Virginia
ACLU files lawsuit over Virginia guidelines for transgender students
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia filed two lawsuits Thursday against the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) on behalf of two transgender students challenging the department’s 2023 model policies.
Virginia law authorizes VDOE to issue model policies regarding the treatment of transgender students, and the policies are required to reflect “evidence-based best practices” for the inclusion of trans students in public schools. The ACLU of Virginia, along with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, claim the 2023 model policies fail to comply with that mandate.
“VDOE’s 2023 model policies harm the very students they’re supposed to protect,” ACLU of Virginia Senior Transgender Rights Attorney Wyatt Rolla said. “They contradict both their legal mandate and the evidence-based best practices they’re supposed to reflect, and they have already resulted in discrimination that violates state and federal law.”
The lawsuits alleged that VDOE not only ignored its statutory mandate to consider evidence-based best practices but directed public schools to adopt discriminatory policies “in furtherance of an ideological and political agenda.” Freshfields Co-Counsel and Partner Andrew Ewald stated the model policies’ harmful effects on transgender and nonbinary students makes it “hard to avoid the conclusion that their authors were purposefully trying to erase gender-nonconforming students from the classroom.”
The plaintiffs alleged that, as a result of the model policies, they received harmful and discriminatory treatment at school simply because they are transgender. One of the plaintiffs, Jane Doe, is a high school student whose teacher refused to address her by her correct first name. The other plaintiff, Lily Loe, is a middle school student who was prohibited from participating on a girls’ sports team.
The ACLU of Virginia previously expressed concern over the model policies after they were released in July 2023, stating the policies allow trans students to be forcibly outed to their parents and limit students’ access to restrooms consistent with their gender identity. The 2023 policies revised the state’s 2021 model policies, reversing the guidance on trans and nonbinary students’ participation in sports, access to facilities, and name and pronoun usage.
Unlike the 2021 policies, the updated guidelines do not recognize LGBTQ+ students as a protected class and reflect Governor Glenn Youngkin’s emphasis on ensuring parents’ rights in education. The 2023 guidelines require parental permission for students to be called by their chosen names or pronouns and to receive counseling services regarding their gender. According to Jane Doe’s parent Jill Doe, however, the model policies fail to protect parents’ rights: “VDOE’s model policies do the opposite of what they’re supposed to: they undermine my ability to parent my child, they undermine our school district’s ability to educate her, and most of all, they undermine my child’s health and wellbeing.”
LGBTQ+ advocates have urged VDOE to prioritize the privacy and rights of students, claiming students should be allowed to decide who knows about their transgender status in order to prevent bullying and harassment. State Attorney General Jason Miyares, however, concluded in August 2023 that the model policies comply with anti-discrimination laws and that school boards are required to follow them. The plaintiffs are now asking the York and Hanover County Circuit Courts to vacate the 2023 model policies and rule that school districts do not need to adopt them.
According to the ACLU, there are currently 11 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the Virginia state legislature. Virginia, however, is not the only state dealing with challenges to transgender students’ rights in public schools. The Iowa legislature recently declined to advance a bill that would have removed gender identity as a protected class under the state’s civil rights law. In January, the Ohio legislature overrode its governor’s veto of a bill that bans gender-affirming care for transgender youth and restricts transgender participation in sports.
In 2023, a report by the Trevor Project found that 53 percent of LGBTQ+ students reported being verbally harassed at school because people thought they were LGBTQ+. The report also found that the students who found their schools to be gender-affirming reported lower rates of depression and attempted suicide.
Virginia
Two dead after I-495 road rage incident leads to stabbing, Virginia State Police shooting – WTOP News
A road rage incident led to a shooting involving the Virginia State Police on Sunday on Interstate 495. Four individuals were also stabbed.
Two people are dead Sunday in Annandale, Virginia, after a road rage incident led to a shooting involving Virginia State Police on Interstate 495.
A release issued by the Virginia State Police said a trooper fatally shot a man after responding to a report of a road rage incident on the southbound lanes of I-495 just before 1:30 p.m. at exit 52, near the Little River Turnpike.
The man, transferred to a hospital with serious injuries, has been pronounced dead. VSP said the trooper shot in self-defense after the man confronted him with a knife.
The trooper did not suffer any injuries during the altercation.
Officials found four stabbing victims at the scene, but only identified a 39-year-old woman and a dog. Both the woman and the dog died.
Early findings suggest the stabbings took place after a crash on the Capital Beltway. The crash remains under investigation.
