VISUALIZATION: CONNECTING VIRGINIA CANDIDATES WITH FARAWAY DONORS

Nearly half of small donors to Democratic candidates for the Virginia General Assembly candidates come from out of state. VPAP shows one way progressive groups connect far-flung activists with candidates running in Virginia.

TRUMP’S STANCE ON GUN CONTROL PUTS PRESSURE ON VIRGINIA GOP

President Trump’s call this week for “common sense” gun-control laws in the wake of the most recent mass shootings echoed the language of another chief executive who recently confronted the same issue: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam....Now that Trump and other national Republicans — including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) — have signaled a willingness to act in the face of growing outrage as violence continues around the country, the Virginia GOP is left in an uncomfortable spot in a crucial election year.

'ALL IT'S DONE IS MADE ME MAD': FREITAS ANNOUNCES WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN AFTER FAILING TO MAKE BALLOT

Virginia Del. Nick Freitas, R-Culpeper, has officially announced he will run a write-in campaign this fall after being denied access to the ballot due to late paperwork. This week, the State Board of Elections rejected a GOP request to allow Freitas to appear on the ballot despite two missed filing deadlines. The decision left Republicans with no nominee in the strongly conservative 30th House District in a pivotal election year with control of the General Assembly at stake.

FREITAS SAYS HE WILL MOUNT WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN

Del. Nicholas J. Freitas (R-Culpeper) said Friday that he will mount a write-in campaign for reelection this fall after a paperwork mix-up prevented him from qualifying for the ballot.

VIRGINIA POPULATION PROJECTIONS SHOW THE GROWTH IS IN DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLDS

Rep. Rob Wittman’s recent announcement that he will not seek statewide office in 2021 removes a potential Republican candidate for governor whose 1st District includes part of Prince William County, one of the population centers that have driven Democrats’ winning streak in statewide elections. Virginia Democrats have won every statewide election in Virginia since 2009 because they dominate the 10 cities and counties with populations of 200,000 or more.

SENTRIES, NOT 'SQUAD': MODERATE DEMS ONES TO WATCH FOR 2020

Abigail Spanberger talked about rural broadband. She held court on health care, solar energy and the border crisis. But as the freshman Democrat from Virginia fielded a dozen questions during a recent town hall in Culpeper, she never once took on President Donald Trump directly — not even when the topic turned, fleetingly, to impeachment.

CLEARED TO LEAVE VIRGINIA’S OVERCROWDED MENTAL HOSPITALS, PATIENTS HAVE NOWHERE TO GO

Virginia’s psychiatric hospitals are dangerously full. Though considered safest when operating at 85 percent capacity, often nearly every single bed is taken. Yet at any given time, many of those patients have been deemed ready for discharge, but they remain in the hospital because they have nowhere else to go.

STATE REGULATIONS AGENCY REMAINS WITHOUT PERMANENT DIRECTOR AFTER CRITICAL AUDIT

The state agency that regulates professions like home inspectors and opticians has been without a permanent director for six months. A state audit last year said the acting director of the agency, who was then the deputy director, already had too much responsibility.

RELEASED STATE POLICE RALLY OPERATIONS PLAN ACCUSED OF BEING OVER-REDACTED

Nearly two years after the deadly Unite the Right rally, Virginia State Police have been spurred to release their operations plan by a lawsuit. However, the plaintiffs feel the redactions are over-broad.

FINAL DECISION STILL ELUSIVE IN FEDERAL PROBE OF STATE POLICE HELICOPTER CRASH THAT KILLED 2

Nearly two years after a Virginia State Police helicopter crashed, killing two troopers, at the Aug. 12, 2017, white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, federal transportation investigators still are not close to rendering a final verdict on why the aircraft fell out of the sky.

LACK OF CONTEXT, ERRORS PLAGUE MCAULIFFE BOOK ON AUG. 12

The weather forecast for Feb. 7, 2017, was a balmy 71 degrees in the Charlottesville area. The headline “Lee Park statue will be removed” ran in large letters across the day’s issue of The Daily Progress. The article discussed the 3-2 vote by city councilors and mentions a separate vote to rename the park. Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s new book, “Beyond Charlottesville: Taking a Stand Against White Nationalism,” states that the vote by the City Council to remove the statue “did not generate much immediate press attention,”

JUDGE SANCTIONS WHITE NATIONALISTS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE CASE

A federal judge has sanctioned white nationalists for their "unacceptable" behavior in a lawsuit against them in connection with a deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, nearly two years ago. The judge on Friday ordered Elliot Kline, Matthew Heimbach, and the organization Vanguard America to pay "reasonable attorney's fees" over their "refusal" to participate in the discovery process. He suggested "more drastic sanctions" could be necessary if their behavior doesn't change, saying it had stalled the litigation for months on end.

