VaNews
June 26, 2020

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Top of the News


** Virginia announces changes in school guidance on reopening ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Final decisions on how to reopen public schools in Virginia in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be left up to local school boards, a state official said Thursday. Clark Mercer, Gov. Ralph Northam’s chief of staff, outlined updated guidance for Virginia schools during the governor’s regular update on COVID-19-related issues.
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** VHSL punts on plan for fall sports ([link removed])
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By DEVIN PAYNE, Culpeper Star Exponent (Metered Paywall - 20 articles a month)

Two weeks ago, the Virginia High School League reinstated out-of-season practices, stirring hope from Fairfax to Big Stone Gap that fall sports might just happen across the state despite the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, that hope was tempered. After meeting to approve its budget for fiscal year 2021 and discuss a potential schedule for the fall sports season, the VHSL Executive Committee announced that it would not put forth any recommendations on the latter at this time.
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** Latinos shoulder a disproportionate share of COVID-19 cases ([link removed])
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By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

Roughly half the clients at Neighborhood Health, a chain of medical clinics across Northern Virginia, are Latino. Executive Director Dr. Basim Khan said the nonprofit is well aware of the health disparities that patients often face. Still, he added, it’s been “disturbing” to witness the disproportionate burden that COVID-19 has had on the Latino community. “Ninety percent of our positive cases have been Hispanic, even though they’re 50 percent of our patient population,” Khan said, drawing on statistics from the organization’s community testing sites.
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** Northam says state will use $50M in federal funds to help residents pay housing costs ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday that the state will use $50 million in federal money to help Virginia residents pay their rent and mortgage as they deal with the economic fallout of COVID-19.
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** Number of new unemployment claims in Virginia continues to drop ([link removed])
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By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The number of initial unemployment claims in Virginia, the first step for those recently laid off or furloughed from their jobs, continued to drop during the week ending June 20. The Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday that there were 25,293 new filings last week, down from a peak of 147,369 during the week ending April 4.
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** Virginia universities propose $200 million plan for coronavirus testing ([link removed])
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By GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER AND NICK ANDERSON, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

The presidents of three of Virginia's largest public universities have asked the state to set aside $200 million to increase testing for the novel coronavirus on college campuses and elsewhere, arguing that the funding will be crucial to resume higher education and other activities in the coming year.
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** Dodging virus, Navy ships break record for staying at sea ([link removed])
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By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press

The two U.S. warships in the Middle East weren’t aiming to break a record. But when the coronavirus made ship stops in foreign countries too risky, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the USS San Jacinto were ordered to keep moving and avoid all port visits.
The Full Report
67 articles, 37 publications

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** FROM VPAP
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** VPAP Visual In Virginia, Biden Out-Raises Trump 2:1 ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

Democrat Joe Biden has raised $3.5 million from Virginia residents this year through May, nearly twice as much as reported by President Donald Trump's campaign. The comparison may be misleading, however, because of a lag in reporting by the Trump campaign. See monthly totals for each campaign.
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** From VPAP Maps, Timeline of COVID-19 in Virginia ([link removed])
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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 10:00 am.


** EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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** Northam announces new housing assistance program ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

Virginia is launching a new program to help people struggling to pay their rent or mortgages amid the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Ralph Northam announced at a Capitol news conference Thursday that his administration is putting an initial $50 million in federal coronavirus-relief funds toward housing assistance. Starting next week, Virginians whose ability to cover housing costs has been hurt by the pandemic can apply for financial assistance.
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** Schools in Virginia to enter reopening phase that allows for in-person teaching ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Virginia schools will enter the third phase of the state’s reopening plan next week, allowing for the possibility of in-person instruction for all students when schools reopen in the fall.
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** Gov. Northam to stop regular coronavirus briefings ([link removed])
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By LEANNA SMITH, News Leader (Metered Paywall - 3 to 4 articles a month)