The VSP’s release comes after the main lanes of the Capital Beltway Outer Loop, before Little River Turnpike, were closed to traffic for several hours, only recently opening the express lanes. Main lanes between Arlington Boulevard and the Little River Turnpike remain closed.
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Virginia
Virginia Huffman Obituary February 27, 2026 – Ott & Lee Funeral Homes
Mary “Virginia” Huffman, 82, of Pelahatchie, Mississippi, passed away on February 27, 2026.
Born on February 28, 1943, in Morton, Mississippi, she was the daughter of Carl and Nannie Mae Bradshaw. She married the love of her life, Jimmy Lavell Huffman, on June 14, 1963, and together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and hard work. Virginia devoted nearly 50 years to teaching high school math, beginning at Morton High School and later serving at East Rankin Academy. Generations of students were shaped by her steady guidance, high expectations, and deep belief in their potential. Many would say they entered college prepared because they had learned from “Mrs. Huffman.” Her students knew the famous “Mrs. Huffman look,” but no one understood it quite like her children and grandchildren. To many, she was more than a teacher—she was a mentor, encourager, and second mother.
A faithful member of Cross Roads Baptist Church, Virginia was a true matriarch and prayer warrior whose life was anchored in her love for the Lord. She woke each morning to study the Word of God and carried that faith into every conversation, classroom, and season of life. She played piano and organ, sang in the choir, and on Sunday mornings could often be found at home practicing the piano before church—something her family dearly loved listening to. She served her church and community with quiet devotion. Whether tutoring students during the summer, helping families in need, or visiting church members, she consistently lived out a servant’s heart.
She loved farm life—raising chickens and cows, cutting hay, tending her flower beds, and cooking for the people she loved. She was especially known for her strawberry pies, egg custard, and caramel cake (see Cheryl Moore for the recipe). She faithfully attended her grandchildren’s sporting events and found her greatest joy in cheering on her family. She loved deeply and wholeheartedly, treating not only her own children and grandchildren as treasures, but embracing many others in her community as if they were her own.
She is survived by her husband, Jimmy Lavell Huffman; her children, Connie Goodman (Mike), Karen Jones, and Jade Huffman; her grandchildren, Christin (Colby) (Candace), Christopher (Victoria), Dillon, Marley, Halle (Elijah), Kyla Kate, and Eli; her great-grandchildren, Autumn, Titus, Sophia, Liam, Scarlett, Luke, and Ava; and her siblings, Paul (Joyce) and Delilah.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Nannie Mae Bradshaw; her in-laws, Clyde Sr. and Zora Huffman; her son, Scot Huffman; and her sisters, May Erving and Maxine Strong.
Virginia will be remembered as a woman of unwavering faith, steadfast strength, and extraordinary love. Her legacy lives on in the family she nurtured, the students she prepared, and the countless lives she covered in prayer.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – until on Sunday, March 1, 2026 at Cross Roads Baptist Church in Pelahatchie and again on Monday, March 2, 2026 from 12 pm – 1 pm.
Services will be held at 1pm Monday, March 2, 2026 at Cross Roads Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Bro. John Vaughn, Bro. Gary Morris and Bro. Steven Platt will officate the services.
Pallbearers will be Tim Wolverton, Colby Boyd, Christopher Wilson, Dillon Pettigrew, Eli Huffman and Elijah Moore.
Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Morton is honored to serve the Huffman family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Cross Roads Baptist Church Building Fund.
Virginia
Virginia Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Night results for Feb. 28, 2026
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Virginia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Feb. 28, 2026, results for each game:
Powerball
Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
06-20-35-54-65, Powerball: 10, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Monday, March 02, 2026
Pick 3
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 1-7-2, FB: 7
Day: 6-6-5, FB: 7
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 3-0-2-2, FB: 8
Day: 8-2-7-9, FB: 3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 1-3-5-7-5, FB: 9
Day: 4-4-7-7-0, FB: 7
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash Pop
Drawing times: Coffee Break 9 a.m.; Lunch Break 12 p.m.; Rush Hour 5 p.m.; Prime Time 9 p.m.; After Hours 11:59 p.m.
Coffee Break: 13
After Hours: 04
Prime Time: 10
Rush Hour: 02
Lunch Break: 07
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash 5
Drawing every day at 11 p.m.
04-14-16-30-39
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Bank a Million
Bank a Million draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
02-03-04-05-08-35, Bonus: 14
Check Bank a Million payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawing everyday at 11:15 p.m.
13-20-28-44-48, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Center for Community Journalism (CCJ) editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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