About five years ago, Jason Collins had a stroke.

He spent over a month in the hospital, had home therapy and then went through outpatient therapy for about six months.

Once he finished all that, he learned about the Ability Fitness Center at The Arc of Loudoun, a gym facility that supports people who have experienced brain injuries.

He spends several hours at the Leesburg facility, usually about two or three times a week, depending on his needs. It has fueled his physical and emotional recovery.

鈥淚t鈥檚 as much mental, social and physical, which you just don鈥檛 really find any place else,鈥� Collins told 海角社区app.

The center launched in 2017, and it started in a small building with just a handful of members. Now in a bigger space, the facility is staffed with physical therapists and technicians. It has the medical-grade equipment needed to help members, who pay about $600 monthly to have access.

The site has about 60 clients, primarily people with brain injuries, ranging from stroke, spinal cord injury, Parkinson鈥檚 disease, multiple sclerosis, ALS or balance disorders.

Helen Parker, the clinical director, said her interest stemmed from the over 15 years she spent as an outpatient therapist in a neurology clinic. Often, she said, she had to discharge a patient because they had used all their insurance benefits, even if she felt they weren鈥檛 ready to be discharged.

鈥淵ou’re sending them home and you’re basically saying, 鈥楬ey, good luck. Here’s your home exercise program, I hope you continue to make progress,鈥欌�� Parker said. 鈥淎nd so it just kind of broke my heart having to discharge people that, often not knowing that they met their full potential.鈥�

The Ability Fitness Center鈥檚 services can supplement outpatient therapy, Parker said, or help members whose insurance stopped paying for it.

鈥淲e work with everybody one-on-one, and then when they’re done with their one-on-one time, we set them up on equipment or doing the right exercises,鈥� Parker said.

Venkat Prasad, whose son Abhay is a member, said he was searching for a place that would emphasize the one-on-one time while helping reach the goals he and his wife set.

About three years ago, Abhay was in a car accident. He was the passenger in a car that hit a tree, and suffered head injuries, spending six weeks in the intensive care unit.

鈥淎 lot of people here just know him, how he responds, and under what conditions he responds, what music he likes and loves,鈥� Prasad said. 鈥淭hey help us play those things, and we can see some of the reactions immediately.鈥�

For Freddie Hetzel, who broke his neck in 2011, the space offers a sense of community.

鈥淚 might not be healed to the point where I can walk, but I feel a lot less broken than when I first started, and I have this place to thank for a lot of that,鈥� Hetzel said.

Many of the members 鈥渦nderstand the struggle that you are going through. And it doesn鈥檛 matter whether you pee in your pants one day or you just fall and you can鈥檛 get up. These are the things that we live with on the regular. And a lot of people don鈥檛 understand what those struggles are,鈥� Hetzel said.

Collins said he feels similarly. Whether he鈥檚 planning to travel for a Notre Dame football game or navigate a large and busy airport, he knows he has a support system.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just your therapist, but it鈥檚 people that are going through the same things you鈥檙e going through, so it can become, 鈥楬ey, when I traveled I learned this, or we tried that,鈥欌�� Collins said.

Source

The work in the Northern Virginia suburb鈥檚 Greenbriar neighborhood was thrust into the spotlight last year, after some neighbors described it as an eyesore and worried about the impact it may have on neighboring properties.

Minh Nguyen, the homeowner, filed an appeal, hoping to allow the work to continue. In November, a stop work order had been issued because of a failed wind bracing inspection. The addition鈥檚 proximity to the neighboring home has been scrutinized.

The project, Nguyen told the county鈥檚 Board of Zoning Appeals on Wednesday, stems from his parents鈥� desire to spend more time with their grandchildren.

鈥淲e somehow came up that, ‘OK I can build something, an addition, and then we can all live together,'” Nguyen said. 鈥淪o the grandparents, as much time as they have left, can spend the time with my kids. And without any thoughts that this type of stuff would happen.鈥�

However, the Board of Zoning Appeals rejected Nguyen鈥檚 appeal unanimously.

The board found the addition didn鈥檛 meet requirements of a subsection of the county鈥檚 code. It isn鈥檛 鈥渋n character with the existing dwelling and surrounding development,鈥� according to county documents, and the 鈥渟cale, design and location of the addition will detrimentally impact the use and enjoyment of adjacent properties.鈥�

In a statement, Supervisor Pat Herrity said the addition to the property along Marble Lane 鈥渄oes not belong this close to an adjacent residential property,鈥� adding that it 鈥渘egatively impacts the neighbor and neighborhood.鈥�

After news coverage of the addition ramped up, Nguyen said, 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when we realized what we wanted for our family sometimes does not suit other peoples鈥� point of view.鈥�

鈥淲e tried to work with the county every step of the way to meet whatever requirement that was needed, so we could continue our dream,” he said.

Last month, Fairfax County leaders described plans to consider whether to revise long-standing limits on house heights, because complex and taller home designs are testing the boundaries of the current rules.

Some of the proposals presented to the Board of Supervisors wouldn鈥檛 directly address the concerns tied to the Greenbriar property, but were viewed as a first step in what could be a long process.