As Virginia prepares to enter Phase Three of the Forward Virginia reopening Wednesday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that he will no longer hold regular COVID-19 press briefings. Northam began giving regular press briefings in March to update Virginians on the state's coronavirus response efforts. Originally, the governor gave daily briefings and eventually transitioned to a Tuesday-Thursday schedule. Going forward, he will only hold press briefings on an as-needed basis.
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** ACLU of Virginia accuses state of violating agreement to release more inmates, provide documents ([link removed])
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By DEAN MIRSHAHI, WFXR

The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia sent Attorney General Mark Herring’s office a notice of noncompliance Wednesday, claiming the state has failed to adhere to terms of the settlement agreement in a lawsuit brought on behalf of inmates seeking to decrease the number of people incarcerated amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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** Northam affirms 1,000 patron limits for amusement parks ([link removed])
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By JESSICA NOLTE, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Gov. Ralph Northam closed the door Thursday on the possibility of a waiver for theme parks in Phase 3 of reopening, making it more likely that Busch Gardens and Water Country will not open for the height of the summer tourism season.
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** Virginia DMV extends deadline for renewing licenses, registrations another 90 days ([link removed])
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By MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Citing the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and health risks associated with going out, Gov. Ralph Northam on Thursday extended the deadline for renewing driver’s licenses, identification cards and vehicle registrations at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
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** Va. Attorney General Sues Advanced Towing ([link removed])
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ArlNow

Advanced Towing, long accused by critics of predatory towing, is being sued by Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring. The Commonwealth alleges that Advanced often unsafely tows vehicles, sometimes tows without legal authority, and in general exhibits conduct that is “frequently predatory, aggressive, overreaching and illegal.”
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** Advanced Towing Company sued by Virginia attorney general ([link removed])
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By RACHEL WEINER, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

An Arlington towing company that has infuriated local drivers for years is now facing a lawsuit from Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring (D), who has asserted the zealous practices of Advanced Towing Co. are illegal.


** GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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** Judge declines bid by Va. gun rights group to block one-handgun-per-month law ([link removed])
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By MARK BOWES, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

A Goochland County judge declined Thursday to issue a temporary injunction requested by a Virginia gun rights group to block the July 1 implementation of a new state law that limits people, with some exceptions, from buying more than one handgun per month.
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** Virginia’s Legislative Black Caucus Pushing For Cannabis Legalization ([link removed])
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By ADDISON HERRON-WHEELER, High Times

Even though Virginia has decriminalized cannabis as of first thing next month, the state’s Black caucus would like to see things move to full legalization. Their plan is to try and push that through in a special legislative session this summer. ...t’s not clear yet whether Governor Ralph Northam will support further legalization efforts, but he also has yet to speak out against them.


** STATE ELECTIONS
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** Carrico considers gubernatorial run in 2021 ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Former Virginia state Sen. Bill Carrico said Thursday he is considering a run for the GOP nomination for governor in 2021. Speaking on the Virginia Free video town hall with host Chris Saxman, Carrico said current national conversations and recently filed legislation in Virginia about defunding police was a “driving force” in his interest in returning to the political arena.
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** 'I feel a calling': former Sen. Bill Carrico considers run for governor ([link removed])
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By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Former Virginia state Sen. Bill Carrico, R-Grayson, said Thursday he is close to making a decision on a potential run for governor, with an announcement expected in September or October.


** STATE GOVERNMENT
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** Hundreds of Virginia teachers creating an anti-racist history curriculum ([link removed])
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By RILEY WYANT, NBC 29

While students are out of the classroom, history teachers across Virginia are hard at work. They are uprooting the current curriculum to ensure their classes are getting the full story. With an anti-racism policy in place, Albemarle County Public School teachers are almost ready to launch the curriculum to support it. . . . Teachers from several school districts across the commonwealth now meet via Zoom to fix an outdated history curriculum that is considered broken and biased.
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** VMFA Lays off 30 Employees Ahead of Reopening ([link removed])
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By ROBERTO ROLDAN, WCVE

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts laid off over 30 employees one week before it is set to reopen. Thirty-two part-time gallery associates were let go on Tuesday, according to VMFA officials. Those employees are typically stationed in the galleries to assist guests, but new COVID-19 safety regulations will limit the number of visitors when the museum reopens.
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** Former prosecutor will take Staunton bench July 1 ([link removed])
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By BRAD ZINN, News Leader (Metered Paywall - 3 to 4 articles a month)

Anne Reed, formerly the chief deputy commonwealth's attorney in Staunton, was sworn in Wednesday as the city's next circuit court judge. The former prosecutor will replace Judge Charles L. Rickets III, who retired from the 25th Judicial Circuit in February.


