VISUALIZATION: NEW VOTER REGISTRATIONS BY GENDER, AGE

In the first six months of the year, women tend to outnumber men among new voter registrations in Virginia. There have been two recent exceptions -- 2017 and this year. The male-female ratio shifts depending on age range. It may take a political scientist (or two) to determine what this means.

NORTHAM TOUTS LICENSE RESTORATION AT ABINGDON STOP

Gov. Ralph Northam championed a program to restore driving privileges Monday during a visit to Southwest Virginia. In his second of three stops Monday, the governor spoke with area leaders at the Washington County Government Center and visited a Department of Motor Vehicles Connect center.

EVENTS IN VIRGINIA MARK BEGINNINGS OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Academics, lawmakers, dignitaries and President Donald Trump will gather in Virginia this week for events celebrating the beginnings of American democracy four centuries ago.

VA. BLACK CAUCUS ANNOUNCES BOYCOTT OF JAMESTOWN EVENTS OVER TRUMP'S PRESENCE

Black lawmakers in the Virginia General Assembly are planning to formally boycott events in the Historic Triangle this week celebrating the 400th anniversary of representative government in the Western Hemisphere, arguing that the commemoration will be “tarnished unduly” by President Donald Trump’s scheduled appearance Tuesday.

BLACK VA. LEGISLATORS TO SKIP JAMESTOWN BECAUSE OF TRUMP

Virginia’s black state lawmakers will boycott Tuesday’s commemoration of 400 years of representative democracy, saying the Jamestown event “will be tarnished unduly” by the participation of President Trump. “It is impossible to ignore the emblem of hate and disdain that the President represents,” the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus said

VIRGINIA’S BLACK LAWMAKERS REBUFF TRUMP AND SAY THEY'LL BOYCOTT JAMESTOWN COMMEMORATION

When Virginia’s current lawmakers assemble Tuesday in Jamestown to celebrate their predecessors’ first meeting 400 years ago, there will be one major similarity: No black legislators will be present.

LOCAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS TO ATTEND TUESDAY'S COMMEMORATION EVENTS

The Williamsburg area’s General Assembly representatives all will be in attendance Tuesday morning to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the first representative legislative assembly in Jamestown. ... Local Democratic representatives Sen. Monty Mason and Del. Mike Mullin both confirmed that they plan to be in attendance for the ceremony, along with Republican State Sen. Majority Leader Tommy Norment and Del. Brenda Pogge.

VOTER REGISTRATION IS UP IN VIRGINIA

Voter registration in Virginia is up significantly and political scientists say that bodes well for Democrats as they try to retake the state legislature. About 111,000 new voters have registered so far this year, according to new data from the Virginia Public Access Project, a nonprofit that tracks election data and statehouse news. That’s 67% more registered voters than 2015, the last time the entire General Assembly was up for election.

BOARD OF EDUCATION IS CONSIDERING RECOMMENDATIONS TO ‘FORCE THE HAND OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY’

The Virginia Board of Education is considering a recommendation that would lay out minimum funding requirements for a state budget item used to help at-risk students, a move intended to put pressure on the General Assembly to increase education spending.

VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION PROHIBITS FACE-DOWN RESTRAINT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Virginia’s Board of Education voted last week to approve final regulations limiting the use of seclusion and restraint of students in public schools. The included language prohibiting prone restraint entirely. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed legislation directing the state board of education to identify and prohibit seclusion and restraint that posed a significant danger to students. They didn’t, however, determine what types or techniques would constitute a significant danger, but instead left it up to the board to make that determination.

REP. BEN CLINE MOVES FROM LONGTIME ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY HOME TO BOTETOURT COUNTY

After living in Rockbridge County for four decades, Rep. Ben Cline has moved to Botetourt County. Cline, a Republican elected to Congress last year, in May purchased a house in Fincastle with his wife, Elizabeth Cline. She is an attorney at Moss & Rocovich based in Roanoke, and Ben Cline said they decided to move so she could be closer to work.

COMMUNITY IDEA STATIONS CHANGING ITS NAME TO VPM

Starting next week, you’ll see and hear a new call sign for the Community Idea Stations. The public broadcasting company is changing its name to VPM, which stands for Virginia’s home for Public Media.

