Kristin Reed

the president does not actually have the power to fire a university president or a museum director, but if elites simply roll over under pressure, then effectively he does

State Senate Democrats sue Youngkin officials in latest institutional push The governor said that appointees would need to be rejected by Virginia House or Senate.

Keep in mind re UVA's president being reportedly pushed out by feds: Youngkin's appointees now control the Board of Visitors, and they [eventually- it takes a while-] elect a successor. The Dem majority in the state senate says some BoV members are serving illegally

www.vpm.org/news/2025-06...

Congratulations to @senatorhashmi.bsky.social, the next Lieutenant Governor of Virginia! All power to the people, all people to the polls this November.

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Multiple Richmond neighborhoods are now under a localized Boil Water Advisory. Updates here: https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/richmond-reports-water-plant-issues-may-27-2025 

Richmond reports water plant issues; no boil advisory issued Richmond's Water Treatment Plant experienced an operational issue early Tuesday that temporarily reduced water production, according to city officials.

Richmond's Water Treatment Plant experienced an operational issue early Tuesday that temporarily reduced water production, according to city officials.

He missed the deadline to submit a single form 10 years ago, amidst family grief when his wife suffered a stillbirth. He did nothing illegal. Paid his taxes, completed citizenship documentation. But once you activate a police state, they don't care about individual circumstances.

Timeline: Trump’s escalating standoff with Harvard University Move to block Harvard from enrolling foreign students latest action against university in months-long pressure campaign.

Move to block Harvard from enrolling foreign students latest action against university in months-long pressure campaign.

House Republicans want to stop states from regulating AI. More than 100 organizations are pushing back | CNN Business More than 100 organizations are raising alarms about a provision in the House’s sweeping tax and spending cuts package that would hamstring the regulation of artificial intelligence systems.

Today, Demand Progress and a coalition of artists, teachers, tech workers and more asked House leaders to reject a measure that would stop states from regulating AI. Read the full story by @claresduffy.bsky.social at @cnn.com

Washington will pay unemployment benefits to striking workers • Washington State Standard Labor advocates scored a win on Monday after Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a new law to extend unemployment benefits to striking workers in Washington.

This law is funded by a tax on employers.

washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/05/19/w...

Striking workers in Washington State will now get unemployment from the state.

A bill giving workers out on strike 6 weeks of unemployment insurance was just signed into law after passing both chambers.

Workers affected by employer lockouts will also benefit from the new law.

Richmond For All is proud to endorse Alicia Atkins for 81st District Delegate! Atkins is putting people first by standing up to the data centers and develops that threaten to bulldoze Varina. Early voting is open NOW until Election Day — June 17th!

Some Republicans Push to Put School Desegregation Officially in the Past

When I wrote that these folks were segregationists, the response from some quarters was that I was exaggerating or missing the bigger picture.

But they are literally segregationists and increasingly open about that fact.

Israeli attacks kill more than 100 as Gaza death toll crosses 53,000 Israel intensifies its bombardment of enclave as threatened, as curtain comes down on Trump’s Middle East tour.

Israel intensifies its bombardment of enclave as threatened, as curtain comes down on Trump’s Middle East tour.

Here is the grad speech that NYU is now withholding the student's diploma for:

"As I search my heart today in addressing you all…the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine."

Episode 2 of the podcast is up!

We check in with @richmondforall.bsky.social, a library book fight in Arkansas, controversy for the top environmental official in Louisiana, and Tennessee's attempt to block undocumented students from school. Plus, @rhiannongiddens.bsky.social new festival!

In April we raised nearly $2k to support two Southside Richmond families with fathers detained by ICE. Today we're make a new emergency fundraising ask to raise $1500 in bond for one of these dads. If you're able, you can support his release here:

secure.actblue.com/donate/noice...

Williams: By punishing speech, VCU loses its moral compass Students, in daring to protest U.S. complicity, risk punishment, arrest, or in the case of noncitizens, deportation. Far from being safe havens from authoritarianism, college campuses are functioning...

“If VCU thinks withholding my degree is going to silence me, that it’s going to prove a point, I think they’ve profoundly misunderstood who I am, profoundly misunderstood the movement.”

Read our open letter from VCU faculty citing concern about the silencing of student voices and unlawful withholding of diplomas from student activists:

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Williams: By punishing speech, VCU loses its moral compass Students, in daring to protest U.S. complicity, risk punishment, arrest, or in the case of noncitizens, deportation. Far from being safe havens from authoritarianism, college campuses are functioning...

"Students, in daring to protest U.S. complicity, risk punishment, arrest, or in the case of noncitizens, deportation. Far from being safe havens from authoritarianism, college campuses are functioning as training grounds for it."

richmond.com/opinion/colu...

Trump EPA moves to weaken drinking water limits on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ The administration said it wants to rescind and reconsider whether limits are needed for four PFAS that chemical companies are still producing and using in the U.S. despite known health risks.

BREAKING: The EPA says it will reverse most of the drinking water standards aimed at protecting people from toxic "forever chemicals" known as PFAS.

Even low levels of the chemicals known as PFAS are linked with cancer and other health problems.

www.politico.com/news/2025/05...

Richmond City Council fires Inspector General James Osuna It’s unclear why council dismissed Osuna after nearly six years in the role.

Richmond’s inspector general, James Osuna, was fired Monday by the City Council after nearly six years on the job.

Osuna’s office is overseen by the council and acts as the city’s government watchdog, investigating claims of waste, fraud and abuse.

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Search crews found the body believed to be that of 12-year-old Jordan Sims Wednesday morning, according to Albemarle County Fire Rescue.

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/child-washed-away-search-may-14-2025 

Seeing Through Clear Backpacks Almost a year after Richmond Public Schools began enforcing clear backpacks for all students, a new RPS parent sees them for they are.

Almost a year after Richmond Public Schools began enforcing clear backpacks for all students, a new RPS parent sees them for they are.

#FOIA ing through @muckrock.com was a great tool for finding out how other parents felt about this

Workers Overheated and Died Under Trump’s Workplace Safety Nominee As David Keeling led companies’ safety operations, workers fell ill and died amid extreme temperatures. Now he could dismantle federal heat protections.

Workers Overheated and Died Under Trump’s Workplace Safety Nominee

www.levernews.com/workers-over...

that diving emoji meme that says when the ancient mountains got mystical rainy mist all over

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE BLUE RIDGE EMIRATE

I should add that this happened between their initial warning and the police shutdown — which could have extended the time students were on the lawn.

Usually punishment looks like community service or writing an essay, but one of the three — Sereen Haddad — has had policy violations before and could face something more severe this time like suspension/expulsion.