Source

While growing up in Indonesia, Nuril Kingsley’s father was the chief of their village. So, from a young age, she learned about the value of serving others and treating them with dignity.

It’s something she kept in mind around the time she learned her son, Danny, is autistic. He joined a Fairfax County Public Schools , but struggled. So, she homeschooled him, serving as both a parent and teacher.

When Danny was prepared to return to a classroom, one of his teachers recognized him as someone who needed to be understood and supported, not as a problem or troublemaker.

Those experiences made an impression on Kingsley, who ultimately decided to return to school herself to learn to become a teacher. Now in her eighth year, she’s making a difference for students like Danny.

“What I remember was 鈥� ‘I learned so much from this process and I don’t want to keep this for myself. 鈥� I want to share it with others,'” Kingsley told 海角社区app.

In the school system’s enhanced autism classrooms, there are typically eight or fewer students and one teacher with two instructional assistants. The students are different ages across grade levels and have varying needs.

The curriculum is standard. So a recent first grade lesson about past, present and future tenses was the same unit that other first graders across the county are learning.

“Our EAC classes are some of the most challenging classrooms and positions that we have as teachers in FCPS,” Fairhill Elementary School Assistant Principal Maura Cotter said. “So it is really incredible that Nuril has used her life experiences and her home experiences to then guide her and have herself go back to school, and then take those experiences and bring them into the classroom. She uses her personal experience in all of her decision-making.”

Kingsley’s experiences are particularly helpful when working to understand students’ behaviors. Communication can be interpreted differently, Kingsley said, and it can sometimes lead to a student becoming frustrated.

Some kids use gestures or sign language to communicate, while others may have an assistive technology device.

“Instead of telling them to stop, I have to reflect on, ‘what do they know?'” Kingsley said. “‘What do they already know? What skills do they already have? Do they understand about feelings? Do they understand asking for help or asking for a break?’ If they don’t, that is my job to teach them.”

Kingsley’s classes typically involve visuals and a lot of hands-on activities, which she learned about when helping Danny. He gets anxious easily, she said, and before trips in the car, she writes stories for him about what it means to travel in the car and on the highway without opening the door. They also have conversations about how to behave in public places.

“It really, really reduced the anxiety so much,” Kingsley said. “And I use that a lot with my students here.”

During a recent class, student Kiaan described his relationship with Kingsley as “good.”

With help from parents and her colleagues, Kingsley launched a parent-teacher support group, bridging a gap she noticed while navigating public school with her son.

“Being able to share what has been successful with my son, with my students, that’s something that really, really resonates with me,” Kingsley said. “This is a path of service for me, because I believe that work that is done in a spirit of service is like worship. That’s what keeps me going every day.”

Source

Marissa Medrano knew she wanted to join a dance team when she got to high school, but she was unsure exactly聽what it would look like.

Now a sophomore at Gar-Field Senior High School in Woodbridge, Virginia, the interest became a reality when Bridgie Weber, the dance team coach and a math ESOL teacher, told Medrano about the opportunities to get involved with an untraditional dance team.

Instead of hip hop or ballet, Weber leads a group of about 50 students blending music and dance from various cultures.

About a decade ago, some students told Weber about the Bhangra team they started. They learned she was familiar with the Punjabi dance from her time in college. She agreed to become the coach, and last year, the team blended four dance styles for the first time.

“It helps them connect with people, with different cultures,” Weber told 海角社区app. “We have language barriers here. It helps bring kids together.”

Gar-Field is the only high school in Virginia’s second-largest school district to have a Bhangra team. The dance originates from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, and features various props.

“It’s my first year, but it’s a lot of movement,” Medrano said. “A lot of jumping and bouncing, and each move means something, and you’re telling a story based on your moves.”

Part of the team dances to K-pop music, others work through Tinikling, a traditional Filipino dance, and some learn various Latin dance styles, including salsa, merengue and cumbia.

“You could learn more culture that you’d never experience in your life,” said senior Kharl Mejos. “It makes you feel welcome and welcomed by other cultures too.”

In the fall, the team practiced for several hours twice a week. All four groups met at the same time, and Weber split up her time between them.

Leading up to a recent spring performance, the groups practiced daily for several hours.

Beyond dance, many of the students play sports and have full-time jobs, Weber said. If they have other commitments at the time of a scheduled practice, they learn the moves at home.

“A lot of kids, when they first come here, they have no clue what they’re doing. And at the end, they’re teaching other people because they’ve learned so much,” Weber said.

Sophomore Jada Lyles, for one,聽joined the K-pop team because of its diversity.

“No matter what culture are you from, if you’re from India or from South America or any country you’re from, your dance from their country matters because you’re expressing yourself, you’re expressing your culture,” Lyles said.

Medrano, meanwhile, is happy with her choice to get involved.

“To make friends and to learn about different cultures. I didn’t know Bhangra existed before I joined the team this year, and how many different dances there are out there that no one knows about,” Medrano said.

