VPM Daily Newscast: June 27, 2023
The VPM Daily Newscast contains all your Central Virginia news in just 5 to 10 minutes. Episodes are recorded the night before.
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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of June 27, 2023:
Virginia to become latest state to require age verification for online porn
Reported by VPM News’ Ben Paviour
People who want to browse online pornography in Virginia will have to identify their age using unspecified technology under a new law that goes into effect Saturday.
While the law passed with broad support in the General Assembly a spokesperson for the Free Speech Coalition, a group representing the adult entertainment industry, said it's considering challenging the law in court.
It’s also not clear how effective the law will be: After a similar law went into effect in Louisiana in January, users noted they could easily bypass restrictions by turning off their phone’s Wi-Fi or by using a virtual private network.
They said her disabled brother died in Marion prison naturally. A lawsuit alleges otherwise.
Reported by NPR’s Jaclyn Diaz
Charles “Chuck” Givens died last year at age 52 while incarcerated at Marion Correctional Treatment Center but he hadn't developed intellectually or emotionally beyond the age of 7 or 8, according to court documents.
His older sister, Kymberly Hobbs, had served as Givens' legal guardian since 2009, though she lives in Lincoln, Alabama — more than 300 miles from where Givens was incarcerated for a 2010 murder. He was housed in Marion's special unit for inmates dealing with disabilities and mental illness.
"I would see him whenever I could. We had phone calls and video chat and things," Hobbs said.
Though she didn't realize it at the time, she would last see her brother alive in December 2021 when he was hospitalized for pneumonia and hypothermia, Hobbs said. About two months later, on Feb. 5, 2022, Givens would be found lying dead on his cot at Marion.
In other news:
- The Commanders aren't coming back, and now Richmond has big decisions to make (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- The city is partnering with Shockoe Records for 804 Day, billed as 'Richmond's biggest block party' (Style Weekly)
- Virginia elections feature historically diverse slate of candidates (The Washington Post)*
In case you missed it:
- The owner of Goatocado debuts a multifaceted farm venture in Varina (Richmond magazine)