Tag

Virginia

All articles tagged with #virginia

crime4 days ago•4 min saved

Virginia judge drops criminal charges against former assistant principal in Richneck shooting

A Virginia judge dismissed eight felony child abuse charges against former Richneck Elementary assistant principal Ebony Parker in the 2023 shooting of teacher Abby Zwerner by a 6-year-old student, ruling the conduct was not a crime. The decision follows a civil verdict that found Parker grossly negligent and awarded Zwerner $10 million, and defense lawyers argued Parker’s actions reflected a lapse in judgment rather than criminal intent. Parker pleaded not guilty. The case’s dismissal affects criminal liability while civil proceedings continue; the shooter’s mother, Deja Taylor, remains in prison on related charges.

via ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|

#abby-zwerner #crime #ebony-parker

sports4 days ago•3 min saved

Ex-Sam Houston State safety Davis dies at 22 from gunshot wounds

Former Sam Houston State safety William Davis, 22, died from gunshot wounds to the chest; the manner of death is still being determined by Virginia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Davis, a Virginia native who previously played for West Virginia and Virginia Union before transferring to Sam Houston State, will be honored by the program this season.

via New York Post|

#college-football #deaths #gun-violence

crime4 days ago•3 min saved

Virginia Judge Dismisses Neglect Charges in 6-Year-Old Classroom Shooting

A Virginia judge dismissed eight felony counts of child neglect against Ebony Parker, the former Richneck Elementary assistant principal, ruling her actions surrounding the January 2023 shooting of teacher Abby Zwerner were not a crime. Prosecutors argued Parker ignored warnings that a gun might be in a 6-year-old's backpack, but the defense contended she was not neglectful and Parker was not called to testify as the trial progressed. The case followed Zwerner’s severe injuries, a separate civil verdict awarding her $10 million, and Parker is no longer employed at the school.

via CBS News|

#child-neglect #crime #ebony-parker

us-news5 days ago•3 min saved

Virginia judge clears ex-assistant principal in Richneck shooting case

A Virginia judge dismissed eight felony counts of child abuse against Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary, who was accused of ignoring warnings that a six-year-old student had a gun on the day a teacher was shot. The court found no gross negligence, and Abigail Zwerner won a $10 million civil judgment. The shooter’s mother pleaded guilty to felony child neglect and federal gun charges; the child is in relative care and attending a different school. Parker’s defense argued she could not have foreseen the tragedy.

via BBC|

#abigail-zwerner #ebony-parker #gun-violence

crime5 days ago•182 min saved

Judge dismisses charges against Ebony Parker in Richneck shooting case

A Virginia Circuit Court judge dismissed eight felony counts of child abuse and disregard for life against Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary, after prosecutors failed to prove the conduct criminal. The charges were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they cannot be retried. Parker faced the eight counts tied to warnings that a 6-year-old student had a gun before he shot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner; Zwerner survived. The boy’s mother, Deja Taylor, pleaded guilty to state felony child neglect and federal gun charges in the incident, and Parker had pursued an appeal in a related civil suit in which Zwerner was awarded $10 million. Prosecutors have said the boy will not be charged criminally.

via CNN|

#crime #ebony-parker #education

energy-policy6 days ago•8 min saved

AI-era energy merger promises lower bills, but affordability politics loom

NextEra Energy’s proposed $67 billion merger with Dominion Energy would create a utility giant to speed AI-era infrastructure and, proponents say, lower bills via a two-year $2.25 billion payout that could shave about $25/month through 2028. Regulators at FERC, NRC, and state commissions in North and South Carolina and Virginia must approve, and Virginia’s political leadership—already wary of rate increases—will closely scrutinize long-term affordability and potential settlements to win clearance.

via Politico|

#data-centers #energy #energy-policy

politics6 days ago•12 min saved

Virginia Governor Vetoes Broad Range of Bills After May Session

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced a broad slate of vetoes after the 2026 reconvene session, saying she supports the intent of many bills but must prevent unintended consequences and ensure laws can be implemented effectively. The vetoes touch on issues from the SWaM program and voter-roll maintenance to prescription-drug pricing, private election funding, cannabis regulation, menopause protections, child-welfare interview recording, higher-education governance, courthouse security, and inmate placement, with amendments she would have preferred but the General Assembly rejected. She pledged to work with bill patrons and leaders to address these issues in the future.

