Still No Sign Of A State Budget, More Va., Headlines

A Staff Report, Virginia Mercury

April 25, 2022

• Virginia’s General Assembly won’t be voting on a spending plan when they reconvene on Wednesday, according to budget negotiators, who said they won’t reach an agreement in time for the one-day session.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• “A newly released report from Virginia’s government watchdog agency found some state-run behavioral health facilities failed to properly investigate reports of sexual abuse.”—WRIC

• A 29-year-old first-time candidate is the first primary challenger against Rep. Don Beyer, D-Alexandria, since he was elected to Congress eight years ago.—Washington Post

• The Supreme Court of Virginia denied a defamation lawsuit filed in Albemarle County by former California congressman Devin Nunes.—Daily Progress

• Attorney General Jason Miyares dropped the state’s appeal of a court decision that dismissed all criminal charges against two U.S. Park Police who shot Bijan Ghaisar, an unarmed 25-year-old, in Alexandria. The move will effectively end the criminal case.—WUSA9

• Del. Buddy Fowler, R-Hanover, announced plans to run for reelection in Virginia’s newly redrawn 59th House District.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• “Prosecutors are seeking short jail sentences for two brothers from Virginia Beach who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.”—Associated Press

• The Arlington County Board unanimously approved Amazon’s plan to build a helix-shaped tower at its second headquarters in Northern Virginia.—Associated Press

• The Williamsburg-James City County School Board voted not to purchase four new social studies textbooks after complaints that they promoted “divisive teachings” and critical race theory, leaving students using textbooks that are at least 12 years old.—Virginian-Pilot

• Facing a budget shortfall, VCU is planning to cut spending next school year, but how much won’t be determined until the General Assembly decides on a budget agreement.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• Hampton’s NASA-Langley Research Center opened its first new lab in nearly three decades.—Daily Press

• In a visit to Richmond, two-time presidential candidate Bernie Sanders described local Starbucks workers who voted to unionize as “heroes and heroines.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• Westmoreland County illegally renewed the licensing for Colonial Beach’s volunteer rescue squad even though the group isn’t meeting standards dictated in Virginia code.—Free Lance-Star

• The city of Richmond is warning residents about an uptick in coyotes.—WRIC

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.