海角社区app/Scott Gelman

海角社区app/Scott Gelman

海角社区app/Scott Gelman

(1/3)

Share This Gallery:

• Share This:
• share on email
• print

Source

Kate Melton, a senior associate director at the University of Virginia鈥檚 Career Center, said AI is emerging in job titles and descriptions, and companies want job applicants to be curious about how they can use the technology.

But the university is also encouraging students to learn about AI’s limitations.

鈥淩eally trying to highlight your technical or AI skills on your resume, but also making sure that you are focusing what we call core skills or durable skills, things like critical thinking, communication, ethical reasoning and just understanding your fellow co-workers. One of my colleagues described it as being able to show up to the water cooler and have a conversation,” she said.

The technology, Melton told 海角社区app, can be used to help create a resume and cover letter, and in some instances, can help college graduates apply to more job opportunities faster.

“However, when students are showing up for their interviews, not all of them are able to show up and tell stories and really speak to the skills that they were articulating in a certain type of way using their AI-based resume,鈥� Melton said. 鈥淩eally making sure that you鈥檙e using that as a tool, not as a replacement, is essential.鈥�

AI should never be used to create a final draft of a document, Melton said. She advises students and encourages them to attend events in person.

While the technology can help with learning how to approach networking, asking others about career choices or the quality of work is something they should know how to “do on your own,鈥� she said.

When discussing the implications of AI on job searches for recent graduates, Melton said companies want to know 鈥渢hat you are somebody who鈥檚 willing to learn how to do new things, to try new things. But we don鈥檛 have it all figured out. The new systems haven鈥檛 all been created.鈥�

While Melton said there鈥檚 no direct evidence of AI leading to fewer job opportunities for recent grads, internships have declined nationally. Some employers hire candidates directly after finishing an internship, so when 鈥渁n employer is choosing to downsize their internship program, it just means that students are having to look elsewhere for internships and for full-time jobs,鈥� she said.

Source

This year, the school district planned for eight early release days that are exclusive to elementary schools. The dates for those days vary based on a school鈥檚 location.

Last school year, the early release days were planned for Mondays, but feedback suggested there were too many Monday holidays, and using the first day of the week as an early release day extended the weekend. This year鈥檚 elementary

Parents and community members have scrutinized the early release days as part of broader criticism of this There have been calls for more full weeks, and the school board has already voted to open schools on Veterans Day next fall.

鈥淗aving the kids out of school for an afternoon once a month, I don鈥檛 understand why we have that, when a lot of other districts don鈥檛,鈥� parent Alix Fetch said last month. 鈥淓ven if we get some understanding of why that鈥檚 necessary, that would be helpful.鈥�

On the planned early release days, students finish traditional classes three hours earlier than a regular day.

Last year, when the concept was rolled out, the goal was for teachers to use the time for required training tied to the Virginia Literacy Act. The legislation featured nearly 60 hours of training, said Mahri Aste, the principal of Mosaic Elementary.

Aste said 90 minutes can be used for individual teacher planning, and principals could use the other 90 minutes for staff meetings.

But the extra time is also used as recovery time for students who are chronically absent 鈥� missing 10% or more of school days in an academic year. Some teachers use it to meet with parents, and 鈥渨e鈥檙e also using the time as a school for staff meetings, so that we can meet with our whole staff and talk about county initiatives,鈥� Aste told 海角社区app.

鈥淯ltimately, this is going to impact kids,鈥� Aste said. 鈥淚 talk a lot about teachers and planning, but, ultimately, it鈥檚 all going to impact kids.鈥�

About 10 years ago, Aste said Fairfax County elementary schools closed two hours early every Monday for the same purpose. But a former school board voted to end that, and 鈥渘ever really had a good way of replacing that time,” she said.

A steering committee 鈥� featuring Aste and other principals, Superintendent Michelle Reid, teachers and parents 鈥� has been offering feedback and recommendations on the concept of the select elementary early release days.

High school teachers have seven-and-a-half hours of planning over a two-week period, Aste said, and elementary teachers have about four hours. The early dismissal aimed to address that inequity.

鈥淓lementary teachers have to plan for seven subjects a day, and they have very little planning time during the week, so using those three hours, they’re using it to plan for instruction for all seven subjects, implementing new math initiatives, new language arts initiatives,鈥� Aste said.

The school system has always 鈥減rovided childcare on these early release days, so parents have the option of having their kids be at school the full day,鈥� Aste said.

鈥淚 recognize that there鈥檚 a lot of concerns from parents about the calendar. Taking away these early release days is not going to do anything to help with the calendar issues,” she added.

Source

For over a year, Ty Cockrum has been using an e-bike to make food deliveries using DoorDash and UberEats.

It鈥檚 much easier than using a car, he found, because parking isn鈥檛 required, and there isn鈥檛 a fear of 鈥済etting your car stolen.鈥� The e-bike is generally faster, too, and as a result, Cockrum said he has been able to do more deliveries.

Because of a pilot program run through D.C.鈥檚 Department of Transportation, Cockrum doesn鈥檛 have to wait for a battery to charge either. Instead, he can swap it for a full battery either near the Wharf or in Adams Morgan.

The is being funded through the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator鈥檚 City Climate Innovation Challenge Program. It aims to make food deliveries more sustainable and encourage alternatives to scooters or cars.

