By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month) The House Appropriations Committee endorsed legislation on Tuesday that would eliminate sovereign immunity for police officers from civil liability for alleged misconduct while on duty. The panel's action reversed a vote the previous day that had defeated one of Democrats' top priorities for police and criminal justice reforms in the General Assembly special session.
By IAN MUNRO, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) James Madison University President Jonathan Alger announced by email Tuesday evening most classes are being transitioned to online-only courses and students living on campus are being sent home after discussions with state health officials. The announcement comes less than a week after in-person classes were held for the first time in almost six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By LUANNE RIFE, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday that Virginia will not heed the federal government's call to send teachers exposed to the coronavirus back to classrooms, or its directive to stop testing everyone who's been in close contact with an infected person. "Two weeks ago, the Trump administration reclassified teachers as critical infrastructure workers. This means they could be expected to continue working even if they were exposed to COVID-19. And that's the wrong thing to do," Northam said during a news briefing.
By MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month) Gov. Ralph Northam says the restrictions he ordered for Hampton Roads restaurants in late July to keep the coronavirus at bay will remain in place at least through Labor Day next week. In his first press conference on the coronavirus in weeks, Northam said Tuesday that on a call with other governors this week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal government's top infectious diseases expert, urged governors to keep restrictions in place so that a spike in cases wouldn't happen like it did during long holiday weekends at the start of the summer.
By ROBERT SORRELL, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month) The Mount Rogers Health District is warning the public about the potential for COVID-19 outbreaks in churches and other faith-based settings. On Tuesday, the district said there have been multiple outbreaks of COVID-19 in houses of worship throughout the area. Recently, one outbreak associated with a church has recorded more than 40 associated COVID-19 cases.
By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month) A lawsuit challenging the wording of a ballot question related to the state's redistricting process could delay the mailing of absentee ballots if successful, Attorney General Mark Herring's office said Monday in a court filing. Last week, a former chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, Paul Goldman, filed a lawsuit arguing that the ballot language tied to a proposed constitutional amendment to revamp the state's redistricting process is "misleading" and "inaccurate."
By IAN SHAPIRA, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month) Before the pandemic, Anna and Josh Knight and their two small children enjoyed a social rowhouse life in Northwest Washington. From their elevated front porch in Mt. Pleasant, they could chat with friends to the left or right. Out the front door, they could walk their kids three minutes to the Rosemount Center, an English- and Spanish-speaking day care. From there, it was another short stroll to Past Tense for yoga or Pear Plum Cafe to drink coffee with members of a local parent Facebook group. The virus upended that life. The Full Report 45 articles, 19 publications The Virginia Public Access Project Our COVID-19 dashboard makes it easy to track the latest available data for tests performed, infections, deaths and hospital capacity. There's a filter for each city and county, plus an exclusive per-capita ZIP Code map. Updated each morning around 10:30 a.m. By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month) Heightened COVID-19 restrictions in Hampton Roads will remain in place through Labor Day, as state officials hope to stymie a potential surge following the busy holiday weekend. While the rest of the state remains under Phase Three guidelines, private and public gatherings in the state's Eastern health region are limited to 50 people, compared with the current statewide limit of 250.
By JESSICA NOLTE, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month) Gov. Ralph Northam is giving Virginians additional time to renew their driver's licenses, learner's permits and identification cards issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. "I know lots of people are in line for appointments, so I am extending for an additional 60 days the validity of license and identification credentials," Northam said in a Tuesday news conference.
By SARAH VOGELSONG, Virginia Mercury First came rising waters and flooded roads. Then came evacuations. An Aug. 15 storm that stalled over Central Virginia and dropped almost 10 inches of rain on parts of Chesterfield County highlighted a threat that the state has long been aware of but, with climate change, is becoming ever more pressing: dam failures. By NED OLIVER, Virginia Mercury Lawmakers on Virginia's House Appropriations Committee revived a bill aimed at making it easier to sue police officers for misconduct, voting Tuesday to send the measure for a vote before the full chamber. The decision came less than 24 hours after the same panel voted the bill down, with two Democrats joining Republicans in opposing the legislation.
By MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month) As state lawmakers consider ways to make Virginia's criminal justice system more fair and equitable during their special session, one proposal making its way through the legislature would reform the way inmates' sentences are calculated. An earned sentence credit bill, proposed by Del. Don Scott, would incentivize inmates to stay out of trouble while in prison and participate in rehabilitative programs, education and work to increase their chances of getting out early through a reduced sentence.
By JESSICA WETZLER, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) As week two, closing in on three, of the General Assembly's special session is underway, Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, has filed three pieces of legislation focusing on public safety and law enforcement — areas Gov. Ralph Northam wanted addressed.
