By Alix Hines
Capital News Service
RICHMOND – Richmond is called the City of Monuments, whether it’s for the grand statues lining Monument Avenue or the historical figures overlooking Capitol Square. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Robert E. Lee, J.E.B Stuart, Stonewall Jackson and even Arthur Ashe are among the figures Richmond honors with monuments in their name.
See a pattern there? None of those statues depict women. Continue reading “‘City of Monuments’ No Longer a Man’s World”
By Paige Baxter and Alix Hines
Capital News Service
[Editor’s note: This is a special report about women in politics. It also includes an interactive timeline; charts documenting the underrepresentation of women in the Virginia General Assembly and every state; avideo of three politically involved women discussing the issue; and a sidebar about plans to build a monument honoring Virginia women on the state Capitol grounds.]
By Paige Baxter and Alix Hines
Capital News Service
RICHMOND – Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt and Lucy Stone were among the national leaders of the suffragist movement in the United States. But several Virginians also paved the way for women in politics today.
Ellen Glasgow, Adèle Clark and Lila Meade Valentine were among the women who joined to create Virginia’s Equal Suffrage League. Later, that organization became the League of Women Voters of Virginia, which is dedicated to educating all citizens about civic issues. Continue reading “Women Still Underrepresented in Virginia Politics”
By Alix Hines
Capital News Service
RICHMOND – Wrongly convicted felons could have an easier pathway to proving their innocence thanks to passage of a bill amending Virginia’s “21-day rule.”
Continue reading “Innocence would be easier to prove under new law”
By Alix Hines
Capital News Service
RICHMOND – A radio advertisement sponsored by organizations opposed to uranium mining in Virginia cautions Gov. Bob McDonnell against using his power to put in place failed legislation by issuing regulations. Continue reading “Ad asks McDonnell not to allow mining”
By Alix Hines and Sam Isaacs
Capital News Service
RICHMOND – Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issues a blistering attack on federal policies in his book “The Last Line of Defense: The New Fight for American Liberty.”
As the book was released this week, it was promoted as “a must-read for every patriot” – and, at a public reading by Democrats in Richmond who believe Cuccinelli’s views are too extreme for Virginia, as a must-read for every voter. Continue reading “Cuccinelli’s book says liberty is at risk”
By ALIX HINES and PAIGE BAXTER
Capital News Service
RICHMOND, Va. – Democratic lawmakers blasted Republicans’ recent actions to redraw Senate districts and require voters to show more identification during a roundtable meeting with the League of Women Voters of Virginia this past week. Continue reading “Democrats Accuse GOP of Restricting Voting Rights”
By Whitney Spicer and Alix Hines, Capital News Service
All 20 of Virginia’s Democratic senators — including Vienna-area Sens. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax) and Janet Howell (D-Reston) — voted against Gov. Bob McDonnell’s transportation plan late Tuesday, effectively blocking the Senate’s version of the proposal for this legislative session.
The move makes it less likely Gov. Bob McDonnell will pass a transportation package in his last year in office.
While the House amended and approved a version of the plan, HB 2313, earlier Tuesday, sending it to the Senate Finance Committee, Senate Democrats “vowed to block any proposal that generated less than $1.2 billion a year in new roads money,” the Washington Examiner reports. Continue reading “Governor’s Transportation Plan Hits Roadblock”
By Katherine Johnson
Capital News Service
RICHMOND – Vice President Joe Biden held a roundtable discussion about gun violence Friday at Virginia Commonwealth University, saying “we cannot remain silent” on the issue.
The discussion was closed to the public, but in his closing remarks, Biden said the panel discussed universal background checks, gun safety, gun trafficking and the “need to expand mental health capacity across the country. We talked about access, and we talked about resources.” Continue reading “In Richmond, Vice President Biden discusses guns”
By Alix HinesCapital News Service7:28 a.m. EST, January 22, 2013
RICHMOND – Amy Jones had a 4.0 GPA in school but dropped out after her insurance stopped covering the costs of her medication. The 38-year-old Virginia woman suffers from a mental health disorder and substance abuse.“I ended up self-medicating, and I ended up here in Richmond at a facility center, which is helping save my life. It’s helping me to get back on track, get my medications again, so that I can be productive again.”
On Monday, she joined about 100 other people at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square for a rally organized by the Coalition for Virginians with Mental Disabilities. Participants encouraged legislators to improve services for people with mental disabilities.
Continue reading “Rally supports Virginians with mental illness”
Alix Hanson 