BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – Pro-Palestine protesters held a press conference at Virginia Tech after the University’s response to this past weekend’s protests and arrests.

“On that day at 5:30, [they] told us that the reason we were allowed to stay was in order for our voices to be heard, all the while, they came for the expressive reason of suppressing us and telling us to leave,” said Virginia Tech student Emon Green.

On Sunday, 82 protesters were arrested for protesting on campus grounds. That list includes 52 students and 5 professors.

Green believes the environment was safe and protestors were peaceful.

“The Vice President of Student Affairs came down to speak with us, but not for the open conversation,” said one Virginia Tech student. “We believe she was there for a while we explained our demands and why we had created the encampment. She replies by saying I am not here to discuss why you are here, but only to tell you that you have to leave.”

She recalls Sunday events describing the arrest as traumatic.

“Many arrestees reported numbness and loss of feeling in their hands. Due to the zip ties being overly tight to the point of cutting circulation,” she said.

VT Student Faatina Hameed added they are committed to their original demands; To Disclose, Divest, and Defend.

“On October 11, President Sands released a statement condemning the events of October 7 and the loss of civilian life in Israel, burst Hall was lit up in the color of the Israeli flag,” Hameed announced. “Our most immediate and critical ask was for Sands and the administration to release a statement equally recognizing the immense loss of life in Gaza as well as a result of the Israeli regime’s attacks.”

Some protesters say they were charged with trespassing and face student conduct charges.

One Virginia Tech professor requests the university drop all charges against the protesters.

“We additionally demand that they reinstate and that they protect students and faculty is a constitutional right to assembly, free speech and protest moving forward,” said Virginia Tech professor Desirée Poets.

Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.

On Friday, April 26, the Front Royal Rotary sponsored a downtown Front Royal “Pub Crawl” featuring a Phony Ponies “horse race” ticket holders could bet on to add to the Rotary fundraiser, and a little reward for their knowledge of the relative prowess and breeding of the involved Phony Ponies. Or as one pre-race announcer informed the crowd, “We’ve got three stallions and two old mares in this race,” which was met by some boos from the filly-supporting contingent.

And it was one of those two filly mares that led the five-horse field across the finish line after three laps around the Gazebo in the in the Main Street Downs Raceway shortly after 7:30 p.m. — that was “Blazin’ Botox” (Warren County Sheriff Crystal Cline), followed in order by “Money for Nothing” (Front Royal Rotary President Ken Evans), “Closing Real Fast” (Front Royal Police Chief Kahle Magalis), “Bullseye” (Warren County Rotary President Michael Williams), and “The Old Gray Mare” or was that “Mayor” (Front Royal Mayor Lori Cockrell).

It was a highly competitive race with some post finish line challenges offered by runner up Money for Nothing, whose jockey Evans noted an unapproved by the Racing Commission pre-race change into borrowed running shoes by the winner, as well as some out-of-my-lane territorial elbow-bumping by Blazin’ Botox to keep him in his 2nd place position. WAIT, do horses have elbows? I guess phony ones do.

Race fans grew anxious as post time approached. All five Phony Ponies are at the starting line. Might that inside post position drawn by Blazin’ Botox prove a difference maker in the long run? And they’re OFF and the cameras are popping.

Jockey Cockrell explained her disappointing 5th place finish, noting she had locked in behind Bullseye/Williams early in the running. However, it ended up being a bad spot to draft, as Bullseye appeared to be having an equipment break-down in front of her, as in a drooping “saddle” threatening that stallions stability and which she had to pull back from for caution’s sake.

On the more serious side, the second annual Talk Derby To Me Pub Crawl fundraiser was in support of Rotary International’s eradicate polio worldwide effort. More information about Rotary’s efforts to end polio can be found at this website: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/ending-polio

Involved and supporting downtown businesses included Vibrissa, the On Cue Sports Bar & Grill, Buckle & Belle Boutique, sponsor of the “Phony Ponies” race, C&C Frozen Treats, Pavemint Smoking Taphouse, Honey & Hops, Catamount Lounge, and Garcia & Gavino. Hope we didn’t miss anyone, and we’ll update as necessary if we did.

And in a late update, individual sponsoring of the Phony Ponies was provided by: Ken Evans, ReMax Reality sponsoring Evans on “Money For Nothing”; CSM Aesthetics sponsored “Blazin’ Botox” and jockey Cline; Clint Pierpoint, Next Home Reality Select sponsored “Closing Real Fast” with Chief Magalis on the saddle; Lori Cockrell for Mayor sponsored “The Old Grey Mare” with the mayor riding; and Shenandoah Valley Axe Throwing Co. sponsored the saddle-failing “Bullseye” with Williams keeping his stallion upright.

And if you missed the fun and excitement, here are a few more shots.

Jockeys try to get a handle on their situation during a warm-up lap. Wonder where that inside post position horse is? Uh oh, 3 racing laps around the Gazebo and there she is crossing that finish line in the lead, and it’s straight to the Winner’s Circle.

Below, second place Money for Nothing jockey Ken Evans gives a congratulatory nod to the winner, even with those late-acquired un-sanctioned shoes. And a final nod to the crowd from this year’s Phony Ponies leader of the pack Blazin’ Botox, out of the WCSO stables.

RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) – Virginia residents who want to board an airplane for a domestic flight will soon need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, according to a reminder from the Transportation Security Administration. If the license is not REAL ID-compliant, travelers will need another form of approved identification, such as a passport to board a flight or enter a secure federal facility or military base.

The REAL ID driver’s license and identification card have a small star in the upper right corner to indicate they meet federal regulations that establish minimum security standards.

REAL ID goes into effect May 7, 2025.

“REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver licenses and identification cards,” says Robin “Chuck” Burke, TSA’s Federal Security Director for Richmond International Airport. “The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists’ ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification.”

Virginia residents have the option to upgrade to a REAL ID if their licenses do not currently have the star, or stick with an older standard driver’s license. However, TSA says, a standard credential—without the star—will not be valid to board a domestic flight or to access secure federal facilities, including military bases and some federal offices.

To get the REAL ID star, Virginians will need to visit a local Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles office in person and have with them certain documents to prove U.S. citizenship and Virginia residency. Required documents include one proof of identity (passport or U.S. birth certificate), proof of legal presence for non-U.S. citizens, two proofs of Virginia residency, social security card (if issued) and a current driver’s license if you are applying to exchange one issued by another U.S. state.

Transportation Security Administration officers who staff the ticket document checking station at airports will not allow travelers into the checkpoint without a REAL ID-compliant license or another form of acceptable ID after May 7, 2025, according to TSA, because of a federal law (The REAL ID Act of 2005) that mandates a REAL ID is needed for federal purposes.

Travelers will start to notice new signs at airports nationwide to remind them that REAL ID-compliant licenses or other acceptable forms of ID, such as a valid passport, federal government PIV card or U.S. military ID, will be mandatory for air travel beginning on May 7, 2025, Burke explained. “Critically important, on May 7, 2025, individuals who are unable to verify their identity may not be permitted to enter the TSA checkpoint and will not be allowed to fly,” he said.

For more information and details about how to obtain a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card in Virginia, visit Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles website.

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