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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Wednesday, May 5, 2021:
Richmond City Council is setting aside roughly $200,000 for a civilian review board tasked with investigating police misconduct. That’s only a third of what was requested, but council members hope it will help get the board off the ground.
Virginia Military Institute will remove “Stonewall” Jackson’s name from campus buildings in the wake of allegations of racism. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports VMI’s Board of Visitors voted over the weekend to remove the Confederate general’s name from Old Barracks and Memorial Hall. The school had already removed a statue of Jackson from campus. The board also voted to preserve some works of art honoring cadets who fought for the Confederacy, while adding some historical context. Gov. Ralph Northam ordered an investigation into VMI’s culture that should be completed next month.
Eight women recently filed a lawsuit against a Virginia summer camp, claiming they were sexually abused by staff. The complaints raise questions about training and prevention as camps reopen for the summer.
A free, downloadable book is now available to prevent accidental plant poisonings. UVA’s School of Medicine, the Virginia Master Naturalists Program and UVA Health’s Blue Ridge Poison Center collaborated on the book. It’s in response to the hundreds of reported annual exposures to poisonous plants. “The Socrates Project - Poisonous Plants in Virginia'' includes photographs of the 25 poisonous plants growing in the commonwealth.
As summer approaches, more people are heading to the James River to enjoy the warm weather and cool off in the water. But experts say it’s important to consider health and safety while enjoying the river.
- A Republican candidate for lieutenant governor has filed a lawsuit to find out who called him a “Gay Democrat.” The Richmond Times-Dispatchreports Del. Glenn Davis filed a defamation suit in Norfolk Circuit Court yesterday. The lawsuit stems from anonymous text messages sent last week attacking Davis. Davis’ lawsuit seeks to subpoena phone service providers to provide the identity of the person who sent them. Davis is one of six Republicans competing for the lieutenant governor nomination in a convention set for Saturday.
