Virginia
More than 125 arrested at four Virginia universities amid nationwide protest over Israel-Hamas war • Virginia Mercury
Following the strong reaction to the Israel-Hamas war across the country, some Virginia colleges and universities are still responding to last week’s series of on-campus demonstrations that resulted in dozens of students’ arrests and lingering questions about upcoming graduation ceremonies.
Youngkin says no encampments on Virginia campuses; supports ‘peaceful’ protests
Some of the most notable Virginia protests that led to arrests occurred at the University of Mary Washington, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech and, most recently, the University of Virginia.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said in a Sunday appearance on Fox News that protesters at UVA — where 25 people were arrested Saturday after Virginia State Police deployed pepper spray to clear an encampment that several staff and students described as peaceful — ignored multiple warnings to leave the area and “blocked and surrounded” campus officers, and “that’s when they had to ask for state police to intervene.”
On Friday, May 3, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said during an interview with Bloomberg TV that his administration determined that nonstudents are causing “real problems” and inciting hate speech, antisemitism and violence during demonstrations.
“If they’re peaceful, then of course, that’s part of our constitutional right and part of the American fabric, but we can’t allow hate speech, antisemitism and most importantly, violence and disruption and threats,” said Youngkin.
According to media reports, multiple arrests have been made on Virginia’s college campuses as the world waits for a resolution in the war between Palestine and Israel that has lasted for over six months, following the Palestinian militant group Hamas’s assault on Israel near the Gaza Strip.
Demonstrators across the country are calling for a cease-fire, for America to reject forms of hate and for universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel, which they see makes them complicit in the war.
This weekend, some state colleges and universities will hold their commencement ceremonies, hosting graduates’ families and other guests on campuses. On May 11, Youngkin will speak at VCU’s commencement ceremony at the university’s convention center. 13 people were arrested during last week’s demonstration on VCU’s campus.
“Commencement is an official university event and disruptions will not be tolerated,” said Brian McNeill, a spokesman for VCU. “We expect our graduates and their guests will celebrate with behavior that allows everyone to enjoy this milestone occasion. But anyone who engages in a prolonged disruption may be asked to leave the ceremony or could be removed from the Convention Center.”
According to Michael Stowe, a spokesman for Virginia Tech, where more than 80 protesters were arrested last week, no changes are being made to any commencement activities in Blacksburg. He said any updates will be posted on the university’s commencement webpage.
Demonstrations
On Saturday afternoon, 25 protesters were arrested at the University of Virginia, the culmination of a nearly week-long demonstration that University President Jim Ryan said in a statement started as “a peaceful public demonstration” near the university’s chapel Tuesday. It is not clear how many of those arrested were UVA students.
“We hoped and tried to handle this locally,” Ryan’s statement read in reference to the efforts of UVA Police Chief Tim Longo to allow protests to continue on campus for most of the week.”But when UPD’s attempts to resolve the situation were met with physical confrontation and attempted assault, it became necessary to rely on assistance from the Virginia State Police,” Ryan wrote, noting that people unaffiliated with UVA presented safety concerns at Saturday’s protest.
“The reality is that what you had at UVA is students that were warned repeatedly they were violating both the student code of conduct, that it was an unlawful assembly, there was trespassing, there were outsiders that were there,” Miyares said on Fox News Sunday after Saturday’s incidents at UVA. “One thing I want to stress is Virginia is not New York; you have a very different governor, you have a very different AG and we’re not gonna tolerate that.”
24 members of the school’s history department faculty released a statement Saturday afternoon on X as the events on campus continued unfolding, condemning “the repression of a peaceful protest of our students by armed state police in riot gear.” The statement said university staff, students, and administrators had been collaborating since April 30 to ensure the protests stayed nonviolent so the educators were “stunned” by the university’s decision to call in state police.
Beginning in the evening on Saturday, April 27 protesters in Fredericksburg, including college students, were arrested by law enforcement amid demonstrations at the University of Mary Washington. Combined with those taken into custody at Virginia Tech and VCU, a total of 107 people were arrested, 68 of them students, at all three campuses.
In Richmond, demonstrators set up encampment structures that VCU said in an April 30 statement impacted campus operations and safety, and violated the university’s Reservation and Use of Space policy.
After law enforcement and university staff asked demonstrators “respectfully and repeatedly” to comply with policies throughout the day, including ones that bar the setting up of tents and other structures, the university said officers provided four mass warnings to individuals who chose not to leave the encampment before declaring an unlawful assembly.