DRIVER’S LICENSE REINSTATEMENTS TRICKLE IN A MONTH INTO LAW BARRING SUSPENSIONS FOR UNPAID FEES

Just under 8,000 Virginians had taken action to regain their driving privileges as of early August, one month into a law to reinstate licenses suspended due to unpaid fees went into effect. Gov. Ralph Northam and civil rights advocates heralded the state budget provision as a win for low-income Virginians, who were caught in a vicious cycle when their licenses were suspended: Unable to drive, many lost the ability to earn an income, care for their families and pay the outstanding fines.

NEW LAW GETS DRIVERS BACK ON THE ROAD IN VIRGINIA

Dumfries resident Donna Shaheed’s driver’s license was suspended 16 years ago. This summer, she got it back. “I can drive legally now to my kid’s doctor’s appointments,” she said. “Even to the grocery store. I can go do things, take my kids to the park, anywhere. It’s a whole lot less anxiety on me.” Shaheed said she was surprised when she heard about the law that went into effect July 1 that reinstates driver’s licenses for those who had their license suspended due to unpaid court fines.

MCEACHIN: GUN LAWS SHOULD REFLECT ‘COMMON SENSE’

The increase in gun-violence incidents, including what happened over the Memorial Day weekend in Virginia Beach, highlights the need for “common-sense” gun legislation both in Virginia and across the nation, a Virginia congressman said. In an interview with The Progress-Index, Rep. A. Donald McEachin said Petersburg’s high ranking in murders per capita makes it even more imperative that gun-safety matters must be addressed sooner rather than later.

THE FEDERAL REAL ESTATE FOOTPRINT IS SLIMMING

When news emerged that two federal agencies would look to pack up and shift their offices — and hundreds of employees — to Kansas City and Colorado, the Washington region recoiled. Angst was high, suspicions flared over the Trump administration’s motives and at least one legal protest was quickly filed. And yet, sadly, the planned departures of the Bureau of Land Management and parts of the Agriculture Department are just the tip of an ominous iceberg for the regional economy.

WITH $71M WAGERED IN JULY, RICHMOND ROSIE'S RACES PAST NEW KENT AS TOP GAMBLING SPOT

The casino-esque gambling parlor that opened in South Richmond last month took in almost as much money as Colonial Downs Group’s two other Rosie’s locations combined, according to a financial report filed with state horse racing regulators.

ROSIE'S GAMING CENTER IN VINTON PROVING TO BE A GOOD FINANCIAL BET

Colonial Downs’ revived betting parlor in Vinton has come out of the gate strong — besting its own financial projections. In just under three months, the revamped destination has handled more than $57 million in wagers placed just on its new historical horse racing machines.

AND THEY'RE OFF! HORSE RACING RETURNS TO COLONIAL DOWNS AFTER 6-YEAR DROUGHT

Three reasons to care — one way or the other — about the rebirth of Colonial Downs, which officially happened Thursday when the first bugle call in nearly six years summoned long-legged thoroughbreds to the starting gate: Taxes and jobs: Current projections have the state’s premier horse track providing $42 million to the state and localities annually, plus 800 jobs.

CHANGE IN STAFFORD TAX RATE ATTRACTS DISTRIBUTION CENTER DEVELOPER

A Baltimore company expected to break ground soon on a nearly half-million-square-foot distribution center near Stafford Regional Airport is the first developer to take advantage of a new Stafford County tax rate on inventory.

U-VA.: ‘PROSPECT’ OF GIFTS TO SCHOOL APPEARED TO DRIVE RECRUITMENT OF STUDENT-ATHLETES

The University of Virginia disclosed Friday that some student-athletes were apparently recruited several years ago because of the possibility that their admission would result in financial donations to the school. The disclosure, in a statement from U-Va., suggested that fundraising goals may have compromised the sensitive process of athletic recruiting and admissions at the prestigious public university.

