Bad week in court for two Virginia public officials and other news from around the state

The trials of two public officials, one current, one former, wrapped up this week.

—In Portsmouth, a jury found Councilman Mark Whitaker guilty of falsifying signatures on financial documents but recommended he serve no jail time, the Virginian Pilot reports.

—In Danville, former School Board Chairwoman Sharon Jones was sentenced to serve 60 days in jail. She pleaded guilty to requesting a $1,700 mileage reimbursement from the district after an official trip to Denver, but district officials, confused by how she drove so fast, found out she actually took a much cheaper flight, according to the Danville Register and Bee.

Prosecutors want ‘Crying Nazi’s’ bond revoked

Prosecutors in Albemarle County are asking for white nationalist Chris Cantwell’s bond to be revoked for continuing to post on social media about his alleged victims, the Daily Progress reports. Cantwell, who was featured in Vice News’ documentary about the Aug. 12 protests in Charlottesville and nicknamed the “crying Nazi,” is charged with spraying two counter protesters with pepper spray during a torchlit march at UVA.

New rules in China jamming up Va. recycling efforts

Recycling restrictions and cost hikes are continuing to hit localities around the state after China tightened restrictions on the waste products it will import. Most recently, the Staunton News-Leader reports that the cost of operating the city’s recycling program is up to $52,000 a year. Last year the cost was $3,100. In Buena Vista, officials halted curbside recycling and Lexington has added restrictions to what will be collected, the News-Gazette reports.

More news

• Freshman Democrats in the House of Delegates are raising a ton more money in their first year than their predecessors did. –The Daily Press
• Virginia is one of six states suing the federal government alleging they are being illegally required to enforce federal immigration laws. –The Associated Press
• In Richmond, the school board is wondering why Mayor Levar Stoney’s administration seems so focused on building a new coliseum when the district’s school buildings are crumbling. – The Richmond Times Dispatch
• A gay social club is seeking approval from leaders in Waynesboro to open on East Main Street. “Impulse Gay Social Club” already operates a location in Charlottesville. – The News Virginian
• A Busch Gardens Williamsburg employee accidentally hit the emergency stop button on a roller coaster (Apollo’s Chariot, of Fabio-goose collision fame) and three people were treated for concussions. – The Virginian-Pilot