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The latest from Virginia politics
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The Virginia Redistricting Commission is meeting right now.
Happy birthday to former House Speaker Kirk Cox!
Video: VA Redistricting Commission Discusses Options for Official “Receipt” of U.S. Census Data - Blue Virginia
by Lowell Feld
The Virginia Redistricting Commission is meeting today, and their first order of business was to decide which date they should go with as the official date of “receipt” of U.S. Census data. Sen. George Barker laid out the options for when the clock starts ticking, with the Commission having up to 45 days upon official “receipt” of U.S. Census data to draw House of Delegates and State Senate district lines, and up to 60 days for U.S. House of Representatives districts. The three options considered were:
The clock starts ticking starting on August 12, when the U.S. Census data went live, in an “old” format, which isn’t fully usable/fully formatted for the Commission to be able to use? Then, the VA House and VA Senate maps would have to be done by September 26, and the Congressional maps done by October 11.
The clock starts ticking starting on August 26, when the Redistricting Commission will get the Census data in fully “usable” format from their contractor, “City Gate?” Then, the VA House and VA Senate maps would be due October 10.
The clock starts ticking starting on September 30, when the US Census releases data in fully usable format? Then, the the VA House and VA Senate maps would be due as late as November 14.
Tensions rise as Va. Redistricting Commission begins map-drawing sprint - Virginia Mercury
by Graham Moomaw
As the new Virginia Redistricting Commission prepares to start drawing new legislative and congressional maps, an increasingly political tone to its deliberations has some members openly speculating about whether the bipartisan body will be able to complete its job.
The 16-member commission met for three hours Monday afternoon to discuss several issues it’s planning to vote on Tuesday morning, including the logistics of who should draw what maps and how much consideration to give to existing political districts and incumbent legislators.
Suit: Changing prisoner count weakens rural, GOP districts - Associated Press
by Ben Finley
A Republican state senator is among a group of people suing the Virginia Redistricting Commission over plans to count prisoners at their last known address instead of the prisons where they’re incarcerated.
The lawsuit says the change will politically weaken Virginia’s rural and conservative areas after the state draws new congressional and legislative districts.
All but six localities in Virginia are facing high or substantial community spread of COVID
President Biden says he stands 'squarely behind' Afghanistan decision
Warner wants answers about 'worst-case scenario' in Afghanistan
Mother from Fredericksburg dies from virus 10 days after giving birth
Virginia teacher quits after Loudoun County schools adopts transgender policy
Tropical Storm Fred on course for heavy rain in Roanoke area
A taxing issue: Montgomery Co. still pursuing more Va. Tech-related revenue
Youngkin announces support from law enforcement officials across Virginia
“I am honored to have the support of Virginia’s law enforcement community and look forward to working closely with them to make Virginia’s communities among the safest in the nation, not the most dangerous,” said Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin. “Terry McAuliffe has turned his back on law enforcement and embraced the most radical elements of his party that want to defund the police, abolish ICE, and close prisons.”
"It wasn't enough for Terry McAuliffe and his handpicked parole board to break the law and let certain violent criminals out of prison, now he and his allies want to defund the police and close ALL prisons. We need a candidate who backs the blue and will restore safety in our communities, and that candidate is Glenn Youngkin," said Montgomery County Sheriff Charles “Hank” Partin.
The full list of endorsements:
Sheriff Blake Andis, Washington County
Sheriff Mark Armentrout, Radford City
Sheriff Mark Butler, Warren County
Sheriff Tim Carter, Shenandoah County
Sheriff Michael Chapman, Loudoun County
Sheriff Winston W. Clark, III Campbell County
Sheriff James Clarke, Jr. Isle of Wight County
Sheriff Trevor Craddock, Craig County
Sheriff Brian Craig, Floyd County
Sheriff Chad Cubbage, Page County
Sheriff David Decatur, Stafford County
Sheriff J. D. "Danny" Diggs, York County
Sheriff Jeff Edds, Scott County
Sheriff Jeremy Fleming, Dickenson County
Sheriff Charles Foster, Wythe County
Sheriff Robert Hawkins, Mecklenburg County
Sheriff Brian Hieatt, Tazewell County
Sheriff Glendell Hill, Prince William County
Fort Lee will continue hosting Afghan nationals following fall of their homeland - Progress Index
by Bill Atkinson
The Pentagon said Monday that Fort Lee will continue to host Afghan nationals and will be joined by two other military posts as the US escalates the shepherding of Afghan nationals and their families to American soil following the weekend collapse of the government in Afghanistan.
Garry Reid, a member of the Defense Department’s Afghanistan crisis action team, said at a press briefing late Monday that Fort Bliss in Texas and Camp McCoy in Wisconsin will join the Prince George County Army post in processing Afghans and their families who worked for the United States during its 20-year presence in Afghanistan.
Judge Denies Request for Injunction Against LCPS Equity Programs - Loudoun Now
by Hayley Milon Bour
A federal District Court judge denied a request for an injunction in a class action case on Friday filed by five families against Loudoun County Public Schools over the district’s Student Equity Ambassador Program and the Bias Incident Reporting System, both initiatives of the school district to combat the reported racial inequity in schools.
Pattie Hidalgo-Menders, Scott Mineo, and three other unnamed families alleged that the SEA program discriminates against white students and violates their First Amendment rights, and that the reporting system “chills protected speech in violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments,” according to the complaint.
Pence convenes GOP donors, luminaries at Jackson Hole retreat - Politico
Former Vice President Mike Pence is ramping up his donor outreach as he weighs a 2024 White House bid.
Pence held a donor retreat late last week benefiting his newly formed nonprofit group, Advancing American Freedom. The event, held in wealthy Jackson Hole, Wyo., is the first such gathering the former vice president has hosted since leaving the White House in January.
Other Virginia News
Chesterfield moves onto next round of Little League Softball World Series after defeating New Jersey - NBC12
The Chesterfield Little League Softball team is moving onto the next round of the Little League Softball World Series, representing the Southeast region.
The girls took down Robbinsville, New Jersey to advance to the semi-finals. The final score was 1 to 0 in the first elimination game. The team takes on Texas in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
Outraged judge continues Danville murder trial after not enough potential jurors show up - Danville Register & Bee
by John Crane
The trial for the man suspected in the death of a cab driver in Danville in January had to be continued by Danville Circuit Court Judge James Reynolds because the jury pool was too small.
Reynolds was outraged after not enough people showed up for jury selection, forcing him to delay the trial for James Edward Fultz IV, the man accused of killing 51-year-old Wendy Harris the night of Jan. 10 in the cab she had been driving on Gay Street.
All employees of Richmond Public Schools must be vaccinated by Oct. 1
$249K fake Coast Guard credential scheme nets 45-month sentence for Virginia Beach man
BRHD to provide third vaccine dose for immunocompromised; medical documentation not required