Law

The Richmond Police Department says the city’s gun ban was not put into effect Thursday night as dozens of armed right-wing protesters gathered Downtown near the governor’s mansion.

With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam announced new restrictions to slow the spread of the virus on Friday.

Health officials confirmed Thursday there was a “cluster” of COVID-19 cases in the office of the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney in the last two weeks. This adds to a growing list of outbreaks in city offices; at least 25 city employees are now infected.

A deadline is approaching for anyone who was sexually abused as a Boy Scout to file a claim and possibly receive compensation. Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy after hundreds of men filed lawsuits earlier this year alleging sexual abuse. Some of those complaints came from Virginia.

Earlier this week, the General Assembly agreed to spend $1 million on an investigation into the practices and traditions at Virginia Military Institute. News reports uncovered stories of Black cadets and alumni who say they experienced racism from faculty and other cadets.

Former Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Herring investigated the incident in 2018, finding the shooting justified. McEachin reviewed his investigation and released her findings on Friday.

The General Assembly will reconvene next week to consider amendments to legislation passed during the special session and changes to the budget proposed by Governor Ralph Northam.

Legal analysts say it could be months before Virginia officials know whether they can take down the 130-year-old statue of Robert E. Lee on Richmond’s Monument Avenue.

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has signed several criminal justice and police reform bills into law. Northam said the new measures “represent a tremendous step forward in rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”

A spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Virginia says they’re still seeking resolution in a lawsuit filed against the Richmond city registrar seeking a list of voters whose ballots had been rejected for errors, like missing signatures.