Virginia
The latest twist in Virginia’s redistricting battle: a ‘pink slime’ newspaper in Arlington | ARLnow.com
As debate over Virginia’s redistricting referendum heats up ahead of next month’s vote, a partisan newspaper advancing Democrats’ arguments has begun showing up in Arlington mailboxes.
The latest issue of The Virginia Independent — a product of American Independent Media, which specializes in content that mimics the form of impartial news sources in order to promote progressive causes — devotes a significant amount of space to the upcoming April 21 vote on redistricting.
A front-page spread spotlights former President Barack Obama’s support for the effort, which would heavily advantage Democrats in response to gerrymandering in Republican-controlled states such as Texas. Another story emphasizes the temporary nature of the proposal, while a third is an “exclusive” Q&A with the headline, “Two Virginians, one message: Why they support the April 21 redistricting amendment.”
Softball questions in the Q&A touch on topics such as a “30-second elevator pitch” for undecided Virginians and the consequences of gerrymandering in red states.
“Mathews County retiree Sheila Crowley and former redistricting commission member James Abrenio say the temporary measure is necessary — both to meet the moment and to ensure Virginia’s congressional map represents voters,” the subhead states.
Media watchers including the Center for Health Journalism and the Columbia Journalism Review have described American Independent Media’s content as a form of “pink slime” journalism, which looks like news but is usually thinly and unevenly reported in order to support a partisan viewpoint. Conservative counterparts to The Virginia Independent include the Richmond Leader and the Henrico Times in the Richmond area.
The Virginia Independent did not respond to a request for comment.
This isn’t the first unconventional mail campaign connected to this year’s redistricting vote. On the other side of the issue, a mailer opposing redistricting used imagery evoking the Civil Rights Movement in accusing Virginia lawmakers of “trying to take our districts away.”
Sponsored by a political action committee led by former Del. A.C. Cordoza (R), it prompted criticism from the Virginia NAACP and Attorney General Jay Jones (D), who accused the mailer of spreading a false message that redistricting would threaten Black representation.
The Virginia Independent predates the current redistricting campaign. The oldest stories on its website date back to early 2025, and it sent other mailers in Northern Virginia during last year’s election cycle — prominently featuring content that favored Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger’s successful gubernatorial campaign.
Unlike some partisan publications, The Virginia Independent’s stories all have bylines. The author of the front-page story on redistricting, Anna Gustafson, previously worked at the Michigan Advance — part of States Newsroom, the same nonprofit news organization behind the Virginia Mercury — before joining the American Independent News Network in late 2023, according to her LinkedIn.
While redistricting is a prominent theme, most stories in the mailer are about other topics, including health care, therapy dogs and the Virginia Teaching Artists program.
American Independent Media describes itself as “a progressive media organization that produces news and information content regarding government and politics.” It had total revenues of $35.7 million in 2024.
The organization’s website lists a total of five sites in addition to The Virginia Independent: The Michigan Independent, The Pennsylvania Independent, The Wisconsin Independent and The New Jersey Independent.
Virginia
Bus driver in fatal Virginia crash had previous speeding charges
A bus driver with a history of speeding accusations was indicted on additional charges Monday in a chain-reaction crash in Virginia that killed five people and injured dozens more.
Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, initially was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter after the crash early Friday morning on Interstate 95. On Monday, a grand jury indicted him on three additional charges of involuntary manslaughter and one count of reckless driving, according to a statement from the Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Authorities said Dong was driving a motorcoach from New York to North Carolina when he struck a line of vehicles that had slowed down in a work zone. A family of four from Greenfield, Massachusetts, on their way to a wedding were killed, as was a 25-year-old woman from Worcester, Massachusetts.
Dong, who remained hospitalized Monday, previously was accused of speeding in Colonial Heights, Virginia, in November 2024 and in Annapolis, Maryland, in March, according to online court records. In the latter case, he is accused of driving a motorcoach 72 mph (116 kph) in a 50 mph (80 kph) zone.
