Author: Bob Rayner
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A Tale of Two Governors
by Kerry Dougherty Why is anyone surprised that the governor of New Mexico has decided that a spike in crime constitutes a public health emergency that warrants suspension of 2nd Amendment rights of the people to carry a firearm? When Americans merrily surrendered their civil rights three years ago during a health emergency, could they…
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In Loco Parentis, Part II
by A.L. Schuhart My last essay here engendered a bunch of predictable comment, as I hoped it would. The fact is, however, that my argument is sound, and my purpose is to reacquaint the public with the principle of in loco parentis as it informs the grand discussion of Education in Virginia and America. Those…
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The SOL Disaster
by John Butcher The 2023 test results (generally called “SOLs” but including results of other tests) are up on the VDOE Web page. Those numbers are not pretty. First, some background. 2020 was the first year without statewide SOL testing since 1997. Then came 2021, when participation in the testing was voluntary. The VDOE press…
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Cheers to the Man in Plaid
by Jon Baliles One of Richmond’s great characters and personalities has decided to step away from spotlight that he occupied and managed so well for years (and always with a smile) after enduring incredibly long days and nights, rainouts, major league talent, loyal fans, a street art festival, a crumbling office, broken political promises, and…
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Deja Taylor Had One Job: Stay Clean and Sober
by Kerry Dougherty Good grief, lady. You had ONE job. Just one. Your assignment was to stay clean and sober for four months, but apparently Deja Taylor – the mother of the 6-year-old Newport News first grader who shot his teacher with his mother’s gun – couldn’t do that. After pleading guilty in June to…
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Revisiting the Intellectual Foundations of Conservatism — One Book at a Time
by Suzanne Munson From time to time, members of every great movement such as American Conservatism need to stop, take a breath, and see where the movement is going. Great movements, founded by great individuals, can sometimes be hijacked by lesser minds. Many of the founders of modern conservatism were intellectuals. William F. Buckley was…
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When Did the RTD Become TMZ?
by Shaun Kenney The Richmond Times-Dispatch was given a clip of David Owen — Republican candidate for House of Delegates — where he tells an audience of like-minded souls that he is, indeed, pro-life. Charlotte Rene Woods over at the RTD decides to do the work of Democratic campaign operatives in what could only be…
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POLLS: Inflation Top Issue; Virginians Reject Democrats’ Position on Abortion
by Shaun Kenney New polling data from Founders Insight reveal that 24% of Virginians are putting inflation as their top concern heading into the November elections, with abortion coming in at 15% and split between Democrats and Republicans. To make matters worse for Virginia Democrats, a summer spent pushing abortion rights has backfired spectacularly, as…
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How to Save Loudoun County Public Schools from the Injustice of DEI
by A.L. Schuhart To Loudon Parents: Here is the legal strategy to stop Diversity, Equity and Inclusion regimes in your schools. DEI violates the principle of in loco parentis, which is the legal foundation of public education in Virginia and America. It is by this principle that schools and educators receive their mandates from the…
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Virginia Deserves a Parole Board that Puts Public Safety First
by Kerry Dougherty When Terry McAuliffe was governor he found a loyal Democrat lawyer to appoint to head Virginia’s parole board. That was Adrianne Bennett, a failed candidate for the House of Delegates in 2011 and undoubtedly the most controversial parole board chair in Virginia history. She was a success if you believe, as McAuliffe…
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Labor Day: A New Start
by Kerry Dougherty Labor Day. America’s most ambiguous national holiday. Think about it. On other special days – Memorial, Independence, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Presidents, Martin Luther King and Christmas – we pause, however briefly, to honor a beloved person or a historical event. We have parades, visit cemeteries, blast fireworks, give thanks, recite a famous speech…
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Winsome Earle-Sears Makes the Case in Roanoke
by Scott Dreyer On a late summer Thursday evening at the Vinton War Memorial Senior Center, the Roanoke County GOP met for a fundraiser barbecue dinner to support Sen. David Suetterlein’s fall campaign and to fire up the room full of party faithful. Following the meal, several people on the ballot this fall introduced themselves…
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Roanoke’s Remarkable Symphony Under the Stars
by Scott Dreyer As more folks are putting the Covid lockdowns in the rearview mirror, larger gatherings are occurring, as seen by the crowds at the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra’s (RSO) “Symphony Under the Stars” on Saturday, August 26. The hillside amphitheater in Roanoke’s Elmwood Park was packed by music-lovers as the sun went down, the…
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Short Term Rentals — Long Term Impact
by Jon Balilies The City of Richmond has been discussing altering and revising regulations about short-term rentals (STR’s) and the next action will take place at the Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday afternoon (September 5th). It is an important decision because it is entirely possible the decision by the Commission and ultimately City Council could…
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Secret SOLs
by John Butcher The Superintendent of Public Instruction’s May 10, 2023, memo scheduled posting of the 2022-2023 student performance results to the Build-A-Table tool on August 17. Those data have not been posted. It’s not that they don’t have the information. The SOL data, in particular, are collected as they are produced by the online…