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** 375K+ remain unemployed in Va. ([link removed])
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By SYDNEY LAKE, Va Business Magazine

More than 375,000 Virginians are still unemployed following the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, though the number of initial jobless claims across the commonwealth continues to decrease.
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** 400 Loudoun Small Business Will Get $5K Grants ([link removed])
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Loudoun Now

Loudoun County’s Department of Economic Development on Tuesday chose 400 of the county’s smallest businesses at random to win $5,000 grants, totaling $2 million from the county’s COVID-19 Business Interruption Fund. The fund was created in May after a previous round of grants distributed $1.4 million to businesses, selecting 201 grant winners at random from among a pool of qualified applicants.


** HIGHER EDUCATION
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** William & Mary to develop principles on renaming buildings ([link removed])
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By ETHAN BROWN, Flat Hat

The College of William and Mary announced that it will create a working group tasked with developing frameworks for renaming and naming campus buildings. The College’s decision follows the circulation of numerous student-run petitions on social media which sought to rename structures on campus memorializing Confederate leaders and supporters of slavery.
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** Final Exercises for Class of 2020 rescheduled to May 2021 ([link removed])
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By RACHEL LEFKOWITZ, Cavalier Daily

University President Jim Ryan shared a letter with members of the Class of 2020 Wednesday morning explaining that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the originally proposed October date for Final Exercises has been canceled and rescheduled for the weekend of May 28-30, 2021 — the weekend after the Class of 2021 is scheduled to walk the Lawn.
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** Virginia Business College won’t open for classes this fall ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Virginia Business College won’t open for classes this fall as planned due to the impacts of COVID-19, its board determined Thursday. The board met Thursday and agreed the college should “defer the initial offerings until a later date” because the global pandemic had hampered its efforts to open.
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** Former Liberty University official raises more than $17,000 to help Black employees leave the school ([link removed])
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By RICHARD CHUMNEY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The former director of diversity retention at Liberty University has raised more than $18,500 to help Black employees leave their jobs at the religious institution now embroiled in controversy.


** CORONAVIRUS
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** Health officials shift to ‘sentinel surveillance’ for COVID-19 as Virginia moves to Phase 3 reopening ([link removed])
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By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

Virginia’s third phase of reopening will come with a new way of monitoring COVID-19. The surveillance program, announced at a Thursday news conference, comes amid declining trends in coronavirus statistics and a growing sense that state leaders consider the pandemic in Virginia under control — at least for now. At the same conference, Gov. Ralph Northam announced he would discontinue his twice-weekly briefings, citing a rise in testing and decreasing percentage of results that come back positive.
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** Coronavirus crisis amplified in Northern Va.’s immigrant communities ([link removed])
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By MATT SMALL, WTOP

The coronavirus pandemic has had significant impacts on the D.C. region, including Northern Virginia’s immigrant communities. A group of representatives from local governments, nonprofit and faith-based communities across the City of Alexandria and Arlington and Fairfax counties came together Wednesday afternoon for a virtual discussion about the unique challenges faced by immigrants amid the crisis.
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** Virginia COVID-19 cases increase by 432 ([link removed])
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By HOLLY PRESTIDGE, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

The Virginia Department of Health reported Wednesday that the statewide total for COVID-19 cases is 59,946 — an increase of 432 from the 59,514 reported yesterday.
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** Pandemic forces some patients to phone in doctor visits ([link removed])
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By REGINA GARCIA CANO AND TOM MURPHY, Associated Press

