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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of June 25, 2025:
Senate Democrats sue Youngkin officials in latest institutional push
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
Nine Virginia Senate Democrats are suing three university rectors over the gubernatorial appointment of board members, they announced Tuesday, opening a new field of contention between Virginia’s Democrat-controlled Legislature and Republican executive.
On June 5, the Senate Privileges & Elections Committee voted against confirming eight of Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointees to the Board of Visitors at George Mason University, University of Virginia and Virginia Military Institute.
"This lawsuit is not about politics – it's about preserving the constitutional balance of power that has served Virginia well for centuries,” said Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas (D–Portsmouth) in a press release.
The Youngkin administration said that the appointees are constitutionally appointed. Attorney General Jason Miyares says the whole senate or the whole house would need to reject the nominees.
Hampton Roads fighters and troops part of US buildup after Iran airstrikes
Reported by WHRO’s Steve Walsh
A dozen F-22 fighters left Joint Base Langley-Fort Eustis left last week, bound for U.S. Central Command — the military region involved in the bombing in Iran over the weekend — according to several reports.
The Pentagon hasn't named which units were part of the campaign, but fifth-generation fighters (which includes the F-22) flew ahead of American B-2 bombers flown from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
The USS Ford and its strike group leave Norfolk Tuesday, bound for the Mediterranean. This is the aircraft carrier's regularly scheduled deployment, but they become part of a buildup of US naval forces in the Middle East.
The carrier joins the USS Nimitz, which is already in the region — on what is expected to be the ship's last deployment before moving to Norfolk next year.
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth:
- Richmond election officials appear not to have enforced finance disclosure mandates (The Richmonder)
- Anti-abortion group targets Democrats to stop Va.’s reproductive rights constitutional amendment (Virginia Mercury)
- 'Boom, my whole world changed': Country queen shares how she found drag (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.