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National NAACP head arrested in sit-in over AG nomination
Several African-American civil rights activists staged a sit-in at the Alabama office of U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions on Tuesday.
U.S. Supreme Court upholds newly redrawn congressional boundaries
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Virginia Republican efforts to overturn redrawn congressional district lines Monday, completing a sweep of this year’s major high court redistricting cases by Democrats and minorities. The justices ruled unanimously that three GOP House members challenging lines drawn by a federal district court lacked standing to bring the case because they could not show they were directly affected.
Basquiat work sells for record $110.5M
A little-seen painting by Jean-Michel Basquiat that sold for $19,000 in 1984 soared to an astounding $110.5 million at Sotheby’s auction of contemporary art last week.
Refunds, rate reduction expected for Dominion customers
Virginia regulators have approved a settlement that will bring to a close a review of the rates of the state’s largest electric utility and result in modest refunds and a rate reduction for Dominion Energy Virginia customers.
New president elected for National Baptist Convention USA
The Rev. Jerry Young, the convention’s former vice president, emerged from a pack of five candidates to take over from the Rev. Julius Scruggs of Huntsville, Ala.
Madman
First 2020 presidential debate is derailed by President Trump’s rantings, falsehoods and interruptions of Democratic candidate Joe Biden
In a debate performance that left even his Republican supporters shaking their heads, President Trump stunningly refused to condemn racist, white supremacist groups.
Chicago verdict raises hopes of greater police accountability
A rare scene in the American justice system unfolded last week in a Chicago courthouse. A white officer stood before a mostly white jury and was convicted of killing an African-American teenager.
Census data show Virginia’s population up by 7.9%
Virginia’s population grew over the past decade, but not enough to gain an additional seat in Congress, according to new figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Monday.
Calls mount for independent investigation of Russia’s ties to Trump administration
President Trump is finding its easy to play golf, but harder to get his way as the nation’s chief executive.
Would domestic terrorism law help prevent extremist shootings?
The package bombs sent to Democrats across the country and the killings of Jews at a Pittsburgh synagogue may seem like clear-cut cases of terrorism. But the suspects will almost certainly never face terrorism charges.
Va. redistricting cases winding through state, federal courts
In a slap at Virginia’s Republican-led majority in the General Assembly, the U.S. Supreme Court has directed a lower federal court to reassess whether lawmakers unlawfully tried to dilute the clout of African-American voters when it drew a series of state legislative districts six years ago.
Oscars not so white at least in this year’s nominations
This year’s Oscar nominations honor the largest ever group of actors of color, along with a diverse range of stories, a year after Hollywood was slammed for excluding diverse talent.
Closure pending as Bennett College loses accreditation
After two years of probation, Bennett College, one of just two historically black private women’s colleges in the country, has lost its accreditation, threatening the 145-year-old school’s survival.
African-American astronaut pilots SpaceX capsule to International Space Station
SpaceX’s newly launched capsule with four astronauts arrived Monday at the International Space Station, piloted by Navy Cmdr. Victor Glover, 44.
Priest caught in political fire reinstated as House chaplain
Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan has announced he will reinstate the Rev. Patrick Conroy as chaplain for the House of Representatives after the controversial Jesuit priest challenged the stated rationale for removing him.
Expanded Medicaid, more time for recess among new state laws
Hundreds of new Virginia laws went into effect Sunday, July 1.
Ramadan ends with celebrations in area, around the globe
Saturday, June 24, marked the end of the monthlong fasting that began in late May for Ramadan, a sacred observance for Muslims.
Former Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving black lawmaker in U.S. House of Representatives, dies at 90
Former Rep. John Conyers, a liberal Democrat who was the longest-serving African- American member of the U.S. House of Representatives at more than half a century, died on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, at the age of 90.
Inequality persists 50 years after landmark Kerner Commission report
Barriers to equality are posing threats to democracy in the United States as the country remains segregated along racial lines and child poverty worsens, according to a study examining the nation 50 years after the release of the landmark 1968 Kerner Report.
Abortion battle erupts with leaded U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion
America’s decades-old battle over abortion rights exploded anew on Tuesday as the U.S. Supreme Court authenticated a draft opinion leaked to the news outlet Politico that signaled the court will soon overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.
