Leon Benjamin is the senior pastor of New Life Harvest Church, former Richmond GOP Party Chairman, and a candidate for Virginia’s fourth Congressional district.
Read MoreCongressional Candidate Leon Benjamin: It’s Pastor Time
Category: Virginia
Governor Northam to Sign Bill Giving Earned Sentence Credits to Violent Offenders and Sexual Predators
Governor Ralph Northam will sign a bill granting earned sentence credits to violent offenders and sexual predators. Certain inmates will be eligible to reduce their sentencing by up to fifty percent.
The bill, House Bill (HB) 5148, includes those sentenced for certain classifications of murder, rape, robbery, abduction, kidnapping, lynching, terrorism, domestic assault, strangulation, genital mutilation, child pornography, and stalking.
Group of Monument Avenue Residents to File Legal Brief Supporting Lee Statue Removal
Roughly 50 or more Monument Avenue residents who live nearby the Robert E. Lee statue intend to file an amicus brief with the Virginia Supreme Court in support of Governor Ralph Northam’s plan to remove the controversial monument, a lawyer representing the group said.
Local residents organized the group called Circle Neighbors after a Richmond Circuit Court judge ruled earlier this week against three plaintiffs, who also live near the monument, seeking to block the Commonwealth from removing the statue.
Read MoreGovernor Signs Executive Order Allowing for Return of High School Sports in December
After months of uncertainty in light of the coronavirus pandemic, Virginia high school sports will finally return in December.
On Thursday, Governor Ralph Northam cleared the way for high school sports to resume and for the Virginia High School League (VHSL) to proceed with its Championship +1 schedule when he signed the fourth amendment of Executive Order 67, adjusting statewide restrictions on recreational sports.
Read MoreVirginia Mandates Police Receive Anti-Racism Training, Bans No Knock Warrants
Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed over a dozen police reforms into law, including mandated anti-racism training for law enforcement and a ban on no-knock warrants.
Senate Bill 5030, which was passed Wednesday, “creates statewide minimum training standards” on “awareness of racism” and “biased profiling,” according to a statement from the governor’s office. The ordinance makes the Commonwealth the third state in the nation to ban no-knock raids, and the legislation also forbids local departments from acquiring “grenades, weaponized aircraft and high caliber rifles” in an effort to demilitarize, Northam’s team wrote.
Read MoreNon-Profit VA Ready Focused on Rapid Training for In-Demand Jobs
Non-profit VA Ready announced this week a $30,000 award from Microsoft. The non-profit focuses on quickly training disadvantaged workers in Virginia with new job skills that are in demand.
Read MoreRichmond Mayoral Underdog Griffin Attacks Gray in Mailer
Mayoral candidate Justin Griffin recently sent out mailers arguing for a link between opponent candidate Kim Gray and Richmond For All (RFA), Governor Ralph Northam, and Louis Salomonsky. Griffin only got three percent in the most recent poll, well behind his nearest competitor Alexsis Rodgers who got 15 percent, Kim Gray, who got 16 percent, and incumbent Mayor Levar Stoney, who got 36 percent.
Read MoreTRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 31
Welcome to the Saturday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update! We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 (and after…if need be!).
It’s officially three days until the election on November 3. Early voting in Virginia closes at 5 p.m. TODAY.
Read MoreParents Submit Letter to Betsy DeVos Requesting Civil Rights Investigation into Loudoun Schools
Parents have submitted a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos requesting a civil rights investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS). These parents requested that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to determine whether LCPS violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Constitution, as well as President Donald Trump’s “Executive Order on Combatting Race and Sex Stereotyping.”
The letter alleged that LCPS engaged in discrimination when it excluded non-Hispanic and non-Black parents from federally-funded focus groups; mandated staff training on “implicit bias,” including white privilege, white supremacy, and unconscious bias; restricted disciplinary action on minority students to make data proportional; and excluded staff and student members from opportunities based on race.
Kamras ‘Not Optimistic’ About Reopening Richmond Schools
Richmond Public Schools (RPS) Jason Kamras told reporters that he doesn’t expect RPS to reopen even after winter break, unlike Henrico and Chesterfield Counties, according to reporting from WTVR. The two neighboring counties recently announced plans to begin allowing students back into classes as soon as November.
Read MoreMicrosoft Disrupts Trickbot Ransomware, Which Could Pose Threat to Elections
Microsoft officials announced last week that they disrupted 94 percent of a global ransomware network with a presence in eastern Virginia, according to a press release and court documents. The “Trickbot” ransomware is used to steal data from individuals and organizations, and could threaten U.S. elections.
Read MoreConfederate Flag Along I-95 Removed for Highway Construction Project
The Virginia Flaggers have removed their large Confederate flag from its prominent location in Stafford County along Interstate 95 after the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) acquired the land for construction of the Rappahannock River Crossing project.
