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"While police in states such as Ohio routinely release 911 audio, video, and the full names and personnel records of officers who shoot people, police in Virginia typically don’t."
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The long legal battle over whether the General Assembly’s 2011 redistricting packed African Americans into 11 House of Delegates districts in a way that diluted voting power hasn’t come cheap. Now on its way, for the second time, to the U.S. Supreme Court, the cost to taxpayers for the House’s intervention in the case has already reached $4,067,098.03, according to Speaker Kirk Cox’s office. .(In addition, the Attorney General spent $877,000 defending the state Board of Elections, which was the entity that voters actually sued; its last payment was made in 2015.)
Daily Press
Virginia Beach announced this week that after searching for almost a year, it had hired a director to lead the department in charge of the state’s only aquarium, located near the Oceanfront. But legal obstacles and an internal investigation into discrimination made hiring for the position a difficult and costly endeavor, The Virginian-Pilot discovered from records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Cynthia Whitbred-Spanoulis was chosen to lead the city’s department of Aquarium and Historic Houses, which oversees the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, located off General Booth Boulevard. The aquarium, which opened in 1986, has more than 10,000 animals and draws nearly 700,000 visitors a year. But Whitbred-Spanoulis wasn’t the city’s first choice for the job – it was a man from the Vancouver Aquarium. Before Whitbred-Spanoulis was hired, the city spent at least $22,000 in taxpayer money to investigate the discrimination complaint, and lost its preferred candidate after he was unable to obtain a work visa, The Pilot learned from documents obtained through FOIA.
The Virginian-Pilot
A veteran social services administrator named to lead Rockbridge area’s troubled child welfare agency said Friday he’s no longer a candidate for the position. That revelation came after questions from The Roanoke Times and local residents about his professional and financial past. Rockbridge Area Department of Social Services officials named Andre Chambers director of the agency on Monday, Board Chairman Duaine Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald could not be reached to comment on Chambers’ statement that he is no longer coming to Rockbridge County. Two candidates, including Chambers, proceeded to interview privately with the entire board July 3. Fitzgerald would not comment on why Chambers was selected over other candidates.
The Roanoke Times
The felony fraud and forgery trial of Portsmouth Councilman Mark Whitaker is set to begin this morning with jury selection in Circuit Court. Whitaker, an assistant pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, stands charged with two counts of identity fraud, seven counts of “uttering a forged check” and 11 counts of forgery. He has pleaded not guilty.
The Virginian-Pilot
Police on Wednesday denied a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by The Winchester Star for the recording of the 911 call made by shooting suspect Scott Bradley Garthwaite as well as any records, reports, audio or video pertaining to the July 2 shooting in which police said Bradley was wounded by an officer after shooting at police. Capt. Leonard Bauserman, who handles FOIA requests, said in an email that the rejection was because the case is under investigation. Police also wouldn’t provide the personnel file and hiring date of the officer who shot Garthwaite. Police wouldn’t give her full name, identifying her as A. Warren and saying she was hired a little more than a year ago. While police in states such as Ohio routinely release 911 audio, video, and the full names and personnel records of officers who shoot people, police in Virginia typically don’t. Bill Farrar, spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union Virginia chapter, said the reason for the difference is that Virginia has a “Swiss cheese” FOIA law.
The Winchester Star
Three college students are learning the intricacies of local government through paid – $10 per hour – internships in the Warren County Government Center. Warren County Planning Director Taryn Logan said several departments implemented the intern program about five years ago. She said while the students become familiar with the functions of local government, the departments get help streamlining tasks they would like to finish but do not have time to do so.
The Northern Virginia Daily
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