By Jayla Marie McNeill
Capital News Service
RICHMOND — Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring expressed disappointment Monday after a legislative committee rejected a bill to expand Virginia’s definition of hate crime to include gender, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity.
“The General Assembly has sent a clear message to those who feel vulnerable to hate and mistreatment that they will not take the measures needed to protect them,” Herring stated after the Senate Courts of Justice Committee defeated the bill with a vote 8-6 along party lines, with Democrats supporting the measure and Republicans opposing it.
Currently, the Code of Virginia refers only to individuals or groups targeted on the basis of race, religion, ethnic background or national origin as being victims of hate crime.
SB 1375, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, sought to expand that definition to include other marginalized groups. Herring called it a “common sense” bill and said he was disheartened that it was defeated on a party-line vote.
The bill would have brought Virginia closer to the federal definition of a hate crime, which includes “gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.”
Virginia State Police said bias-motivated crimes in the commonwealth rose from 137 in 2016 to 202 the following year.
The statistics for 2017, the most recent year available, include 89 incidents related to race, 44 to religion, 20 to ethnicity, 38 to sexual orientation and 11 to disability.
Virginia’s statistics reflect a larger national trend that shows a rise of hate crimes in the U.S. According to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, 7,175 hate crimes were reported nationwide in 2017. That is an increase of more than 1,000 reports from 2016.
Despite the defeat of the hate crimes bill, Herring remains optimistic about legislation that aims to impede activity by white supremacist militias and similar militant groups.
SB 1210, sponsored by Sens. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, and Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, was approved by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee by a 7-6 vote and referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
The measure, which died in committee last year, was first introduced following the “Unite the Right” white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in August 2017. During that event, James Alex Fields Jr. drove his car into a crowd protesting the rally, killing Heather Heyer and injuring dozens of other counter-demonstrators.
SB 1210 “provides that a person is guilty of unlawful paramilitary activity if such person assembles with another person with the intent of intimidating any person or group of persons by drilling, parading, or marching with any firearm or explosive or incendiary device or any components or combination thereof,” according to a summary by the Legislative Information System.
Such unlawful paramilitary activity would be punishable as a Class 5 felony, under the bill.
“Referring it to the Senate Finance Committee is a step in the right direction,” Herring stated. “It is time for the General Assembly to take action to protect Virginians and make sure that we prevent the kind of paramilitary activity that we saw in Charlottesville from ever happening again.”
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The Manassas City Council voted to extend a lucrative tax incentive for Micron Technology Inc. through 2035, solidifying the semiconductor company’s continued presence in the city. The deal, passed during the February 10, 2025, council meeting, ensures Micron’s annual tax payments increase by 4% while maintaining a lower tax rate than other manufacturers.
However, the decision has raised questions about a potential conflict of interest involving Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger. Multiple sources have indicated that Davis-Younger is in a relationship with Delbert Parks, Vice President and Site Director at Micron’s Manassas facility.
Parks is named in an official letter from the mayor, dated the same day as the vote, outlining the incentives offered to Micron. During the meeting, Vice Mayor Mark Wolfe alluded to the relationship, stating that “some of the comments floating around online are BS,” referring to speculation that the mayor’s ties to Parks influenced the tax break discussions.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors has approved a 24-acre rezoning for a new data center development along Wellington Road, despite opposition from Supervisor Bob Weir and concerns about its proximity to Patriot High School.
On February 4, 2025, the board approved Rezoning #REZ2024-00042, NVA05C, changing the property’s zoning from agricultural and business districts to Planned Business District (PBD) to accommodate a data center. The site, located 700 feet southwest of Freedom Center Boulevard and Wellington Road, is part of Innovation Park, an area designated for high-tech development.
The rezoning application was submitted by STACK Infrastructure, which operates data centers in multiple locations across North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. Some key Northern Virginia locations include: Manassas, Ashburn, and Leesburg.
Fredericksburg is taking another step forward to become a more walkable community with the recent start of construction off LaFayette Boulevard, which is part of the city’s Twin Lake Drive and Kensington Pedestrian Connector project.
This $2.4 million project includes extending a 10-foot wide paved shared-use path along the north side of Lafayette Boulevard between Twin Lake Drive and St. Paul Street in the City of Fredericksburg. The path will be accessible, with ramps and crosswalks built where the route intersects with Twin Lakes Drive, Springwood Drive, Kensington Place, and St. Paul Street.
The project includes a paved access point to the Virginia Central Railway Trail from the cul-de-sac of Springwood Drive, and a bike repair station will be installed at Alum Spring Park.
The process Fredericksburg City Council is following to fill the vacant Ward 3 seat could conflict with state code—especially with a provision added last year that states that governing bodies must publicly announce the names of those being considered to fill a vacant seat at least seven days before the appointment is made.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
(Webinar) Diet & Dementia: Brain-Healthy Tips to Reduce Your Risk…
Did you know that your food choices can impact your risk of developing dementia?
Kick off National Nutrition Month with an educational discussion on Wednesday, March 5 at 12 PM EST with Sunday Health dementia neurologist Dr. Sara Doyle and