Since the program started last summer, cyclists have made about 15,000 deliveries and swapped out several thousand batteries, officials said at a news conference Tuesday.

鈥淓very pilot we launch is another proof point that DDOT鈥檚 moveDC goals are not aspirational language on a page,鈥� said Sharon Kershbaum, DDOT鈥檚 director. 鈥淭hey are actionable commitments that we are delivering on right now in neighborhoods across the city.鈥�

Two groups of 35 drivers each received the opportunity to participate in the program after applying through the Whizz app.

Workers could choose between a new or refurbished Whizz e-bike, and the second round of applicants are required to do at least 25 deliveries each month on DoorDash.

Participants paid $129 per month for a new e-bike or $69 per month for a refurbished e-bike, with the chance to make a $120 final payment after six months to own their bike.

鈥淭he goal of the pilot is to get folks off of gas vehicles and gas mopeds and onto e-bikes, because it’s a more sustainable option, and this is also a safer and reliable way to charge your e-bikes,鈥� said Tasin Malik, a transportation planner with DDOT.

The company PopWheels installed battery lockers near the Festival Center in Adams Morgan and next to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Southwest D.C. The cabinets are able to charge 16 batteries at a time.

Cockrum said the process is 鈥済reat, because I don鈥檛 have to stop and wait for my battery to be charged. I can just pull over, do the swap, which takes literally less than three minutes, and off I am running again.鈥�

More of the battery cabinets will be popping up across D.C. neighborhoods for broader use, David Hammer, PopWheels鈥� co-founder, said.

Zachary Baldwin, director of mobility, data and research for the Southwest Business Improvement District, said the project is 鈥渇orward thinking in a way that we appreciate, because it applies a sharing economy mindset to a real problem: How do you deliver efficiently on an e-bike when your battery runs out? It’s a sustainable project, because it helps move people and importantly, things, without cars.鈥�

The pilot program is scheduled to end this summer.

Source

The state鈥檚 Supreme Court had opted to wait until after election day to hear arguments. Multiple outlets have the Virginia Supreme Court is expected to hear some of the challenges in the next coming days.

Experts said the redrawn map could give Democrats a 10-1 edge in the U.S. House after this year鈥檚 midterm election. Currently, Virginia is represented in the U.S. House by six Democrats and five Republicans.

The new map will be in place for the next three election cycles, and then after a new census, the traditional bipartisan process would be used again, supporters of the redistricting measure said.

But Republicans have filed several lawsuits — some alleging the process of getting the amendment on the ballot wasn鈥檛 followed properly, and one particularly concerned with the language of the question itself.

鈥淭he court is going to be under some pressure to come back with a decision probably within the next month or so,鈥� said J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato鈥檚 Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

Virginia has already pushed back its primary election from June to August, and some candidates have announced plans to pursue a seat once the new map is in place.

One legal challenge questions the language of the constitutional amendment itself.

David Ramadan, a former delegate and George Mason University professor, said Virginia鈥檚 constitution requires law and amendment language to be in plain English for voters to understand.

鈥淪aying that this was a vote for fair elections is plain English, contrary to the ramification of the vote, and that is the argument that the opponents of the measure are making,鈥� Ramadan said. 鈥淎nd I don’t think it’s going to fly. It did not fly in lower courts. It’s not going to fly in the upper court.鈥�

A separate lawsuit questions the process used to get the question on the ballot. Amendments have to pass two sessions of the General Assembly and there has to be an election in between.

While Democrats said the 2025 gubernatorial election fell in between sessions, Republican challengers argued the process was initiated during the early voting period, and 鈥�’if you鈥檙e doing this during the early voting, that鈥檚 kind of during an election, so there wouldn鈥檛 be an election in between when you pass this,’鈥� Coleman said.

There鈥檚 other state language, Coleman said, 鈥渢hat says the districts have to be somewhat fair. Obviously, a lot of people I don鈥檛 think would say that a 10-1 Democratic map drawn the way it is is fair.鈥�

In a statement, Virginia House Republican Leader, 鈥淪erious legal questions remain about both the wording of this referendum and the process used to put it before voters. Those questions have not been resolved, and they now move to where they belong: to the courts.鈥�

Source

Follow 海角社区app鈥檚 team coverage of the 2026 Virginia redistricting referendum online, on air at 103.5 FM or on the 海角社区app 海角社区app app. See the live results as they come in after polls close at 7 p.m.

Virginia voters head to the polls Tuesday for a rare spring special election that will decide whether lawmakers can temporarily redraw the commonwealth鈥檚 congressional districts.

The ballot includes a single yes-or-no question asking whether the Constitution of Virginia should be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional maps. A “yes” vote would grant lawmakers that authority, but would not automatically create new districts.

Democrats have argued the move is necessary, pointing to President Donald Trump鈥檚 calls for redistricting in Republican-controlled states, including Texas.

The map proposed by Virginia Democrats could shift four seats in the U.S. House to their side of the aisle, possibly impacting the balance of power in Congress.

Republicans have opposed the effort and are challenging it in court. The Virginia Supreme Court is not expected to rule on the plan鈥檚 legality until after the election. Any review would focus on the law and process, not the results of the vote itself.

