Dept. of Education: Who Was Cut; Trump Admin's Use of License Plate Readers; Medicaid Briefing; Black Press Day
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Charts: A Snapshot of Who Got Cut at the Dept of Education
Charts by EdReformNow. On March 11 Trump’s Department of Education announced that it had “initiated a reduction in force impacting nearly 50% of the Department’s workforce.” They then notified 1,315 Department of Education employees that they would “be placed on administrative leave.” Two charts below demonstrate who was placed on leave. EdReformNow
Dumfries, VA, Dreams Big: A New Gaming Resort And Record Events Spur Momentum For The Historic Small Town In Prince William County
Community Playmaker. Dumfries, Virginia’s oldest continuously chartered town, celebrated its 275th anniversary in May 2024. The three-day celebration hearkened back to the Colonial era, when it rivaled major ports like New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
It’s safe to say Dumfries, spanning just over 1.5 square miles with a population approaching 6,000, won’t be confused with those destinations today. But it’s not for a lack of trying.
“We are a small community,” said Tangela Innis, Dumfries Town Manager since April 2023.
“But with our Town Council’s big vision, you’d think that we are as large as New York City.”
That’s not an accident. The local government, featuring a city council of seven members, takes its cues from the Town’s ambitious mayor, Derrick Wood. Raised in Montgomery County, Maryland, Wood recalls his summers in Brooklyn, New York, where concerts, festivals, and activities cultivated a true sense of community. READ ENTIRE
As Predicted: Trump Administration Using License Plate Reader Data
On Feb. 10, the Virginia Senate’s Courts of Justice Committee debated the regulation and massive expansion of license plate readers. A similar debate on expansion and regulation came up last session in 2024. Legislation by Democratic House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell and Sen. L. Louise Lucas to expand the readers and the use of their data failed in committee.
On March 11, The Guardian published a piece on the Trump Administration’s use of mass surveillance technology.
The Guardian: As Donald Trump’s administration ramps up its crackdown on undocumented immigrants to the US, advocates are increasingly worried immigration agents will turn to surveillance technology to round up those targeted for deportation, even in so-called “sanctuary cities” that limit the ways local law enforcement can cooperate with immigration officials.
That’s because US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (Ice) in past years has gained access to troves of data from sanctuary cities that could aid its raids and enforcement actions. Among that information is data from the vast network of license plate readers active across the US, according to documents obtained by the Guardian. READ ENTIRE
Sens. Kaine + Padilla Drop Medical Diversity Bill
Sen. Tim Kaine: Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Expanding Medical Education Act, legislation to address the lack of representation of students of color, rural students, and underserved students in the physician pipeline.
The bill would encourage the recruitment, enrollment, and retention of students from underrepresented backgrounds by providing grants through the Health Resources and Services Administration for colleges and universities to establish or expand certain medical schools in underserved areas or at minority-serving institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
“Communities of color and Virginians in rural and underserved areas have long faced serious challenges in accessing health care and finding providers that look like them or offer services nearby,” said Kaine. “Research indicates physicians are more likely to practice in the areas they’re from—so supporting medical schools at HBCUs, MSIs, and in underserved areas is a commonsense way to help improve care in those communities. This legislation would help do that and improve recruitment and retention of talented individuals from historically underrepresented backgrounds, creating a health care workforce that more accurately reflects the communities they serve.” READ ENTIRE
Medicaid Briefing @1pm: Thursday, March 13
REGISTER HERE • Medicaid is a joint federal and state program providing health coverage to over 80 million Americans, playing a key role in reducing health disparities and supporting healthcare providers. A recently proposed spending bill from U.S. Congress has implications to reduce funding for Medicaid. SciLine’s next briefing will explore Medicaid’s role in providing access to care and affecting health outcomes, how Medicaid influences healthcare spending, and how the program supports rural communities where medical resources are often limited. Three experts will have short conversations with a moderator and then take questions on the record. REGISTER HERE
Panelists:
Dr. Megan Cole, Boston University School of Public Health
Dr. Timothy Layton, University of Virginia
Dr. Timothy McBride, Washington University in St. Louis
SciLine’s scientific outreach manager, Sara Whitlock, will moderate the briefing
Listen to Black Virginia News podcast 46: 🎙️ Advice for Federal Workers
Black Press Day
Tomorrow (March 13, 2025) at Howard University from 11-2pm is Black Press Day 2025. The events can be viewed below on YouTube.
Events
Podcast 44 🎙️ Interview with Rep. Jennifer McClellan
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