The election staff of an entire county resigned from their positions in Virginia, United States in the wake of increasing voter fraud claims.

Registrar Lindsey Taylor, who was hired in 2019, loved conducting elections and had hoped to continue the job for three decades, just like the previous registrar.

Taylor loved the election staff as well as the volunteer poll workers and was proud of the detail-oriented work they did. Dozen of new laws were implemented by her in 2020 and elections were conducted by her through the pandemic, impressing the citizens living in the rural, tight-knit community of Buckingham County.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-believes-indictment-can-fetch-him-the-republican-nomination-for-2024-report-581094">Trump believes indictment can fetch him the Republican nomination for 2024: Report</a>

However, things took an ugly turn after the voter fraud claims started. In January, the Buckingham County Electoral Board's control was assumed by the GOP. Buckingham County was overseeing her office and baseless voter fraud claims started being advanced by local Republicans that left her baffled.

It was made clear by the electoral board that it wanted Taylor out&nbsp;of the job.

“There were people saying that they had heard all these rumours — that the attorney general was going to indict me,” said Taylor. “Mentally, I just — I couldn’t take it anymore,” she added.

Three weeks ago, Taylor as well as two part-time staffers resigned from their jobs. After their resignations, a deputy registrar also quit the job in February, citing a similar conflict.

The four resignations left residents without an employee at the registrar’s office. Temporarily, the people have no way to register their vote or certify the paperwork of the candidate.

“It’s just sad that the big lie has come to Buckingham. And before it was never here,” stated Margaret Thomas, who had worked as Buckingham County's general registrar for more than 28 years before retirement.

WATCH | Mike Pence: 'Trump was wrong, had no right to overturn election'

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“A lot of election officials I’ve talked to are asking themselves: why am I doing this? Why am I getting paid like a civil servant to be constantly harassed?” stated David Becker, the Centre for Election Innovation and Research's executive director.

“Whether it’s the intent or not, the effect is to drive a lot of these public servants — upon who we’ve relied for decades in some cases — out of the field, which will leave elections more vulnerable than they’ve been before,” he added.&nbsp;

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The election staff of an entire county resigned from their positions in Virginia, United States in the wake of increasing voter fraud claims. Registrar Lindsey Taylor, who was hired in 2019, loved conducting elections and had hoped to continue the job for three decades, just like the previous registrar.

The election staff of an entire county resigned from their positions in Virginia, United States in the wake of increasing voter fraud claims. Registrar Lindsey Taylor, who was hired in 2019, loved conducting elections and had hoped to continue the job for three decades, just like the previous registrar. Taylor loved the election staff as well as the volunteer poll workers and was proud of the detail-oriented work they did. Dozen of new laws were implemented by her in 2020 and elections were conducted by her through the pandemic, impressing the citizens living in the rural, tight-knit community of Buckingham County. ALSO READ | Trump believes indictment can fetch him the Republican nomination for 2024: Report However, things took an ugly turn after the voter fraud claims started. In January, the Buckingham County Electoral Board's control was assumed by the GOP. Buckingham County was overseeing her office and baseless voter fraud claims started being advanced by local Republicans that left her baffled. It was made clear by the electoral board that it wanted Taylor out of the job. “There were people saying that they had heard all these rumours — that the attorney general was going to indict me,” said Taylor. “Mentally, I just — I couldn’t take it anymore,” she added. Three weeks ago, Taylor as well as two part-time staffers resigned from their jobs. After their resignations, a deputy registrar also quit the job in February, citing a similar conflict. The four resignations left residents without an employee at the registrar’s office. Temporarily, the people have no way to register their vote or certify the paperwork of the candidate. “It’s just sad that the big lie has come to Buckingham. And before it was never here,” stated Margaret Thomas, who had worked as Buckingham County's general registrar for more than 28 years before retirement. WATCH | Mike Pence: 'Trump was wrong, had no right to overturn election' “A lot of election officials I’ve talked to are asking themselves: why am I doing this? Why am I getting paid like a civil servant to be constantly harassed?” stated David Becker, the Centre for Election Innovation and Research's executive director. “Whether it’s the intent or not, the effect is to drive a lot of these public servants — upon who we’ve relied for decades in some cases — out of the field, which will leave elections more vulnerable than they’ve been before,” he added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Election staff of county quits in Virginia after voter fraud allegations

A grand jury in the US state of Virginia indicted the mother of a six-year-old boy, on Monday (April 10) after he shot his teacher, earlier this year. The incident took place, in January&nbsp;when a boy shot his elementary school teacher in the city of Newport News, United States. After months,&nbsp;his mother, Deja Taylor has been charged with&nbsp;child neglect and one count of a firearm-related offence, said the office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.&nbsp;

This also comes a month after Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn had said that the child will not be criminally charged. Meanwhile, his 25-year-old mother was indicted by a grand jury and was charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanour charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, said Gwynn, in a statement.&nbsp;

Taylor’s son had shot Abigail Zwerner, a 25-year-old teacher, who earlier this month also filed a $40 million negligence lawsuit against the school authorities following the incident at Richneck Elementary School. Zwerner who was shot on January 6 was later taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to her hand and chest, as per media reports citing officials.&nbsp; 
 
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According to the statement, the indictment, on Monday, comes after a “thorough investigation” from the police and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. “Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues,” said Gwynn. The prosecutor has also said that the grand jury would continue to investigate and consider if additional charges are warranted in this case.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, one of the attorneys for the family, James Ellenson in a statement said that Taylor “will be turning herself in later this week,” reported CNN. He also reportedly declined to further comment on the indictment.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-six-year-old-boy-detained-after-shooting-teacher-police-say-not-an-accident-550198">US: Virginia teacher shot by her six-year-old student tried to confiscate gun, say reports</a>

Last week, Ellenson also said that the allegations in the lawsuit against the child and the family “should be taken with a large grain of salt.” He added, “We of course continue to pray for Ms. Zwerner’s complete recovery.” This came after the 25-year-old teacher had filed the lawsuit which sought $40 million in compensatory damages. She alleged that the school staff and officials were aware of the student’s “history of random violence.”&nbsp;

The lawsuit also accuses the then-assistant principal of overlooking the concerns raised by several teachers and staff members which also included warnings over the six-year-old’s possible possession of a firearm and did not act proactively. Diane Toscano, an attorney for Zwerner, reacting to the indictment said there were “failures in accountability at multiple levels” that led to the shooting.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-months-into-2023-and-9800-killed-in-gun-violence-in-us-576618">Three months into 2023 and 9,800 killed in gun violence in US</a>

“Today’s announcement addresses but one of those failures,” said Toscano, in a statement. Notably, the six-year-old, during the first half of the school year, was required to be accompanied by a parent “because of his violent tendencies,” as per media reports citing court documents. However, on the day that the incident occurred, the school had allowed him to remain “unaccompanied without a one-on-one companion”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
 
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A grand jury in the US state of Virginia indicted the mother of a six-year-old boy, on Monday (April 10) after he shot his teacher, earlier this year. The incident took place, in January when a boy shot his elementary school teacher in the city of Newport News, United States.

A grand jury in the US state of Virginia indicted the mother of a six-year-old boy, on Monday (April 10) after he shot his teacher, earlier this year. The incident took place, in January when a boy shot his elementary school teacher in the city of Newport News, United States. After months, his mother, Deja Taylor has been charged with child neglect and one count of a firearm-related offence, said the office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney. This also comes a month after Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn had said that the child will not be criminally charged. Meanwhile, his 25-year-old mother was indicted by a grand jury and was charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanour charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm, said Gwynn, in a statement. Taylor’s son had shot Abigail Zwerner, a 25-year-old teacher, who earlier this month also filed a $40 million negligence lawsuit against the school authorities following the incident at Richneck Elementary School. Zwerner who was shot on January 6 was later taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to her hand and chest, as per media reports citing officials. ALSO READ | Teacher gets shot by six-year-old, sues school authorities for $40m According to the statement, the indictment, on Monday, comes after a “thorough investigation” from the police and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. “Every criminal case is unique in its facts, and these facts support these charges, but our investigation into the shooting continues,” said Gwynn. The prosecutor has also said that the grand jury would continue to investigate and consider if additional charges are warranted in this case. Meanwhile, one of the attorneys for the family, James Ellenson in a statement said that Taylor “will be turning herself in later this week,” reported CNN. He also reportedly declined to further comment on the indictment. ALSO READ | US: Virginia teacher shot by her six-year-old student tried to confiscate gun, say reports Last week, Ellenson also said that the allegations in the lawsuit against the child and the family “should be taken with a large grain of salt.” He added, “We of course continue to pray for Ms. Zwerner’s complete recovery.” This came after the 25-year-old teacher had filed the lawsuit which sought $40 million in compensatory damages. She alleged that the school staff and officials were aware of the student’s “history of random violence.” The lawsuit also accuses the then-assistant principal of overlooking the concerns raised by several teachers and staff members which also included warnings over the six-year-old’s possible possession of a firearm and did not act proactively. Diane Toscano, an attorney for Zwerner, reacting to the indictment said there were “failures in accountability at multiple levels” that led to the shooting. ALSO READ | Three months into 2023 and 9,800 killed in gun violence in US “Today’s announcement addresses but one of those failures,” said Toscano, in a statement. Notably, the six-year-old, during the first half of the school year, was required to be accompanied by a parent “because of his violent tendencies,” as per media reports citing court documents. However, on the day that the incident occurred, the school had allowed him to remain “unaccompanied without a one-on-one companion”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Mother of six-year-old who shot teacher charged with child neglect

A 25-year-old school teacher was shot by her six-year-old student on January 6. The teacher from Virginia, Abigail Zwerner has now filed a $40m lawsuit against school officials, alleging them of gross negligence for ignoring warning signs. According to Zwerner, the six-year-old child had previously shown signs of ‘random violence’.&nbsp;

The lawsuit was filed on Monday which argues the defendants were aware of the child’s aggressive behaviour. Zwerner was shot on January 6 in the hand and upper chest and spent two weeks in the hospital. Since then, she has undergone surgery four times.&nbsp;

The boy brought the pistol in his backpack to Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, a city of about 180,000 residents northwest of Virginia Beach. After being shot by the unidentified boy, Zwerner got her other students to safety before calling for help for herself.&nbsp;

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"She is a trooper, she is a hero," Police Chief Steve Drew said after the incident. According to investigators, the child took his mother’s firearm and brought that to school. The firearm was legally bought by her mother.&nbsp;

The board has since voted to install metal detectors at Rickneck, which has 550 pupils, and every other school in the district. The superintendent was fired by the school board and the assistant principal resigned, but the boy has not been charged, nor has anyone else.

