Virginia
Body of unborn baby found in Virginia pond prompts prayers, resource reminders – OSV News
(OSV News) — Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, expressed “great sorrow” after the body of an unborn baby was found in a pond in Leesburg, Virginia, on March 11. He called on the faithful to pray for everyone involved in the incident, offered burial services and also drew attention to the resources the diocese offers to women in crisis pregnancies.
“I learned today of the unsettling discovery of the body of an unborn baby described by police as a ‘late-term fetus,’ found in a pond in Leesburg,” he said in the March 13 statement. “The Diocese of Arlington has made it known that we are willing to assist with the proper burial and committal of the remains.”
He called for “the faithful of the diocese and all people of goodwill to join me in prayer for the child’s mother and for anyone involved in this incident.”
Bishop Burbidge highlighted diocesan efforts to assist women facing difficult pregnancies. “Through its parishes, ministries and parishioners, the Diocese of Arlington encourages all women who find themselves in unexpected or difficult pregnancies to seek assistance through Project Gabriel (helpforpregnantwomen.org or 703-841-3810), Catholic Charities (ccda.net or 703-973-0129), or the nearest Catholic Church,” he wrote.
The Leesburg Police Department said in a March 12 statement that they were “alerted at approximately 4:33 p.m., by a community member who discovered the body of a late-term fetus in the pond behind Park Gate Drive, NE in Leesburg. Emergency services responded promptly, and the area was secured for further investigation. The fetus was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia, for an autopsy.”
Leesburg Police Chief Thea Pirnat called the situation “deeply tragic,” urging anyone with information to come forward, “not just for the sake of the investigation, but also to ensure that those in need are provided appropriate medical attention and services.”
The police department also reminded the community that “there are resources available for individuals who may find themselves in distressing situations, including options for the safe and anonymous surrender of newborns under the Virginia Safe Haven laws.”
Lauretta Brown is Culture Editor for OSV News. Follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) @LaurettaBrown6.
Virginia
Honking on the highway: Family of geese escorted off I-66 in Virginia
Those honks you heard on I-66? They weren’t from cars.
Police officers in Northern Virginia herded a family of Canada geese off the highway Thursday afternoon, as lanes were shut down to keep everyone safe.
The geese were spotted on I-66 westbound near the exit for Sycamore Street. Metro Transit Police got to them first, and Arlington County officers and Virginia State Police also responded to help, acording to Arlington County Police.
Video shows police vehicles slowly following the geese — two adults with a cluster of fuzzy yellow goslings — as they waddled along the far right shoulder toward milemarker 69.6.
Lane closures were put into effect about 1:30 p.m., and police were able to escort the geese off the highway within about 15 minutes.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2693381161043880
County police quipped on Facebook: “What’s good for the goose…is probably to stay of I-66. 🪿 Virginia State Police , Metro Forward Police Department, Virginia Department of Transportation and ACPD officers worked together to assist a family of geese off a busy highway in a feat so great it gave us goosebumps!”
Virginia
More than 300 pounds of marijuana worth $1M seized in Bristol, Virginia State Police says
BRISTOL, Va. (WCYB) — More than 300 pounds of marijuana worth more than $1 million were seized this month in Bristol, according to the Virginia State Police.
Multiple search warrants were executed this month by VSP and the Holston River Regional Drug Task Force in at various areas across the city between May 1 and May 13.
On May 1, a search warrant was executed at a business on Euclid Avenue. Around three pounds of marijuana was seized with a street value of $13,500. The location was within a school zone and a childcare facility.
On May 6, another search warrant was executed at a warehouse in Bristol. Virginia State Police seized 250 pounds of marijuana (street value of $1,135,000), 192 marijuana plants ($576,000), 50 pounds of THC edibles ($22,700). Charges are forthcoming, police said.
Another search warrant was executed on May 13 at a business on West State Street. Around 25 pounds of marijuana was seized with a street value of $112,500. Additional evidence was also seized.
In addition, another search warrant was executed on May 13 at a business on Paulena Drive. About 30 pounds of marijuana was seized with a street value of $135,000. Additional evidence was also seized.
The Office of the Attorney General is reviewing the investigation for any possible applicable civil enforcement actions.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (2)
The Holston River Regional Drug Task Force includes the Town of Abingdon Police Department, Bristol Police Department, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Town of Lebanon Police Department, as well as Virginia State Police.
Virginia
Va. governor concerned redistricting battle could make voters reluctant to cast ballot this fall – WTOP News
Days after Virginia Democrats filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court as part of their ongoing redistricting battle, Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she’s focused on the fall midterm elections and ensuring voters are motivated to turn out.
Days after Virginia Democrats filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court as part of their ongoing redistricting battle, Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she’s focused on the fall midterm elections and ensuring voters are motivated to turn out.
After a bill signing at Inova Schar Cancer Institute on Wednesday, Spanberger made her most extensive public comments about the state’s redistricting plan. She cited the state’s May 12 deadline for any map changes, and said as a result, this year’s elections will proceed under the current map.
Spanberger’s remarks came a few days after Virginia’s Supreme Court struck down the Democrat-led redistricting push. Primaries in the state are scheduled for Aug. 4, with the November general election to follow.
“What needs to happen is we need to focus on the task at hand, which is winning races in November,” Spanberger said.
“I believe, somewhat doggedly, that we will win two to four seats in the House of Representatives. … That is my goal. That is what I know is possible.”
The map Democrats proposed, experts said, could have resulted in a 10-1 Democratic majority representing Virginia in the U.S. House. But Republicans challenged the process Democrats in the General Assembly used to put the constitutional amendment before voters.
In a 4-3 opinion issued Friday morning, Virginia’s Supreme Court sided with the Republican challengers.
U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts gave Republicans until Thursday evening to respond to Democrats’ request for the emergency appeal.
Spanberger defended the process the General Assembly used, adding: “I think I certainly would have wanted to, and did want to, see a different outcome with the Supreme Court ruling.”
Over three million people participated in the rare April special election, and Spanberger said she’s concerned those voters “have had the experience of casting a ballot in an election that was very important to them, including those on both sides of the referendum vote, only to have it be overturned, essentially, by the Supreme Court of Virginia.”
Elected officials, she said, will have to work to ensure “that people know that their votes do matter, and that when it comes to the ballot they’re going to cast — whether it’s for a primary over the summer or for the general election into the fall — that they shouldn’t feel depleted or defeated, that their votes matter.”
Spanberger called the appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court “important, but when it comes to the execution of elections, no matter the outcome in that case, we will be running our elections beginning next month with early voting on the current maps that we have.”
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
-
Wyoming4 minutes ago
Wyoming cuts wolf hunt in half to buoy Yellowstone region’s disease-depleted population
-
Crypto10 minutes agoTrump administration curbs state oversight of crypto industry – ICIJ
-
Finance16 minutes agoAthol Finance Committee recommends passing 30 of 34 Town Meeting articles – Athol Daily News
-
Fitness22 minutes agobest ellipticals for a low-impact full body workout
-
Movie Reviews34 minutes agoReview: 'Obsession' Ain't Half the Horror Movie It Thinks It Is
-
News52 minutes agoExplosion at Lumber Mill in Searsmont, Maine, Draws Large Emergency Response
-
Politics58 minutes agoJustice Dept. Aims to Use Terrorism Laws to Target Mexican Officials
-
Business1 hour agoSome Medicare Patients Can Now Get Free CBD