Scanners tuned to radio channels used by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and police in Leesburg, Middleburg, and Purcellville have gone completely silent for the first time. … The move has been framed as a measure to protect officers and victims from bad actors using police scanners to monitor law enforcement operations and acquire personal information voiced over the radio. The departments in July said in a joint statement that “the public and members of the news media will continue to receive timely and accurate information through Alert Loudoun, news releases, incident reports, department websites, social media, and other public communications. This transition changes only the method of real-time radio communications and does not change each agency’s commitment to openness, accountability, and providing information about police activity.” But a Loudoun Now analysis found that, of the 27 incidents involving a shooting, stabbing, robbery, or active incident involving a firearm that Loudoun Now had reported on through July, only five triggered an Alert Loudoun notification, only eight resulted in a timely X post, only nine were included in the department’s Daily Incident Report, and only seven triggered a news release. Since the encryption plans surfaced, Loudoun Now has documented an additional 16 incidents, including six robberies (including four armed robberies), seven shootings, an attempted abduction, and a SWAT standoff that involved deployment of tear gas and other significant measures.

Lynchburg’s vice mayor has been accused of using a “burner account” on Facebook after photos of him attending a concert by Canadian rock band Rush in Washington, D.C., last weekend appeared on an account under a different name. Photos of Vice Mayor Curt Diemer, who represents Ward III, taken inside Capital One Arena on Oct. 25, showed up on a Facebook account with the name “Jordan Jones” after the Rush concert. … In an email sent to members of the news media on Wednesday, Councilman Chris Faraldi contended the “Jordan Jones” account has been used by Diemer for years. Faraldi cited more than 200 comments made by Jordan Jones on the city’s Facebook page and livestream coverage of council meetings. “His outlandish comments are aggressive, hateful, incite violence, insinuate racism, and more,” Faraldi said in a statement. “Even better, he consistently praised himself as Jordan Jones, and had conversations with himself.” Earlier this week, a complaint was filed with the Lynchburg registrar’s office, seeking clarification on the wearing of Meta smart glasses at the registrar’s office on Kemper Street. … The complaint and Electoral Board Chair David Levy’s Oct. 27 response were obtained by The News & Advance through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Last month, I shared a memo with you that Attorney General Todd Blanche signed and sent to all federal agencies on Sept 1. It was guidance for agencies on how to implement President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order that designated English as the “official” language of the United States. Blanche’s memo called for agencies to eviscerate multilingual services except in cases where it is required by law or “may be necessary,” such as in matters related to national security, immigration enforcement and court proceedings. Last week, Blanche revised his September memo. I obtained a copy of his new version. It says English is not only the “official” language of the US, but the “sole official language.”