The lawsuit also claims that the same boy ‘strangled and choked’ his kindergarten teacher last year. It also alleges that the boy would chase other students with a belt to whip them and swear at staff.&nbsp;

According to the complaint, two days before opening fire on Ms Zwerner as she sat at a reading table in class, the boy had taken the teacher's mobile phone and smashed it on the ground. For this, he received a one-day suspension.

His family says the boy has an ‘acute disability’ and rarely attended school without one of his parents being present.

Zwerner is seeking compensatory damages for permanent bodily injuries, physical pain, mental trauma, lost earnings and other damages, the lawsuit says.&nbsp;

“I thought I had died”, told Zwerner to NBC’s Today show in March.&nbsp;

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A 25-year-old school teacher was shot by her six-year-old student on January 6. The teacher from Virginia, Abigail Zwerner has now filed a $40m lawsuit against school officials, alleging them of gross negligence for ignoring warning signs.

A 25-year-old school teacher was shot by her six-year-old student on January 6. The teacher from Virginia, Abigail Zwerner has now filed a $40m lawsuit against school officials, alleging them of gross negligence for ignoring warning signs. According to Zwerner, the six-year-old child had previously shown signs of ‘random violence’. The lawsuit was filed on Monday which argues the defendants were aware of the child’s aggressive behaviour. Zwerner was shot on January 6 in the hand and upper chest and spent two weeks in the hospital. Since then, she has undergone surgery four times. The boy brought the pistol in his backpack to Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, a city of about 180,000 residents northwest of Virginia Beach. After being shot by the unidentified boy, Zwerner got her other students to safety before calling for help for herself. Also Read | Russia defends its UNSC presidency, says won't abuse the position "She is a trooper, she is a hero," Police Chief Steve Drew said after the incident. According to investigators, the child took his mother’s firearm and brought that to school. The firearm was legally bought by her mother. The board has since voted to install metal detectors at Rickneck, which has 550 pupils, and every other school in the district. The superintendent was fired by the school board and the assistant principal resigned, but the boy has not been charged, nor has anyone else. The lawsuit also claims that the same boy ‘strangled and choked’ his kindergarten teacher last year. It also alleges that the boy would chase other students with a belt to whip them and swear at staff. According to the complaint, two days before opening fire on Ms Zwerner as she sat at a reading table in class, the boy had taken the teacher's mobile phone and smashed it on the ground. For this, he received a one-day suspension. His family says the boy has an ‘acute disability’ and rarely attended school without one of his parents being present. Zwerner is seeking compensatory damages for permanent bodily injuries, physical pain, mental trauma, lost earnings and other damages, the lawsuit says. “I thought I had died”, told Zwerner to NBC’s Today show in March. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Who is Abigail Zwerner? Virginia teacher shot by her six-year-old student- Know what happened next

Two inmates in the US state of Virginia managed to achieve freedom for a few hours and taste delicious IHOP pancakes before being chauffeured back by the jail authorities.

Two inmates in the US state of Virginia managed to achieve freedom for a few hours and taste delicious IHOP pancakes before being chauffeured back by the jail authorities. The incident transpired earlier this week in the Newport News Jail Annex when inmates John Garza, 37, and Arley Nemo, 43, took a leaf out of the movie Shawshank Redemption to chart their escape. According to the Newport News Sheriff's Office (NNSO), the inmates using 'primitive tools' managed to dig a hole in their cell wall and later scaled the prison wall to complete a daring escape. During the routine prisoners count check in the evening around 7 PM, the authorities realised that the two inmates were missing. ALSO READ | Rail services halted in parts of the Netherlands due to badgers burrowing under tracks "The two men began to exploit a construction design weakness utilising primitive-made tools constructed from a toothbrush and metal object," informed the NNSO in a press release. "Those tools facilitated their access to untied rebars between the walls. Once gaining access to the rebar, they used it to further make their escape." After escaping the prison, the two made their way to a nearby IHOP, located seven miles away in the town of Hampton. There, the duo opted to have a hearty dinner/breakfast of pancakes. WATCH | Gravitas: Alarming rise of drug-resistant fungus | Candida Auris spreads in US × After police launched a public campaign to apprehend the two fugitives, they were found sitting at an IHOP table in the 1000 block of Mercury Boulevard at 3:30 AM on Tuesday. According to reports, a private citizen identified the fugitives after watching the news and informed the police. The two surrendered peacefully without any retaliation. Two inmates made their escape from the Newport News Jail Annex on Monday through this hole they made in the wall. They were captured at an IHOP early Tuesday by Hampton Police Dept. officers, thanks to tips from citizens. Latest news release: https://t.co/NSF4o8Wajd https://t.co/My5TjCh2UM pic.twitter.com/tuqNI4WYlw — Newport News Sheriff's Office (@NnsoJ) March 21, 2023 × Notably, Garza had been lodged in prison since December last year on charges of contempt of court, probation violations and failure to appear. Meanwhile, Nemo had a big roster of charges ranging from forgery, possession of burglary tools, and credit card larceny to contempt of court and a probation violation. ALSO READ | Megalophobia activated: Giant whale sinks 44 ft boat in Pacific Ocean After the arrest, the Sherrif's office said it will not be giving out additional information until the structural weaknesses of the prison were rectified. “Due to the fact that this weakness presents itself throughout the facility, and until all weaknesses are identified and secured, we will not discuss the situation further for security reasons," read the statement. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US: Two Virginia inmates escape prison using toothbrush and metal scoop

Jennifer McClellan has become the first black woman from Virginia to be elected to Congress. The Democratic senator defeated Republican Leon Benjamin in Virginia’s 4th district. Rep. Don McEachin from Virginia died soon after his re-election last November, creating a vacancy in the seat. It must be noted that Jennifer McClellan’s election as Virginia’s Congresswoman doesn’t give Democrats the majority in the house. McClellan was born in a family of community leaders and educators on December 28, 1972. Both of her parents worked at Virginia State University. She currently lives in Richmond with her husband David Mills. In 2010, she became the first Virginia delegate to attend a legislative session while pregnant and give birth to a child while in office.

<h2>Jennifer McClellan’s ethnicity</h2>

With 15 years of experience in the legislature, Jennifer McClellan has become Virginia’s first black Congresswoman. She is the 30th Black woman to enter this Congress. Her parents played an active role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. In order to register to vote in Alabama, McClellan's great-grandfather had to pass a literacy test and have three white persons to attest to his moral conduct. Her father paid the Tennessee poll tax in 1947.&nbsp;

<h2>Details about Jennifer McClellan’s parents</h2>

Jennifer McClellan’s father, James McClellan Jr., served as a professor at Virginia State University. Her mother, Lois McClellan, was appointed as a counsellor there. In 2006, their daughter McClellan made her political debut in Virginia by winning a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, where she served as the 71st District's representative until 2017.

<h2>Jennifer McClellan’s family and husband</h2>

She tied the knot with David Mills back in 2008. The wedding ceremony was officiated by her mentor Sen. Tim Kaine. She lives in Richmond with her husband and two children Jackson and Samantha.&nbsp;

<h2>Jennifer McClellan’s major achievements</h2>

The Voting Rights Act of Virginia was passed by McClellan in 2021 while she was a state senator; it was the first of its kind to be passed in a Southern state and was based on the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.&nbsp; 
By eliminating outdated segregation laws from 1901 to 1960 that were still included in the state's code until 2020, she has also eliminated any trace of Jim Crow in Virginia. Under her leadership, the Virginia Values Act was also approved; bipartisan legislation that protects LGBTQ Virginians in areas like employment, housing, and public service. She also spearheaded the push to get the state's ban on same-sex marriage lifted.

Also, she amended Virginia's criminal justice system, passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Reproductive Health Protection Act, and increased access to child care and tenant rights and protections.

<h2>Jennifer McClellan’s total net worth</h2>

Jennifer McClellan is a politician as well as a lawyer and has 15 years of experience in legislation. She has been in the Virginia Senate since early 2017. As per media reports, her total net worth is estimated to be $1 million to $7 million.

Jennifer McClellan has become the first black woman from Virginia to be elected to Congress. The Democratic senator defeated Republican Leon Benjamin in Virginia’s 4th district.

Jennifer McClellan has become the first black woman from Virginia to be elected to Congress. The Democratic senator defeated Republican Leon Benjamin in Virginia’s 4th district. Rep. Don McEachin from Virginia died soon after his re-election last November, creating a vacancy in the seat. It must be noted that Jennifer McClellan’s election as Virginia’s Congresswoman doesn’t give Democrats the majority in the house. McClellan was born in a family of community leaders and educators on December 28, 1972. Both of her parents worked at Virginia State University. She currently lives in Richmond with her husband David Mills. In 2010, she became the first Virginia delegate to attend a legislative session while pregnant and give birth to a child while in office. Jennifer McClellan’s ethnicity With 15 years of experience in the legislature, Jennifer McClellan has become Virginia’s first black Congresswoman. She is the 30th Black woman to enter this Congress. Her parents played an active role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. In order to register to vote in Alabama, McClellan's great-grandfather had to pass a literacy test and have three white persons to attest to his moral conduct. Her father paid the Tennessee poll tax in 1947. Details about Jennifer McClellan’s parents Jennifer McClellan’s father, James McClellan Jr., served as a professor at Virginia State University. Her mother, Lois McClellan, was appointed as a counsellor there. In 2006, their daughter McClellan made her political debut in Virginia by winning a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates, where she served as the 71st District's representative until 2017. Jennifer McClellan’s family and husband She tied the knot with David Mills back in 2008. The wedding ceremony was officiated by her mentor Sen. Tim Kaine. She lives in Richmond with her husband and two children Jackson and Samantha. Jennifer McClellan’s major achievements The Voting Rights Act of Virginia was passed by McClellan in 2021 while she was a state senator; it was the first of its kind to be passed in a Southern state and was based on the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. By eliminating outdated segregation laws from 1901 to 1960 that were still included in the state's code until 2020, she has also eliminated any trace of Jim Crow in Virginia. Under her leadership, the Virginia Values Act was also approved; bipartisan legislation that protects LGBTQ Virginians in areas like employment, housing, and public service. She also spearheaded the push to get the state's ban on same-sex marriage lifted. Also, she amended Virginia's criminal justice system, passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Reproductive Health Protection Act, and increased access to child care and tenant rights and protections. Jennifer McClellan’s total net worth Jennifer McClellan is a politician as well as a lawyer and has 15 years of experience in legislation. She has been in the Virginia Senate since early 2017. As per media reports, her total net worth is estimated to be $1 million to $7 million.