Voters speak out

Tuesday’s election poses one question to voters: “Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?”

Voters who support this measure say that they want equal representation in response to President Trump’s efforts to encourage redrawing maps in Republican-led states. Those against it say it is a grasp for more power by Democrats.

Outside the Fairfax County Government Center Elections Office, 海角社区app’s Luke Lukert interviewed voters, many of whom said they want redistricting to be fair for all voters in the state and around the country.

“I don’t like the idea of gerrymandering. I don’t like the idea of cheating while you’re voting by taking people out of voting legislation, separating people and excluding people of color,” one Woodbridge man who did not give his name told 海角社区app outside of the A.J. Ferlazzo Building.

“I’m kind of pissed we have to do it, but I think it’s important to balance out (the congressional maps), and I hope that it helps,” Paige Bach said.

“I wish that we didn’t have to fight back in a way that feels like fighting fire with fire, like, I wish there was an easier compromise between the parties that it was a fair system always, that it valued all people equally, and that’s just not how it’s happening across the country right now,” Diane Maloney said. “So I felt like it was important to vote today to make that clear.”

However, Virginia resident Rose Winston thought the vote was a “power play grab” by the Democratic Party.

“I came in and I voted no today,” she said. “The Board of Elections didn’t even allow the citizens to put this in the voting booth area, so they were (being deceptive on purpose).”

Kevin Lovelace, who voted yes, disagreed. He said that redistricting is fair because GOP-led states have already done some redistricting in their states.

“We need fairness across the board, making sure everybody’s treated equally. So we’re going to see if the shenanigans stop and we can get people in place to make things better for everybody across the board,” Lovelace said.

Political experts weigh in

“The pro messaging is very much, ‘Trump started this and Virginia is going to finish it,'” Stephen Farnsworth, a political-science professor at the University of Mary Washington, told 海角社区app.

“The anti-side is really looking at the dynamics of the likely result of the new district lines, a 10-1 Democratic advantage, and say, ‘That’s not consistent with where Virginia is. Virginia is a bluish-purple state, the theory goes, not the District of Columbia in its political loyalties.'”

Virginia currently has six Democrats and five Republicans in the U.S. House. Analysts say a new map approved under the amendment could favor Democrats, though final outcomes would still depend on district boundaries and election results.

Congressional districts are usually redrawn once a decade after the census. Under the proposal, any newly approved lines would apply only to the 2026, 2028 and 2030 elections.

“It started off in Texas, where the Trump White House gets the Republicans who control Texas to draw a map that could potentially pick-up up to five more Congressional seats,” J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, told 海角社区app. “I don’t know if the Republicans expected the Democrats to kind of take action against it, but we saw something on the Democratic side in California.”

Last year, California Democrats successfully pursued what Coleman compared to “what Democrats in Virginia are trying to do right now.”

Virginia last used an independent and bipartisan commission to draw its congressional map. This proposed amendment would allow lawmakers to bypass that process for a limited time.

A recent Washington Post-Schar School poll found 52% of voters support moving forward with a new map, but Farnsworth said turnout could be an issue.

“People are not used to voting in the spring in a lot of places,” Farnsworth said. “In Virginia, the issue is confusing, and it’s much easier, I think, for voters to focus on candidates. ‘Do you like this candidate? Do you dislike this candidate?’ Rather than constitutional issues.”

The issue has drawn prominent political figures to Virginia, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and former President Barack Obama, in an effort to boost turnout.

Some political candidates, including Del. Dan Helmer and former first lady of Virginia Dorothy McAuliffe, have already announced plans to run for one of the newly-drawn districts, should voters approve the amendment and it survives legal challenges.

Coleman said supporters view the effort as states balancing partisan gains elsewhere, or “canceling each other out.”

“That’s one argument that the proponents of this are making, is ‘OK, well, California may have already taken care of Texas, but if Florida comes around and does something to the benefit of the Republicans, we need to do something here in Virginia,'” Coleman said.

Politicians emphasize high stakes of Virginia election

Leaders from both parties say Tuesday鈥檚 vote could shape the fight for control of the House this fall. President Trump weighed in Tuesday morning, urging Virginians to vote 鈥渘o,鈥� saying it would 鈥渟ave your country.”

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said at the Capitol that approving the redraw would act as 鈥渁 check and balance on this out-of-control Trump administration.鈥�

Former Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin campaigned against the referendum. He told 海角社区app that what’s happening in other states in terms of redistricting should have no bearing here in Virginia.

“I don’t view this as (Democrats) did, I view this as a moment for Virginians to stand up for what’s right. In Virginia, we have a constitution that we believe in. I respect it. I swore an oath that I would protect and defend it. And I think this is what we need to do as Virginians, is stand up for what’s right and vote no today,” Youngkin said.

But Virginia Democratic Rep. Jennifer McClellan is urging voters to say yes.

“This is a temporary measure in response to an unprecedented event,” McClellan told 海角社区app. “At no other time in American history, am I aware 鈥� definitely not in modern times 鈥� did a sitting president of the United States call state legislators controlled by his party and say, ‘find me more seats.’ And then those legislators did.”

