Youngkin responds to Fox Elementary fire
A Sunday update on Virginia politics
This is a daily newsletter covering Virginia politics from top to bottom. Please consider becoming the ultimate political insider by supporting non-partisan, independent news and becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter today.
An update to the gubernatorial appointment standoff between the House of Delegates and state Senate
In a follow-up to the last newsletter that went out Friday describing a standoff between Senate Democrats and House Republicans over approving gubernatorial appointments, the House eventually removed 11 names from the list of hundreds of appointees before approving them.
The names removed were mostly education and environmental board appointees chosen by Northam, which will likely give Youngkin the ability to replace them.
Democrats believe that the House pushback was a directive that came from Gov. Youngkin. His administration did not respond to questions from Virginia Scope on this matter.
Governor Youngkin responds to fire at Fox Elementary School in Richmond
ICYMI: An elementary school in Richmond was destroyed by a fire Friday night into Saturday morning.
After reaching out to city leaders earlier in the day, Gov. Glenn Youngkin responded late Saturday night with the following statement:
“In conjunction with local authorities and the Secretaries of Education and Public Safety, we are working on a plan to help the children and teachers of William Fox Elementary return to their classes and ensure their wellbeing. We are in this together.”
Former Gov. Jim Gilmore and families share memories of William Fox Elementary School - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Colleen Curran
Built in 1911, William Fox Elementary School at 2300 Hanover Ave. has been a Richmond fixture for over 110 years.
On Friday night, flames were visible in the building around 10:30 p.m. and firefighters fought the fire until roughly 1 a.m. in the morning. Much of the top floor and the roof of the school was destroyed or damaged in the fire.
Six books pulled for review because of ‘sexually explicit’ content will return to Virginia Beach schools, report says - Virginian-Pilot
(Committee members were required to read the text and answer six discussion questions based on the district’s instructional material policy. Every committee unanimously agreed to keep its assigned book.)
by Sierra Jenkins
About four months after complaints about their content led six Virginia Beach school library books to be removed from circulation, multiple school division committees have decided to return them to the shelves.
Each committee decided the books can provide students with different perspectives and life experiences and support instructional material taught across other class subjects, while noting the lasting impact some of the works could have on students, among other reasons.
'Black history is American history,' Virginia NAACP rallies at the Capitol on Saturday - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Holly Prestidge
Ayana Askew’s voice grew steadily louder and cracked occasionally as her emotions took over.
A student at Norfolk’s Booker T. Washington High School, Askew, 17, stood in front of the bell tower on the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol on Saturday morning and recited a poem she’d written in 2020 called “Is Justice Blind.”
Bill would create new suicide prevention position to help veterans with mental health - Virginian-Pilot
by Katie King
As the head of a military-focused organization in Hampton Roads, Craig Quigley often meets with the region’s commanders. One topic always comes up.
“Something that is present in nearly every conversation is the need for additional mental health care resources for service members and their families,” he told The Virginian-Pilot. “This is very much a huge issue of central importance.”
Virginia revenues up by $2 billion for year; House panel backs Youngkin's tax package - Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Michael Martz
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is likely to have more money to pay for his priorities, as revenues surged by almost 22% last month and put the state $2 billion ahead for the fiscal year that began July 1, compared with the same periods a year ago.
Through the first seven months of the fiscal year, the state has collected about $1.4 billion more than predicted under the revenue forecast that then-Gov. Ralph Northam used to prepare the $158 billion two-year budget he proposed a month before leaving office.
Parents of students with disabilities step up efforts to block Youngkin’s mask-optional order - Prince William Times
by Cher Muzyk
To move forward their federal lawsuit, Manassas parent Tasha Nelson and 11 other Virginia parents of students with disabilities filed a motion in federal court Thursday seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order that would make masks optional in public schools.
Their motion asks the federal court to take immediate action to prohibit Youngkin and his administration from enforcing Executive Order 2 and instead allow Virginia school divisions to keep masking requirements in effect when needed to make it safe for their children to attend school.
Black History Month poses first challenge to teachers under tip line - VPM News
by Ian Stewart
It’s the middle of Black History Month, a time when many public school teachers break out lessons involving central figures in African American and Black history and dive into discussions surrounding the history of slavery, Jim Crow laws and the civil rights movement in this country.
But newly elected Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s actions immediately out of the gate surrounding education in public schools have put many teachers on edge.
ACLU argues Va. governor’s order to make masks optional compromises students’ rights - WTOP
by Megan Cloherty
Immunocompromised kids have a right to stay safe at school. That’s the argument in a new filing asking a federal judge to block Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s order to lose masks in the classroom, claiming it violates students’ civil rights.
The ACLU of Virginia is asking a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against the governor’s order to lift the mask mandate, arguing it keeps schools from complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Youngkin draws protest at Charter Day as William & Mary celebrates 329th birthday - Virginian-Pilot
by Sian Wilkerson
It was a contentious birthday celebration for William & Mary as attendees protested Gov. Glenn Youngkin during Friday’s Charter Day ceremony at Kaplan Arena.
Youngkin, one of three honorary degree recipients at the ceremony, faced an outpouring of boos from the crowd in the bleachers as he stood to receive his honorary degree from the school and give his Charter Day remarks.
Subscribe to this newsletter to receive daily updates on everything behind the scenes happening in Virginia politics.
Paid subscribers this week saw:
Senate and House Democrats call on Youngkin to remove Wheeler from his role as acting secretary
Luria referred to a plan being pushed by Spanberger as "bullsh*t
A Virginia Republican member of Congress accused President Biden of giving away crack pipes