Who is Jennifer McClellan- first Black Congresswoman from Virginia? Know about her family, parents & net worth

US teacher was shot by a six-year-old in a classroom, has decided to sue the school authorities for ignoring multiple warnings regarding the same. Her lawyer said that the administrators at the Elementary School warned that the boy could have a gun and was threatening others.

US teacher sues school authorities for negligence after 6-year-old shot her in class

The superintendent of a Virginia school in the US was fired on Wednesday, weeks after a six-year-old boy shot and wounded his teacher in the classroom. The school board voted 5-1 to oust George Parker, shortly after the victim teacher announced plans to sue the district. 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner was shot in the chest earlier this month by the six-year-old pupil, even after having warned the school administration “three times” before the incident happened. Abigail Zwerner’s lawyer said that the incident was completely avoidable.

Diane Toscano, the teacher’s lawyer, revealed that “the administration could not be bothered” about the concerns that Abigail Zwerner raised. “On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times — three times — school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at school and was threatening people,” said the attorney.

Watch:&nbsp;Decoding Gun Violence in America

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Zwerner supported her claims by showing text messages exchanged between her and the school administration. Toscano said that Zwerner requested the school authorities to search the boy and his backpack for the weapon but her calls were ignored. Zwerner also informed an official about the boy putting the gun in his pockets, but the official responded by saying, “Well, he has little pockets."&nbsp;

The parents of the boy claim&nbsp;he suffers from an acute disability and rarely attends school without one of them&nbsp;being present. On January 6, the day of the shooting, the boy was present alone. As per a report by CNN, the boy had brought his mother’s gun to the school.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/only-in-america-an-epidemic-of-gun-violence-without-a-cure-556046">Only in America: An epidemic of gun violence without a cure</a>

George Parker, the superintendent of the school, was fired as frustrated parents complained in a meeting on January 17 that their kids were facing fear and hysteria since the January 6 gun violence. Earlier, the school’s assistant principal, Dr Ebony Parker, had tendered his resignation following the shooting controversy.

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&nbsp;

The superintendent of a Virginia school in the US was fired on Wednesday, weeks after a six-year-old boy shot and wounded his teacher in the classroom. The school board voted 5-1 to oust George Parker, shortly after the victim teacher announced plans to sue the district.

The superintendent of a Virginia school in the US was fired on Wednesday, weeks after a six-year-old boy shot and wounded his teacher in the classroom. The school board voted 5-1 to oust George Parker, shortly after the victim teacher announced plans to sue the district. 25-year-old teacher Abigail Zwerner was shot in the chest earlier this month by the six-year-old pupil, even after having warned the school administration “three times” before the incident happened. Abigail Zwerner’s lawyer said that the incident was completely avoidable. Diane Toscano, the teacher’s lawyer, revealed that “the administration could not be bothered” about the concerns that Abigail Zwerner raised. “On that day, over the course of a few hours, three different times — three times — school administration was warned by concerned teachers and employees that the boy had a gun on him at school and was threatening people,” said the attorney. Watch: Decoding Gun Violence in America × Zwerner supported her claims by showing text messages exchanged between her and the school administration. Toscano said that Zwerner requested the school authorities to search the boy and his backpack for the weapon but her calls were ignored. Zwerner also informed an official about the boy putting the gun in his pockets, but the official responded by saying, “Well, he has little pockets." The parents of the boy claim he suffers from an acute disability and rarely attends school without one of them being present. On January 6, the day of the shooting, the boy was present alone. As per a report by CNN, the boy had brought his mother’s gun to the school. Also Read | Only in America: An epidemic of gun violence without a cure George Parker, the superintendent of the school, was fired as frustrated parents complained in a meeting on January 17 that their kids were facing fear and hysteria since the January 6 gun violence. Earlier, the school’s assistant principal, Dr Ebony Parker, had tendered his resignation following the shooting controversy. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US: Virginia school fires chief superintendent over Jan 6 shooting by boy for neglecting teacher’s alerts

A shocking incident is being reported from the United States where a 6-year-old shot his teacher during an altercation inside a first-grade classroom. Watch this video to know more.

Teacher shot by 6-year-old with gun in a Virginia classroom: Police

All's well that ends well. This phrase encapsulates what occurred to Andrew and Kristy Mackenzie following that tragic day when a motorcycle struck the bike they were riding, throwing them around 60 feet away. The couple, their youngest daughter, and her family were up to celebrate Father's Day in Grottoes, Virginia, on their four-wheeler trip, and they were all there to spend some quality time together. Around 3:30 p.m., after the fun was over, the pair hopped on Andrew's motocycle and rode home. Turning to face her granddaughter and daughter, Kristy waved.

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This was the start of the most horrific event they had to endure while in a marriage. The 58-year-old Virginia man felt it was 1993 when he awakened from the horrible occurrence in a hospital bed, and his 37-year-old wife soon realised she was suffering yet another nightmare. However, fate o fate! It has a special surprise for the pair. She contacted one of her closest friends who was there at the couple's 1985 wedding when she was in the hospital one day. She wrote, when "this mess is finished, I'm marrying this man again."&nbsp;

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This is precisely how the tale unfolds. In addition to making a full recovery, Andrew would fall in love with Kristy all over again. The first time both of them could walk again without wheelchairs or walkers was during their annual family beach trip to North Carolina's Outer Banks in August. And Andrew had chosen the ideal moment to get down on one knee and propose to Kristy while they were strolling along the beach. On August 29, two days later, the couple renewed their vows in front of their children and grandchildren on North Carolina's Outer Banks. enhancing the uniqueness of the experience.

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<h2>Childhood love &nbsp;</h2>

During a camping trip in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in June 1984, Kristy, then 16 years old, met Andrew, then 19 years old. Over time, love grew. A romance between them was once unthinkable. While Andrew was in the Army and based at neighbouring Fort Bragg, Kristy had a boyfriend. But on weekends, he travelled to Harrisonburg, which is around 10 miles from her house. By August, Kristy had broken up with her boyfriend, and she was seeing Andrew.

No less than some cinderella and price charming story, their love bond just grew stronger and stronger with each passing day until one the day of the tragic&nbsp;crash. Even physicians were unsure if Andrew's memories were lost forever following the incident. For Kristy, it was the scariest day since she was unsure of her husband's recovery."He knew me, but I could see him looking through me," Kristy, 54, tells People, "I tell you, that's the scariest day of my life. Seeing him look through me like that, I didn't know how I was going to get him back."&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

All's well that ends well. This phrase encapsulates what occurred to Andrew and Kristy Mackenzie following that tragic day when a motorcycle struck the bike they were riding, throwing them around 60 feet away.

All's well that ends well. This phrase encapsulates what occurred to Andrew and Kristy Mackenzie following that tragic day when a motorcycle struck the bike they were riding, throwing them around 60 feet away. The couple, their youngest daughter, and her family were up to celebrate Father's Day in Grottoes, Virginia, on their four-wheeler trip, and they were all there to spend some quality time together. Around 3:30 p.m., after the fun was over, the pair hopped on Andrew's motocycle and rode home. Turning to face her granddaughter and daughter, Kristy waved. This was the start of the most horrific event they had to endure while in a marriage. The 58-year-old Virginia man felt it was 1993 when he awakened from the horrible occurrence in a hospital bed, and his 37-year-old wife soon realised she was suffering yet another nightmare. However, fate o fate! It has a special surprise for the pair. She contacted one of her closest friends who was there at the couple's 1985 wedding when she was in the hospital one day. She wrote, when "this mess is finished, I'm marrying this man again." This is precisely how the tale unfolds. In addition to making a full recovery, Andrew would fall in love with Kristy all over again. The first time both of them could walk again without wheelchairs or walkers was during their annual family beach trip to North Carolina's Outer Banks in August. And Andrew had chosen the ideal moment to get down on one knee and propose to Kristy while they were strolling along the beach. On August 29, two days later, the couple renewed their vows in front of their children and grandchildren on North Carolina's Outer Banks. enhancing the uniqueness of the experience. Childhood love During a camping trip in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in June 1984, Kristy, then 16 years old, met Andrew, then 19 years old. Over time, love grew. A romance between them was once unthinkable. While Andrew was in the Army and based at neighbouring Fort Bragg, Kristy had a boyfriend. But on weekends, he travelled to Harrisonburg, which is around 10 miles from her house. By August, Kristy had broken up with her boyfriend, and she was seeing Andrew. No less than some cinderella and price charming story, their love bond just grew stronger and stronger with each passing day until one the day of the tragic crash. Even physicians were unsure if Andrew's memories were lost forever following the incident. For Kristy, it was the scariest day since she was unsure of her husband's recovery."He knew me, but I could see him looking through me," Kristy, 54, tells People, "I tell you, that's the scariest day of my life. Seeing him look through me like that, I didn't know how I was going to get him back."

THE ENDING WILL AMAZE YOU! Husband forgets wife after bike accident, thinks it's 1993

Yet another mass shooting incident has rocked the United States. Police say multiple people were killed in a Walmart shooting in Virginia. Watch this report for all the details

WION Fineprint: At least six dead in Virginia shooting incident

Yet another mass shooting incident has rocked the United States. Police say multiple people were killed in a Walmart shooting in Virginia.

Shooting at a Walmart store in Virginia: Police say six killed, several wounded

US: Shooting at Walmart store in Virginia in America's latest mass shooting incident

In the latest episode of gun violence in US colleges, three football players have been shot and killed on campus at the University of Virginia. A 22-year-old suspect has been arrested.

