Double Homicide and Arson Charged

Two people were arrested in connection with a double homicide and arson in Mathews County. Emergency personnel responding to a fire call removed two bodies from the home, determining the victims had been shot to death before the fire.

Both suspects, 18-year-old Lacey Ann Horsley and 33-year-old Carol Paul Cormier Jr., were arrested by Newport News police after authorities used digital evidence and Flock License Plate Readers to track their vehicle.

The victims, 54-year-old Chad Wayne Ashford and 56-year-old Audrey Elaine Hudgins Mowrar, were shot on Thursday. The suspects allegedly returned on Friday to burn the home to cover up any remaining evidence.

Both suspects are being held without bond.

Deportee Still Separated from Family

A Manassas family of six who volunteered to self-deport has not seen their matriarch, who remains in detention in Texas, in more than a month.

Claudia Alvarenga España was detained on June 3 after she appeared for a required check-in with federal authorities. She was sent to Guatemala by mistake, then returned for a hearing where she told ICE officials she would self-deport along with her husband and four children.

“She does not want to be separated from her family for seven months, not three months, not even a week if she doesn’t have to be. So she is asking, she is pleading, for deportation,” her husband explained last month.

He has put their house on the market and obtained passports for their American-born children while his wife remains in custody. An ICE spokesperson said her case is in removal proceedings.

Storms Linger

A hot, stormy weather pattern remained dominant across Virginia yesterday. A flood watch was in effect for most of the state, as storms threatened to bring torrential downpours and strong winds.

In the Hampton Roads area, a flash flood warning was in effect for Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Rainfall of up to 2 inches per hour was possible, and the ground was completely saturated from recent storms.

Heavy rain caused a ground stop on Sunday at Virginia’s D.C.-area airports and a flash flood warning for Northern Virginia that expired early yesterday.

Forecasters say the slow-moving storms of recent days are being triggered by weak upper-level winds that are allowing storms to stall and dump heavy rain in particular areas.

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➤ Fairfax County: The two candidates running in September’s special election in the 11th congressional district explained where they stand on issues including abortion, the economy, and education. (Details)

➤ Roanoke: A freeze on federal Department of Education funds, which took effect on July 1, is holding up $108 million earmarked for programs in Virginia, including the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Virginia. (More)

➤ Richmond: The annual Commonwealth Games will be held in the Capital region for the first time next year. Around 10,000 athletes are set to participate in the games, scheduled for this weekend in Lynchburg. (Details)

➤ Stafford County: Three juveniles were jailed after an argument about pants “escalated out of control,” police said. All face charges of simple assault, and one will also face obstruction of justice charges. (More)

➤ Statewide: School boards across Virginia have pulled 220 books from school libraries since 2020, according to a survey by a legislative committee. (Details)

➤ Fort Lee: At an official ceremony, the name of Fort Gregg-Adams was changed back to Fort Lee. However, the facility is now said to honor Private Fitz Lee, a black soldier who served with distinction in the Spanish-American War, rather than Confederate General Robert E. Lee. (More)

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➤ The Washington Nationals are sending two players to tonight’s All‑Star Game—pitcher MacKenzie Gore, who earned his first selection, and James Wood, a reserve outfielder. Both players were part of the Juan Soto trade three years ago. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech assistant basketball coach Christian Webster is leaving after nearly a decade to become a coach at Stetson University in Florida. (Details)

➤ The Nationals surprised many fans when they selected 17-year-old shortstop Eli Willits with the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: Soccer | WNBA | MLB Draft

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➤ The average price of a gallon of gas dropped 4.3 cents over the last week to $2.99 per gallon. According to the tracking firm GasBuddy, that’s 3.8 cents less than last month and 47.7 cents less than this time last year. (Details)

➤ The Navy signed contracts totaling $262 million with four Virginia-based companies that will provide repair, maintenance, and modernization services near Norfolk. (More)

➤ Fairfax County has a surplus of office property, and more people are moving out than are moving in. That’s driving down the county’s tax base, which will have spillover effects across the entire state. (Details)

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➤ Volunteers are monitoring five sea turtle nests at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach. The eggs will hatch, and the turtles will make their way to the ocean in about 60 days. (Details)

➤ The Virginia Scenic Railway said it will use the noted Norfolk & Western Class J No. 611 steam locomotive to pull several excursions this fall. The engine resides at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke. (More)

➤ The Virginia State Police finished ninth in the “Best Looking Cruiser” contest sponsored by the American Association of State Troopers. That means the state’s Mustang patrol car will be part of the association’s annual calendar. (Details)

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Have you ever attended the Commonwealth Games?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I’ve competed

Monday’s Results:

Should the state use AI to edit regulatory language? 

1. Yes: 43%
2. No: 34%
3. What’s AI?: 23%

What military decoration was Private Fitz Lee awarded?

Show me the answer