Dogwood Daily: Samirah Vs. Roanoke Times (Round 2)

Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. We’ve got a round-up of all of today’s Virginia news coming right up. And if you’re a fan, please forward to three friends who need to know what’s going on in the Commonwealth and tell them to subscribe here. 

But First…

Delegate Ibraheem Samirah has responded to the Roanoke Times, after the paper’s editorial board criticized Samirah’s dismantling of “the Virginia Way.” The Fairfax County dentist penned his own opinion piece: “Virginia Can’t Negotiate with Racists.”

5 Things you need to know today

1. Herring announces settlement with business that ripped off service members – Attorney General Mark Herring said a Virginia company that claimed to be a military charity sending care-packages overseas is no longer operating. The state sued the scam company earlier this year and the shut-down comes as part of a legal settlement – Associated Press
   
2. Virginia GOP lawmaker flips stance on gun control – Virginia Rep. Rob Wittman became the latest Republican to switch his stance on strengthening gun background checks. Following back-to-back shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Wittman told the Prince William Times that lawmakers “must have a constructive conversation.” Gov. Ralph Northam gave the state legislature that opportunity when he called a special session after the Virginia Beach shootings. But Speaker Kirk Cox, with the support of most of the Virginia GOP, cut the session short after just 90 minutes, without considering a single bill. – Prince William Times
   
3. DCCC add Virginia battleground to national target list – The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Virginia’s 5th district, currently represented by Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman, to its list of targets in 2020. The list includes 39 U.S. House districts that Democrats think can be flipped from red to blue. – Daily Progress
   
4. Gerrymander case winner seeks compensation for legal fees – The law firm that convinced the Supreme Court to rule that Virginia’s 2011 electoral map was racially gerrymandered now wants to get paid for its work — to the tune of $4.5 million. – The Richmond Times-Dispatch
   
5. One day later: The Mystery of Virginia’s TV man – Why is someone leaving old TVs on porches across Henrico County? The Washington Post, like the rest of us, have many, many questions, but few answers. A little noticed factoid in the story: CBS 6 News reported that about 20 televisions were left on porches in Glen Allen last year (!!!) – Washington Post

CORRECTION: This article has been updated with the correct title for Rep. Rob Wittman