Trump in Chesapeake; Dream Academy Accreditation; Sen. Lucas Called a B*tch During Hearing, Speaker, Black Caucus, Respond
➡️ Conventions: Rs: starts in 17 days on July 15, Ds: starts in 52 days on Aug. 19
➡️ 34 days until the Virginia Black Business Expo on Aug. 2
➡️ 66 days until the Bobby Scott Labor Day Cookout on Sept. 2
➡️ 130 days until Election Day Nov. 5
Virginia Beach: Sen. Rouse’s Campaign Kickoff Fundraiser for Lt. Governor ‘25
LT. GOVERNOR ‘25 ROUSE EVENT. On the night of June 27, in Virginia Beach State Senator Rouse held a campaign kickoff fundraiser event for his 2025 campaign for Lt. Governor. Sen. Rouse was joined by many supporters and endorsers including former Governor Ralph Northam.
Trump in Chesapeake: Is Virginia in Play?
CHESAPEAKE, VA — As Democrats defend President Biden after a shaky debate performance last night against Donald Trump, Republicans rallied in Chesapeake around their nominee.
A large crowd of thousands arrived at Historic Greenbriar Farms garden center on Sign Pine Road, walked a substantial distance from their cars to a security screening area, then listened to a number of Republican speakers, which included Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Congresswoman Jennifer Kiggans.
In 2021, candidate Youngkin rejected Trump in 2021 as he ran for Governor. His campaign successfully kept him out of Virginia during the 2021 campaign. Despite efforts by his opponent, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, to tie the former Carlyle executive to Trump, Youngkin carved an identity of his own using southern strategy tactics and “critical race theory” to gain momentum. At the time, Youngkin distanced himself from the MAGA wing of the GOP and was victorious over McAuliffe, who was favored. But now, that’s over.
Youngkin is embracing Trump in his first campaign appearance with the MAGA leader and convicted felon known for lying around the 2020 election in which President Biden defeated him by 8 million votes.
In what looked like a Vice Presidential tryout, most of Youngkin’s remarks at the June 28 Chesapeake rally were verbatim talking points Trump has focused on — such as Trump’s endless efforts to link Mexican immigrants to crime using anecdotal cases.
The Republican presidential nominee, who is given to hyperbolic rants against President Biden layered with extravagant lying, confirmed that he was considering Youngkin for Vice President at a press event after the rally..
“Glenn is one of the people we are considering” for Vice President Trump told WWBT reporter Harry Graff during a press conference after the Chesapeake rally.
RELATED: ‘Virginia is in play': Virginia looking more like a battleground state in 2024 presidential election (NBC4 Washington)
The crowd at the rally was large and participants stood in the heat for hours to see the former President. Concession stands and Trump paraphernalia was a main draw on a day when Republicans were feeling upbeat after a debate night many view as a setback for President Biden.
Richmond: Dream Academy Secures Accreditation
The first private online high school for adults in Virginia is now fully accredited. The Dream Academy in Richmond has now met the standards for accreditation which became effective on June 27.
“This is the culmination of a four-year journey to win official recognition for the work our school does to provide adults with a second chance to achieve their goals,” said Dr. Joann Henry, the founding director and principal of The Dream Academy.
“Accreditation represents the seal of an approval from a review body that is tasked with ensuring the quality of educational programming. This means that there is no longer any question that the diplomas our students receive are a valid passport to a brighter future for them and their families,” she continued.
More than 700 mostly Richmond-area residents have graduated from the now fully accredited school since it was launched in August 2012. Dream Academy alumni can be found in law enforcement, in careers and on campuses undertaking further studies in chosen fields.
Last week Gov. Youngkin and Lt. Governor Winsome Sears attended a graduation at The Dream Academy.
After Lucas Called B*tch During VMSDEP Hearing, and Speaker Scott, Black Caucus Chair, Respond
During a meeting of the Select Workgroup on Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) on June 28, a veteran called Finance Chair and State Senator Louise Lucas a “bitch.”
“Everyone should be shown dignity and respect when they testify, and likewise, that same respect should be shown to our elected officials. We will not tolerate folks coming into hearings disrespecting Senator L. Louise Lucas,” Speaker Don Scott wrote in a statement on the evening of June 28.
Senator Lucas, who is serving as the Senate Finance Chair, is one of the most powerful lawmakers in Virginia.
Shortly before the statement by Speaker Scott, Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Chair State Senator Lamont Bagby released the following statement below:
Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Statement on Public Comment Decorum
"Today, during a Senate Finance & Appropriations Select Workgroup Committee meeting, an attendee used their public comment time to call Senator Louise Lucas a derogatory name. The only titles the Senator has earned in the General Assembly are that of Chair of the Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee and President pro tempore of the Senate of Virginia. It is because of her resilience, deep capacity to care about the people of Virginia, and a strong record worth decades of delivering on her promises that she is the first Black woman to hold these titles.
The ability to hold civil public comment on communal issues is an integral part of our democracy and a signal of its strength. As was called for in the meeting, decorum and respect are the minimum qualities that any person, elected or not, must maintain to engage in public debates on legislation. This time is meant to be used by non-elected members of the community to have a voice beyond the ballot box when it comes to policy. To derail this meeting by aiming slurs at a respected member of the General Assembly only distracts from policy issues. This incident was demeaning to the incredible woman and Senator that Chair Louise Lucas shows up to work as every day."
Sincerely,
Lamont Bagby, Member, 14th District, Senate of Virginia,
Chair, Virginia Legislative Black Caucus
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