Measuring at 20-feet tall and 30-feet wide, the controversial flag flew attached to its 80-foot pole since May 2014, nearly six and a half years, and was almost impossible to miss from both sides of the highway.
Read MoreFormer Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani Tells John Fredericks, ‘There Is Something Seriously Wrong with Christopher Wray’
Thursday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed the former mayor of New York City and President Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani to the show to discuss Hunter Biden’s hard drive, Christopher Wray, and the dishonest mainstream media.
Read MoreTRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 30
Welcome to the Friday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update! We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 (and after…if need be!).
It’s officially four days until the election on November 3. Early voting in Virginia closes at 5 p.m. TOMORROW.
Read MoreRepublican Veteran Joe Collins Talks About His Campaign Against Mansion Maxine for Her Seat in South Los Angeles’s 43rd District
Thursday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Republican congressional candidate for the 43rd District in Los Angeles Joe Collins to the show to talk about beating Maxine Waters.
Read MoreDemocratic Delegate Lee Carter Claims Police Are a Threat to Public Safety
House Delegate Lee Carter (D-Manassas) stated multiple times in the last several days that “police are a threat to public safety in every community.” These assertions coincided with the ongoing riots over the death of Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man that Philadelphia police shot for charging at officers with a knife.
Carter issued three tweets in a row, in each post repeating the same mantra that police threaten public safety.
Non-Colored Students Need Not Apply: Loudoun County Public Schools Initially Barred White Students from Equity Ambassador Program
In the initial draft of a student equity ambassador program informational packet, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) barred students who weren’t colored from admission into the program.
Under “III. Process for Selecting Student Equity Ambassadors” the second process listing guidelines specifically mentioned students’ skin color as a qualifying factor.
Read MoreRichmond Judge Sides with Northam on Lee Statue Removal
A Richmond Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of the Commonwealth and Governor Ralph Northam on Tuesday, allowing for the removal of the controversial Robert E. Lee statue on Richmond’s historic Monument Avenue.
In his decision, Judge W. Reilly Marchant lifted the temporary injunction, ordered by a separate judge back in August, which barred Nortam from taking action, but said the statue could not be removed until a proper appeal process has taken place.
Read MoreSteve Bannon Explains the Biden Business Model of the Political Class, China’s Threat, and Information Warfare
Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed political strategist Steve Bannon to the show to discuss the political class model of corruption as displayed by the Biden family and how America has now become compromised by Chinese money.
Read MoreCongressman Morgan Griffith: ‘We Shouldn’t Be Holding the American Family Hostage for Democrat Nancy Pelosi’s Political Agenda’
Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Rep. Morgan Griffith of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District to the show to discuss the lack of a second stimulus deal and the breakdown of COVID-19 fears by Democrats and Republicans.
Read MoreWith Less Than a Week Until Election Day, Virginia Politicians Have Continued to See Their Campaign Signs Stolen or Vandalized
Once again, campaign signs are the innocent victims of pre-election stress and anger. From Giles County to Chincoteague, signs for both Republican and Democratic candidates are being stolen or vandalized.
Read MoreTRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 29
Welcome to the Thursday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update! We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 (and after…if need be!).
It’s officially five days until the election on November 3 – and two days until early voting in Virginia closes.
Read MoreFollow The Money: Who Is Investing in the Richmond Mayor’s Race?
Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has passed the $916,255 he raised in 2016 campaign, hitting $1.07 million in 2020 by raising $302,294 in the first three weeks of October, according to data from The Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP). Alexsis Rodgers has now raised $415,760 in total, despite beginning her race in June. Kim Gray has raised $391,502.
Read MoreHenrico Public Schools Adopt Return to Classes Plan, Say Families Must Make Year-long Commitment
The Henrico County School Board adopted a plan last week allowing an optional return to classrooms for younger students later this fall and older students in early 2021, but at a town hall meeting on Tuesday school leaders said whichever choice families make, either virtual or in-person learning, will be a year-long commitment.
While answering submitted questions from parents, Dr. Thomas Ferrell Jr., Henrico director of high school education, brought up the stipulation that families’ choice of learning model would be binding, except for specific instances.
Read MoreFormer Acting Director of ICE Thomas Homan Explains the Need for Four More Years of Trump Border Policies to Ensure Our National Security
Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed former Acting Director of ICE Thomas Homan to the show to discuss the southern border, immigration and national security.
Read MoreCancel Culture Claims Another: Virginia Military Institute Superintendent General Peay Resigns
Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Superintendent, retired four-star Army General J.H. Binford Peay III (’62), resigned on Monday. Peay shared that Governor Ralph Northam prompted the resignation.
“On Friday, 23 October 2020, the Governor’s Chief of Staff conveyed that the Governor and certain legislative leaders had lost confidence in my leadership as Superintendent of Virginia Military Institute and desired my resignation.”
