State Refutes Prison Abuse Claims

The Office of the State Inspector General drafted a nine-page report responding to allegations of abuse at Red Onion State Prison, the state’s super-maximum security facility located in Wise County.

At least six inmates at the prison burned themselves in 2024 to protest what they called “degrading and inhumane conditions.” The report found that most of the claims were false, while the remaining claims lacked sufficient evidence.

Overall, the investigation team studied more than 500 complaints and reviewed 77 incident reports and camera footage.

Correctional officers who were interviewed during the investigation speculated that the inmates who hurt themselves were hoping to be moved to facilities closer to their families. At least two of the inmates have been transferred out of Virginia.

Judge Questions Halligan

A federal court judge gave Lindsey Halligan until Tuesday to provide a written pleading that explains why she continues to file paperwork stating she is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

U.S. District Judge David Novak—appointed by Donald Trump—issued his order after Halligan signed an indictment in a case he is overseeing. He noted that Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled in November that Halligan’s appointment to the post was unconstitutional and illegal.

Novak demanded that Halligan herself—not a lawyer from the Justice Department—must “explain why her identification does not constitute a false or misleading statement.”

As of Thursday afternoon, the Justice Department website still listed Halligan as the United States Attorney in the district.

Virginia’s Top Distilleries

Southern Living magazine recently highlighted six distilleries in the Old Dominion that are worth checking out.

Virginia’s next-door neighbor, Kentucky, claims a monopoly on the spirit known as bourbon. However, the Bluegrass State used to be part of Virginia, so it makes sense that Virginia makes some fine bourbons, as well.

The oldest of the bunch mentioned is A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, which began as a dairy and granary before it eventually crafted the famous Virginia Gentleman bourbon. Another experienced bourbon-maker is Richmond’s Reservoir Distillery.

Southern Living also cites newcomer Provenance Estate in Middleburg, as well as Belmont Farm in Culpeper, Copper Fox in Sperryville, and Ragged Branch in Charlottesville.

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➤ Norfolk: Renee Nicole (Macklin) Good, the 37-year-old woman shot and killed in her vehicle in Minneapolis by an ICE agent on Wednesday, was a 2020 graduate of Old Dominion University. “May Renee’s life be a reminder of what unites us: freedom, love, and peace,” wrote university President Brian O. Hemphill. (See Full Statement)

➤ Loudoun County Sheriff Michael Chapman said his jail will continue to hold prisoners for 48 hours if ICE has issued a detention order against the suspect. He said ICE issued such orders for 419 inmates last year, and agents showed up to pick up 253 of them. (Details)

➤ Southwest Virginia: The Virginia Department of Health announced that cancer rates in the region were not high enough to qualify as a cancer cluster under federal guidelines. “We will continue to provide the Virginia Cancer Registry with any additional pediatric cancer information we receive,” Health District Director Reisa Sloce said. (Details)

➤ Richmond: Del. Dan Helmer, a Democrat, said he will file legislation this year that would require the federal government to obtain legal authorization from Virginia before it may deploy the Virginia National Guard. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: One firefighter suffered smoke inhalation while fighting a kitchen fire on the 15th floor of a high-rise. The blaze was contained to a single apartment, and no one else was injured. (More)

➤ Danville: An update to the zoning code allows for “transitional housing,” a temporary shelter where people to stay for longer than they could at a homeless shelter. It represents the biggest change to the code in two decades. (Details)

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➤ VCU visits George Mason in men’s basketball tomorrow. The Patriots are undefeated in the A-10, while the Rams are coming off a loss to Saint Louis. (Preview)

➤ Sarah Everhardt, a Haymarket native, and Ilia Malinin, a Fairfax native, will take part in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships this weekend as both attempt to qualify for next month’s Winter Olympics. (Details)

➤ Two coaches from Virginia were named finalists for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award: Virginia’s Tony Elliot and James Madison’s Bob Chesney, who has departed for UCLA. (More)

Yesterday’s results: NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer | H.S. Boys Basketball | H.S. Girls Basketball

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➤ The Gift Niche in Roanoke will close its downtown store this month after 43 years. The owners will continue to make merchandise and sell it online and at other local stores. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach is helping to fund 372 affordable rental units through its Attainable Workforce Housing Performance Grant. (More)

➤ AeroFarms, an indoor agriculture facility in Pittsylvania County, remains in business for now after raising new funding. However, the owners have told the state that they may have to close as soon as next week. (Details)

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➤ Barboursville Vineyards became the first Virginia winery to earn a slot in the top 50 U.S. wines of the year as selected by the British magazine Decanter. (Details)

➤ Chesterfield Fire and EMS crews rescued a worker after he fell into a 30-foot-deep well. The man was unharmed. (More)

➤ Phoenix Bikes in Arlington will give a free bicycle to any child who earns it by first taking an 8-week course on bike mechanics. “We really believe that if you can get your hands on to work on a bike, you can unlock potential you didn’t know you had within you,” the shop’s executive director, Tom Shannon, said. (Details)

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Are you participating in “dry January”?

1. Yes
2. No
3. What’s that?

Thursday’s Results:

Do you plan to move in 2026? 

1. Yes, in state: 28%
2. Yes, out of state: 29%
3. No: 43%

What year did Kentucky break off from Virginia and become a state?

Show me the answer