Tag: scott surovell

Republican Senators Say Independent Investigation Firm Is Biased

Eric Burk

Republican senators are criticizing the choice of law firm Nixon Peabody to investigate the investigation into the Virginia Parole Board (VPB). An appointment letter published by the Office of the Attorney General states that the firm was chosen in part to avoid any firms with a strong connection to Virginia. But a week after the announcement, Senators Mark Obenshain (R-Rockingham) and Stephen Newman (R-Bedford) suggested that the Nixon Peabody team is politically biased.

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Democrat State Senator Morrissey Faces Charges in Virginia for 2019 Polling Place Violation

Eric Burk

State Senator Joe Morrisey (D-Richmond) was charged last week for campaigning at a Richmond polling place in on Election Day in November 2019. According to a Morrissey press release, he faces three alleged misdemeanor violations of a Virginia statute that prohibits loitering within 40 feet of a polling place entrance, attempting to influence any person’s vote within 40 feet of the polling place, and to hinder voters from leaving or entering the polling place.

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Top High School in U.S. Releases New Admissions Plan Based on ‘Racial Equity’ Lottery Instead of Academic Merit

Corinne Murdock

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) released a new admissions plan for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology largely based on lottery rather than academic merit. The new plan proposed by FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand omits the current standardized testing requirements.
FCPS says it will admit 100 students based on high evaluations. The high school would select the remaining 400 at random through something they call a “merit lottery.”

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Virginia Lawmakers Consider Removing Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement Officers in Special Session

Sam Medley

The Virginia legislature is considering laws that would remove qualified immunity for law enforcement officers.

On August 13, Democrats in the House announced a list of items they will introduce into the legislature’s Special Session.

Among these items is the “[elimination of] qualified immunity for law enforcement officers.”

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