A Newport News judge on Friday unsealed a video she previously blocked from public access in the criminal trial of a former Richneck Elementary School assistant principal. Circuit Court Judge Rebecca M. Robinson said the video exhibit — played for jurors in the May trial of Ebony Parker — will be unsealed so long as someone “blurs out” the face of the 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher more than three years ago. It’s not yet clear who will do the redacting. Robinson’s ruling followed a motion from the Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot, which contended the trial exhibit is a public record that could not be legally sealed. But in a separate ruling, Robinson denied the newspapers’ request for the names of the 14 jurors who heard the case. She said that because she told them that their names wouldn’t be released, she didn’t want to renege on that promise.

Monica Kiraly and ali Abay say four businesses they own on Atlantic Avenue suffered financial losses from an all-ages Oceanfront curfew in April. Kiraly estimated their two pizza shops each lost roughly $13,000 from two weekend nights without customers. Their dessert restaurant and cafe also took a hit. When they learned they could submit a claim to the city for financial compensation, they took time out of their busy schedules to draft letters and prepare reports. In June, the city denied their claims along with multiple others, citing Virginia Beach’s sovereign immunity. No business claims for the curfew have been approved, according to city spokesperson Ali Weatherton. … After the curfew ended, businesses could file a claim for negligence with the city attorney’s office and seek compensation. At that time, a city spokesperson told The Virginian-Pilot that sovereign immunity/police power protections generally shield the city from liability for actions taken to protect public health, safety and welfare. It’s unclear why the city offered the option for businesses to make a claim. … According to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, six business owners have requested compensation thus far. The businesses include restaurants, commercial parking lots and a nightclub. Some listed loss of gross business revenue, employee wages and tips. The city redacted all of the monetary figures citing a law regarding investigations of a claim, according to a response to the FOIA request made by attorney Kevin Martingayle and provided to The Pilot. “It’s shameful,” Martingayle said. “I don’t think they want the public to know what the total adds up to.”

The Amherst County School Board at its July meeting agreed by consensus to begin opening its meetings with a prayer starting in August. Vice Chair Eric Orasi proposed the move near the end of the board’s most recent meeting during a section reserved for board comments. The board currently opens its meetings with a moment of silence in which members stand silent, often with heads bowed and appearing to be in silent prayer if they choose to before the pledge of allegiance to the American flag.
NOTE: By consensus?

The legitimacy of a vote taken by the Purcellville Town Council earlier this year to set the town’s personal property tax rate is under question after an advisory opinion from the Attorney General’s office determined that approval requires a two-thirds majority vote. The council this week took action to rectify that by moving toward a second vote on the issue. … On July 8, Attorney General Jay Jones issued an advisory opinion at the request of Loudoun County Treasurer Henry Eickelberg and Commissioner of the Revenue Bob Wertz, confirming that a super majority is required by state code. … CouncilMember Susan Khalil questioning the need to do so. “I don’t believe the matter has been put to rest,” Khalil said July 14. “What the attorney general sent out was an opinion, it wasn’t a law, and so therefore, I don’t believe that we have to take any action at this point in time. There is nothing in that opinion that is saying that what has already happened was not valid. So therefore, no action really is required, let alone a public meeting.” Sproul agreed that attorney general opinions are not binding but are merely persuasive. … Re-adopting the rate with a supermajority would reduce risk to the town, he added. “The AG’s opinion, who is the chief lawyer of our state, his opinion says that we did not follow state law by having a supermajority. So, we should really redo it,” Rayner said.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Cox has filed a lawsuit against Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who is also running to be Michigan’s next governor, alleging her office has failed to produce public records related to her past involvement with the Southern Poverty Law Center despite a Freedom of Information Act request filed nearly three months ago. The lawsuit, filed in the Michigan Court of Claims, asks a judge to order Benson’s office to immediately release the requested records before voting begins in Michigan’s 2026 election. Cox, a former Michigan attorney general, said he submitted the FOIA request on April 27 seeking emails and other communications involving Benson, the Michigan Department of State, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, commonly known as the SPLC. According to the lawsuit, the Department of State estimated the request would cost $10,309.94 to fulfill, including an upfront deposit of more than $5,000, and said it would take up to 10 weeks to complete the search.