She said that’s what the referendum on the ballot Tuesday is responding to.

“It makes clear the change only happens in response to a state that acts to do midterm redistricting in the absence of a court order and let the voters decide,” McClellan said.

The Associated Press and 海角社区app’s Luke Lukert and Diane Morris contributed to this report.

Source

A relatively new law that helps keep guns away from people who may harm themselves or others has helped Virginia鈥檚 largest jurisdiction temporarily seize hundreds of them.

Since the “Red Flag” law went into effect on July 1, 2020, Fairfax County said it has processed 481 Emergency Substantial Risk cases and temporarily taken away 947 guns.

The process allows a court to intervene if a prosecutor or law enforcement is informed that someone poses a threat to themselves or someone else in the immediate future.

The Northern Virginia suburb has seen a significant increase in cases in the last few years, which Commonwealth鈥檚 Attorney Steve Descano suspects is the result of more people becoming aware of the law.

鈥淓very one of those cases, I believe, is the opportunity to not only make our community safer, but potentially save a life,鈥� Descano said. 鈥淲e’re trying to forestall shootings, homicides, but also suicides. We see a lot of individuals come before us with mental health issues, and we feel that those red flag law orders have kept them and their family members safe.鈥�

Once police or prosecutors are alerted of someone who could be a danger to themselves or others, police launch an investigation, Descano said. If there鈥檚 probable cause, a judge will issue an emergency substantial risk order that lasts for two weeks.

At the end of the two-week period, the commonwealth鈥檚 attorney鈥檚 office takes over, and 鈥渋f we win that case by clear and convincing evidence, we can get a 180-day substantial risk order, and that just means during the pendency of that time, that individual can鈥檛 own or operate any guns,” Descano said.

Prosecutors could ask the court for another 180-day order if the first one expires, he said.

Generally, the cases fall into one of three categories, Descano said 鈥� someone experiencing a mental health or substance abuse challenge, domestic violence or “there are cases where we鈥檝e started this process because we believe that there could be a mass casualty event.”

Fairfax County police and Descano鈥檚 office both have dedicated “Red Flag” law teams, and the courthouse has 鈥渁 special ‘Red Flag’ law docket, and the judges have become expert at this,鈥� Descano said.

Fairfax County recently added new informational posters to hundreds of its Connector buses.

鈥淲hat we’re doing today is making sure that we spread that message to every corner of the community so 鈥� they know what actions they can take to contribute to the overall safety of (the) county,鈥� Jeff McKay, chairman of Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors, said in a statement.

Prince William County police, meanwhile, said the agency has had 41 ESROs entered into its system since the law went into effect, a spokesman said.

海角社区app contacted the Loudoun County Sheriff鈥檚 Office and Alexandria police for their red flag law data.

The process, Descano said, isn鈥檛 criminal, so it鈥檚 鈥渘ot going to result in somebody getting thrown in jail because of a red flag law. This is a civil remedy that is all about public safety.鈥�

.

Source

He came across several TV ads, some of which urged voters to support the amendment and others that encouraged voters to reject it. A lot of constitutional amendments, Jiggetts said, can be written in ways that are confusing for voters who don’t take time to research what they really mean. So, he set aside time to learn what voting “yes” or “no” meant and had conversations with friends and colleagues about it.

As Tuesday’s special election approaches, some voters said they find redistricting and the ballot question confusing, largely because of conflicting mail fliers and TV commercials. Some include politicians, such as former President Barack Obama, and others have targeted voters with references to the Jim Crow era. While most ballots will only feature the “yes” or “no” question, it’s a departure from a traditional ballot, which typically separate candidates based on political party.

“Usually with these elections, it’s typically just a ‘D’ and an ‘R’,” said J. Miles Coleman, associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “Now, it’s kind of more, you really have to do your research. I’ve seen TV ads from the ‘no’ side where, ‘Obama and Spanberger are against gerrymandering, let’s vote against this.’ The voters really have to do their research here.”

Shortly after early voting started in March, some flyers had Jim Crow era images circulated, discouraging voters from supporting redistricting. Some mailers pictured the Ku Klux Klan. The NAACP Virginia State Conference described the effort as a “coordinated misinformation campaign targeting Black Virginians with deceptive, racially charged flyers, mailers and billboards.”

But there are other variations as well.

“I’ve been targeted a lot,” said Laura Fries, who voted in Alexandria on Friday afternoon. “There have been a lot of commercials. I’m getting lots of flyers, lots of disinformation, which has made me very unhappy. I feel like they’ve twisted some words from people from previous administrations that’s not really looking at what this particular issue is going to do.”

Kerry Leibig, meanwhile, follows current events, so she wasn’t confused upon seeing a pamphlet that had Obama’s picture and urged voters to vote “no.” But she said, “I did wonder if people who maybe weren’t as well-invested in politics might get confused.”

Yves Fischer, for one, had questions about the mixed messaging.

“It’s a bit confusing,” Fischer said. “But luckily, I have a beautiful Democratic wife that explained to me what I’m supposed to be voting.”

