Virginia
Virginia Democrats could redraw state’s congressional maps
Virginia Democrats plan to redraw congressional maps
Just weeks before Virginia elects a new governor, there’s a surprise move that could upend the state’s congressional makeup. Democrats, who control the state’s general assembly, are poised to hold a special session in Richmond to redraw congressional maps. It could wipe out GOP seats and put more democrats in Congress. FOX 5’s Tom Fitzgerald is in Arlington with more.
ARLINGTON, Va. – Just weeks before Virginia elects a new governor, there’s a surprise move that could upend the state’s congressional makeup.
Democrats, who control the state’s General Assembly, are poised to hold a special session in Richmond to redraw congressional maps. It could wipe out GOP seats and put more Democrats in Congress.
It’s a move that’s sending shockwaves through Virginia politics. Virginia’s congressional delegation of 11 seats is made up of six Democrats and five Republicans but if Democrats
in Richmond move to redraw those districts, it could wipe out some of those seats held by Republicans.
What they’re saying:
The plan has been denounced by Republican. Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears who would preside over a special session, says it’s a ploy to take her off Virginia Republican.
Congressman Morgan Griffith tells FOX 5 the move is “underhanded.”
“The Democrats have a plan to eliminate the nonpartisan districting that the voters overwhelmingly supported just a few years ago,” Griffith said.
Democratic Congressman James Walkinshaw says the GOP started this effort by redistricting Democratic seats in Texas and North Carolina.
“We’ve seen Republicans across the country — neighbors in North Carolina and obviously in Texas — gerrymandering in very extreme ways, so look, we can’t take anything off the table,” Walkinshaw said.
Dig deeper:
The timing is raising eyebrows across Virginia amid a heated election season.
In just 12 days, the Commonwealth holds elections for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger told FOX 5 just weeks ago that she would not support a redistricting effort because the state already had a process in place
“We spent years putting in place via a constitutional amendment that we have a bipartisan commission. Any efforts to try and change that would require another multi-year process so the answer isn’t feasible in Virginia,” Spanberger said.
“There is always a risk. It’s purple state and the Schar Center/Washington Post poll showed today that, minutes before our interview, Spanberger is ahead 12 points,” said David Ramadan with George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy.
Whether or not Earle-Sears or Spanberger wins next month, that would do little to end state democrats’ efforts to redistrict republican seats.
Under Virginia law, the General Assembly holds the power to make the rules on redistricting, not the governor.
A manhunt is underway in Virginia for a suspect accused of killing a sheriff’s deputy while he was conducting a welfare check, law enforcement officials said.
Deputy Logan Utt was fatally shot after police received a request from a family member to do a welfare check at the location, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office said.
A man at the home opened fire on the two deputies who responded to the location, according to the sheriff’s office. The deputies returned fire, the sheriff’s office said, and both were hit by gunfire. Utt was pronounced dead, while the second deputy was struck in his ballistic vest. That deputy is currently receiving medical evaluation and is reported to be in stable condition, officials said.
“Deputy Utt was a devoted husband, loving father, cherished family member, friend, and respected member of our law enforcement family. His service, courage, and dedication will not be forgotten,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Utt joined the sheriff’s office in 2023, after serving in the military.
A search is underway for the suspect. He should be considered armed and extremely dangerous, law enforcement officials said.
“My office is closely monitoring this tragic incident,” Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger wrote on social media. “I encourage anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts to contact Virginia State Police. My thoughts are with the deputy’s family and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office as we work through this awful situation.”
“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Richard Delcid, the general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, told WTOP.
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‘I didn’t know I could go that fast’: Virginia pizza maker breaks record
A general manager of a Domino’s Pizza in Manassas, Virginia, won the chain’s “World’s Fastest Pizza Maker” competition this month.
Richard Delcid prepared a pepperoni pizza, mushroom pizza and cheese pizza for the oven in 31.22 seconds.
“I didn’t know I could go that fast,” Delcid told WTOP.
“Eight seconds better than the previous record,” Robert Donner, one of the owners of the Domino’s on Centreville Road, said.
The competitors at the May 13 Las Vegas event came from Domino’s locations around the world, and Donner said the competition is about more than speed.
“They’re judged by weight, they’re judged by portion, and they’re judged on whether they’re sellable to a customer,” Donner said.
When Delcid first started working for Domino’s in 2012, he was a teenager. He was much slower then, he joked.
As with anything, practice makes perfect.
“We record ourselves during practices,” Delcid said. “We dissect videos, we look at body movement, hand movement, everything.”
Delcid was not alone in Vegas. Donner, who is part owner of more than 30 Domino’s Pizza locations in Virginia and Maryland, brought dozens of employees to the event.
Coming in second at the competition was another member of Donner’s team.
Joe Burr, who is known as “Domino Joe,” is the local director of training, and calls himself the Dan Marino of the Domino’s World’s Fastest Pizza Maker competition.
“I’ve won third place a couple times, I’ve won second place like three or four times,” Burr said. “So I’m like always a bridesmaid, but never a bride.”
Don’t let Burr’s jokes fool you — he has known Delcid for a long time and is very proud of him.
“I like to say it’s not the sculptor, it’s the clay. Richard is the best clay,” Burr said.
Along with a championship belt and a trophy, Delcid’s record‑breaking performance earned him $5,000 from Domino’s Pizza corporate, and his local bosses kicked in another $5,000.
Virginia
Netflix casting Central Virginia singles for “Love on the Spectrum” after Danville man joins show
DANVILLE, Va. (WSET) — Netflix is searching for singles in Central Virginia to appear on its documentary-style dating series “Love on the Spectrum,” after a Danville man was cast for an upcoming season and producers are now looking to find his match.
The series follows adults on the autism spectrum as they navigate dating.
Monica Karavanic, executive director of The Arc of Southside in Danville, said the person cast has ties to her organization.
SEE ALSO: City leaders tour $100M Lynchburg CSO tunnel aimed at improving Lynchburg waterways
“This show has been loved by millions internationally and so for it to come to Danville is pretty awesome and we’re just really excited and hoping to make it work,” Karavanic said.
Casting is focused on singles ages 25 to 40, of any gender, who live near Danville or Lynchburg and would be interested in going on a date with a man on the spectrum. Producers say the time commitment could be as little as half a day.
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For more information on how to apply, you’re asked to email: production@northernpictures.com.au
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