Some demonstrators who chose not to leave threw objects at officers and sprayed them with unknown chemicals. Law enforcement officials responded using pepper spray to disperse the crowd. VCU Police report that officers did not use other chemical agents, such as tear gas.
VCU said 13 individuals were arrested and charged with unlawful assembly and trespassing. Six of those arrested were students; these students will proceed normally through the university’s student conduct process.
“VCU will enforce its directive that prohibits encampments, including the installation of structures and stockpiling items that could be used to build a structure or aid an encampment,” the university said in a statement. “This will be done to comply with our policies and to support allowing students, faculty and staff to complete the semester successfully.”
In Fredericksburg, law enforcement arrested 12 demonstrators, including nine students, for trespassing, according to a letter from University President Troy Paino.
Paino wrote that demonstrators were allowed to protest at Jefferson Square, according to the university’s policy on expressive activity. But by the late afternoon on April 26, a threat assessment taken by officials determined the encampment was prohibited and tents were not permitted.
Against the guidelines, demonstrators put the tents back up on April 27, leading officials to cancel the remainder of the event.
Paino said attendees were instructed to leave, but some remained, resulting in 12 being arrested for trespassing.
“Events that do not follow instructions, attempt to disrupt classes or activities, or endanger the health, safety, and security of our campus community will not be allowed,” Palino wrote in a letter to the university community.
In Blacksburg, Virginia Tech reported that 82 individuals, including 53 current Virginia Tech students, were arrested and all were charged with trespassing.
Reaction from legislature
In the aftermath of arrests at Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, VCU and UVA, leaders and lawmakers have reacted to the protests, with most asserting that they value free speech, but responding differently on how to demand change.
Democrats have leaned on President Joe Biden’s message that states “peaceful protest is protected” in the United States and “violent protest is not protected. It’s against the law.”
Biden backs peaceful protest, denounces campus ‘chaos’ over Gaza
Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, said Friday on X that UVA’s protests had been peaceful and questioned the police’s reaction to the demonstrations.
“I’m not sure what change provoked this sort of response by the police. Violence is unnecessary. I will be interested in knowing whether the change in tactics was decided in Charlottesville or Richmond.”
Others have taken a stance to condemn the policing of the First Amendment, according to a joint statement signed by five Democratic lawmakers: Sen. Saddam Azlan Salaim, D-Fairfax, and Dels. Rozia Henson Jr., D-Prince William, Adele McClure, D-Arlington, Joshua Cole, D-Fredericksburg, and Nadarius Clark, D-Suffolk.
“Freedom of speech and the right to protest are rights protected by the United States Constitution. Full stop,” said Henson. “Arresting students for exercising their constitutionally protected rights to peacefully assemble and protest violence erodes confidence in our own governmental institutions and must be closely scrutinized.”
The group of lawmakers also urged colleges and universities that have arrested their own students for “participating in constitutionally protected protesting to de-escalate tensions,” to reconsider their actions and re-engage with students to “facilitate a more peaceful path forward.”
House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said his colleagues referenced in the joint statement fail to recognize the “unlawful nature” of some of these protests and associated themselves with the “worst of the bigoted messages” from demonstrators.
“As long as these protests remain inside the rules of these universities, they have a right to happen, no matter how nauseating and odious the views on display,” Gilbert said in a statement applauding the governor, Attorney General Jason Miyares and law enforcement for the “even-handed way” they have handled the demonstrations.
He added that if demonstrations turn into intimidating Jewish students, trespassing, or other illegal activity, they can be shut down.
“Virginia’s colleges are not preschools where petulant children need to learn basic rules and manners,” Gilbert said. “Campus officials and law enforcement officers told these young adults the rules. They broke the rules, and now they’ll face the consequences.”
Mercury editor Samantha Willis contributed to this report.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) -It’s called the single most-hated tax in Virginia.
And now, the two candidates running for governor this fall are on board with chopping the car tax, but it would have hefty financial implications.
Both candidates for Virginia governor can agree on one thing: the state’s “car tax” should be eliminated.
Last week, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears announced her “Axe the Tax” initiative at a campaign event. This initiative includes ending the car tax.
A spokesperson for Democratic Abigail Spanberger says that she, too, supports ending the tax and plans to work with both Democrats and Republicans to find a way to do so.