A Fairfax County election official told 海角社区app that they’ve been fielding calls from voters who, after casting a ballot, believe they voted incorrectly based on a new ad or flier they came across later.

Lucas Barton said he had already figured out how he wanted to vote before seeing the ads because he did research on the ballot item. And Margo Cunniffe said she was expecting people to “put twists on issues,” but was surprised by the quantity of mail she received about redistricting.

“I got at least five or six pieces, and then I got things via email as well,” Cunniffe said.

Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said it’s generally easier for voters to focus on a particular candidate than a ballot issue, making the issue confusing for some voters.

“Do you like this candidate? Do you dislike this candidate? Rather than constitutional issues,” Farnsworth said.

Source

Sheri Malry recently called the Fairfax County Government Center and asked if the facility was offering curbside voting.

She has bad knees and a bad hip, and can’t comfortably walk long distances. But the stakes were too high for her to not vote on the redistricting referendum in person.

She was grateful when the staffer who answered the phone indicated the site had curbside voting available. Malry took advantage on Tuesday afternoon.

The curbside voting option is part of Fairfax County’s accessible voting initiative for community members who are 65 and older or who have disabilities. While the options are and have been available, county officials are hoping to make residents aware that they exist.

“What it all comes down to is that at the end of the day, there are options in place,” said Sean Stewart, communications division chief for Fairfax County’s Office of Elections. “We want to make sure folks can cast that ballot. We want to do everything we can to make it an easy, efficient, straightforward process, and part of that is just letting folks know.”

Virginia voters can request a mailed ballot to vote absentee, they can vote early or vote on Election Day. All polling locations are accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which Stewart said is a federal requirement.

Voting locations also have a magnifying device for voters with low vision and community members can ask for other accommodations based on individual circumstances. Ballot marking devices are available for use before a ballot goes into a scanner and they have a keypad with braille buttons and a screen reader with an audio headset, according to county documents.

Language assistance officers at polling sites help to address “specific community needs across the county,” Stewart said.

Curbside voting has been an option for years, Stewart said, and it has expanded.

When a driver parks in a designated curbside voting spot, they call a number that’s displayed. Two election officers in yellow vests check the voter in, “let you cast that ballot in private, walk it back inside in the privacy folder and cast it on your behalf. Never have to leave the car.”

Generally, about 2-3% of voters each day use the curbside option, Stewart said.

“It’s an extension of the process,” Stewart said. “It’s not something unique, it’s not something separate, it’s not something different, right? It’s just us making sure that the same requirements are in place and the same security procedures are in place, whether you’re in your car because you need to be or whether you’ve joined us inside the polling location.”

Over 2,000 election officers will be posted across the county Tuesday, Stewart said. They’re appointed by the Fairfax County elections office and approved by local parties. All officers are aware of accessible voting options, and there’s always a team of at least a couple in place to help with curbside voting.

Malry, meanwhile, called the overall process quick and convenient.

“Five minutes, they’re out, I’m voting, I’m on my way,” she said.

Source

Gonzalez, a聽senior at Oxon Hill High School, told herself she needed to do her best to edge out the other finalists. Her nerves started to take over.

But then, as she and the other finalists entered the room at the Pepco Edison Place Gallery in Northwest D.C., the emotions changed. A group immediately yelled 鈥淪urprise!鈥� while holding large signs.

Nearly an hour later, Gonzalez remained in shock. The competition had ended, and each of the finalists had actually become recipients.

Gonzalez was one of three students awarded the Chris Crane Memorial Scholarship from Pepco and the Exelon Foundation on Tuesday afternoon.

The recognition, which features full tuition, room and board for up to four years, is given to students planning to study business, finance, engineering or IT. Gonzalez is hoping to pursue a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering and a certificate in aerospace engineering.

鈥淎s a first-generation student coming from an immigrant family, this scholarship will provide me with the opportunity to actually have access to higher education and pursue a degree that I would have for the first time in my family,鈥� Gonzalez told 海角社区app.

Tyler Anthony, president and CEO of Pepco Holdings, said hundreds of applications were submitted for the scholarship. Throughout the summer, the company runs STEM academies and evaluates students鈥� performances.

The scholarship winners, Anthony said, are based on interviews and performance at the STEM academy. It鈥檚 the fifth year the company has provided the scholarships.

鈥淎s a CEO, you think about community, and you see the moms and dads tearing up and what this means to changing lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a really good, feel good moment.鈥�

Junior Ventura, a student at Capital City Public Charter School in D.C., described the initial suspense as intense. He was relieved when he realized what was actually going on.

鈥淢y family, we鈥檝e always been people who worked hard,鈥� Ventura said. 鈥淚n my neighborhood, you never really hear about doctors too much, or lawyers. Very often, you鈥檒l hear dishwashers, restaurant servers.鈥�

Ventura鈥檚 an aspiring mechanical engineer, and he鈥檚 hoping to participate in as many college clubs as his schedule will allow.