Video telemedicine took off earlier this year as the coronavirus paused in-person doctor visits. Earl Egner missed that trend. The 84-year-old diabetic and cancer survivor has no computer or cellphone. Instead, he relies on a form of communication older than himself — the telephone — to talk to doctors as he stays hunkered down in his Somerset home.
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** Virginia Catholic Schools students will be in school 5 days a week in the fall ([link removed])
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By KAYLYNN STEPHENS, WAVY

The Catholic Schools Diocese of Richmond announced they have finalized a plan for the reopening of schools and will be offering in-classroom instruction five days a week for all students in August. In a letter to parents, Superintendent Kelly M. Lazzara outlined the reopening of Catholic schools in three phases aligned with Gov. Ralph Northam’s Forward Virginia plan.
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** Container ship held off Virginia Beach after several crew members test positive for coronavirus ([link removed])
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By GORDON RAGO, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Several crew members aboard a container ship sitting off the coast of Virginia Beach have tested positive for the coronavirus. For now, the 958-foot Maersk Idaho is anchored about 10 miles offshore as the shipping company Maersk Line, Limited works on a plan to evacuate the ship, bring the crew to a quarantine facility, clean the ship and then bring a new crew on board, said Patrick McCaffery, Maersk Line’s general counsel.
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** 21 COVID-19 deaths in Mecklenburg County tied to long term care facilities ([link removed])
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South Boston News & Record

COVID-19 outbreaks in Clarksville and Chase City nursing homes are responsible for 21 of Mecklenburg’s 24 reported deaths from the respiratory disease. After receiving criticism for not publicly disclosing coronavirus fatalities associated with long-term care facilities, the Virginia Department of Health reversed course last week, updating its reporting to reveal the terrible toll of COVID-19 on vulnerable nursing home populations.
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** Marchers Protest Treatment of Essential Workers During COVID-19, Ask for Legal Protections ([link removed])
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By CAROL VAUGHN, Eastern Shore Post

Members of Virginia Organizing and and others marched along the road near a Parksley nursing home Monday to protest what they say is unfair treatment of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to ask for regulations to better protect those workers.


** VIRGINIA OTHER
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** Four arrested after police again declare unlawful assembly at Lee monument Wednesday night ([link removed])
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By FRANK GREEN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Richmond police declared an unlawful assembly on Wednesday night for the fourth time this week, resulting in four arrests. Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Robert E. Lee monument were ordered to disperse just before 11:30 p.m. when police declared an unlawful assembly.
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** Protesters stage sit-in urging Richmond prosecutor to drop protest charges ([link removed])
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By ERIC KOLENICH AND LANE KIZZIAH, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Protesters gathered outside a suburban Richmond home Thursday night calling for the city's Commonwealth's Attorney Colette McEachin to drop charges against fellow protesters. A video from the scene posted on Twitter at 10:43 p.m. shows about a dozen police officers in riot gear ordering a small number of protesters to get in their cars and leave.
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** Commonwealth Times Stands Out Amid Protest Coverage ([link removed])
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By ALAN RODRIGUEZ, WCVE

As confrontations between demonstrators and Richmond police continue, the Commonwealth Times -- Virginia Commonwealth University’s student-led newspaper -- has become one of the most trusted media outlets in the city. ...The CT has had a reporter in the field every night to document these incidents. Their work has drawn accolades from senior journalists and, on social media, from the general public. "I was out in Richmond getting tear gassed by Richmond Police and staying out until three in the morning," said Eduardo Acevedo, a rising junior and the CT's news editor. "I couldn't have imagined this would happen in a million years."
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** Avowed KKK leader who drove through protest in Henrico denied bond appeal ([link removed])
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By ALI SULLIVAN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

A Hanover County man and avowed Ku Klux Klan leader charged with driving through a crowd at a Black Lives Matter protest in Henrico County was denied bond by a Henrico Circuit Court judge on Thursday morning.
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** Police arrest man accused of driving red truck through crowd of protesters in Virginia Beach ([link removed])
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By SALEEN MARTIN, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Police arrested a Chesapeake man who drove through a crowd of protesters May 31 at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, according to a news release.
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** CPD wants to charge four with vandalism over spraypaint protest ([link removed])
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By ALLISON WRABEL, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Four people will be charged with vandalism after allegedly spray painting words and phrases on Market Street during a protest on Sunday, according to the Charlottesville Police Department.
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** Marion Protests: Civil rights attorney sheds light on rights and restrictions ([link removed])
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By JASMINE DENT FRANKS, Smyth County News & Messenger