LOUDOUN COUNTY SUPERVISORS SET SIGHTS ON METRO’S ARRIVAL, DIG INTO TRANSIT OPTIONS

Loudoun County staff is working to bolster the county's transit options with the arrival of Metrorail slated for next summer. Earlier this month, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) hit a milestone in announcing track testing at Loudoun Gateway Metro Station in Ashburn. One of the major challenges for Loudoun is having additional buses and meeting commuter demands.

CRITICS AND DEFENDERS OF FORT MONROE'S JEFFERSON DAVIS ARCH MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS

A few dozen citizens came to Fort Monroe during a Monday public meeting offering feedback about the Jefferson Davis Memorial Arch. The meeting was the only public meeting during a Fort Monroe Authority review of the arch since April when Gov. Ralph Northam called for dismantling the 50-foot structure.

FAIRFAX NAACP LEADER RESIGNS AFTER SENDING RACIALLY OFFENSIVE TEXT

The president of Virginia’s largest NAACP chapter is stepping down after a controversy over a racially derogatory text message he sent to a political rival who disagreed with his approach to leadership.

ENGLISH: HARRISONBURG OFFICERS DON'T ASK IMMIGRATION STATUS

Harrisonburg Police Chief Eric English denied claims that his police officers have been asking people their immigration status. On Saturday, Isabel Castillo, an organizer with Virginia Organizing, told people attending a meeting at Asbury United Methodist Church in downtown Harrisonburg that HPD officers have asked citizenship status.

WHEATON FILES TO RUN FOR AMHERST COUNCIL SEAT SHE WAS EXPELLED FROM

Nearly three weeks after she was expelled by fellow Amherst Town Council members in a controversial decision, Janice Wheaton has filed to run for the seat in a Nov. 5 special election.

A $50 BILLION QUESTION FOR APPALACHIA

President Trump has proposed $50 billion in aid to Palestinians as part of what his administration has called “the deal of the century” peace plan. The Palestinians don’t seem much interested. ... A few observations from afar — and eventually a connection between the West Bank and Southwest Virginia.

A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON GUN CONTROL

When Virginia’s General Assembly adjourned its July 9 special session without considering Gov. Ralph Northam’s request to deal with the aftermath of the Virginia Beach massacre, many who expected action felt frustrated. Now, politicians being politicians, any change in the state’s gun laws will not be dealt with until after the November elections. However, there is a chance to weigh in on gun-control issues.

BILLIONS OF LEGAL OPIOIDS JUMP-STARTED AN EPIDEMIC

We are still learning how pharmaceutical companies fueled the nation’s opioid epidemic Virginians continue to overdose and die at alarming rates at the hands of opioids. The pain-masking drugs come as prescribed pills and patches, and they are bought on the street as heroin and in synthetic forms such as fentanyl. Combined they killed 1,241 Virginians in 2017

WITH SUPPORT FROM MAIN STREET GRANTS, VIRGINIA IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Vibrant downtown districts are a critical component of economic health. With support from the Virginia Main Street program, more areas across the commonwealth are open for business. Last week, Gov. Ralph Northam announced 12 new grants totaling more than $144,000.

POLITIFACT: SCOTT RATES "TRUE" ON MINIMUM WAGE HOUSING CLAIM

U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-3rd, recently shepherded a bill to raise the minimum wage through the House of Representatives, saying the wage won’t pay for modest housing. “The studies show at the minimum wage today, you can’t rent a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States,” he told the House Rules Committee on July 15. “I’m not talking about San Francisco or New York City, I’m talking about anywhere - a modest two-bedroom apartment.” Scott made the claim three times during a five-minute speech to the panel. We checked if he was right.

BRUNO: EVENTS TO CELEBRATE VIRGINIA'S HISTORY

There is a huge celebration going on throughout the commonwealth this year. Five historical events from 1619 set the stage for the United States to exist as we know it. 1. The most significant event was the first General Assembly, which convened on July 30, 1619, in the church at Jamestown. That General Assembly turned into the House of Burgesses.

Karla K. Bruno is a former archaeological interpreter and guide at Historic Jamestowne and author of “Mischiefs and Miseries: a novel of Jamestown 1607.”

MEIRE: LACK OF ID PREVENTS REINTEGRATION INTO SOCIETY

For most people, the thought of renewing their state ID brings thoughts of long lines at the local DMV that, however unpleasant, ultimately will result in a new ID. While the process is inconvenient for the majority of society, it is a daunting task for those recently released from prison.

Charles Meire lives in Springfield and is a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute.