State Police Task Force Will Assist ICE

Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed an executive order to deputize state police and corrections officers to assist federal agents in arresting and detaining illegal immigrants.

“Dangerous criminal illegal immigrants should not be let back into our communities to assault, rape and murder. They should be sent back where they came from,” Youngkin said.

The Virginia State Police will create a task force of officers to coordinate with ICE, and state corrections officers will be trained to work as “Designated Immigration Officers” to identify and remove illegal immigrants.

Federal law allows ICE to coordinate with local and state law enforcement to remove those who are in the U.S. unlawfully. Several states, including Georgia, are already cooperating.

Virginia Beach Officers Laid to Rest

Flags across the Commonwealth were at half-staff over the weekend as Virginia Beach held a memorial service for two officers killed during a routine traffic stop last month.

Thousands of mourners and hundreds of police officers from many cities filed into Rock Church to hear about the bravery and dedication of the two partners, Officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese.

“To their families, please know Cameron and Chris were loved by this department. Our department is so grateful for the time we had with them and we will carry their memory forever,” Chief Paul Neudigate told mourners.

Scott Humphrey, a retired Virginia Beach officer, explained the importance of the solemn ceremony. “A line of duty death, it’s full honors, so you’re going to get all of the honors a retired officer would, plus many more,” he said.

Official fundraisers to help the fallen officers’ families have raised more than $300,000 so far, with almost $100,000 earmarked for each of the men’s loved ones.

VMI Doesn’t Renew Superintendent’s Contract

The Board of Visitors at Virginia Military Institute voted not to retain Retired Army Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins as superintendent when his current contract expires in June.

“The BOV is supremely grateful to Major General Wins for his service to the Institute during some very difficult times,” board President John Adams said after the 10-6 vote. “The foundation he has provided us will ensure VMI continues to fulfill its vital mission of educating future leaders.”

Wins took the helm at VMI in 2020, the first black man to hold the position. His hiring coincided with a state report that detailed allegations of racism and sexism at the university.

Democratic state leaders criticized the move. “The Board’s decision is a clear signal that VMI is choosing to move in the wrong direction, caving to political pressures rather than continuing on the path of necessary reform,” House Speaker Don Scott said.

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➤ Blacksburg: Researchers at Virginia Tech are not yet sure whether recent cuts at USAID will end funding for eight projects the school has worked on since 2023. Total federally sponsored research spending at the university exceeds $300 million annually. (Details)

➤ Haymarket: Hundreds of current and recently fired federal workers attended a town hall set up by Democratic Rep. Suhas Subramanyam. “Everything that came out of this is going turn into legislation,” the congressman said. (More)

➤ Newport News: Participants from 35 states took to the streets in ideal running weather yesterday for the 11th annual One City Marathon and the BayPort Credit Union Half Marathon. (Details)

➤ Radford: An explosion that rocked a U.S. Army ammunition plant last week is under investigation. No one was injured in the incident, which a plant spokesman attributed to robust safety protocols. (More)

➤ Statewide: Winters in Virginia are getting warmer. A recent report found that nearly 60% of winter days now reach temperatures above freezing, the number of which has increased by 10 days in December and January in the last decade. (More)

➤ Roanoke County: Ryan Wheeler Wallace was charged last week with multiple felonies and misdemeanors in connection with a series of burglaries across the state. Officers from nine jurisdictions participated in the investigation. (Details)

➤ Liberty University’s women won the Conference USA track and field championship, held in Lynchburg. The men’s team placed second. (Details)

➤ Virginia’s men held first place during the second day of the ACC track and field championships. Virginia Tech’s women opened the day with the lead, but had dropped to fourth place during the day. The three-day event ends today. (Details)

➤ UVA’s men’s tennis team, ranked No. 5 in the nation but coming off a loss at Duke, got back on track with a 6-1 road win over conference foe UNC. (More)

➤ Liberty’s men’s basketball team saw a six-game winning streak snapped when it fell at home to Kennesaw State, 85-80. (Details)

➤ College sports are important in Virginia, and the future of name, image, and likeness policies are important to college sports. Sign up for NIL Wire to stay informed.

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | PGA | NASCAR | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer 

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➤ CoStar Group laid off more than 100 content producers in Richmond, stating it will use artificial intelligence to fill those roles. The company said it plans to eventually hire about 500 new salespeople and may make other hires as well. (Details)

➤ Aspetto, Inc., which makes tactical gear and provides IT services as a government contractor, said it will expand its Stafford County headquarters and hire nearly 100 additional employees. (More)

➤ The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dropped a case it had filed against McLean-based Capital One. The suit, brought in January, alleged that the bank had cheated customers out of more than $2 billion in interest payments. (Details)

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➤ Langston Hughes Middle School in Reston welcomed author Kwame Alexander yesterday to celebrate Read Across America Day. This year marks the 10th anniversary of Alexander’s Newbery Medal-winning novel, The Crossover. (Details)

➤ Virginia Smith, a member of the first graduating class at Maggie L. Walker High School in Richmond in 1942, celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday with family and friends. (More)

➤ The Virginia Beach Dome, a $55 million concert venue, is scheduled to open on May 4 with a performance by Three Dog Night. Other acts scheduled to appear this year include Alison Krauss and Union Station, Melissa Etheridge, and Chicago. (Look Inside)

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Should state law enforcement officers be deputized to assist ICE?

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Friday’s Results:

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