Dogwood Daily: News to Go – March 21, 2019

By Keya Vakil

March 21, 2019

Here’s the news you need to know today:

 

  1. Charlottesville Schools Closed After Online Threat – All of Charlottesville’s public schools are closed today after threats were made against Charlottesville High School. Charlottesville Police received two emails on Wednesday about possible threats and are now investigating the threats alongside the Virginia State Police and the FBI. According to the Huffington Post, the threats seem to have originated on the internet’s favorite haven for white supremacists, 4chan. 
  1. New Zealand enacts semiautomatic weapons and assault rifle ban – Less than a week after a gunman attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand and killed 50 people, New Zealand responded forcefully and decisively, banning semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles. Meanwhile, over a year has passed since Parkland, six years have passed since Newtown, and we’re coming up on twenty years since Columbine and the U.S. has enacted no federal gun control laws. 
  1. Northam Lowers Sales Tax on Feminine Hygiene Products – Rejoice! The 5.3 percent or higher tax you paid on products like tampons, diapers, and sanitary napkins are no more. Instead, they’ll now be taxed at 2.5 percent.
  1. State Officials Overhauling New Mental Healthcare Standards for Jails – Following a $3 million settlement in the lawsuit over the 2015 death of Jamycheal Mitchell, state officials are finally writing new standards for health care and mental health services in local jails. Mitchell, who suffered from severe mental health issues, died in the Hamptons Road Regional Jail.
  1. Fairfax County Public Schools Review Controversial Policies – Have you ever thought solitary confinement, but for school children? No? Yeah, why would you, that’s crazy. Fairfax County has, though, and some of the district’s schools have routinely used policies of seclusion and restraint. Students at some schools are regularly secluded or confined against their will, with disabled students being disproportionately impacted by the policies. The County’s school system is investigating its procedures, but this feels like something that should be a no brainer.

Until tomorrow!

  • Keya Vakil

    Keya Vakil is the deputy political editor at COURIER. He previously worked as a researcher in the film industry and dabbled in the political world.

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