Virginia
72-year-old Virginia swim teacher arrested for sexual assault on minor during lessons
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – A swim instructor is behind bars without bond after being accused of sexual assault against a victim under the age of 13 years old.
Detectives in Prince William County have identified 72-year-old Daniel Smith as the suspect.
The victim reported the assaults happened during swimming lessons at the Chinn Park Rec Center in Woodbridge between April and May 2022.
Following an investigation, Smith was arrested on July 14 and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery.
Virginia
Court orders American Muslims for Palestine to give Virginia AG documents over alleged Hamas ties
American Muslims for Palestine was ordered by a Virginia court to provide internal and financial documents to Attorney General Jason Miyares as part of an investigation that the charity may have been funneling funds to Hamas, the Virginia Attorney General’s Office announced on Tuesday.
The Falls Church-based nonprofit’s petition to set aside Miyares’s Civil Investigative Demand (CID) was denied. Consequently, AMP, also known as Americans for Justice in Palestine Educational Foundation, will have to provide documents detailing information about its board, employees, fundraising, finances, advertising, event planning, third-party solicitations, and donations dating back to November 2016.
Miyares announced in October that it was investigating AMP because his office believed it had been soliciting donations in Virginia without being properly registered and allegations that it “may have used funds raised for impermissible purposes under state law, including benefiting or providing support to terrorist organizations.”
The Virginia Attorney General’s Office investigation was sparked by the Boim family lawsuit against AMP. The family, whose son David was murdered by Hamas, accused AMP of being the continuance of other nonprofits that had been funneling funds to the Palestinian terrorist organization.
The Boims had previously secured a $156 million judgment against the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP) and the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF). HLF was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States Office of Foreign Asset Control, and in 2008 HLF and five of its leaders were convicted of providing material support to Hamas. IAP was dissolved after it was found civilly liable for providing material support to Hamas through propaganda efforts in 2004.
Overlap between leadership of IAP and AMP
The suit had alleged that there was significant overlap between IAP and AMP leadership, with three IAP board members and close relatives of two board members serving on the AMP board. Three other IAP activists, two of which allegedly held leadership positions with HLF and IAP affiliates, reportedly had joined the AMP board. IAP’s executive director reportedly became AMP’s director, and former IAP president and suit defendant Rageeq Jaber was allegedly involved in high-level AMP decisions.
The Boim family contended that AMP is liable for unpaid portions of claims against its alleged predecessors.
In May, nine American and Israeli survivors and victims of October 7 filed a lawsuit in Virginia against AMP, alleging that it had collaborated with Hamas to legitimize the terrorist organization’s attacks.
Virginia
Josh Pate explains why he’s buying the Virginia Tech hype in 2024 & beyond
When Brent Pry was hired as the football coach at Virginia Tech, he had the task of turning around the program and bringing it back to relevance. With what he started with, it was going to be a lot easier said than done.
As the Hokies enter Year 3 of the Brent Pry-era in Blacksburg, there is a lot of hype surrounding the program as a ton of retainment from the 2023 team has them set up to be a dark horse in the ACC race in 2024. Add in some key transfers on both sides of the ball and it’s easy to see why the hype is real.
Off the field, things have been going very well in recruiting, especially with the Class of 2025. Pry knew that when he was hired, he needed to mend relationships within the state with the coaches and players to keep the talent in the Commonwealth. So far, so good with the rising senior class.
Josh Pate of 247Sports joined Kelly Gramlich and Eric Mac Lain on the Gramlich & Mac Lain podcast and said that he is buying the Virginia Tech hype and mainly because of what Pry has done that Justin Fuente and his staff failed to do during their tenure.
“I think their biggest struggle right now has been they have to reestablish what it means to recruit in the state of Virginia. When I was up there a month and a half ago, I was walking to Brent and he said, he obviously bleeds Virginia Tech. He knows that place. He said, when I was at Penn State, candidly, we knew if we wanted a kid from Virginia, we were going to get him and if we didn’t, it was going to be because Ohio State came in and got it. It wasn’t going to be because Virginia Tech put up much of a fight. (And) he said that hurt me. I was at another place and it hurt me because for whatever reason the previous staff didn’t emphasize it. He said we’ve had to do that and we also, we have a replenishing job to do.”
– Josh Pate
Currently in the Class of 2025, 10 of the 14 committed recruits are from Virginia and Pry said when he was hired that in-state recruiting was going to be a focal point of his and his staff and so far, they are having a ton of success. With each passing season, Pry and his staff are furthering themselves from the previous staff, which is not something that is not too hard to do.
Virginia
Virginia Tech baseball: 5 Hokies selected in 2024 MLB draft
The Virginia Tech Hokies baseball program finished the 2024 season with a record of 32-22, including 14-16 in ACC play. That marked the Hokies’ fifth consecutive winning season. Coach John Szefc arrived in Blacksburg from Maryland in 2018, and Tech’s recent success is not a surprise to anyone who’s followed Szefc over the years.
With Virginia Tech’s success, it’s no surprise the talent has improved, too. The Hokies have had several prospects go in the MLB draft in recent years, including outfielder Gavin Cross, a top-10 pick two years ago.
We had the 2024 MLB draft this week, and several Hokies heard their names called.
First, it was junior infielder Carson DeMartini. DeMartini went in the fourth round, No. 130 overall, to the Philadelphia Phillies. In three years at Virginia Tech, the Virginia Beach native hit .311, with a .1077 OPS, 46 home runs and 164 RBI.
Next, junior pitcher Wyatt Parliament went in the seventh round, No. 211 overall, to the New York Yankees. Parliament transferred to Virginia Tech from Rutgers. Parliament was 4-3 with a 7.63 ERA, but he did strike out 59 batters in 43.2 innings with only 13 walks. Parliament’s stuff translates to the next level.
Here are the other three Hokies who were drafted and when and where they landed:
- Senior OF Eddie Micheletti Jr: Round 8, No. 247 overall, Toronto Blue Jays
- Junior P Jordan Little: Round 15, No. 449 overall, Cincinnati Reds
- Junior IF Christian Martin: Round 18, No. 531 overall, St. Louis Cardinals
Congrats to these Hokies as they embark on the next phase of their baseball careers.
-
World1 week ago
After Moscow, Hungary's Orbán makes surprise visit to Beijing
-
World1 week ago
Australia appoints special envoy to combat anti-Semitism
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Film Review: The Bikeriders – Soundsphere magazine
-
California1 week ago
Two arrested in connection to separate California wildfires
-
News1 week ago
Biden tells Hill Democrats he is staying in the race | CNN Politics
-
World1 week ago
India’s Modi makes first Russia visit since Ukraine invasion
-
News1 week ago
How to fight shrinkflation? Pay attention to unit prices at grocery stores
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
Film Review: Pierce (2024) by Nelicia Low