More Charges in Prison Drug Case

Three additional suspects were charged for allegedly attempting to smuggle approximately $1.1 million worth of drugs into the Virginia Correctional Center for Women. A total of nine people now face charges in the case.

Current inmate Rebecca Eileen Frost was charged this month, along with Janice Lee Shenk and Adam Gregory Swale, following a grand jury investigation in Goochland County.

Back in October, authorities charged six people in connection with the case. State law enforcement officers are still investigating, so further charges are possible.

Welfare Reform Proposal Unveiled

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the Safe Kids, Strong Families initiative, aimed at improving Virginia’s child welfare system.

The $50 million plan would fund the hiring of 132 people to answer calls for help and enroll children in the system. It would also boost the salaries of local family services specialists who respond to children in need.

“This roadmap builds on the progress we’ve made and sets a clear direction for a system designed to protect children and support families for generations,” Gov. Youngkin said. He leaves office next month.

The plan enjoys bipartisan support. “We urge leaders on both sides of the aisle in Richmond to come together, embrace this proposal, and get it done,” Virginia’s two Democratic U.S. senators said in a joint statement.

Civil Rights Champion Honored

Gov. Glenn Youngkin and his successor, Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger, came together for a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol to unveil a statue of Barbara Rose Johns.

When she was 16 years old, Johns led a student walkout in Farmville to protest conditions at her all-black school. Her legal case was eventually resolved by the Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ended school segregation in 1954.

“We are truly grateful that this magnificent monument to our story, the sacrifices that our family and her community made, may continue to inspire and teach others that no matter what, you too can reach for the moon,” her daughter, Terry Harrison, said.

Each state is allowed to contribute two statues of notable people to the federal collection. The Barbara Rose Johns statue replaces a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that was removed five years ago.

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➤ Norfolk: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission reported that there were 5,300 gun-related crimes last year, down from 6,500 in 2022. (Details)

➤ Statewide: Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality may allow data centers to use diesel generators more often by changing what qualifies as an emergency power loss to mean any outage that occurs with less than two weeks’ notice. (More)

➤ Loudoun County: Dominion Energy proposed building an underground, direct-current power line that would end at the Mosby substation. If approved, the project would stretch 186 miles, mostly on existing rights-of-way. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: All five defendants implicated in a 2021 gang-related homicide have been sentenced, Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle announced. Each will serve between 12 and 73 years in prison. (Details)

➤ Henry County: The funeral for Senior Trooper Steven R. Ball will be held tomorrow. The 44 year old died Sunday. His “dedication, compassion, and service will never be forgotten,” the state police announced. (More)

➤ Lexington: TJ Johnson, a junior on VMI’s basketball team, will be one of just three student-athletes in the country who will serve on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors. (More)

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➤ Old Dominion football players helped prepack meals for needy families in Orlando before they took the field in the Cure Bowl against South Florida last night. The Monarchs won 24-10 to finish the year at 10-3. (More)

➤ Washington and Lee is No. 8 nationwide in Div. III women’s basketball, while Shenandoah is ranked No. 24, the highest ranking the Hornets have ever earned. (Top 25)

➤ Norfolk State men’s basketball visits Grambling tonight. (Score)

Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer | H.S. Boys Basketball | H.S. Girls Basketball

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➤ James Madison University charges students a fee of more than $3,000 each year to support its athletic programs, which is more than four times as much as the other 11 College Football Playoff schools combined. (Details)

➤ JBG Smith received approval for its plan to build 640 units of affordable housing in Alexandria. (More)

➤ More than 2.5 million Virginians lived in rented homes last year, according to a real estate research group. The median household income for renters in the Commonwealth was $61,242. (Details)

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The next recession is coming, and experts warn: “This time, you’re the collateral.”

The cracks in the system aren’t just cracks anymore. 

• Debt levels are at historic highs.
• Consumer savings are drained.
• Wall Street is on edge.
• Inflation is still bleeding your purchasing power.

➤ Officers from the Fairfax County Animal Shelter freed a fox that had become stuck in a fence. The animal suffered injuries to its hind legs and was taken to the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center for treatment. (Photos)

➤ The final night of Roanoke’s Dickens of a Christmas holiday celebration is Friday, featuring a pet costume contest and a giant inflatable slide. (More)

➤ The University of Lynchburg will allow students to complete a bachelor’s degree in three years. Classes will be offered in public health and educational studies. (Details)

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Should colleges charge students fees to support athletic teams?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I’m not sure

Wednesday’s Results:

Do you think any Virginia college teams will win a postseason football game? 

1. Yes: 35%
2. No: 34%
3. All three will!: 31%

What year did the first hotel in Hot Springs open?

Show me the answer