Tragedy on the Potomac

William Caulfield Lankford, a 22-year-old from Lynchburg, died on Sunday after struggling in some rapids during a kayaking incident on the Potomac River near Great Falls. 

Two other kayakers who had been with him pulled him to shore and initiated CPR before emergency crews arrived.

The “water’s very low, so it’s treacherous in some areas,” Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said. 

Virginia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manassas will conduct an autopsy.

Class Action Changes Considered

Gov. Abigail Spanberger has until May 22 to either sign or veto the bills returned to her by the General Assembly after it rejected her recommended changes.

One such measure, sponsored by Sen. Scott Surovell and Del. Marcus Simon, both Democrats, would establish a framework for class-action lawsuits in state courts. The Commonwealth is one of only two states that do not offer a class-action option. Mississippi is the other.

“I’ve been trying to fix this for six years, and it’s probably decades overdue,” Surovell said.

Class action lawsuits involving more than $5 million can be brought in federal court. If this measure passes, it would mainly involve cases with smaller dollar amounts.

Princess Anne Coach Retires

Darnell Dozier retired this week as girls basketball coach at Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach. His team has gone undefeated for two straight seasons and has won four consecutive state championships.

Dozier coached the Cavaliers for 31 seasons, winning 793 games and 16 state championships.

His final game was a 65–62 overtime victory in the Class 5 state championship game this spring. The coach who takes the reins at Princess Anne will inherit a 71-game winning streak.

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➤ Arlington: Residents criticized a proposal to use AI to read the names of graduating seniors at next month’s ceremony. “Turning that moment into an AI moment makes this feel standardized, impersonal, rather than authentic and human,” June Prakash said. (Details)

➤ Prince William County police arrested Elijah D’Mitri Miller after a “ghost gun” fired while he was cleaning it in his home. The bullet hit a water pipe in a nearby residence, but nobody was injured. (More)

➤ Amherst County: Patricia Wiggington, the former wife of a convicted murderer, pleaded guilty to a charge of providing false information to law enforcement. She was sentenced to a year in prison, with ten months suspended. (Details)

➤ Richmond: Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a bill that decriminalizes suicide. Under current law, families of those who kill themselves may be denied some benefits. (More)

➤ Lafayette, La.: Federal authorities charged Virginia-based Navy serviceman Sadiq Rauf Perry with transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The 14-year-old Louisiana girl flew to Norfolk and was found in a Virginia Beach hotel last month. (Details)

➤ Fairfax: A motorcyclist evaded state police by driving on a sidewalk. The rider, who had exited I-66 with police in pursuit, was last seen on Old Centreville Road near Route 28. (More)

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➤ UVA, a No. 6 seed, takes on Pitt in the opening round of the ACC softball championship, which will be held at Palmer Park in Charlottesville beginning today. Virginia Tech will play the winner tomorrow as a No. 3 seed. (Details)

➤ Virginia residents wagered $672.8 million on sports in March, down 2.4% from a year ago. Even so, tax revenue jumped 32% year over year, because sportsbooks kept a much larger share of losing bets than usual. (More)

➤ The Washington Mystics ranked No. 12 in the WNBA’s preseason power rankings. The team features one of the league’s youngest rosters. The season kicks off on Friday. (Details)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ The Virginia Department of Workforce Development reported that unemployment in Fairfax County has jumped 62% since the start of the second Trump administration, which has impacted federal employees through its DOGE cuts. (Details)

➤ Stanley Martin Homes, based in Reston, completed an all-cash acquisition of United Homes Group. The transaction was valued at approximately $221 million. (More)

➤ The Center Street Pitch Competition will give entrepreneurs a chance to compete for $15,000 in prizes. It’s scheduled for tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Ashland Theater. (Details)

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➤ The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office hosted a car show to honor Deputy Jason Saunders, the only officer in county history to be killed in the line of duty. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Department of Wildlife asked residents to leave white-tailed deer fawns alone, even if they appear to be abandoned. (More)

➤ The Mt. Trashmore Summer Carnival in Virginia Beach has been canceled for this year. Security has been a concern at the event in recent years. (Details)

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Should Virginia allow class action lawsuits in state courts?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I’m not sure

Tuesday’s Results:

Have you ever purchased a custom-made suit or dress? 

1. No: 54%
2. Yes: 31%
3. Not yet: 15%

Where was the world’s largest peach grown?

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