Virginia: 3 members of university team killed in gun violence; shooting suspect arrested

A US Democratic leader's staffer found snooping on behalf of the Chinese embassy has been fired after an investigation was carried into the matter. Reportedly, the aide named Barbara Hamlett worked as a scheduler for Democratic Rep.

A US Democratic leader's staffer found snooping on behalf of the Chinese embassy has been fired after an investigation was carried into the matter. Reportedly, the aide named Barbara Hamlett worked as a scheduler for Democratic Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, said an ANI report. According to the investigation report, during her employment Hamlett used the position to contact the congressional staff through phone calls, emails, and office visits and invited them to meetings on behalf of officials of the Chinese embassy. The purpose of the meetings was to extract information from the influential leaders to be used for Chinese interests. Read more: China accused of operating two illegal police stations in the Netherlands by the Dutch government Beyer’s deputy chief of staff Aaron Fritschner, however, told media that the congressman was unaware of Hamlett's actions. “Congressman Beyer was totally unaware of these activities prior to being contacted by the House Sergeant at Arms,” according to a National Review report. "While Congressman Beyer had no inkling of this staffer's actions and acted promptly upon learning of them, he understands that his constituents may be shocked to learn of this, just as he was," said Fritschner. Fritschner added that Beyer remained a "fierce critic of China's record" and that "he will continue to oppose the CCP's totalitarian repression of its citizens, and hold himself and his staff to the highest professional and ethical standards." Notably, Beyer had travelled alongside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her recent trip to Taiwan. The investigators are trying to ascertain if Hamlett had been in touch with the Chinese embassy even then. The rather shocking expose comes in the backdrop of several high-profile cases of Chinese citizens being arrested by the authorities. As reported by WION, earlier this week, the US Department of Justice charged 13 Chinese citizens, including two PRC intelligence officers, for trying to disrupt a US prosecution of the Chinese telecommunication firm Huawei. Read more: ‘China disrupting Huawei prosecution’, says US Justice Dept after 2 spies charged Guochun He and Zheng Wang—the two Chinese intelligence officers who remain at large—were accused of buying out a US government employee to provide confidential information about the Justice Department’s probe against Huawei. The likes of Hamlett and the 13 others arrested in the Huawei case are often linked to China's United Front army. In the past, the United Front has been described by Xi Jinping as his secret 'magic weapon'. The operations of most of the members in the United Front are covert and spread beyond the middle kingdom. This year marks the 100th anniversary of China's United Front. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US Congressman Don Beyer's staffer fired after being caught spying for the Chinese

Hundreds of participants gathered on the tarmac of&nbsp;Dulles International Airport&nbsp;in Virginia, outside Washington, on Saturday to pull an 82-ton passenger plane.

Reportedly, over 100 teams with 25 members each, using ropes attempted to&nbsp;pull an 82-tonne airplane, either a FedEx Airbus A320 or a United Boeing 757 (3.6 metres) to raise funds for Special Olympics Virginia.&nbsp;

"So this started actually thirty years ago, here at Dulles International Airport and since then the concept has taken off at other airports as well." said Richard Golinowski, Vice President, Dulles International Airport.&nbsp;

Team Helix Electric' took the first spot in pulling the United jet while 'Chesapeake Sheriff's Office' took the honours in the FedEx category. Meanwhile,&nbsp;the top three fundraisers at the event were&nbsp;Cisco,&nbsp;Chesapeake Sheriff's Office and&nbsp;GDIT. A record total of&nbsp;$440,000 was raised at the event.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hundreds-take-part-in-plane-pulling-competition-in-virginia-517305">WATCH |&nbsp;Hundreds take part in plane pulling competition in Virginia</a>

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It is pertinent to note that&nbsp;Special Olympics Virginia, for which the event acts as a fundraiser provides sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

"The Special Olympics mission remains as vital today as it did when the movement was founded 50 years ago in 1968. We provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities." reads the organisation's mission.&nbsp;

"Our program, however, is about more than sports. We envision a world in which people with intellectual disabilities lead healthy, vibrant lives grounded in ongoing sports&nbsp;and physical activity, sound nutrition and a deeply held conviction to improve, compete, achieve and demonstrate their personal best to themselves and their community." it further adds.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

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Hundreds of participants gathered on the tarmac of Dulles International Airport in Virginia, outside Washington, on Saturday to pull an 82-ton passenger plane. Reportedly, over 100 teams with 25 members each, using ropes attempted to pull an 82-tonne airplane, either a FedEx Airbus A320 or a United Boeing 757 (3.

Hundreds of participants gathered on the tarmac of Dulles International Airport in Virginia, outside Washington, on Saturday to pull an 82-ton passenger plane. Reportedly, over 100 teams with 25 members each, using ropes attempted to pull an 82-tonne airplane, either a FedEx Airbus A320 or a United Boeing 757 (3.6 metres) to raise funds for Special Olympics Virginia. "So this started actually thirty years ago, here at Dulles International Airport and since then the concept has taken off at other airports as well." said Richard Golinowski, Vice President, Dulles International Airport. Team Helix Electric' took the first spot in pulling the United jet while 'Chesapeake Sheriff's Office' took the honours in the FedEx category. Meanwhile, the top three fundraisers at the event were Cisco, Chesapeake Sheriff's Office and GDIT. A record total of $440,000 was raised at the event. WATCH | Hundreds take part in plane pulling competition in Virginia × It is pertinent to note that Special Olympics Virginia, for which the event acts as a fundraiser provides sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. "The Special Olympics mission remains as vital today as it did when the movement was founded 50 years ago in 1968. We provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities." reads the organisation's mission. "Our program, however, is about more than sports. We envision a world in which people with intellectual disabilities lead healthy, vibrant lives grounded in ongoing sports and physical activity, sound nutrition and a deeply held conviction to improve, compete, achieve and demonstrate their personal best to themselves and their community." it further adds. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Hundreds take part in plane-pulling competition in Virginia

On Saturday, dozens of teams competed to see who could pull passenger planes at Dulles International Airport, Virginia. The competition was held to see who could pull 82 ton passenger plane. Around 100 teams with 25 members took part in the competition.

Hundreds take part in plane pulling competition in Virginia

Boeing will move its headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia, as the crisis-plagued US plane maker works to repair relationships with customers, federal regulators and lawmakers.

Boeing to move headquarters from Chicago to Virginia

UK's prince Andrew will be striking a settlement with Virginia Giuffre, the woman who accused him of sexually abusing her when she was a minor. The UK royal maintains that he did not commit any wrongdoing and is ready to pay his accuser an undisclosed sum, take a look at our next report.

UK Prince Andrew settles lawsuit by sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre

At least one person was killed and four others were injured after a shooting near Virginia Tech. The shooting took place at a hookah lounge in Virginia just before midnight on Friday night.&nbsp;

The Blacksburg Police Department in a statement described the incident as complex. "There were five individuals that were injured in the shooting, four were transported to local hospitals and one is deceased. The severity of the injuries of those who were transported is unknown at this time," read the statement.

No further information has been made available, including details on potential suspects or the motive.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-one-dead-4-injured-after-shooting-in-washington-hotel-448257">Also read |&nbsp;At least one dead, 4 injured after shooting in Washington hotel</a>

Virginia Tech issued a 'secure in place' order around midnight. It was, however, lifted around 3:15 am. Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, in a memo, wrote, "Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased and we extend our support to those who were injured. Events like this are difficult and unsettling to all of us. Please care for yourself and seek assistance if you need it.”

The investigation is still ongoing.

Not even a month before, one person was killed and four were injured after a shooting at a hotel in Northwest Washington. The incident took place during a party in a room. Shots were fired around 3:30 am at Days Inn hotel, which is located on 4400 Connecticut Avenue NW, in the Van Ness neighbourhood. The area was sealed for police investigation and it opened at 7 am.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

At least one person was killed and four others were injured after a shooting near Virginia Tech. The shooting took place at a hookah lounge in Virginia just before midnight on Friday night.

At least one person was killed and four others were injured after a shooting near Virginia Tech. The shooting took place at a hookah lounge in Virginia just before midnight on Friday night. The Blacksburg Police Department in a statement described the incident as complex. "There were five individuals that were injured in the shooting, four were transported to local hospitals and one is deceased. The severity of the injuries of those who were transported is unknown at this time," read the statement. No further information has been made available, including details on potential suspects or the motive. Also read | At least one dead, 4 injured after shooting in Washington hotel Virginia Tech issued a 'secure in place' order around midnight. It was, however, lifted around 3:15 am. Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, in a memo, wrote, "Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased and we extend our support to those who were injured. Events like this are difficult and unsettling to all of us. Please care for yourself and seek assistance if you need it.” The investigation is still ongoing. Not even a month before, one person was killed and four were injured after a shooting at a hotel in Northwest Washington. The incident took place during a party in a room. Shots were fired around 3:30 am at Days Inn hotel, which is located on 4400 Connecticut Avenue NW, in the Van Ness neighbourhood. The area was sealed for police investigation and it opened at 7 am. (With inputs from agencies)

At least one dead, 4 injured after a shooting near Virginia Tech

Seven school districts in Virginia sued Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday, objecting to his executive order overruling their mask policies and making the wearing of masks optional in public schools.

The school districts include the Fairfax County Public Schools, the state’s largest with more than 178,000 students, as well as the school systems in Prince William County, Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Hampton and Richmond. Together, the districts serve more than 350,000 students.

The school districts said in a statement on Monday that the suit “defends the right of school boards to enact policy at the local level, including policies that protect the health and well-being of all students and staff.” The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court for the County of Arlington.

The school officials questioned whether an executive order “can unilaterally override” the authority given to local boards by the state constitution. The suit also disputes whether the governor’s order can override legislative action taken in 2021 that allowed students to attend classes in person while local school boards follow recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Without today’s action, school boards are placed in a legally untenable position — faced with an executive order that is in conflict with the constitution and state law,” the lawsuit says.

A spokeswoman for the governor, Macaulay Porter, said in a statement that the governor’s office was “disappointed that these school boards are ignoring parent’s rights.” She said Youngkin and the state attorney general were committed to fighting the lawsuit.

