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Virginia Tech ends identity-based graduation ceremonies after federal DEI guidance
Virginia Tech ended its decades-long tradition of identity-based graduation achievement ceremonies last month, joining several large universities that have taken a similar step amid President Donald Trump’s push to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion practices on college campuses. The decision, posted on the university’s website Jan. 26, said Virginia Tech is following “guidance from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which states that federal civil rights law prohibits using race in decisions related to graduation ceremonies and cautions that such practices may be perceived as segregation.”
Number of Virginia immigrants ‘self-deporting’ multiplied by a factor of 17
It was a glum moment for Carytown. A longtime business, Mitchem’s Shoe Repair, announced it would be closing up shop after more than 50 years. The store was owned until December by a couple originally from South Korea who tried for years to gain U.S. citizenship, but a series of confusing twists — including a letdown by an immigration attorney later convicted of fraud — exhausted that option. In December, the owners of Mitchem’s flew back to their native country, seeing little alternative. ... That trend held in Virginia as well. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the number of monthly voluntary departures multiplied by a factor of 17.
Bill guaranteeing access to contraception in Virginia is moving forward with bipartisan support
Democrats who control the House and Senate are pursuing what they call an "affordability agenda." One part of that agenda is access to contraception. Like many young women who become unexpectedly pregnant, Janicka Fernandez did not know what to do. She decided to have an abortion. "I wish I had access to contraception so I wouldn't have to make the choice," Fernandez says. "The choice between my career that I wanted to pursue and putting my child in the same environment that my mother had to fight so hard to keep us out of all because I did not have contraception." Now, she's speaking out in favor of the Right to Contraception Act, which passed the Senate this week with a bipartisan vote.
Lynchburg City Council reaffirms 2nd Amendment sanctuary status for the city
The Lynchburg City Council voted 6-1 to reaffirm the city's Second Amendment sanctuary status during Tuesday evening's meeting. Republican Vice Mayor Curt Dimer and Ward IV Councilman Faraldi spearheaded this idea after both men shared concerns that several pieces of legislation moving through the General Assembly would aim to harm a person's Second Amendment right.
Concerns over rewrite of student demonstrations policy surface at Virginia Beach School Board
Questions surrounding changes proposed to the policy governing student-led demonstrations were raised by members of the school board at a meeting Tuesday evening. Board members challenged the amendments proposed to Policy 5-40, which would rewrite and expand upon the code defining what Virginia Beach students are allowed to do when leading or participating in demonstrations. Their dialogue continues a monthslong discussion on how the school system of Virginia’s largest city should regulate student-led demonstrations amid increasing calls by students for activism at their schools.
Senate panel advances $48 hike in weekly unemployment benefits
Virginians who lose their jobs through no fault of their own would receive a $48 weekly increase in unemployment benefits under legislation on its way to the full Senate, but they won't know exactly how many weeks they would be entitled to receive it. The Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved Senate Bill 759, introduced by Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, to restore the money that then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin trimmed last year from the first boost in unemployment insurance benefits in more than a decade.
Yancey: Unsung heroes? Or mass murderers? The General Assembly turns its attention to … fungi
We don’t know how many of them there are; we just know there are a lot. A lot, as in millions. Multiple millions. We know some are good, but we also know some are bad. Bad as in fatal. Bad as in causing maybe 3.7 million deaths a year, according to the British medical journal The Lancet. Since we don’t know how many of them there are, we don’t know how many are in each category — friendly, hostile or simply harmless and disinterested. We also don’t know where they all are.
Recent court ruling affirms Flock camera legality … for now
The Norfolk Police Department’s use of 176 automated license-plate readers does not violate constitutional protections against unreasonable searches, according to a recent federal court ruling. But a major caveat from the judge should not be ignored — the day could come when the cameras do infringe upon civil liberties and require the court’s intervention.
Richmond-area freshman legislators push through bills on tax filing, juries, evictions
It’s a headache Del. Kimberly Pope Adams, D-Dinwiddie, knows a lot about from her day job as an accountant. Now she’s aiming to get the state to offer a free tax filing program to ease, just a bit, that pain. The freshman legislator convinced the House of Delegates to support her legislation, House Bill 1180. “I’m an accountant, and I’m a single mom, so I try to make every dollar count,” Pope Adams said. “That’s why I know free filing is important,” she said.
Legislation focused on Appalachian Power bills advances with narrower scope
A bill aimed at helping control Appalachian Power customers’ rising monthly bills is headed to a House of Delegates committee with a narrower focus than originally proposed. HB 1075, carried by Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, now would ask the State Corporation Commission to examine two factors that contribute to what customers pay each month.