Judge Denies Restraining Order Request

U.S. District Judge Rossie Alston turned down the Fairfax and Arlington school districts’ request for a restraining order against the federal Department of Education.

The Trump administration ruled over the summer that districts in Alexandria, as well as Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties, are violating Title IX of federal law because they allow students to use restrooms based on their declared gender rather than their sex at birth.

The Department of Education is withholding some federal funding unless those districts change policies.

The two counties had sought an injunction, but the judge ruled that his court does not have jurisdiction in the case, which would instead be in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

A Richmond woman pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $239,000 from her former employer, All Saints Catholic School. As part of the plea bargain, she agreed to pay back the funds.

Shannel Peoples-Hilliard was the business manager for the school. She admitted to using its credit card to pay for vacation trips, tickets to performances, and her personal rent.

The 46-year-old admitted she would then pay off the credit card using the school’s bank account. She carried out the scheme from May 2021 until June 2024.

She will be sentenced in January and could serve up to 20 years in prison.

Commanders Start Season Strong

The Washington Commanders opened the 2025 season at home with a win against the New York Giants.

The Commanders’ defense was dominant and included a pair of goal-line stands to keep the new-look New York offense out of the end zone, allowing Washington to methodically pull away for a 21-6 victory.

On offense, Jayden Daniels tossed a 7-yard touchdown while Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Deebo Samuel carried for one each as the Commanders ate up clock with long drives.

The team has a short week with a visit to Green Bay scheduled for Thursday.

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➤ Arlington: Aviation experts and policymakers met to discuss air safety, seven months after a deadly air collision over the Potomac River killed 67 people. Reagan National Airport has seven vacant air traffic controller positions of the 30 it can fill. (Details)

➤ Statewide: The Commonwealth ranks ninth nationwide for gasoline taxes. According to the Tax Foundation, Virginians pay 41.6 cents per gallon in gas taxes. (More)

➤ Winchester: Valley Health unveiled a pilot program intended to support people suffering a mental health crisis without deploying traditional law enforcement officers. It’s part of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s statewide Special Conservators of the Peace initiative. (Details)

➤ Luray: Page County hired C. Todd Gilbert as a senior assistant commonwealth’s attorney. Gilbert resigned from his position as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia last month after less than six weeks on the job. (Details)

➤ Roanoke: A Habitat for Humanity volunteer sued the Roanoke Valley chapter for negligence after she suffered a broken leg in a fall from the second story of a house. Dea Adams is asking for $12 million. (More)

➤ Gloucester: Tidal marshes in Virginia’s Middle Peninsula generate roughly $90 million in economic benefits each year, according to a joint study from William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. (Details)

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➤ UVA field hockey, ranked No. 3, edged No. 16 Rutgers 1-0 in a Big Ten/ACC Challenge match-up on a neutral field yesterday. (Details) 

➤ Liberty women’s soccer fell to No. 9 Penn State 3-0 in Lynchburg on Sunday. (Stats)

➤ George Mason men’s soccer, ranked No. 22, fell 6-4 against No. 6 West Virginia in Fairfax. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech, ranked No. 20 in women’s soccer, hosted William & Mary yesterday evening. (Score)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Golf | U.S. Open | NASCAR | F1

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➤ Hitachi Energy said it plans to spend $1 billion to expand its operations in Virginia. That includes a $457 million transformer production facility in South Boston and more than $500 million in other grid-related investments. (Details)

➤ Amazon bought 26 acres in Amherst County and plans to erect a new distribution center. The retailer said it will spend $16 million to build a 78,000-square-foot facility. (More)

➤ Several retail projects are underway in Roanoke, including an indoor golf facility, a coffee chain outlet, and a new bodega. (Details)

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➤ The annual SpeakUp 5K in Richmond brought out thousands of runners to raise money to combat teen depression and anxiety. The event honors the memory of Cameron Gallagher. (Details)

➤ ABC’s Good Morning America put a spotlight on Mercy Chefs, which has its headquarters in Portsmouth, during a broadcast last week. It was part of the program’s 50 States in 50 Weeks: America the Beautiful series. (More)

➤ The Virginia Elk Cam is broadcasting again, giving viewers a chance to view the large animals at the height of their mating season. (Details)

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Should Virginia cut gas taxes?

1. Yes, they’re too high
2. No, they support roads
3. I don’t care

Friday’s Results:

Do you support Virginia Beach renaming Neptune’s Park? 

1. Yes: 19%
2. No: 34%
3. I don’t care: 47%

What was Virginia native Patsy Cline’s first number one country record?

Show me the answer