Youngkin issued an executive order on Jan&nbsp;15, the day he took office, that said parents could decide for themselves whether to follow school mask mandates. The order aimed to end a mandate imposed by Youngkin’s predecessor, Ralph Northam.

Youngkin ordered that the parents of any child enrolled in a school or a school-based early child care and educational program “may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect” at the facility.

“Parents should have the ability to decide whether their child should wear masks for the duration of the school day,” it reads.

The schools’ lawsuit said, in part, that the plaintiff’s schools “have students and staff members who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, and for whom an infection with the virus could lead to serious illness or death” and that masks were among the mitigation measures the schools have taken for the 2021-22 school year.

Seven school districts in Virginia sued Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday, objecting to his executive order overruling their mask policies and making the wearing of masks optional in public schools.

Seven school districts in Virginia sued Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Monday, objecting to his executive order overruling their mask policies and making the wearing of masks optional in public schools. The school districts include the Fairfax County Public Schools, the state’s largest with more than 178,000 students, as well as the school systems in Prince William County, Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Hampton and Richmond. Together, the districts serve more than 350,000 students. The school districts said in a statement on Monday that the suit “defends the right of school boards to enact policy at the local level, including policies that protect the health and well-being of all students and staff.” The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court for the County of Arlington. The school officials questioned whether an executive order “can unilaterally override” the authority given to local boards by the state constitution. The suit also disputes whether the governor’s order can override legislative action taken in 2021 that allowed students to attend classes in person while local school boards follow recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Without today’s action, school boards are placed in a legally untenable position — faced with an executive order that is in conflict with the constitution and state law,” the lawsuit says. A spokeswoman for the governor, Macaulay Porter, said in a statement that the governor’s office was “disappointed that these school boards are ignoring parent’s rights.” She said Youngkin and the state attorney general were committed to fighting the lawsuit. Youngkin issued an executive order on Jan 15, the day he took office, that said parents could decide for themselves whether to follow school mask mandates. The order aimed to end a mandate imposed by Youngkin’s predecessor, Ralph Northam. Youngkin ordered that the parents of any child enrolled in a school or a school-based early child care and educational program “may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect” at the facility. “Parents should have the ability to decide whether their child should wear masks for the duration of the school day,” it reads. The schools’ lawsuit said, in part, that the plaintiff’s schools “have students and staff members who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, and for whom an infection with the virus could lead to serious illness or death” and that masks were among the mitigation measures the schools have taken for the 2021-22 school year.

Seven school boards sue Virginia governor over mask policy

Britain's Prince Andrew is facing a crucial week in his fight against a sexual assault lawsuit. A secret settlement from 2009 has been made public as a part of Virginia Giuffre's 2021 civil lawsuit against Andrew.

Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre's secret settlement deal from 2009 released

Democrats have less than a month left controlling Virginia before Republicans take over the House of Delegates and the governor’s mansion. With the clock ticking, many in the party want to seize what they see as a fleeting opportunity: protecting abortion rights by codifying them into state law.

But Democratic leaders in the state Senate have dismissed the idea — and not on policy grounds or over concerns about political messaging. Several of the chamber’s members don’t want to change their vacation plans.

One senator is traveling in Africa. Others are in Europe. And the majority leader is headed to Hawaii.

“They’re not going to be able to get back; flights are booked this time of year,” the majority leader, Richard L. Saslaw, said from California, where he was en route to the Aloha State. The state’s General Assembly does not allow proxy or remote voting, and Democrats’ paper-thin majority in the state Senate requires all members to be present to pass contentious legislation.

“We discussed it,” Saslaw said. “There are too many people out of town.”

As abortion rights stand on a national precipice, with the Supreme Court likely to roll back or overturn Roe v. Wade next year, Democrats have issued dire warnings about the potential consequences, which could include at least 22 states moving swiftly to ban or severely restrict abortion access. The party’s options are limited at the federal and state levels, but many of its lawmakers have vowed to do whatever they can to protect the right to an abortion.

Yet as the intraparty dispute in Virginia shows, the party’s leaders are often wary about confronting the issue head-on. Congressional Democrats have been unable to pass legislative proposals to protect abortion federally, and President Joe Biden has yet to utter the word “abortion” publicly.

Many lawmakers in the party, as they continue to grapple with the pandemic and economic uncertainty, seem unwilling to prioritize abortion rights to the degree that some Democrats believe is necessary given the threats from the Supreme Court and conservative state legislatures.

In Virginia, where Gov. Ralph Northam has long been a champion of abortion rights, Democrats’ 21-19 majority in the state Senate includes moderates and one member who opposes abortion rights.

But beyond abortion politics, there is a split in Richmond between younger and more activist Democrats in the state House, and Senate Democrats who adhere more to the old “Virginia way” of doing state business. They are less willing to embrace extraordinary measures that go beyond the state’s regular legislative sessions, which are held only at the beginning of each year and are finished for 2021.

Sally Hudson, a Democratic delegate from Charlottesville, said she worried that the administration of Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, would roll back expansions of reproductive health care access, like the abortion pills that became available by mail in the state in October.

“We’ve got two years to do our job each term, and I don’t know why we wouldn’t use all the time to do our jobs during that term,” Hudson said. “If not for Roe, for what?”

Abortion rights activists say the situations in Virginia and Washington underscore a lack of true commitment from Democrats, who have spent years campaigning on preserving the constitutional right to an abortion.

“The Democratic Party is clueless right now about the abortion access crisis, and it’s really dispiriting to see them trumpeting the same old rallying cries,” said Erin Matson, a founder of Reproaction, an abortion rights advocacy group.

Democrats in the Virginia Senate argue that it would be impossible to call the chamber back to Richmond in the next month, and that even if they did, there was no guarantee that the party would have enough votes.

“You’re in the holiday season — some people are making plans of being away,” said Creigh Deeds, a Democratic state senator from Bath County. “What’s your reality of getting people to Richmond, and what’s realistic to pass that we haven’t already passed?”

It is an echo of Democrats’ rationale in Congress, where their proposals stand little chance of becoming law under the Senate’s current legislative rules, which require 60 votes to proceed. A liberal group of senators trying to change those procedures to enact voting rights legislation has been thwarted by a few centrist Democrats.

In Virginia, Democrats considered taking action in November as they reeled from their electoral losses but decided against it. Then a series of Supreme Court rulings and hearings on abortion rights heightened the urgency for Democrats, with Republicans set to take the House majority Jan. 12. Youngkin will be inaugurated as governor three days later.

Tarina Keene, the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, an abortion rights group, said she had first proposed a postelection legislative session to address abortion rights in the two days immediately after the November election, when Democrats were stunned by Republicans’ victories in the state.

Keene said part of her argument to Virginia Democrats was that Republicans in other states, facing the imminent loss of statehouse control, had used lame-duck sessions to cement an advantage for themselves before Democrats took office.

“We definitely mentioned to folks that they would do that to us,” Keene said. “We’ve seen in it North Carolina and in Wisconsin,” she said. “Those are two very recent examples of what they’re willing to do to undermine the other side.”

Katherine White, who runs Network NoVA, a collective of dozens of liberal organizations in the Washington suburbs, has begun a campaign to pressure Virginia’s Democratic senators to return to Richmond.

She said Democrats’ overconfidence that their candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe, would win had left them unprepared for the question of protecting abortion rights.

“There was no plan to go big and go bold, because they didn’t plan on losing,” she said.

Since Virginia Democrats took control of Richmond in early 2020, they have fulfilled their promises to roll back Republican-enacted abortion restrictions. But they have left the door open for Youngkin to place administrative roadblocks in the way of abortion access.

Youngkin downplayed his opposition to abortion rights in his general-election campaign. But in June, he was caught on an undercover video taken by a Democratic activist, saying he would go “on offense” if he won and Republicans took control of the House of Delegates.

A Youngkin spokesperson said the governor-elect’s previous remarks on abortion spoke for themselves. Youngkin has said that changing abortion law is not on his “Day 1” agenda, but he also reiterated last month that he would support a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks.

Still, despite the potential for changes to the state’s abortion laws, Saslaw dismissed the prospect of convening his chamber before the incoming governor’s inauguration. He said the possibility had been discarded in November by Democratic state senators — many of whom, including him, have campaigned on pledges to protect abortion rights.

“They didn’t want to do it,” he said Wednesday.

Even before the current Supreme Court cases from Mississippi and Texas that could weaken or overturn Roe v. Wade, many abortion rights supporters believed their movement faced an existential crisis.

This year, states have enacted 106 abortion restrictions, the most passed since Roe was decided in 1973, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a liberal research group.

Of the 15 states where Democrats control both state legislative chambers and the governor’s office, Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico and New Jersey are the only ones that have not enshrined a woman’s right to an abortion into law. Other states, like California and New York, have gone even further, positioning themselves as refuges for women barred from seeking abortions elsewhere.

In Virginia, Saslaw’s position has angered Democratic state delegates, who during a Sunday night conference call pressed Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn to push to bring both chambers back into session.

Filler-Corn told them that she would happily bring them back to Richmond but that Saslaw was strident in his opposition, according to several delegates who participated in the call. Filler-Corn, in a statement issued by her spokesperson, said there was “no consensus” among House Democrats about convening before Youngkin’s inauguration.

Kathleen Murphy, a Democratic delegate from McLean, predicted that women would become outraged next year if Youngkin moved to restrict abortion access.

“This can be taken away from all of us, from all women, just because the Senate has made it clear that they will not come back to deal with the issue in a timely way,” she said.

Democrats have less than a month left controlling Virginia before Republicans take over the House of Delegates and the governor’s mansion. With the clock ticking, many in the party want to seize what they see as a fleeting opportunity: protecting abortion rights by codifying them into state law.

