Redistricting Spurs Incumbent Fight In Hampton Roads; More Va., Headlines

Staff Report, Virginia Mercury

August 22, 2022

• Redistricting has left two longtime Democratic politicians in Hampton Roads in the same district, meaning state Sens. Louise Lucas and Lionel Spruill will have to compete for their party’s nomination next year. “Let the chips fall where they may,” said Lucas.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• In Virginia’s competitive 7th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Abigail Spanberger is flipping the usual campaign script by attacking Republican challenger Yesli Vega, a former police officer, for not funding police in Prince William County.—Washington Post

• Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration is facing pushback over its enlistment of conservative think tank the Fordham Institute to review the state’s new history and social science standards.—Axios Richmond

• A Richmond resident frustrated by questions he was being asked to obtain the monkeypox vaccine through the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts traveled to Roanoke to get the shot instead.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• A report found Virginia teachers on average make 32.7% less than other college-educated professionals, giving the state the third-largest such pay gap in the nation.—Axios Richmond

• House Minority Leader Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, is working with a Virginia Beach teen who is interning for U.S. Rep Elaine Luria (D) to try to get rid of a state tax exemption for the United Daughters of the Confederacy.—Virginian-Pilot

• Former Gov. Doug Wilder withdrew his lawsuit against VCU’s president and three other university officials because he said the federal Department of Education has indicated it will investigate the school for claims of racism and sexism.—Richmond Times-Dispatch, Associated Press

• “A Northern Virginia man who threatened to ‘blow up Roanoke’ and kill a bank manager at the Poff Federal Building was arrested Thursday on federal charges.”—Roanoke Times

• A counselor for Fairfax County Public Schools “kept his job for more than a year and a half after his arrest in Chesterfield County on charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• “Four people suffered minor injuries Saturday morning when two vintage planes collided at the Flying Circus Aerodrome in Bealeton” in Fauquier County.—Culpeper Star-Exponent

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

SUBSCRIBE

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