via Governor of Virginia (.gov)|

#legislation #policy #politics

world6 days ago•4 min saved

Virginia elementary school case tests accountability as admin faces neglect charges over gun warning

In Newport News, Virginia, assistant principal Ebony Parker is accused of ignoring repeated warnings that a 6-year-old had a gun before the 2023 shooting of first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner. Parker faces eight counts of felony child neglect, with prosecutors saying she failed to take basic steps (searching the child, contacting police, separating students) while the school policy required action. The case highlights the rarity of criminal charges against school officials in shooting incidents and follows a civil verdict that awarded Zwerner $10 million.

via CBS News|

#abby-zwerner #child-neglect-charges #gun-in-school

politics6 days ago•6 min saved

Spanberger veto stalls Virginia's planned 2027 cannabis market

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed the Democratic-backed bill to create a regulated recreational cannabis market, delaying any legal sales to 2027 and prompting criticism from lawmakers who say the veto keeps Virginia’s cannabis economy in limbo and preserves an illegal market; Spanberger’s substitute would have started later and imposed stricter penalties, while supporters argue legalization could generate hundreds of millions in tax revenue over five years. The legislature will need to try again in 2027.

via VPM|

#cannabis #politics #retail-market

politics6 days ago•2 min saved

Virginia governor vetoes cannabis marketplace plan, pledges resumption of talks next session

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed the bill that would have created a regulated cannabis marketplace, saying it lacked a workable timeline, structure and resources for proper oversight. She sent the legislation back with dozens of changes and pushed for a retail launch later (July 1, 2027) to ensure enforcement, testing and compliance are funded and effective. Lawmakers defended the plan as the result of extensive deliberation and may revisit it in the next General Assembly session.

via WTOP|

#cannabis-regulation #marijuana #politics

crime8 days ago•14 min saved

Ex-VA school administrator to stand trial over warnings ignored before 6-year-old’s shooting

A former Richneck Elementary assistant principal, Ebony Parker, is set to face trial for allegedly ignoring warnings that a student had a gun, three years after the 6-year-old shooter incident that injured a teacher. Abby Zwerner later filed and won a civil lawsuit against Parker, with a verdict reached in November 2025.

via AP News|

#abby-zwerner #crime #ebony-parker

sports8 days ago•4 min saved

Virginia Storms Back to Reach NCAA Men’s Tennis Final Against Texas

Virginia erased a 3-1 deficit and defeated Wake Forest 4-3 in Athens to advance to the NCAA men’s tennis final, where they’ll face Texas; Santamarta Roig sealed the win in a deciding third set after clutch late performances from Brockett and Kim.

via virginiasports.com|

#college-tennis #ncaa #sports

politics9 days ago•6 min saved

Virginia’s map ruling preserves status quo as Democrats eye a few flips

The Virginia maps upheld by the Supreme Court will remain in effect for the 2024 elections, ending Democratic hopes for a redraw edge. Despite the setback, Democrats see opportunities to flip several districts in a state where Trump-era margins, local dynamics, and candidate alignments could yield a few gains. The 2nd District is a prime toss-up, the 1st District leans Republican, the 5th District could tilt Democratic, the 6th is considered safely Republican, and the 7th district stands as a key vulnerable seat for Democrats, with most other incumbents expected to face limited competition.

via The Washington Post|

#elections #house-of-representatives #politics

politics10 days ago•5 min saved

Supreme Court ends Democrats' bid to redraw Virginia's congressional map

The Supreme Court rejected Virginia Democrats’ emergency bid to revive a referendum to redraw the state's congressional map, leaving in place a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that the measure violated the state constitution. The current map remains in effect (six Democrats to five Republicans), limiting Democrats’ ability to counter gerrymandering ahead of the midterms.

via Politico|

#gerrymandering #politics #redistricting

politics10 days ago•23 min saved

Virginia enacts assault weapons ban and high-capacity magazine restrictions

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed into law an assault weapons ban and high-capacity magazine restrictions, making Virginia the 11th state to enact such bans. The law makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor to import, sell, manufacture, purchase or transfer an assault firearm and bars someone convicted under the ban from purchasing, possessing or transporting a firearm for three years. Exemptions include antique firearms, those rendered permanently inoperable, and firearms that are bolt, pump, lever or slide-action. The ban takes effect July 1, 2026.

via WSET|

#abigail-spanberger #assault-weapons-ban #gun-control