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If you're shopping on Prime Day, start by going to Amazon Smilefirst and selecting the Virginia Coalition for Open Government as your charity. A percentage of your purchase goes to VCOG! We also have a wish list of everyday office supplies.
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A decade after his arrival at Virginia Commonwealth University, President Michael Rao is a million-dollar man. Rao, 52, earned more than $1 million in total compensation in the past year, putting him at the top of the state salaries database compiled by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The Richmond Times-Dispatch obtained state employees’ names, job titles and salaries using the state’s Freedom of Information statute. The FOI request for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2018, and ended June 30, 2019, is part of The Times-Dispatch’s ongoing effort to report on government spending and use of taxpayer money.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Two days after Amherst Town Council voted to remove an elected member from its ranks, some area residents are criticizing the move they said undermines the electoral process while town officials in a statement called the matter a “difficult decision.” In a statement Friday issued through Town Manager Sara Carter, the town said: “This decision was not made lightly, or quickly, or without understanding how serious and difficult this would be. While we understand the confusion and concern on the part of the voters, and the desire for an explanation, one cannot be offered. To do so would violate the requirements of the closed session and the Code of the Ethics of the Council.” The statement said while council strives for transparency, it wishes “to speak only in ways that promote the common public interest of our beautiful town.”
The News & Advance
A former aide to Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, has filed a federal lawsuit accusing Adams of "hacking" into her personal email records to delete files related to work the aide performed for Adams' medical consulting business. Maureen Hains, who worked as Adams' campaign manager in 2017 and was later hired as her legislative aide, filed the suit Thursday. The suit, first reported by Courthouse News, seeks $550,000 in damages and accuses Adams of violating state and federal computer fraud and privacy laws.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Virginia Beach officials have charged a city employee with disturbing the peace after she told a manager the gunman from the mass shooting probably snapped because of supervisors like her. Four city employees, including the manager, also took out protective orders against Elizabeth Mann, 48, who was fired a week later from her role in the Human Services Department, where she helped investigate reports of adult abuse or neglect. She said she worked for the city since 2003. Mann asked to speak freely [at a staff meeting], according to a partial recording of the meeting that she provided to The Virginian-Pilot. "I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t detect any sincerity from you at all, Wendy. You are exactly the same type of supervisor that probably pushed this guy to do that."
The Virginian-Pilot
Christiansburg Town Council members are finding what they say can quickly turn into a bill after talking to a contracted attorney. And so the council formed a committee tasked with crafting clearer policies and procedures for the elected body’s consultations with its attorney. A recent case that shed light on the matter involved councilman Steve Huppert, who cost the town $115 on May 28 after he briefly spoke with attorney Mark Popovich about editorials provided to media by elected officials. Huppert said he misunderstood that his encounter with the attorney constituted a legal consultation. The councilman later apologized during a public discussion with the council on the matter.
The Roanoke Times
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"The judge ordered researchers at Georgetown to return 20 pages of confidential information to the NYPD. He was not inclined to make the decision a second time."
"Refusal of accountability in the face of tragedy after tragedy is unacceptable."