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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Wednesday, September 8, 2021:
The pedestal of Lee Monument contains a 134-year-old time capsule. On Tuesday, state officials sealed a new capsule filled with dozens of items that they say will replace it. Ben Paviour has a look inside.
People planning to watch the Robert E. Lee Monument come down today may have to rely on streaming options. Vehicle traffic and parking will be closed off around the statue, as protective fencing is set up along the perimeter. A public viewing area will open at 8 a.m. east of the Lee statue near Stuart Circle. Space is limited, and spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Starting at 8 a.m., VPM will stream the event on its Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Channel and online at VPM.org.
A task force is recommending Virginia's largest city give its police review board subpoena power and increase the number of members to better reflect city demographics. But Virginia Beach's task force stopped short of asking for further investigative capabilities for the civilian-run board. The recommendations say the board should continue reviewing only completed Internal Affairs cases, not initiate independent investigations. The Virginia Beach City Council did not vote yesterday on whether to adopt the recommendations.
As Afghan immigrants continue to settle into communities across Virginia, many individuals will struggle with a great deal of loss - not to mention the challenges of fitting into a new culture. As Patrick Larsen reports, making the transition is a community effort.
Virginia has distributed more federal rent relief money to families struggling in the pandemic than any other state in the nation. As reported in the Virginia Mercury, the commonwealth has allocated around 42 percent of their federal funding according to U.S. Treasury data. State legislators and advocates credit the success of Virginia’s rent relief program to the fact it was established early in the pandemic. They also point to the passing of emergency rules that bar landlords from evicting renters without first applying for aid. Virginia will be able to continue the program for at least 18 more months thanks to $450 million coming to the state through the American Rescue Plan.
Around 6 million Jewish people were killed during the Holocaust. But two men have tried to keep their memories alive, through their love of music. As Alan Rodriguez Espinoza reports, people will soon hear these stories of hope in Richmond.
