The Coalition on Loudoun Towns, made up mayors from each of the seven county’s towns, this morning sent a letter to Purcellville Mayor Christopher Bertaut informing him that he was suspended from the group because of “ethically questionable practices.” The letter comes two days after the Town Council voted to move forward with action to eliminate its Police Department and appoint interim Town Manager Kwasi Fraser to the permanent role without interviewing any of the other 80 candidates. Residents critical of the council’s conduct since taking office Jan. 1 also working to have Bertaut and three other council members recalled. The organization cited breaches of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, conflict of interest statutes, open meeting laws, public meetings and voting requirements as the reason for the suspension.

During the public comment period at the Lynchburg City Council meeting, Jamie Maxwell, a captain in the Lynchburg Fire Department and president of the Lynchburg Firefighters Association, told At-large Councilwoman Stephanie Reed, “Keep his name out of your mouth during your meetings.” Maxwell was referring to Master Firefighter Andrew Jenks who died of occupational brain cancer last year at the age of 37. After telling Reed to keep Jenks’ name out of her mouth, Maxwell then approached the councilwoman, without her permission or the permission of Mayor Larry Taylor, the presiding officer. He put one of the floor tiles on the dais in front of Reed. At this point, Taylor said, “Calm down, sir.” Reed, the only woman on the dais for Tuesday night’s meeting, pushed her chair back away from the dais to separate herself from Maxwell. Both Ward I Councilwoman Jacqueline Timmer and Ward IV Councilman Chris Faraldi were not in attendance at the meeting. “He has threatened me tonight, and I do not feel safe,” Reed said. As Reed was saying she doesn’t feel safe, Maxwell interjected, “Do not violate my 1st Amendment rights.”

Alexandria’s Planning & Zoning Department is launching a new virtual community meeting series to inform residents about larger development projects, changes to regulations, and planning initiatives. “This series offers community members an opportunity to stay informed about larger development projects under consideration, changes to regulations that affect new development, and upcoming planning initiatives. Learn where to find more information and how to participate in the process,” the City shares in a press release.

When a journalism nonprofit asked the Wisconsin Department of Justice in 2020 for the names and work histories of all law enforcement officers in the state, the agency initially appeared ready to grant the request. But the department received pushback from law enforcement groups, and the records were not released. This new information came to light in documents recently obtained by The Badger Project in its lawsuit against the state DOJ, which is seeking the names and work histories of most law enforcement officers in Wisconsin. The Badger Project’s co-plaintiff in the suit is the Invisible Institute, the journalism nonprofit that made the 2020 request.