“I’m not a fan of the car tax or really any other taxes. We’re overtaxed as it is, so if we can get rid of a few of ‘em, let’s go,” one resident said.
The tax provides significant revenue for cities, towns and counties, which levy and collect it. If lawmakers want to kill it at the state level, they must find a way to reimburse the localities for all that lost revenue.
The state estimates that repealing the car tax in Virginia would cost between $2.5 billion and $3 billion a year.
Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin tried not once, but twice, to repeal the car tax.
“But we have to be careful who we vote for and be very strategic and actually do background checks on the candidates as well. But I don’t believe getting rid of that and raising the tax prices on people, we’ll do anything,” said another Virginia resident.
But the Virginia General Assembly — mainly state Democrats — said otherwise during budget negotiations.
“Lowering taxes is always popular. Always has been. Always will be, although it causes fiscal problems for a state,” Political Analyst Larry Sabato said.
But political analyst Larry Sabato says that while the car tax has never been abolished in full, it has been chipped away at.
“‘No car tax’ was the winning slogan for Jim Gilmore, and it got him a landslide win in 1997. That should tell you. The appeal of a proposal like this,” Sabato said.
Most car owners had to shell out big bucks on their annual car tax bill, which was due on June 5.
Copyright 2025 WWBT. All rights reserved.
Bedford, Virginia
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Hiking the Peaks of Otter is a true Virginia treasure. It offers some of the most dramatic views in the state.
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Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway is a fantastic way to take in mountain views, enjoy the winding roads, and stop at overlooks and trails along the way.
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Perched beside Abbott Lake and surrounded by mountain scenery, the Peaks of Otter Lodge offers unmatched access to the Peaks of Otter trails.
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History comes to life at the moving and meticulously designed National D-Day Memorial, which honors the lives of those who participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
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Set in a beautifully restored former train station, Liberty Station serves up a menu of elevated American classics with a Southern twist.
As someone who has lived in Virginia for more than 23 years and visited all 50 U.S. states, I keep coming back to Bedford. Despite my travels—and even stints living in other states—there’s something timeless and grounding about this town. From its stunning hiking trails and historical landmarks to its cozy restaurants and mountain views, Bedford has quietly become one of my favorite hidden gems in Virginia.
If you love hiking, diving into history, or are just seeking for a peaceful getaway with great local food, you’ll find plenty of reasons to fall in love with Bedford, too.
Best Hotels & Lodges
Visit Virginia
A lounge area inside th Peaks of Otter Lodge.
Peaks of Otter Lodge
Surrounded by nature and located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 86, Peaks of Otter Lodge is ideal for hikers and anyone craving a peaceful mountain escape. Visitors can expect lakefront views, on-site dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and access to scenic trails.
Graham Ordinary
For a more rustic escape, Graham Ordinary is a historic mountain lodge in the picturesque countryside nearby. The King Suites are thoughtfully styled to reflect the property’s cozy, mountain charm, and the quiet setting creates a true sense of retreat. For those wanting to fully immerse themselves in nature, the lodge also features several campsite options.
The Forget-Me-Not B&B
A charming bed-and-breakfast in the heart of Bedford, this lovingly restored property offers one cozy room, personal touches, a large front porch, and a tasty breakfast.
Best Things to Do
Visit Virginia
Visitors observe the The National D-Day Memorial.
Hike the Peaks of Otter.
The Peaks of Otter will always be my favorite hiking spot in Virginia. I’ve explored its trails more times than I can count and in every season—and it never loses its magic. Whether you’re hiking Sharp Top, Flat Top, or Harkening Hill, there’s a trail for every experience level.
For me, it’s about more than just the views. It’s where my husband and I went on our first date, and a year later, it’s where he proposed. I love returning to relive those memories and soak in the panoramic views of Virginia’s countryside.
Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Winding through the mountains just outside town, the Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the U.S. With its countless overlooks, peaceful picnic spots, and picture-perfect photo ops, this route offers jaw-dropping views year-round.
Take a day trip to Smith Mountain Lake.
Smith Mountain Lake, just a 35-minute drive from Bedford, is well worth the trip. Often called the Lake Tahoe of the East, it’s stunning and packed with activities. Nicole Johnson, director of tourism at Destination Bedford, highlighted that there are endless ways to experience this beautiful destination, whether it’s fishing, renting a boat for a day on the water, or hiking and camping.
Visit the National D-Day Memorial and the Bedford Boys Tribute Center.
