Author: Bob Rayner
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2023 School Success Stories
by Matt Hurt According to the SOL data from the end of the 2022-2023 school year, thirty-four Virginia schools (of three hundred seventy-seven) in the Comprehensive Instructional Program (CIP) consortium achieved the highest level (Level I) for all academic indicators the state uses for accreditation. The intended purpose of these performance benchmarks is to ensure…
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RVA HISTORY: Strides of Strength
by Jon Baliles Richmond unveiled a new sculpture last week on the site of the old Westhampton School (near St. Mary’s Hospital) that marked the desegregation of the West-End school in 1961. The 12-foot piece, entitled “Strides,” marks that day when 12-year old student Daisy Jane Cooper (now Jane Cooper Johnson) arrived as the first…
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Stay Calm: Police Finally Release Make and Model of the Va. Beach Pier Car
by Kerry Dougherty Everyone try to maintain your composure. Let’s all stay calm. Perhaps a few moments of meditation are in order. Deep breath. Ready? We finally know the make and model of the car that drove off the 14th Street pier more than a week ago. The police had that information but withheld it…
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Failure Is Not an Option with Proposed SOL Revisions: Part Two
by Charles Pyle Last month, we examined two items on the agendas for the Board of Education’s January 24-25 meetings that seemed to fly in the face of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 campaign promises to raise expectations for students and schools and increase transparency in how the commonwealth reports on the performance of both. Under…
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The Most Improved Virginia School Division in 2023
by Matt Hurt In a previous paper (Tales of Student Success in 2023) the successes of four of the top five divisions that realized the greatest improvement in SOL pass rates in 2023 were highlighted. Since then, I was afforded the opportunity to visit Greensville County, the division that realized the greatest improvement in Virginia.…
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Five Far-Left Virginia Democrats Vote Not to Deport Illegals with DUIs
by Kerry Dougherty If you hobnob with prominent Democrats and find yourself in the company of any of the following Virginia Congress members — Bobby Scott of Newport News, Gerald Connolly of Fairfax, Jennifer McClellan of Richmond, Jennifer Wexton of Leesburg or Don Beyer of Alexandria — invite them to take a drive with you…
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Dems Want to Block a Tough-On-Crime Parole Board Chief
by Kerry Dougherty Virginia Democrats are audacious. You’ve got to give them that. During the lawless McAuliffe-Northam years, Virginia’s Parole Board was headed by bleeding hearts, who specialized in releasing criminals. They were rewarded for their soft-hearted approach with judgeships. Because that’s how Democrats roll. You’d think the party that favors criminals over victims wouldn’t…
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Too Many Pieces of the 14th Street Pier Puzzle Don’t Fit
by Kerry Dougherty Day two and we have more questions than answers about what happened Saturday morning on the 14th Street pier in Virginia Beach. Yes, we know an SUV drove through two barriers and off the end of the pier. We learned that strong ocean currents and murky water are creating problems for those…
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Barbie, Liars, and Newspapers Circling the Drain
by Kerry Dougherty Warning: I’m a tad grouchy today. You see, I’m a hyperactive gym rat who hasn’t worked out since last Tuesday and has been slowed down by surgery. That happened Wednesday, by the way, when a skilled orthopedic surgeon sawed off part of my leg. In other words, I’ve had way too much…
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Rent Control Legislation Passes House Committee
from Liberty Unyielding Legislation to allow rent control ordinances has passed a committee in Virginia’s House of Delegates. On a party-line, 11-to-9 vote. The Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns passed HB 721, which defines rent gouging to include raising rent to keep up with inflation, if inflation exceeds 7 percent. This vote reflects the leftward…
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From Sanctuary to Stooge
by Jon Baliles Most of us have tried hard to block out Mayor Stoney’s July 4th fiasco, when his then-police chief tried hard to impress the boss and concocted a fake foiled mass shooting plot at Dogwood Dell on July 4, 2022. The Mayor denied he ever knew about it. The chief said he knew…
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Email Your Delegate: Kill the Unconstitutional Affirmative Action Bill
by Jock Yellott As a follow-up to “US Constitution Calling Jason Miyares,” published here January 15, 2024: the Virginia Legislature now is considering a bill, HR 1404, mandating “Disadvantaged Business Enterprise” affirmative action in all state government contracting. It’s before the House Committee on Rules. H.R. 1404 presumes people are “disadvantaged” based on their origins;…
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Right to Life March Falls on Deaf Ears as Dobbs Makes Abortion Issue More Difficult for Republicans
by Ken Reid The 50th annual pro-life march took place in DC January 19; it has been held every year since 1974, the year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade, that women had a constitutional protection for abortion, and thus negated 50 state laws regulating the procedure. It was cold and…
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Library Woes in Botetourt County
For more than one year, a controversy has been growing in Botetourt County regarding explicit materials in or near the libraries’ children’s areas. On one side is a grassroots community organization, Botetourt Residents Against Child Exploitation (BRACE), seeking removal of some materials. On the other side one finds the Botetourt County Supervisors, administration, and library…
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One Surprise on Virginia’s Primary Ballot
by Kerry Dougherty I’d almost forgotten that last summer I signed up to be an absentee voter. Until this arrived in yesterday’s mail, that is. Yep, it’s a Republican primary ballot. Early voting starts Friday for Super Tuesday and Virginia is one of 15 states participating in what promises to be an essentially empty exercise on…