By ANA LEY, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month) Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax joined a crowd of about 150 people who gathered at the parking lot of a Portsmouth church as a show of support for the powerful state Sen. Louise Lucas, who is facing felony charges in connection with the vandalism of the city's downtown Confederate monument. "I think it's an outrage," McAulliffe said from a small stage outside Grove Church. By JOSH JANNEY, Winchester Star (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, visited several small businesses and nonprofit groups in Winchester on Tuesday to talk about the financial hardships they've experienced during the coronavirus pandemic and the impact of federal relief programs. Her first stop was Highland Food Pantry, an all-volunteer operation based at Highland Memorial Presbyterian Church at 446 Highland Ave., which distributes food to those in need on Tuesdays.
By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) Both congressional candidates in central Virginia are on the airwaves, with Democrat Cameron Webb rolling out a television ad to introduce himself to voters and Republican Bob Good attacking Webb. The contest in the 5th Congressional District is shaping up to be a competitive one as Good and Webb seek an open seat after Good defeated Rep. Denver Riggleman, R-Nelson, in a convention earlier this year.
By MEAGAN FLYNN, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month) Virginia Republican Bob Good dropped his first congressional campaign ad Monday, showing Cameron Webb, his Democratic opponent, against images of rioting in an unidentified location and trying to paint Webb as a "radical" who supports forced government health care and defunding the police. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee condemned the ad as a "racist dog whistle." Webb, who if elected would be the first Black doctor ever to serve in Congress, called it a "gross distortion" of his positions.
By TYLER HAMMEL, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month) Two Central Virginia Republican candidates will appear on the November ballots after a Richmond judge's decision upheld extensions granted by the Virginia Board of Elections. Virginia's Board of Elections was sued in July by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee after the Board voted on July 7 to allow eight congressional candidates, including 5th District Republican candidate Bob Good and 7th District Republican candidate Nick Freitas, to qualify for the November ballot despite not filing paperwork on time.
By ANDREW CAIN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month) A Richmond judge has dismissed a suit by an organization that seeks to elect Democrats to Congress, finding that the State Board of Elections acted within its powers when it let a number of congressional candidates, including Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, qualify for the November ballot after they missed filing deadlines.
By PATRICIA SULLIVAN, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month) A Northern Virginia congressman and the chair of the Arlington County Board wrote to President Trump's chief of staff and campaign manager Tuesday, expressing concern that the president and vice president had attended events in Arlington without appearing to follow Virginia law on wearing masks and social distancing. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Arlington) and Chair Libby Garvey (D) wrote to Mark Meadows, Trump's chief of staff, and Bill Stepien, the president's campaign manager, after Trump and Pence held events over the summer in the deeply liberal county just over the Potomac River from D.C. By GABRIELLE RENTE, Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily (Metered paywall - 3 articles per month) Great Wolf Lodge will be reopening its doors to the public Thursday. Under their newly created Paw Pledge program committed to "keeping you safe while you play," the resort has established health and safety measures, including mask policies, reduced occupancy, physical distancing guidelines and so on.
By DAVE RESS, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month) It's going to be a long haul back for the Historic Triangle's tourism-dependent economy, hit hard by the pandemic, local political and business leaders told a town hall hosted by Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Elaine Luria. The session Tuesday was aimed at gathering information about local needs before the two head back to Washington to resume the wrangling over the federal government's next steps in dealing with COVID-19.
By ALEXA DOIRON, Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily (Metered paywall - 3 articles per month) For some, it might seem odd to see Benjamin Franklin using Zoom and Facebook, but for many it's become the only way to salvage a livelihood. B.J. Pryor has loved history ever since he was a student at William & Mary in 1974. He spent time teaching history to students and eventually became a historical interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg for 38 years.
By JOHN REID BLACKWELL, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month) Genworth Financial Inc. said late Monday it will proceed with its long-delayed acquisition by China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co. Ltd. after the China-based company showed that it could raise enough money to finance the deal. Henrico County-based Genworth, which employs 1,100 people in Lynchburg, said it does not intend to terminate the merger agreement after China Oceanwide provided "satisfactory information" it could finance the $2.7 billion acquisition.