In the Virginia case, Dong was convicted of driving 73 mph (117 kph) in a 55 mph (89 kph) zone and paid $219 in fines and court costs. He also has a pending case in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, where he was accused of trespassing in July.
The bus involved in Friday’s crash was operated by E&P Travel Inc., based in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, a board member said.
Court documents related to the bus crash do not list an attorney for Dong. Neither the attorney representing him in the trespassing case nor the lawyer representing him in Maryland responded to emails seeking comment Monday.
Prosecutor Eric Olsen said Dong will be transported to jail upon his release from the hospital.
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Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.
Virginia
Average gasoline prices in Virginia have fallen in the last week: GasBuddy
(WSET) — Average gasoline prices in Virginia have fallen 23.7 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.15/g on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 4,081 stations in Virginia.
Prices in Virginia are 1 cent per gallon lower than a month ago and stand $1.21/g higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has decreased 15.5 cents compared to a week ago and stands at $5.437 per gallon, GasBuddy said.
SEE ALSO: Suspect in fatal shooting of Carroll County deputy captured in North Carolina
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Virginia was priced at $3.29/g on Sunday, while the most expensive was $5.59/g, a difference of $2.30/g. The lowest price in the state on Sunday was $3.29/g while the highest was $5.59/g, a difference of $2.30/g.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 19.5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.26/g on Monday. The national average is down 17.8 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands $1.18/g higher than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
Virginia
Deadly crashes on Interstate 95 over 2 days prompt safety concerns along Virginia’s busy corridor
CAROLINE COUNTY, Va. — Two deadly crashes on I-95 in two days are drawing attention to safety concerns along one of Virginia’s busiest corridors.
Stafford Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Olsen authorized felony warrants charging Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, New York, with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with Friday’s deadly bus crash in Stafford County. Additional charges are pending.
Investigators say the bus was traveling at a high rate of speed when it slammed into traffic slowing for a work zone on I-95 south, triggering a chain reaction involving at least eight vehicles.
“According to local first responders, five occupants of passenger vehicles in the traffic queue were tragically killed. Numerous other occupants, including the bus driver, were injured and some seriously,” National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said.
Family killed in I-95 bus crash was headed to wedding in South Carolina, relatives say
Family killed in I-95 bus crash was headed to wedding in South Carolina, relatives say
Among those killed was a Massachusetts family of four who were traveling to a wedding in South Carolina. A fifth victim, also from Massachusetts, was killed.
A total of 44 people were taken to hospitals, including three with critical injuries.
A woman who was on the bus described the scene in the aftermath of the crash.
“You have blood, people bleeding, people screaming, the bus smoking. A stranger came bust the window open and let us all out; I’m thankful for that,” passenger Judy said.
Dong remains hospitalized but is in custody after being served with the felony warrants. Prosecutors say more charges are possible. He will be held without bond, and his first court appearance will be scheduled once he is released from the hospital.
Then on Saturday, another deadly crash closed portions of I-95 in Caroline County.
WTVR
Christina Baker and her husband Joshua say they witnessed the crash unfold. They told us an SUV was speeding down the left shoulder of I-95 South before striking debris and losing control.
“It went down, and then it went up, and then just flew across the entire median across onto oncoming traffic going the opposite direction,” Christina Baker said. “I started screaming, saying, ‘Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.’”
Officials say one person died and two others were hospitalized. At this time, they have not released any more information about those involved.
The crash left the Bakers wanting to remind drivers to stay alert and think of others when behind the wheel.
“People should just stay in the lanes, drive the speed limit right, and be responsible. Because I felt for a moment, I was obviously concerned for our safety as well,” Joshua Baker said.
While the cause of both crashes remains under investigation, Chapman says the NTSB is noticing many common factors when it comes to crashes on I-95, including traffic backups.
“We also want to look very closely here to issues potentially involving fatigue, driver performance, those sorts of things. And vehicle performance issues. That might include factors such as automatic braking, whether the vehicle was or was not equipped with what’s called AEB. Those are the sorts of things we want to look at here and we might be able to learn some lessons,” Chapman said.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
IN-DEPTH COVERAGE: Fatal I-95 Charter Bus Crash
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