Here are the top news headlines for Tuesday!
A member of Amanda Chase’s security detail was arrested Monday morning – Virginia Scope
A man that has been working as a security guard for state Senator Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) during her campaign for Governor was arrested Monday morning.
David Lee Conner was arrested in Chesterfield County and charged with strangulation early-Monday morning, according to a police spokesperson. He is employed by the security company that accompanies the senator to events across Virginia. Conner has been featured in several photos with Senator Chase since she launched her campaign for governor. Most recently, he can be seen standing with her on the cover of Style Weekly.
Advocates Push for Paid Family Leave in Virginia – VPM News
by Ben Paviour
Last year, 51 year-old Terrence Walker lost his wife, Tracy, to colon cancer. She died in their bedroom, a few doors down from the living room where they were married. Walker’s coworkers at Virginia Commonwealth University pooled enough leave to allow him some time to mourn. “I felt powerless to do anything about the decline of her life,” Walker said. “I never thought that she would die before the age of 50.”
8 ‘citizens’ will help draw Virginia’s new political map. But how many will be average people? – Virginian-Pilot
by Ana Ley
Half the people who will draw some of Virginia’s most important political boundaries for the next decade are supposed to be “citizen members” — everyday people unlikely to engage in the partisan gamesmanship that mars this arcane process. So far, the roughly 200 volunteers who have offered to represent average Virginians are exceedingly white, rich, older and male in a state with many young, female Black and brown voters. Experts worry that will lead to a panel that doesn’t fully reflect the state, and they hope a lot more people will sign up before the Dec. 28 deadline.
Virginia Representatives respond to successful vote to override Trump’s veto – Virginia Scope
The House of Representatives voted on Monday to override President Trump’s veto of the NDAA defense policy bill. This is the first successful veto override of Trump’s presidency. The House achieved the two-thirds majority needed to override the veto with a 322-87 vote.
Low early voting turnout so far in special elections for two Virginia House districts, officials say – Washington Post
by Antonio Olivo
Early voting is underway for the Jan. 5 special elections in two Virginia House of Delegates districts where the Democratic officeholders decided to leave their seats before their terms expired. Unlike the record numbers who voted early in this year’s presidential election, turnout in the special elections appears to be low, local election officials said Monday.
Fredericksburg-area hospitals request any show of gratitude for fatigued frontline workers – Freelance-Star
by Cathy Dyson
When Mary Washington Healthcare officials resume their weekly town hall sessions on Tuesday, they’ll do more than update the community on the impact the record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is having on staff and facilities.
They’ll also be asking the public for support.
Buttigieg to inherit a crumbling network of roads, subways and rails at DOT – Virginia Mercury
by Daniel Vock
Pete Buttigieg as the incoming pick for U.S. transportation secretary would take office at a time when both state and local officials are deeply frustrated that not enough is being done to maintain and improve the country’s transportation networks. But nobody seems to be able to solve the problem.
Virginia Attorney General writes opinion stating that state universities and colleges can require vendors to pay employees a livable wage – Virginia Scope
In an important official opinion issued at the request of Senator Jennifer Boysko, Attorney General Mark R. Herring concludes that Virginia universities and state agencies may require government contractors to pay their employees a living wage, or at least a wage above the federal and state minimum. This opinion will help empower universities and other state agencies to secure higher wages for working Virginians as part of their contracting efforts. The opinion overrules prior opinions issued by Attorney General Kilgore (2002) and Attorney General McDonnell (2006) which said that state agencies and universities could not require a living wage in their contracts.
“Even before the COVID economic crisis, far too many Virginia families were struggling to make ends meet, as stagnant, low wages failed to keep up with ever-rising costs for rent, groceries, healthcare, childcare, and education,” said Attorney General Herring. “The Commonwealth and its agencies can set a higher standard, promoting wages that allow more Virginia workers to support themselves and their families, and reaping the benefits associated with higher wages.”
How Dwayne Haskins went from first-round pick to cut from Washington’s team in less than two years – Richmond Times-Dispatch
by Michael Phillips
After a rough first season in the NFL, Dwayne Haskins knew he had work to do. Haskins threw himself into that work this offseason, losing weight, gaining muscle and impressing some of the league’s best receivers with throws he made on practice fields across the country.
