution and fines.—CBS News • Voters […]
Norfolk 6-year-old brings gun to school and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 20, 2023
• Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration says it’s reviewing a proposed AP African American studies course for high schoolers after Florida officials objected to aspects of the curriculum dealing with contemporary political topics. A Youngkin spokeswoman said the governor has asked education officials to review the course’s compliance with his executive order banning “inherently divisive concepts” associated […]
Youngkin says he’ll consider special session for budget and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 17, 2023
• Gov. Glenn Youngkin said he’d consider calling a special session for the General Assembly to work out a budget. “I’m in no hurry; I’m here all summer.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch • An amendment to the Republican House’s budget proposal would defund the state agency created to oversee marijuana legalization in Virginia. “Not sure who put it in. […]
Loudoun schools won’t release sexual assault report and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 16, 2023
• A Richmond City Council member running for the Virginia House of Delegates appears to be raising money despite not having set up a committee to do so, raising questions about whether she’s complying with state campaign finance laws.—VPM • After a three-hour hearing, the Washington County Board of Supervisors in Southwest Virginia voted to pass new […]
17,000 unemployment claims could be dismissed and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 15, 2023
• The Virginia Employment Commission notified almost 17,000 applicants seeking unemployment benefits their claims will be dismissed over missed deadlines unless they can provide a valid explanation by Thursday.—Richmond Times-Dispatch • Towing companies are asking Virginia lawmakers to raise the fees they’re allowed to charge motorists in response to inflation and rising fuel costs.—VPM • Some Fauquier County […]
First Black combatant to fire at Confederate troops and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 14, 2023
• Democrats in the Virginia Senate blocked numerous tough-on-crime proposals backed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other Republicans, including a bill that would have allowed prosecutors to charge drug dealers with felony homicide if their drugs led to a fatal overdose.—Richmond Times-Dispatch • Ford announced plans to build a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan […]
Youngkin admin chastises union for Black Lives Matter school toolkit and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 13, 2023
• Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration chastised a Virginia teachers union for distributing a set of Black Lives Matter resources for schools, calling it a “politically driven curriculum toolkit.” The toolkit promotes a variety of anti-racism tenets as well as “disruption of the Western nuclear family dynamics.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch • Youngkin tapped political appointee R. Christopher Lindsay as the […]
Dueling budgets in Richmond and more Va. headlines
By: Staff Report - February 10, 2023
• “The House of Delegates and Senate have adopted their budgets, but the battle is just beginning over how to bridge a $1 billion gulf between the two chambers, controlled by opposing political parties.” The biggest difference is over whether Virginia should adopt further individual and corporate tax cuts.—Richmond Times-Dispatch, Associated Press • Amazon could have gotten […]