Sidney Powell Reveals Pattern of Corruption at Richmond Rally
Former federal prosecutor Sidney Powell spoke at a rally for Fourth Congressional District candidate Leon Benjamin on Tuesday night. Men in suits and women in formal dresses enjoyed appetizers as they listened to Powell. She’s also the attorney or former Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, and is author of Licensed to Lie, a legal thriller/exposé of corruption in the Department of Justice.
Read MoreTRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 28
Welcome to the Wednesday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update! We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 (and after…if need be!).
It’s officially six days until the election on November 3 – and three days until early voting in Virginia closes.
Read MoreFollow the Money: Where Big Dollars Are Flowing for Virginia Congressional Candidates
As the 2020 election season comes to an end and Virginia’s congressional candidates are making their last pushes to secure a better chance at winning, millions of dollars have already been poured into races by political action committees (PAC) and other organizations looking to influence the elections one way or another.
Those types of campaign funds are known as independent expenditures, meaning money that is spent without the coordination of a campaign or candidate and often result in attack ads primarily seen on social media or TV.
Read MoreHogan Gidley on Joe Biden Campaign: ‘You Can’t Run This Country on Gumdrops, Rainbows and Unicorn Hair’
Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Hogan Gidley, principal deputy press secretary at the White House, to the show to discuss the Trump ground game in Florida and early voting polls of Democrats and Republicans.
Read MoreCongressman Ben Cline Weighs in on the Spirit of the Sixth Congressional District and Why Pelosi Won’t Do a COVID Deal
Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Congressman Ben Cline of Virginia’s Sixth District to talk about his campaign, candidate Daniel Gade, and why Nancy Pelosi won’t do a COVID deal.
Read MoreVirginia Dems Hit Panic Button, Sue Richmond Registrar
Virginia Democrats filed suit against the Richmond General Registrar on Monday for not providing records of voters with invalid absentee ballots due to errors or omissions, preventing the party from notifying and assisting voters in curing their ballots before next Friday’s noon deadline.
A complaint was filed by attorneys for Susan Swecker, Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPV), in Richmond Circuit Court, seeking injunctive relief and to petition for a Writ of Mandamus to make J. Kirk Showalter, Richmond’s registrar, comply with the records request.
Read MoreDemocratic-Leaning Early Votes Underperforming as Massive Trump ‘Game-Day Vote’ Lurks
1.9 million Virginians have already voted, just under half the number of total voters from the 2016 election, according to data from The Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP)and the Virginia Department of Elections (VDOE). VPAP also reports 387,191 mail ballot applications that still have to be returned.
Read MoreTRUMPDATE: Latest From the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 27
Welcome to the Tuesday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update! We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 (and after…if need be!).
It’s officially seven days until the election on November 3 – and four days until early voting in Virginia closes.
Read MoreMorrissey: Gray’s Going to Upset Stoney on First Ballot in Richmond Mayor Race
Despite raising twice as much money as either of his two closest challengers, Mayor Levar Stoney has struggled to get his polling above 40 percent. Two weeks ago, Councilmember Kim Gray recently saw her polling drop from 33 to 16 percent, with a high undecided voter rate. That poll placed her just ahead of the third-closest competitor, Alexsis Rodgers, who has failed to poll significantly better than 15 percent. As a result, Stoney may win despite polling at less than a majority.
Read MoreWashington and Lee Survey on School Name Change Garners More Than 14,000 Responses
A survey distributed by Washington and Lee University (W&L) last month designed to give the board of trustees’ community feedback and to help decide whether or not to remove Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s name from the school received more than 14,000 responses.
The survey, which opened on September 16th and closed on October 15th, was sent to undergraduate and law students, faculty and staff, alumni and even parents.
Read MoreLegendary Pollster Scott Rasmussen Weighs in on Recent Polls and Outlines Voting Models That Differ Between Democrats and Republicans
Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Pollster Scott Rasmussen to the show to weigh in on polls and discuss the dynamics of mail-in voting for Democrats and in-person voting for Republicans on election day.
Read MoreCorey Lewandowski Reflects on Huge Crowds in New Hampshire Rally Sunday Night and Trumps Chances to Take the State
Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Senior Trump-Pence 2020 Campaign Advisor Corey Lewandowski to weigh in on the gigantic rally in New Hampshire Sunday night.
Read MoreVirginia Sheriffs Demand Northam Amend Anti-Law Enforcement Language
The Virginia Sheriffs’ Association (VSA) sent a letter to Governor Ralph Northam on Monday asking him to amend two bills to allow law enforcement agencies to acquire armored military vehicles, which they argue are vital in extreme weather rescues as well as the protection of officers and citizens from gunfire.
Written by John Jones, VSA executive director, the letter asks Northam to amend House Bill 5049 and Senate Bill 5030, both of which were sent to the governor’s desk last week.