With Bedford suffering the highest per-capita D-Day losses in the nation, the town holds a deep connection to World War II history. The powerful outdoor memorial honors the sacrifices of D-Day soldiers through moving sculptures, informative displays, and peaceful gardens. It’s both educational and emotional—an essential visit for history lovers and anyone wanting to understand Bedford’s story on a deeper level.
Johnson suggests starting at the National D-Day Memorial, then visiting the Bedford Boys Tribute Center. She explained it’s a meaningful way to learn about the personal stories of these men and the sacrifices they made for the community. “The Tribute Center features many of their personal belongings and is located in Bedford’s historic downtown,” she shared.
Spend time at local orchards.
At different times of the year, you can pick apples, berries, or peaches at local orchards in Bedford. Johnson’s Orchards and Gross Orchard are fantastic places to not only pick your own fruit, but also purchase fresh, local produce.
Best Restaurants
Bridge Street Cafe
Start your morning at Bridge Street Cafe, where locals love the bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and tasty lattes.
Town Kitchen & Provisions
Perfect for lunch, this charming sandwich shop is a hit, thanks to its flavorful bánh mì, falafel, and irresistible pies. It’s a casual spot with standout options.
Liberty Station
A Bedford staple and local favorite, Liberty Station is known for its upscale country fare. Signature dishes include prime rib, crab dip, and French onion soup. It’s a must-visit for a hearty, flavorful meal.
Best Time to Visit
Visit Virginia
View of mountains from Peaks of Otter Lodge.
While you can’t go wrong with a visit to Bedford during any season. Johnson, said, “Spring is a beautiful time to visit, with everything in bloom and vibrant shades of green spreading across the landscape. The colorful scenery set against the Peaks of Otter makes for a stunning backdrop. Late April through June is an ideal time to experience it, before the busier summer and fall seasons.”
How to Get There
Visit Virginia
A family stops at a lookout along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The nearest airport to Bedford is Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH), located about 25 minutes away. For more flight options, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) is another convenient choice, just 40 minutes from town. If you’re flying into the area, plan to rent a car. Bedford’s small-town charm and surrounding sights are best explored by driving.
How to Get Around
The best way to explore Bedford is by car. While the downtown area is walkable, many of the best hiking trails, restaurants, and scenic spots require a drive. Ride-shares, like Uber and Lyft, are available, but very limited.
Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
LSU baseball entered Sunday with a chance to advance to Omaha with a win vs. West Virginia in Game 2. Another night of offensive firepower accomplished that goal, and the Tigers are headed back to the College World Series with a 12-5 win.
LSU was the road team in this one, taking the bats in the top of the first. The Tigers scored a run after Derek Curiel led off the game with a double, he advanced to third on a flyout by Ethan Frey, and then scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 1-0 Tigers. Anthony Eyanson was the man on the mound for LSU. He worked a scoreless first inning, and LSU gave him some run support in the top of the second.
LSU scored five runs in the top of the second inning. Steven Milam hit a three-RBI double, Jake Brown hit an RBI single, and Jared Jones hit an RBI single to increase the Tigers’ lead to 6-0.
The bats on both sides got quiet for a few innings until the bottom of the fourth inning. West Virginia scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the LSU lead to 6-3. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Mountaineers would tack on another run to cut the lead to 6-4.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Eyanson walked the first hitter he faced and was pulled from the game for Cooper Williams. Eyanson finished the night after five full innings of work. He gave up four runs on five hits, seven strikeouts, and three walks.
An error, a walk, and a hit by pitch started the top of the seventh for the Tigers and forced a pitching change by West Virginia. Chris Stanfield made the Mountaineers pay with a two-RBI single to give LSU an 8-4 lead. An error then scored Curiel to make it 9-4.
Milam hit an RBI double to score Frey and make it 10-4 Tigers. Jake Brown then hit a two-run blast to dead center to increase the lead to 12-4.
Williams remained in the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the bottom of the eighth inning, West Virginia scored another run on a solo homer to cut the lead to 12-5. Williams walked the next batter he faced, and he was pulled from the game.
Chase Shores would enter to pitch for the Tigers. Shores remained in the game to pitch the ninth inning, and he finished the game off and sent the Tigers to Omaha with a 12-5 victory!
With the win, LSU advances to Omaha to face off against a familiar foe, the Arkansas Razorbacks. LSU faced Arkansas during the season and took two of three from them, but anything can happen in Omaha. The date and time for that game are to be announced later.
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