EVIDENCE SUGGESTS BURIAL GROUND OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE LIES BENEATH CAMPUS

A burial ground of enslaved people is believed to be beneath the University of Richmond. The burial ground is behind Puryear Hall, near the steam plant and parking lot U8, according to documentary evidence uncovered by a graduate student.

INITIAL RESEARCH SUGGESTS BURIAL GROUND BELOW UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND CAMPUS

New research from the University of Richmond points to a burial ground of enslaved people lying beneath the school’s campus. The burial site is believed to be behind Puryear Hall, a building built in 1927 located on the Southeastern side of Westhampton Lake near the university’s steam plant. The site’s presence isn’t confirmed - the university is still investigating - but initial evidence discovered by researchers has led to the belief that an unknown number of slaves are buried below the campus.

PRESERVATION VIRGINIA WORKS TO DOCUMENT HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOLS

Nonprofit Preservation Virginia recently completed a survey of historic Rosenwald Schools built in the South during the Jim Crow era. The survey counted 382 of the schools built in Virginia between 1917 and 1932. ...Of all the schools built in Virginia, 126 -- or 33% -- are still standing.

COURT: BATHROOM POLICY VIOLATES TRANSGENDER STUDENT'S RIGHTS

A federal judge ruled Friday a Virginia school district violated a transgender student’s rights by not permitting the student to use the bathroom correlated with his gender identity. In 2015, Gloucester High School adopted a policy for transgender students to use different facilities than biological male or female students. The move came after backlash in the community after Gavin Grimm, who was a sophomore at the time, began using male facilities after he found it stigmatizing to use a restroom in the nurse’s office.

SCHOOL THAT BARRED TRANSGENDER STUDENT GAVIN GRIMM FROM BOYS’ RESTROOM VIOLATED HIS RIGHTS, JUDGE RULES

The constitutional rights of a transgender student were violated when he was barred from using the boys’ restroom at his Virginia high school, a federal judge ruled Friday.

PRINCIPI TO RUN WRITE-IN CAMPAIGN TO KEEP HIS SUPERVISOR SEAT

Frank Principi may not be done with politics yet. The longtime Woodbridge District Supervisor will run a write-in campaign during the Nov. 5, 2019, General Election, according to sources familiar with the situation. Principi lost a June Primary Election bid to fellow Democrat Margaret Franklin by nearly 10 points. She’s now running as the Democrat nominee to be the next Woodbridge District Supervisor.

SUPERVISORS BACK AMBITIOUS BROADBAND INCENTIVE PLAN

Fauquier’s board of supervisors Thursday agreed to pursue a two-pronged approach that would extend broadband internet service to rural areas of the county. After a 70-minute closed session Thursday afternoon, Supervisor Rick Gerhardt (Cedar Run District) unveiled an incentive plan to use up to 15 existing telecommunication and water towers in portions of northern, central and southern Fauquier to provide high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved homes.

COLETTE MCEACHIN WINS DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR RICHMOND COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY

Colette McEachin soundly defeated Alex Taylor to become the Democratic nominee for commonwealth's attorney, the Richmond City Democratic Committee announced Saturday. In a primary in which more than 2,500 Richmonders voted on Thursday and Saturday, McEachin received 2,115 votes to Taylor's 429.

FREDERICKSBURG BOARD TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON MOVING CONTROVERSIAL SLAVE AUCTION BLOCK TO MUSEUM

The public will have another chance to weigh in on the fate of Fredericksburg’s controversial slave auction block, even though new research indicates that it never actually was used for that purpose.

PETERSBURG MAKES OMINOUS TIME COVER

Time magazine’s latest issue hit shelves this week following two mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio and El Paso, Texas left at least 31 dead between the two. Time’s front cover is a conglomeration of names, seemingly scratched into the black background. Each of those cities is a name associated with gun violence this year. Petersburg is listed in the top left-hand corner.

THE LEGACY OF 1619 STILL HAUNTS VIRGINIA, AMERICA

In late August of 1619, an English pirate ship landed at Point Comfort, not far from Jamestown, the capital of the colony of Virginia, bearing a cargo that would change the course of history for what would become the United States of America.

