"The guidance, Model Policies on Ensuring Privacy, Dignity and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools, provides clearer input for school boards regarding the role of parents in decisions relating to their child’s gender identity, as well as restricting transgender students from participating in sex segregated extra-curricular activities that don’t align with their biological sex."
"In addition, the new directive requires students to use bathrooms or locker rooms that correspond with their biological sex; while recognizing federal law may override such policy, it provides parents the right to opt their children out from using those facilities and must provide private, alternative facilities."
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My interns, Amelia Breeden and Madina Habib of Osbourn High School and Jacqueline Vontersch of Elon University, a Woodbridge native, joined me at the ribbon cutting of RapidFlight. The firm uses 3-D printers to make unmanned aerial drones and announced a $5 million expansion, adding more than 100 new employees.
The student interns spoke with the governor, who encouraged them to pursue their studies in school and in local journalism. More than 200 people attended the event, which allowed the interns to photograph and meet other business leaders and elected officials from their community.
Our interns conducted themselves with professionalism and grace and served as shining examples of our work here at PLN and in their respective schools. Breeden and Habib joined PLN in February as part of the Manassas City Public Schools Word-based Learning Program.
Vontersch joined PLN this month as a meeting reporter.
PLN works with students and members of our community in multiple ways.
Work-based learning Program: Students learn web publishing tools, copy editing, deadlines, and time management and are responsible for posting community news to our website.
Interested college and high school students may apply here for this unpaid internship.
Meeting Reporters Program: Our meeting “documenters” are trained and paid to attend, photograph, and take notes (document) public meetings in Prince William and Stafford counties, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg sites.
Interested residents may apply here to participate in this program
Thank you to our interns and meeting reporters who shine a light on news and events happening in our communities, continuously working to hold our elected leaders accountable.
And thank you for being a PLN member who ensures we may continue training the next generation of local news reports while continuing to bring you the local news and information you trust.
Please click here and become a member today and thank you.
Gov. Glenn Yongkin (R) came to Piney Branch Elementary School in Bristow to talk to parents about social media's dangers to children, learning loss after the pandemic, and the need for more mental health services for all residents.
Youngkin sat in front of a crowd of more than 200 parents for his "Parents Matter" rally at the Prince William County School at 2 p.m. Tuesday. He reminded them that Virginia saw the worst learning-loss rates in the U.S. following government-mandated school closures ordered by his predecessor Ralph Northam.
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Gov. Glenn Youngkin will visit Manassas and Prince William County tomorrow, Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
Manassas Economic Development Department: “The City of Manassas and the Governor of Virginia will host a ribbon-cutting celebration for unmanned aircraft system designer and manufacturer RapidFlight. RapidFlight was located to the City last year and has recently completed extensive renovations to their facility at 9617 Center Street, where the company will create 119 new high-wage jobs over the next several years.”
Manassas Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick, and RapidFlight executives will join Youngkin on Tuesday, July 18th at 12:30 p.m., at 9617 Center Street, Manassas.
From there, Youngkin will head to Piney Branch Elementary School in Bristow.
Gov. Youngkin’s office: “On Tuesday, Governor Glenn Youngkin will host a Parents Matter conversation to discuss the administration’s ongoing work to empower parents and keep children safe…2:00 PM, Piney Branch Elementary School, 8301 Linton Hall Road, Bristow.”
Politically, both events will take place in the 30th Senate District, which Republicans hope to win in deep blue Northern Virginia. The district has no incumbent and includes Manassas and western Prince William County, Haymarket, and Gainesville areas.
Delegate Danica Roem (D) is running for the seat. Bill Woolf (R) is also running for the seat. Today, Woolf challenged Roem to three debates during the General Election season.
The Virginia Supreme Court created Senate District 30 during the state’s decennial redistricting process in 2021.
AP: “Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s main fundraising apparatus will soon report raising $5.75 million in this year’s second quarter, a sum that surpasses what any previous governor of the state has raised over an entire year, according to the group’s accounting.”
“The haul will bring to $8.5 million the total Youngkin’s Spirit of Virginia political action committee has raised in the first six months of 2023, according to details provided to The Associated Press ahead of a Monday reporting deadline. And it will leave Spirit of Virginia with $6 million in cash on hand just over two months before the start of early voting in this year’s legislative elections that will decide political control of the currently divided General Assembly.”
Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association: “Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will join more than 500 representatives of VOICE (Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement), the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, during a Northern Virginia assembly on July 9 that is being held to highlight the impact of the mental health and drug use crisis on young people across the Commonwealth.”
“During the meeting, the members of the coalition will ask the Governor to prioritize actions to address the crisis and support those with significant new resources.”
- Youth Behavioral Health Assembly hosted by VOICE, VACP, VHHA
- Sunday, July 9, 2023, 3-4:30 p.m.
- Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 18410 Chapel Dr., Triangle, VA 22172
Virginia ABC: “Beginning Saturday, July 1, four laws impacting the operation of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC), its licensees and applicants for ABC licenses will take effect. The Virginia General Assembly passed the following Virginia ABC-related legislation during the 2023 session, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin has since signed them into law.”
“Crossover Product Rules (HB 1979 and SB 809) – Both bills established guidelines for licensees regarding the display of alcoholic beverages near non-alcoholic beverages of the same or similar branding, logo or packaging. The new law was created to address innovative “crossover products” that contain alcohol and may cause consumer confusion or appeal to an underage audience.”
Insidenova.com: “Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced this week he has signed a series of bills aimed at strengthening insurance coverage for behavioral health services for Virginians, reducing the burden on law enforcement and enhancing the behavioral health workforce.”
“Speaking at Fauquier Health to a crowd of local law enforcement, state representatives, health care leaders and behavioral health care advocates from across the commonwealth, the governor said the new legislation is part of his “Right Help, Right Now” plan, which he unveiled in December.”
“Virginia Democrats quickly accused the governor of grandstanding in a “desperate search for national relevance” – using Virginians’ tax dollars for a “political stunt.” While Virginia Republicans praised the governor’s move in the “strongest possible terms”— instead criticizing President Biden’s administration.”
“Virginia Republicans applauded Youngkin’s decision to deploy national guardsmen to the southern border in response to the federal government’s “lack of action.” Del. Todd Gilbert, the House of Delegates speaker, underscored the fentanyl crisis in support of the deployment.”
Youngkin said he deployed the troops to the southern border to fight the surge of Fentanyl and human trafficking. Over 2,600 Virginia residents died from drug overdoses in 2021, a five-year high.