Democrats have less than a month left controlling Virginia before Republicans take over the House of Delegates and the governor’s mansion. With the clock ticking, many in the party want to seize what they see as a fleeting opportunity: protecting abortion rights by codifying them into state law. But Democratic leaders in the state Senate have dismissed the idea — and not on policy grounds or over concerns about political messaging. Several of the chamber’s members don’t want to change their vacation plans. One senator is traveling in Africa. Others are in Europe. And the majority leader is headed to Hawaii. “They’re not going to be able to get back; flights are booked this time of year,” the majority leader, Richard L. Saslaw, said from California, where he was en route to the Aloha State. The state’s General Assembly does not allow proxy or remote voting, and Democrats’ paper-thin majority in the state Senate requires all members to be present to pass contentious legislation. “We discussed it,” Saslaw said. “There are too many people out of town.” As abortion rights stand on a national precipice, with the Supreme Court likely to roll back or overturn Roe v. Wade next year, Democrats have issued dire warnings about the potential consequences, which could include at least 22 states moving swiftly to ban or severely restrict abortion access. The party’s options are limited at the federal and state levels, but many of its lawmakers have vowed to do whatever they can to protect the right to an abortion. Yet as the intraparty dispute in Virginia shows, the party’s leaders are often wary about confronting the issue head-on. Congressional Democrats have been unable to pass legislative proposals to protect abortion federally, and President Joe Biden has yet to utter the word “abortion” publicly. Many lawmakers in the party, as they continue to grapple with the pandemic and economic uncertainty, seem unwilling to prioritize abortion rights to the degree that some Democrats believe is necessary given the threats from the Supreme Court and conservative state legislatures. In Virginia, where Gov. Ralph Northam has long been a champion of abortion rights, Democrats’ 21-19 majority in the state Senate includes moderates and one member who opposes abortion rights. But beyond abortion politics, there is a split in Richmond between younger and more activist Democrats in the state House, and Senate Democrats who adhere more to the old “Virginia way” of doing state business. They are less willing to embrace extraordinary measures that go beyond the state’s regular legislative sessions, which are held only at the beginning of each year and are finished for 2021. Sally Hudson, a Democratic delegate from Charlottesville, said she worried that the administration of Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, would roll back expansions of reproductive health care access, like the abortion pills that became available by mail in the state in October. “We’ve got two years to do our job each term, and I don’t know why we wouldn’t use all the time to do our jobs during that term,” Hudson said. “If not for Roe, for what?” Abortion rights activists say the situations in Virginia and Washington underscore a lack of true commitment from Democrats, who have spent years campaigning on preserving the constitutional right to an abortion. “The Democratic Party is clueless right now about the abortion access crisis, and it’s really dispiriting to see them trumpeting the same old rallying cries,” said Erin Matson, a founder of Reproaction, an abortion rights advocacy group. Democrats in the Virginia Senate argue that it would be impossible to call the chamber back to Richmond in the next month, and that even if they did, there was no guarantee that the party would have enough votes. “You’re in the holiday season — some people are making plans of being away,” said Creigh Deeds, a Democratic state senator from Bath County. “What’s your reality of getting people to Richmond, and what’s realistic to pass that we haven’t already passed?” It is an echo of Democrats’ rationale in Congress, where their proposals stand little chance of becoming law under the Senate’s current legislative rules, which require 60 votes to proceed. A liberal group of senators trying to change those procedures to enact voting rights legislation has been thwarted by a few centrist Democrats. In Virginia, Democrats considered taking action in November as they reeled from their electoral losses but decided against it. Then a series of Supreme Court rulings and hearings on abortion rights heightened the urgency for Democrats, with Republicans set to take the House majority Jan. 12. Youngkin will be inaugurated as governor three days later. Tarina Keene, the executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, an abortion rights group, said she had first proposed a postelection legislative session to address abortion rights in the two days immediately after the November election, when Democrats were stunned by Republicans’ victories in the state. Keene said part of her argument to Virginia Democrats was that Republicans in other states, facing the imminent loss of statehouse control, had used lame-duck sessions to cement an advantage for themselves before Democrats took office. “We definitely mentioned to folks that they would do that to us,” Keene said. “We’ve seen in it North Carolina and in Wisconsin,” she said. “Those are two very recent examples of what they’re willing to do to undermine the other side.” Katherine White, who runs Network NoVA, a collective of dozens of liberal organizations in the Washington suburbs, has begun a campaign to pressure Virginia’s Democratic senators to return to Richmond. She said Democrats’ overconfidence that their candidate for governor, Terry McAuliffe, would win had left them unprepared for the question of protecting abortion rights. “There was no plan to go big and go bold, because they didn’t plan on losing,” she said. Since Virginia Democrats took control of Richmond in early 2020, they have fulfilled their promises to roll back Republican-enacted abortion restrictions. But they have left the door open for Youngkin to place administrative roadblocks in the way of abortion access. Youngkin downplayed his opposition to abortion rights in his general-election campaign. But in June, he was caught on an undercover video taken by a Democratic activist, saying he would go “on offense” if he won and Republicans took control of the House of Delegates. A Youngkin spokesperson said the governor-elect’s previous remarks on abortion spoke for themselves. Youngkin has said that changing abortion law is not on his “Day 1” agenda, but he also reiterated last month that he would support a ban on most abortions after 20 weeks. Still, despite the potential for changes to the state’s abortion laws, Saslaw dismissed the prospect of convening his chamber before the incoming governor’s inauguration. He said the possibility had been discarded in November by Democratic state senators — many of whom, including him, have campaigned on pledges to protect abortion rights. “They didn’t want to do it,” he said Wednesday. Even before the current Supreme Court cases from Mississippi and Texas that could weaken or overturn Roe v. Wade, many abortion rights supporters believed their movement faced an existential crisis. This year, states have enacted 106 abortion restrictions, the most passed since Roe was decided in 1973, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a liberal research group. Of the 15 states where Democrats control both state legislative chambers and the governor’s office, Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico and New Jersey are the only ones that have not enshrined a woman’s right to an abortion into law. Other states, like California and New York, have gone even further, positioning themselves as refuges for women barred from seeking abortions elsewhere. In Virginia, Saslaw’s position has angered Democratic state delegates, who during a Sunday night conference call pressed Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn to push to bring both chambers back into session. Filler-Corn told them that she would happily bring them back to Richmond but that Saslaw was strident in his opposition, according to several delegates who participated in the call. Filler-Corn, in a statement issued by her spokesperson, said there was “no consensus” among House Democrats about convening before Youngkin’s inauguration. Kathleen Murphy, a Democratic delegate from McLean, predicted that women would become outraged next year if Youngkin moved to restrict abortion access. “This can be taken away from all of us, from all women, just because the Senate has made it clear that they will not come back to deal with the issue in a timely way,” she said.

Protect abortion rights? Virginia Democrats’ vacation plans get in the way.

Republican Party's Glenn Youngkin won election to become next governor of Virginia staging an upset against the Democratic Party. The race for governor was&nbsp;being seen as an early verdict on US President Joe Biden's first year in presidency. The negative outcome for the Democrats is likely to compound their problems in the run-up to Congressional elections due next year

The race for governor was initially expected to be a comfortable Democratic win but instead became a toss-up in the closing days of the campaign.

A private equity multi-millionaire who has never run for office defeating a former popular Democratic governor will be seen as a disaster for Biden going into the all-important 2022 races that will determine who controls Congress.

"All right Virginia -- we won this thing! How much fun!" Youngkin, who poured at least $20 million of his own fortune into the race, told cheering fans after dancing onstage to Norman Greenbaum's 1969 hit "Spirit in the Sky."

Calling his victory a "defining moment," he told the crowd: "Together, we will change the trajectory of this commonwealth. And friends, we are going to start that transformation on day one."

The election, a neck-and-neck tussle for weeks, resonated nationwide as a proxy war between Biden and former president Donald Trump, who gave Youngkin his early backing.&nbsp;

Youngkin's campaign will now likely become a blueprint for Republicans across the country as they strategize on how to leverage Trump's base while avoiding becoming tainted by his toxic brand among moderates in the midterms.

(With inputs from agencies)

Republican Party's Glenn Youngkin won election to become next governor of Virginia staging an upset against the Democratic Party. The race for governor was being seen as an early verdict on US President Joe Biden's first year in presidency.

Republican Party's Glenn Youngkin won election to become next governor of Virginia staging an upset against the Democratic Party. The race for governor was being seen as an early verdict on US President Joe Biden's first year in presidency. The negative outcome for the Democrats is likely to compound their problems in the run-up to Congressional elections due next year The race for governor was initially expected to be a comfortable Democratic win but instead became a toss-up in the closing days of the campaign. A private equity multi-millionaire who has never run for office defeating a former popular Democratic governor will be seen as a disaster for Biden going into the all-important 2022 races that will determine who controls Congress. "All right Virginia -- we won this thing! How much fun!" Youngkin, who poured at least $20 million of his own fortune into the race, told cheering fans after dancing onstage to Norman Greenbaum's 1969 hit "Spirit in the Sky." Calling his victory a "defining moment," he told the crowd: "Together, we will change the trajectory of this commonwealth. And friends, we are going to start that transformation on day one." The election, a neck-and-neck tussle for weeks, resonated nationwide as a proxy war between Biden and former president Donald Trump, who gave Youngkin his early backing. Youngkin's campaign will now likely become a blueprint for Republicans across the country as they strategize on how to leverage Trump's base while avoiding becoming tainted by his toxic brand among moderates in the midterms. (With inputs from agencies)

Newcomer Republican Glenn Youngkin becomes Virginia governor, a blow to Biden's Democrats

The US state of Virginia prepared to vote Tuesday for its next governor in a margin-of-error skirmish seen as the first major test of President Joe Biden's political brand.

A harbinger of the parties' prospects in next year's midterm elections, the race between Democratic former governor Terry McAuliffe and Republican tycoon Glenn Youngkin has narrowed in recent weeks and is squarely in toss-up territory.&nbsp;

"At this point, the outcome of this race will all depend on voter turnout," McAuliffe said in an 11th hour mailout to voters late Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/obama-warns-of-republican-threat-to-democracy-in-us-battleground-virginia-423393">Obama warns of Republican threat to democracy in US battleground Virginia</a>

"Republicans are fired up to elect their guy, and now, with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a> rallying up his base of right-wing extremists on the eve of election day, Glenn Youngkin is sure to have a strong showing tomorrow."

A McAuliffe win would reignite Washington Democrats' faltering push for twin infrastructure and social welfare mega-bills that are the cornerstone of Biden's $3 trillion vision for remaking the economy.