HOPE AHEAD FOR INTERSTATES

While state transportation officials are digging into possible fixes for Interstate 95, a new committee soon will meet to do the same for Interstate 81. Both interstates are heavily congested — and highly dangerous for motorists. Both are major thoroughfares for commerce, especially tractor-trailer traffic. I-81, in fact, is one of the most heavily traveled interstates in the nation when it comes to truck traffic.

ACCURATE CENSUS COUNT CRITICAL FOR VIRGINIA

Virginia lawmakers may not want to spend extra state money to encourage residents to participate in next year’s census, but Gov. Ralph Northam has come up with a good plan to work around that bad decision. Northam asked the legislature to provide $1.5 million to help ensure an accurate count in the census, but the Republican-led Senate said no. Fortunately, Northam can tap the state’s economic contingency fund,

SIX INSIGHTS ON THE REGION'S TALENT ATTRACTION PROBLEM

The coin of the realm in the new economy is who has the best-skilled workforce. A skilled workforce has always been important, of course, but it’s even more so now when jobs are more mobile — not rooted to a mine or a port or some other natural resource, but gravitate to wherever the deepest labor pools are. We have Exhibit A for that in our own state and in this case the “A” doubles as Amazon:

RIGGLEMAN AMID AN IRONIC CONTROVERSY

Before he took office, Rep. Denver Riggleman’s stance on LGBTQ rights might have been hard to predict. Mr. Riggleman is the second of two area lawmakers immersed in a brouhaha. But unlike Del. Nick Freitas (whose difficulties we discussed on Aug. 8), Mr. Riggleman’s troubles seem no worse than ironic.

PORT EXPANSION CRITICAL TO REGIONAL, STATE ECONOMIES

As much as economic developers here and in Richmond discuss the need to diversity the economy to promote stability and long-term growth, Hampton Roads continues to rely heavily on three areas of commerce for much of its prosperity: tourism, defense and the Port of Virginia.

REFLECTION PROVIDES A WISER VIEW

The experiences of August 2017 cut deeply through the Charlottesville community. Those days caused much pain, and the long-term scars are indelible. We should never forget the courage of those who confronted racism and violence head-on. We should always honor the sacrifices those individuals made.

LAWMAKERS SHOULD DO THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS IN PUBLIC

The Virginia General Assembly’s record on openness is less than stellar, and that’s being generous. Lawmakers routinely kill bills in early morning committee and subcommittee meetings, oftentimes by voice vote, so there are no witnesses and no records. Meetings are scheduled, cancelled and rescheduled without warning, or moved from one room to another without notice, further complicating those invested in a particular issue or the lawmaking process in general.

TOLL PROPOSAL MUST MAKE SENSE

Planners must reconsider any proposal to place a toll lane entrance near the Lasalle exit on Interstate 64 Hampton Roads is moving in the right directions needed to maintain and upgrade its aging transportation infrastructure. Motorists now pay modest regional surcharges on sales tax and fuel taxes, and the money is placed in pools that fund projects prioritized by a board of regional leaders.

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES EXPANDS ITS MISSION

The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (DVS) continues to expand its mission to provide assistance to veterans and to active duty members and their families who are returning to civilian life.

SCHAPIRO: WILD CARDS ABOUND IN LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS

The late John Daffron, a state Capitol reporter for The Associated Press, used to say — between drags on an unfiltered Pall Mall cigarette — that in Virginia politics, “There’s less than meets the eye.” In an earlier era, truer words were never spoken: Competition was nominal. Fundraising favored the few. Redistricting was a joke. Lobbyists who greased legislators in the winter guided their campaigns in the fall. While there is more than an echo of that now, there are wild cards

SHENK: WILL RAIL EXPANSION EASE CONGESTION ON INTERSTATE 95?

IN THE transportation world, roads get most of us where we’re going. But even for those who don’t use other transport options such as trains and buses, those alternates modes of getting around often impact your road trip. Trains, for instance, play a key role in the Fredericksburg-area corridor by carrying commuters who might otherwise be driving on Interstate 95.

WILLIAMS: CHARTING THE PROGRAM TO EDUCATE RURAL BLACK VIRGINIANS

Two staff members for Preservation Virginia drove more than 4,400 miles through the state to find and map a groundbreaking program that built hundreds of schools here to educate rural African Americans in the early 20th century. Preservation programs manager Lisa Bergstrom and Justin Sarafin, director of preservation initiatives and engagement, were seeking to document the legacy of Booker T. Washington, who enlisted philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears Roebuck, in the construction of approximately 5,500 Rosenwald Schools as far north as Maryland and as far west as Oklahoma.

