Persistently Low Virginia Teacher Salaries And More Va. Headlines

By Staff Report, Virginia Mercury

- April 28, 2022

• A new report from the National Education Association shows there’s still a persistent gap between teacher salaries in Virginia and the national average.—WSLS

• In a newly released memoir, state Del. Danica Roem describes her journey to becoming the first openly transgender state legislator in the United States.—NPR

• “President Joe Biden has nominated Elizabeth Hanes, a federal magistrate judge in Virginia, as U.S. District Court judge for the Eastern District of Virginia.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• A group of Norfolk residents is demanding more accountability from local officials after a fatal shooting downtown that injured five and killed three, including 25-year-old local journalist Sierra Jenkins.—Virginian-Pilot

• The Virginia Lottery Board unanimously approved the state’s first casino license for Hard Rock Bristol, set to open this summer in the city’s former shopping mall.—Bristol Herald Courier

• Martinsville plans to challenge the constitutionality of a newly passed law requiring a referendum before the city can revert to a town within Henry County.—Martinsville Bulletin

• A growing number of Confederate flags in Danville is causing some local concern. “They just started popping up everywhere.”—WSET

• Jurors in Bristol acquitted a local police officer who was charged with murder after shooting and killing a fleeing shooting suspect.—Bristol Herald Courier

• A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a 12-year-old Hampton girl.—Virginian-Pilot

• William & Mary selected a new board chair to replace John Littel, whom Youngkin appointed as Virginia’s Secretary of Health and Human Resources.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• Officials in Newport News voted to change local event permitting regulations after realizing the city was paying for activities it wasn’t hosting.—Daily Press

• Eight Northern Virginia breweries are collaborating on a limited-edition beer to raise money for relief organizations in Ukraine.—Winchester Star

• A Chesterfield County senior and Taco Bell employee won a $25,000 scholarship from the fast food chain, which she plans to use toward her goal of becoming a journalist.—WTVR

• Colonial Williamsburg is encouraging visitors to live out their “Bridgerton” daydreams with a suggested itinerary inspired by the Netflix show.—Daily Press

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