鈥淢y dad is a restaurant server,鈥� Ventura said. 鈥淪o for me, being able to just become an engineer now, and be somebody in the family who has access to be able to pursue a professional degree, it鈥檒l be life changing for my family.鈥�

Jacob Kaminski, from Clayton, Delaware, said the financial help 鈥渢akes off the financial burden, not just myself and my family as well, because having two younger siblings at home, it allows my parents to focus on them.鈥�

He plans to major in civil engineering and said he hopes to one day “make lasting impact in (my) community.”

“I’m very excited to go back home, tell my friends and show my siblings and the kids I teach that college is always an opportunity through hard work,” he said.

Source

The high schooler vividly remembers the conditions inside the shelter and the feeling he had immediately afterward. Instead of feeling helpless, Vo said he became inspired to take action.

In December, about a year after his brother’s death, Vo launched the . The group of students from across Fairfax County, Virginia, is bonded over a mission to support community members most in need.

“I just feel like everyone should receive the same dignity and support that every other person should have, despite their background or wherever they’re coming from,” Vo told 海角社区app. “At the end of the day, we’re all human.”

The group features about 100 students from several Fairfax County schools.

Vo, a junior at Carter G. Woodson High School, said the nonprofit’s first project was a winter warmth drive. Students donated beanies, blankets and hand-warmers “for our unhoused neighbors to stay warm” during frigid conditions.

Separately, they assembled more than 70 dental hygiene kits, using items donated by area dentists. Each kit also included what Vo described as a kindness card, featuring a positive message and artwork created by a student.

The kits, Vo said, were distributed through the Northern Virginia group , which helps young people and mothers experiencing homelessness.

“Small things like making a kindness card or participating in activities like this goes a long way,” Vo said. “Even if you think that you’re not making that much of a difference just by making a kindness card, for example again, it really goes a long way, and it really does continue to help lead to positive impacts in our community and help those in need.”

Recipients of the kits or the group’s other projects, Vo said, are able to “see that they’re valued and seen and that they aren’t alone in their struggling situations.”

Vo said he works to balance the nonprofit work with his schoolwork and extracurricular activities because he wants to “make a positive impact and try to gather students and make meaningful change.”

He hopes to expand the nonprofit’s reach, by adding more schools and recruiting additional volunteers.

“I feel like if we have more outreach and community efforts, we could definitely make more positive impact and just continue to keep making meaningful change in support of our unhoused neighbors,” Vo said.

Source

Signs that say, 鈥淒on鈥檛 Fairfax Me鈥� and 鈥淰ote No鈥� started appearing in rural parts of Virginia, reported. And on social media, Del. Wren Williams, whose district includes several counties in the southwestern portion of the state, defined 鈥淔airfaxphobia.鈥�

Early voting has been underway for weeks, but on April 21, voters will decide whether to OK a plan that would redraw Virginia鈥檚 congressional map. Currently, the state has elected six Democrats and five Republicans across its 11 districts. The proposed map could give Democrats a 10-1 advantage, experts say.

Virginia Democrats argue the step comes in response to President Donald Trump鈥檚 push for redistricting in Republican-led states. Republicans have been critical of the effort.

Williams is describing 鈥淔airfaxphobia鈥� as a fear that political power concentrated in Fairfax County will make decisions for the whole state and create policies impacting some communities that they can鈥檛 afford.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to be Fairfax County,鈥� Williams told 海角社区app. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want skyscrapers. I don鈥檛 want to have to go somewhere outside and walk around to find some patches of grass to touch. I am interested in rural life, a little bit easier, a little bit simpler, a little bit more laid back, not as fast paced.鈥�

As part of the proposed map, Williams said, 鈥渁t least five districts run up and split up Fairfax County, which will eventually lead to five sitting congressional members from the county of Fairfax, and that鈥檚 just not representative of the entirety of the commonwealth.鈥�

Jeannette, a longtime Northern Virginia resident, said people who live in the northern part of the state 鈥渁re seen as an anomaly, maybe to the rest of Virginia, given our, I think, collective more liberal leaning. And I understand why they鈥檙e saying that, but I think we should separate that from the goal of the referendum.鈥�

Dave Lincoln, meanwhile, said Friday he hadn鈥檛 heard about the signs in rural parts of the state but, 鈥淚 guess it鈥檚 鈥� we are what we are.鈥�

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell called the campaign disappointing, because 鈥淔airfax County does a lot for the entire state. If it wasn鈥檛 for Fairfax, our state would have the economy of Mississippi.鈥�

The 鈥淒on鈥檛 Fairfax Me鈥� signs say they鈥檙e paid for and authorized by a political action committee called 鈥淣ew Vision VA.鈥� Dominion Energy made a $25,000 donation to the PAC, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.

Yves Fischer, who lives in Alexandria, said the messaging and advertising on the redistricting referendum are confusing.

For Tiffany, 鈥淚 guess they鈥檙e saying ‘Don鈥檛 Fairfax’ Virginia, because obviously we are a much more educated, classy, professional, employed area, and we, of course, are going to vote ‘yes’ on this.鈥�

In Springfield on Friday afternoon, Ann said she hadn鈥檛 seen or heard about the signs, but, 鈥淚t should be a big ‘no.’ It鈥檚 not right. It鈥檚 not fair to most Virginians.鈥�

Source