Loudoun Superintendent Grilled by Congress

Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence testified before a House committee on Wednesday, fielding pointed questions from Republican lawmakers about the district’s bathroom policies, locker room incidents, and parental notification practices.

The hearing was titled “Breaking Trust: Attacks on Parental Rights, Inappropriate Content, and Legal Abuses in America’s Schools.” Committee chair Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) said parents in Loudoun could “consider suing for child abuse and neglect,” a characterization Spence rejected.

After testifying, Spence told reporters he was “a little saddened by some of the questions, but also hopeful by some of the conversation,” maintaining that Loudoun schools follow federal law.

Spence reaffirmed to lawmakers that the Northern Virginia school district remains committed to student needs and parental cooperation, pushing back against claims that Loudoun prioritizes ideology over student safety.

Virginia Tech Rector Sues Spanberger

John Rocovich, ousted as rector of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors in late May, filed a lawsuit against Gov. Abigail Spanberger in Montgomery County Circuit Court on Tuesday, contending she overstepped her authority in dismissing him from the post.

Spanberger cited violations of the board’s ethics codes in her removal of Rocovich, saying he acted in ways that harmed Virginia Tech’s reputation.

Last week, Spanberger announced 52 appointments to college boards statewide, including 32 new members, on top of 27 named on her first day in office. The Virginia Tech board separately voted to retain term limits for rectors, stepping back from a proposal to eliminate them that arose in the days after Rocovich’s dismissal.

Rocovich served as rector, the board’s presiding officer, and his suit challenges whether the Commonwealth’s governor holds authority to unilaterally dismiss a rector appointed to a public university’s governing board.

Hampton Roads Astronaut Tapped for Artemis III

Dr. Andre Douglas, a Chesapeake native who attended Western Branch High School, was named to the Artemis III crew this week. The mission will undertake a series of tests in Earth orbit in 2027, essential for Artemis IV

Douglas, a mission specialist, joins NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio, and Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency on the four-man crew.

The all-male selection drew immediate criticism from lawmakers and aerospace advocates, who noted NASA had previously pledged to put the first woman on the moon under the Artemis program.

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman acknowledged reactions ranged from disappointment to outrage but maintained the crew was chosen based strictly on experience and availability.

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➤ Statewide: Starting next month, some Virginians with past felony convictions can petition to have their records sealed under a new state law that, for the first time, extends record sealing to certain convictions—including some lower-level felonies. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads: Transit riders can now pay bus, light rail, and ferry fares through the new GoMobile app or a reloadable card, with daily fares capped at $4.50, as the agency modernizes its ticketing system. (Details)

➤ Chesapeake: City Council approved a 3.5% pay raise for the mayor and council members, effective July 2027—reversing a unanimous rejection earlier this year amid pushback over economic concerns. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach: Police are cracking down on unpermitted “takeover” events—large unsanctioned gatherings that have snarled traffic and rattled neighborhoods—ahead of the busy summer season. (More)

➤ Fairfax County: IRS migration data shows county residents are increasingly heading to Roanoke and Richmond—a trend driven by housing costs and a shifting federal workforce looking beyond Northern Virginia. (More)

➤ Norfolk: A proposed pedestrian bridge over the Norfolk Southern rail lines could close a key gap in the Elizabeth River Trail, linking Lambert’s Point and West Ghent along the city’s growing greenway network. (More)

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➤ Virginia Tech landed at No. 34 overall and fifth in the ACC in ESPN’s future power rankings, which evaluate each Power Four program’s outlook over the next two seasons. (More)

➤ The Washington Commanders welcomed a yellow Lab named TJ as the team’s official dog this week in a partnership with Redwire. TJ will spend the season with the team before being trained as a service dog for veterans. (More)

➤ The Washington Wizards are hosting BYU forward AJ Dybantsa for a pre-draft visit this week as they prepare to select No. 1 in the NBA Draft on June 23. Dybantsa led all of Division I with 25.5 points per game as a freshman; however, Kansas guard Darryn Peterson remains in the mix at No. 1. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | NHL | MLB | WNBA | Golf

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➤ Scout Space is investing more than $1 million in Fairfax County, opening a new 2,650-square-foot manufacturing facility in Merrifield and adding 31 jobs to the region’s defense and technology corridor. (More)

➤ The University of Mary Washington has opened enrollment for Virginia’s first master’s degree in artificial intelligence in business, positioning the Fredericksburg school as a regional hub for the field. (More)

➤ The Richmond Flying Squirrels are pushing back on Diamond District roadwork that could block the outfield entrance to CarMax Park for four months, demanding that the Richmond Economic Development Authority intervene. (More)

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➤ The annual Blackbeard Festival runs today through Sunday in Downtown Hampton, bringing pirate re-enactors, tall ships, and waterfront entertainment, with periodic road closures through 8 p.m. on Sunday. (More)

➤ Hunt Club Farm is welcoming two Valais Blacknose lambs named Stanley and Yeti this summer. Known for their famously fluffy coats, the new additions join summer camps and petting zoo activities. (More)

➤ The Haymaker Collective has launched Switchel, a THC-infused twist on an old North American farm drink made with vinegar and ginger, tapping the Commonwealth’s growing cannabis culture. (More)

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What’s your favorite beach area in Virginia?

1. Virginia Beach/Chesapeake Bay
2. Chincoteague/Assateague Islands
3. Cape Charles
4. Other
5. All of them

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever ridden on a train? 

1. Yes: 57%
2. No: 16%
3. Not yet: 14%
4. Not interested: 13%

Where is the original Virginia Declaration of Rights located?

Show me the answer