State and National Government
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Governor Northam has signed into law a measure that supporters say provides protections against voter suppression, discrimination, and intimidation in the commonwealth. It’s called the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, the first state law of its kind in the country, and among other things, it requires election officials in the state to get prior approval from the attorney general’s office before making changes to voting rules. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Photo: Virginia House GOP
(Associated Press) — The chair of the Virginia Parole Board has filed a defamation lawsuit against a Richmond TV station and one of its reporters over some of the station’s coverage of an ongoing controversy involving the board. Court records show board chair Tonya Chapman filed the $7 million lawsuit Friday against WTVR-TV and Jon Burkett. The stories that prompted the lawsuit dealt with a 13-page draft report produced by the Office of the State Inspector General, which has been investigating the parole board. The specific report dealt with the board’s decision to release inmate Vincent Martin, who had served 40 years in a police officer’s killing. WTVR was the first news organization to report on the document, which contained substantial differences from the final report made public last year, including a critical finding about Chapman.
(WFIR NEWS) — Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the differences in the two documents, including Delegate and candidate for governor Kirk Cox. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
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Republican candidates for governor are spending unprecedented amounts on radio and TV ads ahead of the party’s nominating convention in May: $2 million and counting. And more of them are invoking former President Trump in their ads in hopes of gaining party support, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports:
It was one year ago that Virginia, the country and world were starting to adjust to the growing health threat from COVID-19. New restrictions were altering our lives in almost every way, and that was before the numbers started to explode. WFIR’s Evan Jones takes us back one year as he reports in depth:
Rep. Bob Good
It was one year ago this week that federal and state governments implemented widespread restrictions in response to what was then a little-understood COVID-19. 5th District Congressman Bob Good is among the many critics, mainly Republicans, who say governments have done far more harm than good since then in response. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:
(Va. ABC photo)
Virginia’s ABC is now conducting on-line lotteries for some of the highest-demand, lowest-supply bourbons out there: Van Winkle bourbon products. But the most expensive bottle on the Van Winkle list does not come near to approaching the highest-price bourbon lottery of late. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more in this News Extra:
Click here for the Virginia ABC liquor lotteries page.
Sen. Amanda Chase Facebook
Republican Amanda Chase, the self-described “Trump in heels” running for Virginia governor, said recently that a fellow state senator seeking the Democratic nomination in the race would not “be a governor that supports everyone” because she heads the Black caucus. The remarks about state Sen. Jennifer McClellan came during a campaign event Chase said took place Monday night. A video clip was circulated online by a Democratic super PAC, American Bridge 21st Century. In a statement, McClellan called the remarks bigoted and racist and said they have no place in Virginia politics. Chase said she stood by them.
Photo: Eileen Filler-Corn Twitter
Governor Ralph Northam may have endorsed Delegate Jay Jones for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General but two-term incumbent Mark Herring has received his own high-profile support – Democratic Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn calls Herring “a leader on the issues that matter most,” also saying she is “proud to endorse his reelection effort.” Filler-Corn today cited Herring’s work to reduce gun violence, expand health care access and to protect seniors from fraud.
In wake of recent controversy surrounding the Virginia Parole Board, Roanoke County Republican state Senate Senator David Suetterlein is calling for reforms he believes would provide more transparency and accountability. Suetterlein recently spoke to WFIR’s Clark Palmer about changes he wants to bring to the Parole Board for this longer listen segment.