Read MoreMass Data Collection of License Plate Numbers Upheld by Virginia Supreme Court
The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled Fairfax County’s mass collection of vehicle license plate numbers does not violate legal privacy protections in a decision criticized by civil liberty advocates.
The Fairfax County Police Department won a lawsuit that challenged its use of automated license plate readers, which tracks times and locations of drivers. Because the court ruled the information the readers compile is not legally protected as personal, identifying information, Fairfax Police and other police departments in the commonwealth can continue to use them.
Read MoreRand Paul, Ted Cruz Stump for Virginia Republican Candidates
It was cold and rainy, but approximately 150 people attended the Chesterfield GOTV Rally in a covered arena at Keystone Acres on Sunday afternoon. Senators Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) headlined the event. Virginia candidates Nick Freitas, Daniel Gade, and Leon Benjamin appealed to supporters to not only vote, but to encourage friends and community members to vote.
Read MoreJustin Fairfax Says He is Poised to Help All Virginians as the Next Governor
If elected governor, Justin Fairfax is determined to bring the Commonwealth and its residents out from underneath the current issues plaguing Virginia brought forth by the coronavirus pandemic and a destructive political landscape.
Last month Lt. Gov. Fairfax officially announced his entrance into the 2021 gubernatorial election, hoping to follow in the footsteps of former state governor L. Douglas Wilder and become the second black man elected to the Executive Mansion.
Read MoreTRUMPDATE: Latest From the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 26
Welcome to the Monday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update! We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 (and after…if need be!).
It’s officially eight days until the election on November 3 – and five days until early voting in Virginia closes.
Read MoreThe Committee Shaping Policy and Curriculum at Loudoun County Public Schools
Behind the scenes at Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS), many of the policy and curriculum changes reflecting social justice initiatives are driven by the Minority Achievement Advisory Committee (MSAAC). MSAAC is an advisory committee under Superintendent Eric Williams and the LCPS School Board.
MSAAC was formed in 1994 to advise and discuss LCPS board and administration on minority student achievement. MSAAC was designed to ensure “advantages in academic, vocational, physical, cultural, and social education” for all students.
Read MoreCourt Decision Pending on Norfolk Second Amendment Preservation Ordinance
The Norfolk 2nd Amendment Preservation Coalition is awaiting the court’s decision on whether they will secure an ordinance or a special election for it. The ordinance would restrict gun ownership regulations.
The 2nd Amendment Preservation Coalition went to court after the COVID-19 shutdowns hindered their ability to collect petition signatures to put the ordinance on the ballot.
COVID-19 Update: Virginia’s Current Outlook by the Numbers
A report from the University of Virginia (UVA) Biocomplexity Institute published last Friday showed that the statewide COVID-19 reproduction rate is above 1.0 (1.031) and in all regions except one, meaning the virus is spreading quickly across the Commonwealth, and classifies five out of 35 health districts as a surge.
The UVA Biocomplexity Institute also uses an adaptive model, tracing past and current trends, to predict what could happen in the future. In that report, the model predicted there could be 202,040 total confirmed cases in Virginia by Thanksgiving, an increase of 41,197 confirmed cases from Saturday’s count.
Read MoreNew Wave of Prosecutors Pushing to Ignore Sections of Law
Governor Ralph Northam signed a bill on Wednesday requiring judges to dismiss cases when both prosecutors and defense attorneys agree. The bill was born after Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Greg Underwood (D) announced that he would not be prosecuting misdemeanor marijuana cases, according to The Virginian-Pilot. The bill is an example of a national push to allow prosecutors discretion to ignore whole sections of law, according to Heritage Foundation Legal Fellow and former prosecutor Zack Smith.
Read MoreStaunton City Schools Latest to Follow Growing Trend of Creating ‘Equity Committees’
Staunton City Schools (SCS) are developing an equity committee to solve achievement and opportunity disparities between students. The twenty members of the committee will focus on “ensuring equitable practices” within curriculum, teaching, student and parent experiences, school policies, and hiring.
Half of the committee will be comprised of individuals involved in the school, with the other half from the surrounding community.
Steve Bannon Weighs in on Presidential Debate and the Tony Bobulinski Press Conference Ignored by the Fake News Media
Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Steve Bannon to weigh in on Thursday night’s presidential debate and Tony Bobulinski’s press conference that was ignored by the mainstream media.
Read MoreVirginia COVID Insights for October 23
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported Friday the following COVID numbers on their Daily Dashboard:
New “reported” cases: 1,180
COVID-confirmed hospitalizations: 702
COVID-pending hospitalizations: 310
COVID-confirmed and -pending intensive care unit (ICU) patients: 233
COVID-confirmed and -pending patients on ventilators: 113
COVID confirmed and probable patients in intensive care units (ICU): 233