Politics

Montgomery County Board of Education Pushes Back Date for In-person Learning

On Tuesday, Jan. 12, the Montgomery County Board of Education voted to delay the start of returning small groups of students for in-person instruction.

Killing the Death Penalty

Lawmakers consider bill to abolish capital punishment in Virginia

Virginia has executed people longer than any other state, a tradition that stretches back into colonial days when Captain George Kendall was executed for treason. Over the years, the commonwealth has executed more than 1,300 people. Now, Virginia may be about to join 22 other states that have abolished the death penalty.

West Springfield Rotary Club Hosts Discussion on U.S. – China Relations

“The U.S. needs to stop thinking of China as a source of cheap goods and realize that China in fact is a threat to our economy and to our values,” according to Clyde Prestowitz, a noted expert on Asia.

Suffragist Memorial Construction Makes Progress

Those visiting Occoquan Regional Park, Lorton, can see progress toward completion of the Turning Point Suffragist Memorial.

Privatized Incarceration

Alexandria senator leads fight against profiting from prisoners

Housing inmates in Virginia prisons costs the state about $70 a day for each inmate. But the private sector can do it a lot cheaper, about $50 a day. Lawmakers are about to debate whether that's a savings they can afford.

Virginia House Democrats Release Agenda for Upcoming Session

The House legislative agenda will focus on three key areas for the upcoming legislative session: Protecting Families; Keeping Virginia Healthy; Rebuilding Our Economy Stronger

Dunn Loring Center to Become School

Capacity relief coming for Shrevewood ES and Tysons Periphery

A new school project to help bring sustainable capacity relief for Shrevewood Elementary School and the Dunn Loring, Tysons, and Falls Church communities is on the way.

Essential Leave

Advocates for paid sick days try to build support among Virginia Senate Democrats

Before the pandemic hit, Senate Democrats stopped a proposal requiring businesses to offer paid sick days. During the pandemic, they rejected it again during a special session. Now as lawmakers prepare for the upcoming General Assembly session, advocates are hoping they've finally got a strategy to persuade reluctant Senate Democrats to approve a new law increasing the number of workers in Virginia who have access to paid sick days.

Republican Women in Alexandria Install New Officers for 2021

The Commonwealth Republican Women’s Club of Alexandria installed its 2021 officers during its December meeting on Zoom.

Appealing Bad Rulings

Lawmakers to consider expanding appeals court, providing new oversight to judges.

Virginia is the only state in the country that does not guarantee a right to appeal, allowing circuit court judges to make decisions with little oversight or scrutiny. Critics have been calling for reform ever since the Court of Appeals was first created in 1985. The Supreme Court of Virginia recommended an appeal of right as a "long term goal" in 2018. Now, Gov. Ralph Northam says he wants lawmakers to add four judges and support staff "to ensure the court can hear more appeals cases in a timely manner under an increasing workload."

Dropping Out of the Electoral College

Lawmakers to consider joining National Popular Vote Compact

Virginia may be on the verge of dropping out of the Electoral College, joining a National Popular Vote Compact in an effort to ditch a presidential election system critics say is outdated and undemocratic.

The Other Alexandria: ‘Getting Ready to Cast My Vote’ – Cassie Reddick Whitmore

The 14th Amendment became law in 1919, making it possible for all adults to vote, but Virginia did not ratify the 19th Amendment until 1952.

Absurd Leverage

Lawmakers to reconsider mandatory minimum for assaulting law enforcement

Earlier this year, lawmakers rejected a bill that would have ditched the mandatory minimum sentence for assaulting a law-enforcement officer. Now the General Assembly is about to consider the issue again.

A Look Inside the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Meeting Dec. 1, 2020

Highlights of discussion and actions that impact all who live, work and play in the diverse county

Dec. 1 marked the final Fairfax County Full Board of Supervisors Meeting with Public Comment of 2020.

Drawing the Line

Newly created redistricting commission zooms toward new maps in 2021

Now that voters have approved a constitutional amendment creating a new redistricting commission, the pieces have already started falling into place for how the commission will work and who will serve on it.

The Connection