A local protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement ended ahead of schedule June 13 following a clash between protesters and counter-protesters. The otherwise peaceable protest came to an end after heated verbal exchanges between the two groups took place in front of the courthouse.
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** US Judge Slaps Virginia Clerks With $2 Million Fee Award in First Amendment Case ([link removed])
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By BILL GIRDNER, Courthouse News Service

A federal judge in Virginia awarded $2 million in attorney fees against two Virginia court clerks on Wednesday in a First Amendment action brought by Courthouse News on behalf of the press corps.


** LOCAL
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** Arlington Public Schools to Propose Students Spending Two Days in Classrooms Per Week ([link removed])
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ArlNow

Under a new Arlington Public Schools proposal, set to be presented Thursday night, most students would start the new school year in a hybrid instructional model that involves only two days in classrooms per week. Superintendent Dr. Francisco Durán, who told APS families in an email earlier this week that the school system was “reviewing hybrid instructional models that blend in-person and distance learning for students,” is set to make the presentation to the School Board tonight.
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** Police Association: Arlington Officers Support Some Proposed Reforms ([link removed])
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ArlNow

After weeks of protests in Arlington and around the world, the association that represents Arlington police officers is weighing in on calls for police reform. While arguing that ACPD is one of the most educated and well-trained police forces around, the association says that some changes may make sense. Defunding the department, however, could result in lower-quality policing, they say.
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** Discussing Confederate symbols is ‘top priority,’ Fairfax lawmaker says ([link removed])
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By NICK IANNELLI, WTOP

With Confederate statues and symbols being removed or toppled across the country, leaders in Fairfax, Virginia, are seeking to learn more about the symbols that are located in their community. Fairfax City Council member Jon Stehle told WTOP that lawmakers will focus on the issue.
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** Loudoun County Treasurer Roger Zurn says he is staying in office ([link removed])
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By NATHANIEL CLINE, Loudoun Times

Loudoun County Treasurer Roger Zurn (R) on Thursday said he is remaining in office after numerous county leaders have called for him to step down after publishing a racially insensitive social media post. Last week, the county treasurer published and quickly deleted the social media post following an announcement that the Aunt Jemima brand would be discontinued.
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** Zurn Apologizes ‘Without Reservation,’ Will Not Resign ([link removed])
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By RENSS GREENE, Loudoun Now

Loudoun Treasurer H. Roger Zurn held a press conference in Leesburg on Thursday to apologize publicly for a Facebook post in which he made an “Uncle Tom” joke, but said he will not be acceding to demands that he resign. “I want to be clear that it was never my intent to be offensive or racially insensitive, particularly in this current national climate where we are all looking to find ways to come together as citizens, and as brothers and sisters,” Zurn said.
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** City attorney cautions officials against any emergency order to remove Confederate statues ([link removed])
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By JEREMY M. LAZARUS, Richmond Free Press

Calls for City Hall to remove the last three city-owned Confederate statues on Monument Avenue before people are injured or killed trying to pull them down appeared to die this week after Interim City Attorney Haskell C. Brown III cautioned that city officials and any contractors hired to do the work could face felony charges.
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** Who should be on Monument Avenue? ([link removed])
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By RONALD E. CARRINGTON, Richmond Free Press

Who should go on the pedestals along Monument Avenue once the Confederate statues are removed? The answers, offered recently by Richmonders, range from local legal icons in the 20th century struggle for civil rights to men and women of color who have contributed to the community, to reserving the space for fountains, reflection and conversations.
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** Calls grow for Interim Chief Blackwell to resign after word of his fatal 2002 shooting ([link removed])
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By JEREMY M. LAZARUS, Richmond Free Press

