Friday, April 11, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1964, Gen. Douglas MacArthur was laid to rest in Norfolk’s old City Hall. An estimated 150,000 people turned out for the funeral procession ahead of his interment.

The federal government said that it does not want to press charges against the alleged gang leader it arrested two weeks ago in Dale City. We have details in Top Stories, along with a preview of weekend attractions.

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DOJ Drops Charges Against Alleged Gang Leader

The Justice Department moved to drop the illegal gun possession charges it filed against Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos. The 24-year-old was arrested during a raid at his mother’s Dale City home two weeks ago.

Villatoro Santos’ court-appointed attorney filed a motion to delay the dismissal by 14 days and expressed a concern that if his client is turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents immediately, he might be deported without due process.

Interim U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert asked the court to dismiss the charges “without prejudice,” meaning the government could bring the charges again in the future. The White House has described Villatoro Santos as “one of the top three MS-13 leaders in the United States.”

After the arrest, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the suspect was “one of the worst of the worst” and vowed Villatoro Santos would soon face more charges.

Small Plane Crashes Near Fredericksburg

A small Beechcraft aircraft crash-landed in Spotsylvania County on Wednesday, injuring both people on board.

The single-engine plane was traveling from Leesburg to the Hampton Roads area when it encountered an oil pressure issue. The pilot attempted an emergency landing on a road, but the plane crashed into trees and overturned.

Virginia State Police reported that the pilot and passenger were taken to Mary Washington Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Things To Do This Weekend

Runners get top billing in Richmond this weekend, as the city hosts the 26th Monument Avenue 10k in the Fan District on Saturday. For a more leisurely pace, browse for vinyl on Record Store Day (with several local outlets taking part) or cheer at the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Adult Tournament.

Virginia Tech hosts Hokie Hi: Weekend at Home in Blacksburg, with several sporting events on campus, including three softball games, three baseball games, and the spring football game.

In Northern Virginia, stop by Union Station this afternoon to meet Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer, at the GR8 City Celebration.

Or head to the Sweet Jazz Festival 2025 in Loudoun County and the Art in Bloom Open House & Art Walk in Lorton.

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➤ Spotsylvania County: The sheriff’s office said a neighbor with a personal weapon came out of his home and shot one of the suspects during the exchange of gunfire that left three people dead on Tuesday. No charges will be filed against the neighbor. (Details)

➤ Arlington: An American Airlines flight with a reported seven federal lawmakers on board was clipped by another plane on a taxiway at Reagan National Airport on Thursday. No one was injured. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: The school board voted to suspend DEI initiatives in school programs and curricula to comply with federal policy. The Trump administration has given schools nationwide until April 13 to comply or risk losing federal education funding. (Details)

➤ Statewide: The Virginia Department of Transportation asked drivers to identify trouble spots on I-81 that need to be addressed. Feedback will be used to help shape future projects. (More)

➤ Richmond: Gov. Glenn Youngkin put a hold on a legislative proposal that would require data center developers to disclose noise and environmental impacts before a project is approved. The governor sent the bipartisan bill back to lawmakers with the recommendation that it should be passed again by the 2026 General Assembly before it takes effect. (Details)

➤ Fauquier County: The Board of Supervisors adopted a $435.7 million spending plan that raises taxes and increases spending year-over-year. The budget was approved by a 3-2 vote. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech softball puts its 14-game winning streak on the line with a three-game home series that starts today against Notre Dame. (More)

➤ UVA women’s lacrosse, ranked No. 11, visits No. 2 Boston College on Saturday. The Cavs are coming off a win in a rivalry game against No. 9 Maryland. (Schedule)

➤ Liberty softball, ranked No. 21 and coming off a win against UVA, visits New Mexico State for a three-game Conference USA series this weekend. (Details)

➤ The future of college sports at all levels is being driven by changes in name, image, and likeness policies. Sign up for NIL Wire and stay ahead of the games.

➤ Yesterday’s results: Masters | MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAABB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ The Northern Virginia housing market grew in March as home prices, total sales volume, and inventory levels all increased, according to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. (Details)

➤ Wawa, a convenience store operator, said it plans to open as many as 60 new locations in the Commonwealth over the next 10 years, including up to eight stores by the end of 2025. (More)

➤ CoStar, based in Arlington, replaced three members of its board of directors under investor pressure from hedge funds. The company is struggling to make its Homes.com division profitable. (Details)

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The editorial content here is not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone.

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➤ Hurricane season starts next month. One forecast suggests there’s a 54% chance of a major storm hitting the Commonwealth and a 24% chance of a full-blown hurricane making landfall in Virginia this year. (Details)

➤ The Kindness Café + Play recently opened a second Charlottesville location with the goal of “providing meaningful employment for adults with cognitive disabilities while creating a joyful, inclusive community space.” (More)

➤ Prom dresses will be easier to afford in Newport News this year. Meet Terry Curl, the woman who gives away formalwear each spring. (Her Story)

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