Happy Sunday Virginia! Here’s the news you may have missed this week.
- Special Counsel Robert Mueller Submits Report — After nearly two years, Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller has submitted his long-awaited report to the Department of Justice. Mueller, who was charged with investigating Russia’s 2016 election interference and the power of the presidency, sent the report to Attorney General William P. Barr on Friday. Barr is currently reviewing the report and Democrats are demanding the Mueller report be made public; a stance that President Trump himself echoed last week.
- Supreme Court Split Over Virginia Gerrymandering Case — On Monday, the Supreme Court heard last ditch arguments from Virginia House Republicans who are fighting to keep their racially gerrymandered district maps. The Court seemed split over the case and the stakes couldn’t be higher; whoever wins could end up determining who wins the General Assembly and oversees redistricting in 2021.
- White Supremacy Remains Rampant in Virginia — This was a hellish week for Virginia as it relates to racists. Albemarle and Charlottesville Police arrested two teens on Friday who were both accused of making separate threats of shooting at local high schools. In Charlottesville, the threat warned of an “ethnic cleansing” and led to school closures both Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, Chesterville Police Chief Jeffrey Katz recommended that Officer Daniel Morley be fired for his ties to a white nationalist group. Racism and white nationalism are toxic and dangerous. It’s that simple.
- Northam Signs a Bunch of Bills — Governor Northam spent his week signing bills that could lead to casino gaming in Virginia, that allow schools to open before Labor Day, and that require insurers to pay for services insurers to pay for services for Virginians with autism, regardless of their age. He also signed another piece of legislation to form an advisory board on issues impacting African-Americans. On the flip side, he also vetoed bills that would have permitted manufacturers in the state to produce switchblades and sell them out of state, and another one that would have banned sanctuary cities in the state. Next week will likely be another busy week as the assembly prepares to reconvene on April 3 to consider gubernatorial amendments and vetoes.
- Virginia College Basketball Teams Go Dancing — As of Sunday morning, three Virginia teams remain in NCAA Men’s March Madness. UVA avoided another devastating loss to a 16 seed on Friday night, while Liberty pulled off the upset over Mississippi State, earning itself a second-round matchup against Virginia Tech. All three teams play Sunday evening.
Until tomorrow!