Interim Richmond Police Chief William V. “Jody” Blackwell is supposed to be the right person to focus on “necessary public safety reform, healing and trust building within the community.” That is what Mayor Levar M. Stoney said when he announced June 16 that he asked then-Chief Will Smith to resign and promoted his chief of staff, Maj. Blackwell, to be the city’s top cop until a permanent replacement is selected.
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** Incoming Virginia Beach city manager talks protests, plans for the city ([link removed])
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By EVAN WATSON, WVEC

New Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney said he plans to lead by character and "moral conviction," engaging groups in the city who may feel outcast. Speaking to 13News Now Investigative Reporter Evan Watson, Duhaney said he wants to "make Virginia Beach more responsive to the needs of its citizens."
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** Board responds to Story lawsuit ([link removed])
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Suffolk News Herald

A document posted online and on social media Monday evening provided a scathing response to a lawsuit filed last week by School Board member Sherri Story against the board and her fellow members. Story’s attorney, Kevin Martingayle, found the response “highly unusual.”
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** Fredericksburg council eyes support for renaming Jefferson Davis Highway ([link removed])
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By CATHY JETT, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Fredericksburg City Council is planning to vote next month on a resolution that supports renaming the stretch of Jefferson Davis Highway that runs through the city.
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** Calls for unity during Colonial Beach rally organized by former coach ([link removed])
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By TAFT COGHILL JR., Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

As the dozens of athletes impacted by Steve Swope in Colonial Beach stood on stage behind him Wednesday evening, the former coach explained the motivation behind the unity event and rally in support of Black Lives Matter. “I’m standing here today because one of my sons behind me was hurt last week,” Swope said.
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** Sheriff supports local militia; says he was asked to be at Elkton protest ([link removed])
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By RANDY ARRINGTON, Page Valley News

A series of events over the past few weeks seems to have people all across the county talking, emailing, texting and posting on Facebook. However, as is often the case, there seems to be a lot of misinformation going around. And while the “chatter” is focused on recent protests and vandalism around the region in reaction to the killing of George Floyd and the growing call for reform in systematic racism — the real concern seems to be focused on the forming of an armed, citizen-based militia.
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** Stonewall Jackson Inn To Change Name ([link removed])
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By JESSICA WETZLER, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Perched off the corner of East Market and Reservoir streets sits the Stonewall Jackson Inn Bed and Breakfast, a well-known establishment that has paid tribute to Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson for more than 20 years. The name, however, will soon change.
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** Museum of the Shenandoah Valley collecting items to document pandemic, Black Lives Matter ([link removed])
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By ROBYN TAYLOR, Winchester Star (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

We are living through history. To make sure local history is not forgotten, the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley is collecting objects and photographs from valley residents that illustrate these amazing times we live in. The MSV has started a Rapid Response Collecting strategy, seeking items that illustrate both the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests and marches.
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** Roanoke County Public Schools unveils plan for daily, staggered in-person classes based on grade level ([link removed])
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By CLAIRE MITZEL, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Southwest Virginia’s second-largest school system on Thursday unveiled its plan to return to school in August, which will involve daily in-person instruction for pre-K through second grade students and twice-a-week in-person instruction for third through 12th graders. Roanoke County’s plan is based on the state being in Phase 3, which Virginia enters on Wednesday.
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** Amid local, national calls to end police presence in schools, Roanoke Valley districts seem unlikely to acquiesce ([link removed])
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By CLAIRE MITZEL, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

School districts across the country are reimagining schools without police, or at least without the same framework, amid conversations about race and policing following George Floyd’s death. Some Roanokers, too, are asking city and school officials to end the agreement between Roanoke City Public Schools and local law enforcement agencies, saying it does more harm than good. But local school officials seem unlikely to make any sudden moves.
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** Amid quarrel with Konick, Curry resigns as Planning Commission FOIA Officer ([link removed])
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By PATTY HARDEE, Rappahannock News (Metered Paywall)