By LIZ CLARKE, MARK MASKE, WILL HOBSON AND BETH REINHARD, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month) The NFL has assumed oversight of the investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, sexism and mistreatment in the Washington Football Team workplace, according to multiple people familiar with the situation. According to these people, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and team owner Daniel Snyder discussed the issue and agreed it was best if attorney Beth Wilkinson, who is conducting the investigation, reports to the league instead of the team. By JACK MOORE, WTOP Dulles International Airport will rebuild one of its four runways and BWI Marshall Airport will get additional funding to purchase land in the airport's noise zone to ease noise complaints — two big projects given the green light through new federal funding. The U.S. Transportation Department announced Tuesday a total of $1.2 billion in new grant funding for "critical transportation infrastructure projects" across all 50 states. By WAYNE EPPS AND ERIC KOLENICH, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month) After reporting more than 500 active coronavirus cases less than a week after in-person classes started, James Madison University on Tuesday announced it would send students home and shift to primarily online courses starting Monday. In a message posted to the school's website Tuesday evening, university President Jonathan R. Alger wrote that the decision came after consultation with the Virginia Department of Health. Students are being asked to leave campus by Monday.
By MIKE NIZIOLEK, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) The number of fans, if any, that will be allowed into Lane Stadium for Virginia Tech's football home opener with Virginia on Sept. 19 is still in question. The answer to questions about pregame has been given. Leave the koozies and cornhole boards at home. Tech, in conjunction with the Town of Blacksburg, announced Tuesday that tailgating will be prohibited this season in university and town parking lots, and public spaces for all sports.
By JOSH REYES, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month) Christopher Newport University students gathered on the main lawn of the school and chanted the names Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and India Kager along with cries of "no justice, no peace" and "Black lives matter." The chants from a crowd of about 70 students — spread out and wearing masks — echoed across the lawn as other students sat and ate lunch or walked between buildings. Some stopped to join. By SALEEN MARTIN, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month) The Virginia Department of Health reported 1,021 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing the state's tally to 121,615. At least 2,612 Virginians have died from the virus as of Tuesday morning, an increase of 32 from Monday.
By MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month) Since its launch about one month ago, Virginia's COVIDWISE smartphone app, which uses Bluetooth technology to anonymously track when someone has been exposed to the virus, has been downloaded about 460,000 times, Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday. That's about 11% of the state population with a smartphone, according to Northam's office. That's a higher percentage than other states' apps have seen, but still a fraction of the 60% figure that health officials say could make a dent in virus numbers.
By ERIC KOLENICH, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month) A seafood restaurant in Hanover County that had defied state-ordered COVID-19 safety measures and operated without a license was closed Tuesday morning after a judge's temporary restraining order. In July, Calabash Seafood Restaurant in Mechanicsville lost its health permit for failing to comply with COVID restrictions. Patrons and employees scarcely wore masks, bar seating was permitted, and little to no effort was made to social distance, according to a complaint.
By LAWRENCE EMERSON, Fauquier Now Fauquier Hospital has bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic's worst effects. In April, the 67-year-old hospital lost almost $1 million and furloughed 20 percent of its 990 employees as the governor ordered a halt to elective procedures, CEO Chad Melton said in an interview last week.
By SAM WALL AND HENRI GENDREAU, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) Radford's positive COVID-19 results have risen exponentially over the last week, but the city's cases are starting to plateau, according to the director of the New River Valley Health Department. Dr. Noelle Bissell told reporters in a conference call Tuesday afternoon that while the cases had nearly tripled from 166 a week ago to 467 as of Tuesday — according to state numbers — the city should start to see numbers drop in the near future. By FRANK GREEN AND ALI ROCKETT, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month) A Richmond woman who was hit in the neck with a rubber bullet is seeking millions of dollars in damages, alleging excessive use of force and rights violations by state and city police during recent protests. Maria Lourdes Mauer filed the suit against the city of Richmond, the Richmond Police Department, former Richmond Police Chief William Smith, former interim police chief William "Jody" Blackwell, Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. Gary T. Settle, and unknown officers from the two agencies.
By NEIL HARVEY, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) Four of the seven people arrested during the late May demonstrations in Roanoke resolved their cases Tuesday. Devin Johnson II, 27; Annabelle Layman, 26; Trevor MacDermott, 26; and Khairajhn Sims, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawful assembly, a misdemeanor, and were each ordered to pay a $50 fine, which comes with an additional $96 in court costs.
By NOLAN STOUT, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month) A white Charlottesville police officer has been charged with assault and battery in the March 3 arrest of a Black man. A magistrate issued a warrant charging officer Jeffrey Jaeger with misdemeanor assault and battery on Tuesday, according to a news release. Jaeger and two other officers, who were not named, responded to a disorder at 762 Prospect Ave. on March 3, the release says.
By NOLAN STOUT, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month) Charlottesville Police Chief RaShall Brackney and Mayor Nikuyah Walker on Tuesday defended the Charlottesville Police Department and decried public distrust and criticism of the department's leader. The two-hour discussion on the city's Cville360 program came on the same day a white police officer was charged with assault and battery for his actions in the March arrest of a Black man. By JILL PALERMO, Prince William Times The Prince William Education Association, the county's teachers' union, says it will continue to push for an all-virtual start for the new school year despite the current plan to offer in-person instruction to about 1,600 special education students when the new year begins Sept. 8. About 50 teachers rallied outside the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center on Aug. 26 and they are planning to return to the school board meeting this Wednesday, Sept. 2, to urge the board to reverse course and allow all teachers and students to work virtually for the first quarter, said PWEA President Maggie Hansford.