With both packages bogged down by infighting in Congress, moderates would likely see defeat in Virginia as a warning from the electorate to ease up on the president's historic spending plans.&nbsp;

On the Republican side, defeat for Youngkin could finally touch off a reckoning of a different sort on the party's previously unshakeable fealty to twice-impeached Trump, who lost Virginia by 10 points.

'Left, liberal, progressive'&nbsp;

As he tries to mount a return to an office he held four years ago, McAuliffe must negotiate significant headwinds, with the majority party in Washington usually incurring losses during a president's first term. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Youngkin has been performing his own high-wire act, as the vast majority of Republicans believe Trump's false claims that the presidency was stolen in a fraudulent election, making acknowledging the truth politically risky.

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&nbsp;

While he was seeking the nomination, Youngkin conjured the spirit of the former president, refusing to say whether he would have voted to certify Biden's election victory after the failed insurrection by Trump supporters on January 6.

But the wealthy former investment banker, 54, has managed to distance himself from Trump at the business end of the campaign, focusing on local "culture war" issues like abortion, mask mandates and the teaching of America's racial history.&nbsp;

"This is a moment for Virginians to push back on this left, liberal, progressive agenda and take our commonwealth back," Youngkin told a rally in state capital Richmond on Monday.

Trump has not shown up to campaign in person, although he has angrily denied a rift with Youngkin and released an incendiary statement on Monday smearing McAuliffe as a "low-life politician who lies, cheats, and steals."

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In contrast, a number of other big-name Democrats have wooed Virginians in recent days, including former president Barack Obama, First Lady Jill Biden and the party's rising star Stacey Abrams.

'Soccer dad'&nbsp;

McAuliffe took an early lead in the race but his seven-point cushion has been tightening since summer, and the latest polling average by political analysis website FiveThirtyEight shows Youngkin ahead by one point.

If the polls are an accurate reflection of voter intention, experts believe it could take days to determine the winner.&nbsp;

Leaning into his image as the establishment candidate, McAuliffe has sold himself as a former incumbent who brought back jobs after the worldwide financial crisis of 2008, and has pledged to repeat the trick for the pandemic.

The 64-year-old has sought to nationalize the race -- voicing irritation over deadlock in Washington and making the vote a referendum on Trump and Trumpism.&nbsp;

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Biden joined McAuliffe in Arlington last week, blasting Youngkin as "an acolyte of Donald Trump" and warning that extremism "can come in a smile and a fleece vest."

Mark Bayer, a congressional aide for two decades and a former chief of staff to Senator Ed Markey, warned that convincing Virginians that Youngkin is nothing more than a Trump mini-me could prove a tall order.

"Despite being endorsed by Trump and making strongly positive statements about him, Youngkin -- at least stylistically, if not politically -- doesn't appear to be a Trump clone," Bayer told AFP.

"Youngkin's 'soccer dad' persona is appealing to swing voters, even as his conservative politics are firmly Republican."

The US state of Virginia prepared to vote Tuesday for its next governor in a margin-of-error skirmish seen as the first major test of President Joe Biden's political brand.

The US state of Virginia prepared to vote Tuesday for its next governor in a margin-of-error skirmish seen as the first major test of President Joe Biden's political brand. A harbinger of the parties' prospects in next year's midterm elections, the race between Democratic former governor Terry McAuliffe and Republican tycoon Glenn Youngkin has narrowed in recent weeks and is squarely in toss-up territory. "At this point, the outcome of this race will all depend on voter turnout," McAuliffe said in an 11th hour mailout to voters late Monday. Also Read | Obama warns of Republican threat to democracy in US battleground Virginia "Republicans are fired up to elect their guy, and now, with Donald Trump rallying up his base of right-wing extremists on the eve of election day, Glenn Youngkin is sure to have a strong showing tomorrow." A McAuliffe win would reignite Washington Democrats' faltering push for twin infrastructure and social welfare mega-bills that are the cornerstone of Biden's $3 trillion vision for remaking the economy. With both packages bogged down by infighting in Congress, moderates would likely see defeat in Virginia as a warning from the electorate to ease up on the president's historic spending plans. On the Republican side, defeat for Youngkin could finally touch off a reckoning of a different sort on the party's previously unshakeable fealty to twice-impeached Trump, who lost Virginia by 10 points. 'Left, liberal, progressive' As he tries to mount a return to an office he held four years ago, McAuliffe must negotiate significant headwinds, with the majority party in Washington usually incurring losses during a president's first term. Youngkin has been performing his own high-wire act, as the vast majority of Republicans believe Trump's false claims that the presidency was stolen in a fraudulent election, making acknowledging the truth politically risky. Also Read | As Trump thunders about last election, Republicans worry about the next one While he was seeking the nomination, Youngkin conjured the spirit of the former president, refusing to say whether he would have voted to certify Biden's election victory after the failed insurrection by Trump supporters on January 6. But the wealthy former investment banker, 54, has managed to distance himself from Trump at the business end of the campaign, focusing on local "culture war" issues like abortion, mask mandates and the teaching of America's racial history. "This is a moment for Virginians to push back on this left, liberal, progressive agenda and take our commonwealth back," Youngkin told a rally in state capital Richmond on Monday. Trump has not shown up to campaign in person, although he has angrily denied a rift with Youngkin and released an incendiary statement on Monday smearing McAuliffe as a "low-life politician who lies, cheats, and steals." Also Read | US unveils crackdown on methane, starting with oil and gas rules In contrast, a number of other big-name Democrats have wooed Virginians in recent days, including former president Barack Obama, First Lady Jill Biden and the party's rising star Stacey Abrams. 'Soccer dad' McAuliffe took an early lead in the race but his seven-point cushion has been tightening since summer, and the latest polling average by political analysis website FiveThirtyEight shows Youngkin ahead by one point. If the polls are an accurate reflection of voter intention, experts believe it could take days to determine the winner. Leaning into his image as the establishment candidate, McAuliffe has sold himself as a former incumbent who brought back jobs after the worldwide financial crisis of 2008, and has pledged to repeat the trick for the pandemic. The 64-year-old has sought to nationalize the race -- voicing irritation over deadlock in Washington and making the vote a referendum on Trump and Trumpism. Also Read | US 'nuke sniffer' plane flies over South China Sea: Report Biden joined McAuliffe in Arlington last week, blasting Youngkin as "an acolyte of Donald Trump" and warning that extremism "can come in a smile and a fleece vest." Mark Bayer, a congressional aide for two decades and a former chief of staff to Senator Ed Markey, warned that convincing Virginians that Youngkin is nothing more than a Trump mini-me could prove a tall order. "Despite being endorsed by Trump and making strongly positive statements about him, Youngkin -- at least stylistically, if not politically -- doesn't appear to be a Trump clone," Bayer told AFP. "Youngkin's 'soccer dad' persona is appealing to swing voters, even as his conservative politics are firmly Republican."

Virginia goes to polls in too-close-to call bellwether election

Former US president Barack Obama urged voters on Saturday to back the Democrat in a neck-and-neck state election touted as a test of the party's prospects in next year's midterm elections -&nbsp;casting the Republican as a threat to democracy.

Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who is vying for a second term as Virginia's governor, has seen his lead extinguished in recent polls and is in a dead heat with Republican Glenn Youngkin ahead of the November 2 vote.

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Obama told a cheering crowd of several hundred rapt supporters at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond that Youngkin would cut teaching jobs, restrict abortion access and back Donald Trump's fraudulent campaign to convince Americans that the last election was stolen from him by President Joe Biden.

"As far as I can tell, the big message of Terry's opponent is that he's a regular guy because he wears a fleece. And he's accusing schools of brainwashing our kids," Obama said,

"He's also said he wanted to audit the voting machines used in the last presidential election again. Really? Encouraging the lies and conspiracy theories that we've had to live through all this time? And yeah, we're supposed to believe he's going to stand up for our democracy ?"

The McAuliffe camp fears turnout among supporters in an off-year election may be low and has brought in some of the party's heavy hitters in the final stretch, including First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden won Virginia by 10 points in 2020 and the last time Republicans won a statewide race there was 2009.

But the McAuliffe-Youngkin battle has been tightening, with a survey released this week by Monmouth University showing the Democrat's earlier lead evaporating.&nbsp;

A McAuliffe win would boost Washington Democrats' push for twin infrastructure and social welfare mega-bills that are the cornerstone of Biden's vision for remaking the economy.

But a loss could spook moderates already nervous over the high price tag, which they are trying to chisel down from a combined total of almost $5 trillion to around $3 trillion.

Harbinger&nbsp;

Party chiefs hope Obama, still the most popular Democrat on the national stage five years after leaving office, will galvanize Black voters, a key constituency in Virginia.&nbsp;

"I'm here today because I believe Virginia will make the right choice. I believe America, ultimately, will make the right choice," Obama told the crowd of a few hundred cheering supporters.&nbsp;

"I believe you right here in Virginia are going to show the rest of the country, and the world, that we're not going to indulge in our worst instincts. We're not going to go back to the past that did so much damage, we're going to move forward with people like Terry leading the way."

The first genuinely competitive election since Biden took office is expected to be a harbinger of the national political landscape ahead of next year's midterm elections.

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Wedged between the Washington suburbs in northern Virginia, a Democratic stronghold, and the state's conservative south and southwest, Richmond could go either way.

McAuliffe, 64, has tried to make the race a referendum on twice-impeached Trump.

Youngkin, 10 years his junior, has focused on the fight over schools, with Republicans railing against mask mandates and running ads showing McAuliffe saying he doesn't want parents involved in education.&nbsp;

&nbsp;'Resurgence of Trumpism'&nbsp;

In a delicate high-wire act, Youngkin has been trying to conjure the spirit of Trump while not specifically endorsing his false election fraud claims that are backed by the majority of Republicans. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The former president has not visited, although he called in to a pro-Youngkin "Take Back Virginia Rally" on October 13 featuring former White House advisor Steve Bannon and other prominent promoters of Trump's election fraud lies.

McAuliffe, who took the stage before Obama, pledged to work with "Reasonable Republicans" to improve the lives of Virginians.

"I'll work with you, but let me make one thing perfectly clear today. Glenn Youngkin is not a reasonable Republican. I call him Donald Trump in khakis," he told the crowd of a few hundred.