To say the least, the extraordinary June 17 meeting of the Rappahannock County Planning Commission continues to draw fire — from planners, chair David Konick, local government officials, and the public. Now, County Administrator Garrey Curry — whose advice to the Planning Commission not to bar members from participating in the meeting was ignored — announced Tuesday that he was stepping down as the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) officer for the commission.
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** Leaders call for peace ahead of second planned Marion protest ([link removed])
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By JASMINE DENT FRANKS, Smyth County News & Messenger

Community leaders and protest organizers are calling for peace ahead of a second planned rally supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. On July 3, marchers are scheduled to join with supporters of the LGBTQ community to rally for change in Marion and Smyth County.
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** Officials want to expand Danville airport for expected casino traffic ([link removed])
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By JOHN CRANE, Danville Register & Bee

Officials hope to expand Danville Regional Airport to accommodate an expected increase in traffic if a casino opens in the city. The city has applied for about $220,000 from the Virginia Department of Aviation to pay for architectural services for a possible expansion.
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** Bristol Virginia School Board to lead conversation about schools’ names ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

City school leaders intend to have a discussion next month regarding two elementary schools carrying the names of Confederate generals. No one has contacted the division regarding the names of Stonewall Jackson Elementary or Washington-Lee Elementary — named in part for Gen. Robert E. Lee — but the School Board wants to lead that discussion, Superintendent Keith Perrigan said Thursday.


** EDITORIALS
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** 4 observations about the coming Democratic race for governor ([link removed])
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Roanoke Times Editorial (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

For those of you for whom the 2020 presidential race isn’t sufficient fun, be advised that the 2021 Virginia governor’s race is now in progress — and it looks like a doozy. The Democratic field is more formed than the Republican field, so that’s what we’ll focus on today.
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** Resource officers are in schools for a reason ([link removed])
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Free Lance-Star Editorial (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Remember not so long ago when the nation’s attention was riveted on how to protect students from school shootings? Now the pendulum of public opinion has swung in the opposite direction, and people are talking about removing school resource officers from our public schools.
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** Virus prevention efforts paying off in Virginia ([link removed])
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Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

When the coronavirus swept across the country in March, Virginia moved — slower than some, faster than others — to curb the spread and protect the commonwealth’s health care infrastructure. The restrictions imposed by Gov. Ralph Northam were painful for many.
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** Protesters shouldn't be tearing down statues ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

One week from Saturday is Independence Day. But things will be different this year. In many states, the fireworks displays, the parades and parties normally held in countless towns and cities have been canceled due to the continuing threat of COVID-19. The insidious virus will not go away. This July 4, much of the country will be celebrating in small, subdued gatherings.


** OP-ED
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** Monuments to a Complicated Past ([link removed])
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By SEAN WILENTZ, published in Wall Street Journal (Subscription Required)

On the evening of July 9, 1776, after a public reading of the newly adopted Declaration of Independence, some 40 Americans gathered at Bowling Green in lower Manhattan, lashed ropes to a statue of an imperious King George III on horseback and pulled it to the ground, where it shattered. The patriots melted down the shards and made them into musket balls to fight the American Revolution.

Mr. Wilentz is a professor of history at Princeton. His many books include “No Property in Man: Slavery and Antislavery at the Nation’s Founding” and “The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln.”
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** Thomson: Rename Douglas S. Freeman High School ([link removed])
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By NATHAN THOMSON, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

It is said of famed newspaperman Douglas Southall Freeman that he would salute the Robert E. Lee statue everyday on his way to work. His ghost might not have that opportunity for much longer. His along with many other voices of the Lost Cause have now faded to the point that my generation is no longer willing to defend their ideologies.

Thomson is a government relations professional in Richmond and a 2011 graduate of Douglas S. Freeman High School.


** THE FRIDAY READ
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** Her dog went missing in the middle of the pandemic — and a neighborhood of strangers found a mission ([link removed])
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By ELLEN MCCARTHY, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Someday, when scholars attempt to convey the historical undulations of the year 2020, they will write about pestilence, mass death, catastrophic job losses, state violence, oceans of protesters flooding city streets in the name of racial justice and a presidential election, held during a pandemic, with no less than America’s soul in the balance. They will not write about Finn the dog, though maybe they should.
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