HANER: REAL MEDICARE DOESN'T MATCH POLITICAL PROMISES

We had been on Medicare exactly two days when our first premium increase notice arrived, a nice healthy 5% jump. This isn’t the Medicare Heaven that I keep hearing about from the presidential contenders. I want that Medicare, the idyllic one described by Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. Surely their “Medicare for All” wouldn’t raise my premiums on Day Two. Technically, the price increase is for the Medicare supplemental policy provided by Anthem, not the government-run Part B.

Stephen D. Haner is senior fellow for state and local tax policy with the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy.

BEER: SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA NEEDS TO MARK ITS LYNCHINGS

An excellent commentary by the University of Virginia’s Bob Gibson (“The Monuments Virginia Doesn’t Have Yet,” July 21) included his insightful observation that the Commonwealth has long memorialized its Confederate past with historical markers and monuments but not its abhorrent experience with vigilante justice between 1880 and 1930.

Beers is a Roanoke lawyer and author of “The Wythe County Lynching of Raymond Bird, Progressivism vs. Mob Violence in the ‘20s,” which appeared in the Fall 1994 Appalachian Journal, a publication of Appalachian State University.

BRAY: COOPERATION HELPING ADDRESS VA. TEACHER SHORTAGE

Some say mountains cannot be moved, but the commonwealth has done just that. Achieving solidarity among educators, politicians, policymakers, higher education institutions and leaders from across Virginia, the effort to combat the teacher shortage in our classrooms has been nothing short of truly astonishing.

Jane S. Bray is dean of the Darden College of Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University.

SPEARS: OUR REGIONAL WORKFORCE

Our regional business community is comprised of a variety of small and large companies, ranging from 1 employee to more than 5,000 employees. Nonprofits, schools, and government entities may be funded differently but they also must manage their operations using comparable business practices in order to be sustainable. Across the board, no matter the size or type of industry, all businesses share a common interest in strengthening today’s workforce and planning for tomorrow’s workers.

Susan Spears is president and chief executive officer of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.

GOODWYN: PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON BLACK PHILANTHROPY

When I was growing up, I often heard adults in my circle proclaim, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” From a young age, I observed my African American relatives and friends give their time, money and other resources to assist each other and to improve their communities. In August, which is recognized as Black Philanthropy Month, I reflect on their giving and how it has inspired my own.

Sharon Goodwyn, an attorney in Norfolk, is vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation.

MORSE: THE EVER-CHANGING DEFINITION OF THE 'VIRGINIA WAY'

What, exactly, is the “Virginia Way”? Was there ever anything exact about it? Or was it simply thrown out there, for one purpose or another, lathered up with irony? It’s worth asking, since the phrase, “Virginia Way” has been recently deployed and not to anyone’s benefit. Unless, that is, you don’t generally like Virginia.

Gordon C. Morse wrote editorials for the Daily Press and The Pilot in the 1980s. He later wrote speeches for Gov. Gerald L. Baliles, then worked for corporate and philanthropic organizations

PENCE: SAMIRAH'S INTERRRUPTION WAS UNDEMOCRATIC

As an alumnus of The College of William and Mary, I know that the history of America and the history of this Commonwealth are intertwined. From Mount Vernon to Monticello, from Colonial Williamsburg to Old Town Alexandria, from Arlington House to Arlington Cemetery, the history of America’s founding is scattered all across Virginia. Last week, President Trump gave a powerful speech in Jamestown

Pence is a senior adviser to the Trump 2020 campaign. He is a graduate of the College of William & Mary,

SIGNER: “BEYOND CHARLOTTESVILLE:” THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY

As the second anniversary of the violent Unite the Right rally approaches, it’s a painful but necessary time to reckon with lessons learned from Charlottesville. The event saw a terrorist attack that killed one, injured 19 others and left two state troopers dead. Meanwhile, the nation saw horrifying images of racist and anti-Semitic militias clashing with counter-protesters, while 1,000 state and local police generally declined to intervene.

Michael Signer served as Charlottesville’s mayor from 2016 to 2018.