Crews In Norfolk Remove Confederate Statue, Riggleman Risks Losing House Seat Over Gay Marriage, A Petition For Gwar To Replace Lee

From the Virginia Mercury:

By Ned Oliver

NEWS TO KNOW
Our daily roundup of headlines from Virginia and elsewhere.

• Crews in Norfolk removed a downtown Confederate statue this morning, saying leaving it in a prominent location creates a public safety risk amid ongoing demonstrations that have seen three statues around the state toppled by protesters. Officials in Newport News had a Confederate memorial in the city wrapped in a tarp to prevent potential damage.—The Virginian-Pilot, Daily Press

• A Portsmouth man who was struck in the head by a falling Confederate statue Wednesday night is in stable condition. Authorities initially said his injuries were considered life threatening. “It was an accident. What his family needs is prayers, not people saying he knew the risk.”—The Virginian-Pilot

• “Shenandoah University has removed the name of the late U.S. Sen. Harry F. Byrd Jr. from its business school following a petition and online public forum denouncing Byrd’s support of school segregation in Virginia in the 1950s when he was a state senator.”—The Winchester Star

• “Freshman Virginia GOP Congressman Denver Riggleman has a conservative voting record and the strong backing of President Donald Trump but is still in danger of losing his seat this weekend in a Republican nominating contest. The reason: he officiated a gay marriage, sparking a fierce backlash among some of his socially conservative constituents who questioned Riggleman’s adherence to the party’s values.”—Associated Press

• Charlottesville school leaders voted to remove police officers from city schools. Albemarle County is weighing a similar change. “I can’t ignore the fact that the mere presence of having police officers in our schools is traumatic for some kids,” said one board member.—The Daily Progress

• “A five-year investigation by a special prosecutor has ended with no charges against a former Richmond police officer suspected of lying to obtain search warrants.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• Prominent white nationalist Richard Spencer told a federal judge in Charlottesville that he has been unable to raise money to pay his lawyer in a sprawling lawsuit over the 2017 Unite the Right rally because activists got him kicked off online fundraising platforms almost immediately. Spencer’s attorney is seeking permission to withdraw from the case.—The Daily Progress

• A federal district judge sided with the Virginia Department of Corrections in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of media groups challenging secrecy in certain parts of the execution process.—Associated Press

• “Virginia’s tax revenues were down more than 20% last month compared with May 2019, a figure state officials touted as slightly better than expected given COVID-19’s impact on the economy.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• Language in Richmond’s city charter could complicate efforts to remove four city-owned Confederate memorials on Monument Avenue.—Richmond Free Press

• “Out with Robert E. Lee and in with… Oderus Urungus? A new petition is calling for a statue of the late GWAR frontman ― real name David Brockie ― to be erected in his adopted home state of Virginia. And it notes there’s an opening in Richmond, where a statue of the Confederate general is scheduled for removal.”—HuffPost

Sign up here to get these headlines and the Mercury’s original reporting delivered to your inbox daily in News to Know, our free newsletter.

This story was originally published by the Virginia Mercury. For more stories from the Virginia Mercury, visit VirginiaMercury.com.