By ADRIANNA HARGROVE, NBC 12 Chesterfield County is seeking more Officers of Election and will be offering bonuses to help staff the General Election in November. The county is offering a $100 bonus, bringing their overall compensation for their work during Election Day to $250.
By CHRIS SUAREZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers) With Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney starting his re-election campaign in earnest, Gov. Ralph Northam appeared by his side at a campaign kickoff event Tuesday, announcing his endorsement for the incumbent in the upcoming mayoral election. After speaking of his experience working with the mayor — from his time as a state senator working with Stoney when he was a Democratic Party official, to the past three years in addressing issues around education and housing, and most recently the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest over racial injustice — Northam said he will support the mayor's re-election bid.
By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month) The Pamunkey Tribe, which wants to build a waterfront casino near downtown Norfolk but needs the city's voters to first give it the go-ahead in the Nov. 3 election, launched its political campaign with a pledge: $150,000 toward helping the St. Paul's neighborhood in the city get a new grocery store. The St. Paul's neighborhood, which includes about half of the city's public housing, hasn't had a conventional grocery store within less than a mile of it since Save A Lot closed its doors at 720 Church St. on June 20.
By GORDON RAGO, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month) Last week, some teachers in Chesapeake began filtering into their school buildings. At first, the educators only have to report in a couple days a week. By Sept. 14, the second week of school, they'll be required to come in all five days as they get used to new safety regulations being put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.
By JESSICA WETZLER, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) Several people came to Tuesday's Town Council meeting to express concerns over the Broadway Police Department's handling of known militia groups that attended a Black Lives Matter protest in July. As stated in a press release from the Black Lives Matter Broadway group, Rockingham County resident Grace Wilson submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Broadway Police Department for all documents that mentioned the protests. The press release states that the documents indicated local police departments coordinated with self-styled militias prior to protests in Broadway and Elkton earlier this year.
By KATHERINE KNOTT, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month) About 685 students — most of whom don't have internet access — have opted to come to Albemarle County school buildings for virtual classes this school year, which starts next Tuesday. The division invited about 10% of its students, including those who are learning the English language or have special needs, into school buildings to support them with virtual classes. All other students will start the school year at home.
By JAMEY CROSS, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month) Lynchburg City Schools students in grades pre-K through 12 began the school year remotely on Aug. 24, but some of the division's most vulnerable students will return to school buildings beginning next week. At Tuesday's school board meeting, division staff said some of the division's special education students with "more significant needs" will begin to attend school in person starting Sept. 8.
By ALISON GRAHAM, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) Vinton public safety employees will receive hazard pay from the town's portion of federal coronavirus aid. The Vinton Town Council voted Tuesday to grant the additional pay to all full-time sworn employees in the police department.
By STEPHANIE PORTER- NICHOLS, Smyth County News & Messenger Smyth County emphasized its opposition to gun control by promising to not exercise its new ability to ban guns in some public venues. The Thursday night vote added Smyth County to a growing list of localities, mostly rural, that are reaffirming their Second Amendment Sanctuary status.
By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month) City schools Superintendent Keith Perrigan today released a statement saying weekend comments by School Board Chairman Steve Fletcher on Facebook "do not represent the beliefs, vision and ideals of Bristol Virginia Public Schools." Perrigan went on to say Fletcher's comments "were not made" in his capacity as School Board chairman. A group called Future Black Leaders Coalition is calling for Fletcher to resign after he made comments to two people on Facebook about an illustration depicting white police officers shooting a Black man in the back.
By JOHN R. CRANE, Danville Register & Bee Danville City Council voted 7-0 to authorize the city manager to sign an agreement with Caesars Entertainment for a casino project at Schoolfield. The casino project would be contingent on Danville voters approving it on Nov. 3. City Councilman Lee Vogler abstained from the vote, citing a conflict of interest because his employer, Showcase Magazine, has been running advertisements for the company. Vogler, however, expressed support for the project during his abstention. By MARK J. ROZELL, published in Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month) Joe Biden has a strong lead over President Trump in most national polls, and an even bigger lead in the few Virginia polls so far. Four years ago at this time, Hillary Clinton had a strong lead in the national polls, and an even bigger one in several Virginia polls. Trump's Electoral College win in 2016 stumped the experts. He just might do so again. But also, Virginia was more competitive than most had projected. Rozell is dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University and a long-time analyst of Virginia politics.
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