"Do we want a lapdog for Donald Trump to be our governor here in the Commonwealth? No we don't."

Former US president Barack Obama urged voters on Saturday to back the Democrat in a neck-and-neck state election touted as a test of the party's prospects in next year's midterm elections - casting the Republican as a threat to democracy.

Former US president Barack Obama urged voters on Saturday to back the Democrat in a neck-and-neck state election touted as a test of the party's prospects in next year's midterm elections - casting the Republican as a threat to democracy. Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who is vying for a second term as Virginia's governor, has seen his lead extinguished in recent polls and is in a dead heat with Republican Glenn Youngkin ahead of the November 2 vote. Also Read | Donald Trump, banned on Twitter and FB, to launch his own social network Obama told a cheering crowd of several hundred rapt supporters at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond that Youngkin would cut teaching jobs, restrict abortion access and back Donald Trump's fraudulent campaign to convince Americans that the last election was stolen from him by President Joe Biden. "As far as I can tell, the big message of Terry's opponent is that he's a regular guy because he wears a fleece. And he's accusing schools of brainwashing our kids," Obama said, "He's also said he wanted to audit the voting machines used in the last presidential election again. Really? Encouraging the lies and conspiracy theories that we've had to live through all this time? And yeah, we're supposed to believe he's going to stand up for our democracy ?" The McAuliffe camp fears turnout among supporters in an off-year election may be low and has brought in some of the party's heavy hitters in the final stretch, including First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden won Virginia by 10 points in 2020 and the last time Republicans won a statewide race there was 2009. But the McAuliffe-Youngkin battle has been tightening, with a survey released this week by Monmouth University showing the Democrat's earlier lead evaporating. A McAuliffe win would boost Washington Democrats' push for twin infrastructure and social welfare mega-bills that are the cornerstone of Biden's vision for remaking the economy. But a loss could spook moderates already nervous over the high price tag, which they are trying to chisel down from a combined total of almost $5 trillion to around $3 trillion. Harbinger Party chiefs hope Obama, still the most popular Democrat on the national stage five years after leaving office, will galvanize Black voters, a key constituency in Virginia. "I'm here today because I believe Virginia will make the right choice. I believe America, ultimately, will make the right choice," Obama told the crowd of a few hundred cheering supporters. "I believe you right here in Virginia are going to show the rest of the country, and the world, that we're not going to indulge in our worst instincts. We're not going to go back to the past that did so much damage, we're going to move forward with people like Terry leading the way." The first genuinely competitive election since Biden took office is expected to be a harbinger of the national political landscape ahead of next year's midterm elections. Also Read | US warns climate poses ‘emerging threat’ to financial system Wedged between the Washington suburbs in northern Virginia, a Democratic stronghold, and the state's conservative south and southwest, Richmond could go either way. McAuliffe, 64, has tried to make the race a referendum on twice-impeached Trump. Youngkin, 10 years his junior, has focused on the fight over schools, with Republicans railing against mask mandates and running ads showing McAuliffe saying he doesn't want parents involved in education. 'Resurgence of Trumpism' In a delicate high-wire act, Youngkin has been trying to conjure the spirit of Trump while not specifically endorsing his false election fraud claims that are backed by the majority of Republicans. The former president has not visited, although he called in to a pro-Youngkin "Take Back Virginia Rally" on October 13 featuring former White House advisor Steve Bannon and other prominent promoters of Trump's election fraud lies. McAuliffe, who took the stage before Obama, pledged to work with "Reasonable Republicans" to improve the lives of Virginians. "I'll work with you, but let me make one thing perfectly clear today. Glenn Youngkin is not a reasonable Republican. I call him Donald Trump in khakis," he told the crowd of a few hundred. "Do we want a lapdog for Donald Trump to be our governor here in the Commonwealth? No we don't."

Obama warns of Republican threat to democracy in US battleground Virginia

A statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was removed from its pedestal in Virginia's capital city. The 21-foot-tall statue on Monument Avenue in Richmond was one of the largest remaining Confederate monuments in the US.

Statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee removed

Tresses swirl and fins shimmer as tens of people don tails and dive into a weekend of all things mermaid at the MerMagic convention in Manassas, Virginia, in the eastern United States. The convention is billed as the world's largest dedicated to mermaids and attracts enthusiasts from all walks -- or swims -- of life.

Part of our world: Mermaids mingle at US convention

Virginia has become the first state in the south of the US to start the process of legalising marijuana’s recreational use.

The state’s Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill that will be legalising the simple possession of marijuana. To make sure the state is able to tackle racial problems in the prosecution of marijuana-related crimes, the Governor has decided to fast-track the timeline pass the legislation, instead of waiting till 2024.

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“Seventy-one days from now, Virginia will no longer police adults possessing small amounts of marijuana,” the Governor said on the ceremonial signing of the bill.

The decision has been taken after citing reports that Black residents were more than three times likely to be arrested for possessing the drug but in small amounts.

“We are moving forward in a way that promotes equity, provides a clean slate to those with prior convictions, and reinvests in the communities harmed by over-criminalization,” the Governor tweeted.

This has also come as the state celebrated an informal holiday on April 20 in relation to the 4/20 concept.

The legislation will be allowing anyone above the age of 21 to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. People in the state can cultivate up to four cannabis plants per home for personal use.

(With inputs from agencies)

Virginia has become the first state in the south of the US to start the process of legalising marijuana’s recreational use. The state’s Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill that will be legalising the simple possession of marijuana.

Virginia has become the first state in the south of the US to start the process of legalising marijuana’s recreational use. The state’s Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill that will be legalising the simple possession of marijuana. To make sure the state is able to tackle racial problems in the prosecution of marijuana-related crimes, the Governor has decided to fast-track the timeline pass the legislation, instead of waiting till 2024. Also read | After euthanasia and marijuana, New Zealand targets smoking “Seventy-one days from now, Virginia will no longer police adults possessing small amounts of marijuana,” the Governor said on the ceremonial signing of the bill. The decision has been taken after citing reports that Black residents were more than three times likely to be arrested for possessing the drug but in small amounts. “We are moving forward in a way that promotes equity, provides a clean slate to those with prior convictions, and reinvests in the communities harmed by over-criminalization,” the Governor tweeted. This has also come as the state celebrated an informal holiday on April 20 in relation to the 4/20 concept. The legislation will be allowing anyone above the age of 21 to possess up to one ounce of marijuana. People in the state can cultivate up to four cannabis plants per home for personal use. (With inputs from agencies)

Virginia governor signs bill to legalise marijuana possession from July 1

A US Army lieutenant filed a lawsuit against two Virginia policemen in federal court over a violent traffic stop, where police officers pointed their guns, knocked him to the ground, pepper-sprayed him, and "threatened to murder him."

US army officer files lawsuit against two Virginia policemen

Virginia became first state in conservative southern USA to legalise use of small amounts of marijuana for personal use.&nbsp;

Adults over the age of 21 will be able to legally possess up to one ounce (28.3 grams) of cannabis for personal use, as well as cultivate up to four plants per household.

Like limits on drinking in public, consuming cannabis in public will not be allowed.

The licensing of cannabis production and commercial cannabis sales will not take place until July 1, 2024.

Democratic Governor Ralph Northam in a statement said his state had "made history as the first state in the South to legalize the simple possession of marijuana."

"Marijuana laws were explicitly designed to target communities of color, and Black Virginians are disproportionately likely to be stopped, charged, and convicted," he said.

"Today, Virginia took a critical step to right these wrongs and restore justice to those harmed by decades of over-criminalization."

Several other states in the US including New York and Colorado have approved measures on similar lines. However, Virginia has become first state to do so in socially and politically conservative US south.

(With AFP inputs)

Virginia became first state in conservative southern USA to legalise use of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Adults over the age of 21 will be able to legally possess up to one ounce (28.

Virginia became first state in conservative southern USA to legalise use of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. Adults over the age of 21 will be able to legally possess up to one ounce (28.3 grams) of cannabis for personal use, as well as cultivate up to four plants per household. Like limits on drinking in public, consuming cannabis in public will not be allowed. The licensing of cannabis production and commercial cannabis sales will not take place until July 1, 2024. Democratic Governor Ralph Northam in a statement said his state had "made history as the first state in the South to legalize the simple possession of marijuana." "Marijuana laws were explicitly designed to target communities of color, and Black Virginians are disproportionately likely to be stopped, charged, and convicted," he said. "Today, Virginia took a critical step to right these wrongs and restore justice to those harmed by decades of over-criminalization." Several other states in the US including New York and Colorado have approved measures on similar lines. However, Virginia has become first state to do so in socially and politically conservative US south. (With AFP inputs)

Virginia first southern US state to legalise marijuana

Two people are dead and at least eight people were injured in shootings along Virginia Beach's oceanfront, police said early Saturday.

An shooting incident happened at 11 pm Friday, Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate told reporters.

According to the police, while officers were investigating, a report of shots fired came in nearby.

A shooting broke out when an officer confronted an individual there. The officer shot the individual, and the person died. The officer was not shot.

A second person, who Neudigate said was possibly involved in an unrelated shooting, was pronounced dead near the scene.&nbsp;

The chief called it a separate shooting incident, adding they were still trying to piece together.

An officer was also struck by a vehicle during the investigation and taken to a hospital.

Several people were put in custody overnight.

Two people are dead and at least eight people were injured in shootings along Virginia Beach's oceanfront, police said early Saturday. An shooting incident happened at 11 pm Friday, Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate told reporters.

Two people are dead and at least eight people were injured in shootings along Virginia Beach's oceanfront, police said early Saturday. An shooting incident happened at 11 pm Friday, Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate told reporters. According to the police, while officers were investigating, a report of shots fired came in nearby. A shooting broke out when an officer confronted an individual there. The officer shot the individual, and the person died. The officer was not shot. A second person, who Neudigate said was possibly involved in an unrelated shooting, was pronounced dead near the scene. The chief called it a separate shooting incident, adding they were still trying to piece together. An officer was also struck by a vehicle during the investigation and taken to a hospital. Several people were put in custody overnight.

Two dead in Virginia Beach oceanfront shootings

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