Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who spent his early childhood in Richmond, was last seen on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants loaded him into the back of a pickup truck with other hostages abducted from a music festival in the Negev desert.
Ex-Richmonder found dead in Gaza
Chelsea Jackson reports that sorrow and anger grew Sunday after reports that Israeli American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a former Richmond resident, had been killed in the Gaza Strip
Hours after the Israeli army said it had located his body in Gaza along with the remains of five other hostages, the Goldberg-Polin family issued a statement early Sunday.
“With broken hearts, the Goldberg-Polin family is devastated to announce the death of their beloved son and brother, Hersh,” it said. “The family thanks you all for your love and support and asks for privacy at this time.”
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Goldberg-Polin’s parents, Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin, became perhaps the most high-profile relatives of hostages on the international stage.
President Joe Biden and Gov. Glenn Youngkin were among political officials expressing anger and sadness at the news.
Rabbi Dovid Asher of Keneseth Beth Israel synagogue on Patterson Avenue, said: “The community is quite devastated with the loss of this young man who prayed here, worshipped here, developed friendships here.” READ MORE
WHAT’S NEXT?
Labor Day kickoff: Second gentleman Douglas Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, attends the Labor Day picnic hosted by Rep. Bobby Scott, D-3rd. Sen. Tim Kaine and his GOP opponent, Hung Cao, might meet for the first time as both attend the annual Labor Day parade in Buena Vista.
Debate: Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris debate Sept. 10 in Philadelphia.
Trump, left; Harris, right
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
Campaign sprint: As the campaigns commence the two-month sprint to Election Day, Michael Martz looks at whether Virginia is in play at the presidential level and at how the switch to Harris is affecting Virginia’s key congressional races. READ MORE
Absenteeism: Em Holter and Anna Bryson report that Richmond has reduced its chronic absenteeism figures to lower than pre-pandemic levels. READ MORE
Whistleblower fund: Dave Ress reports that in 12 years a state whistleblower fund has paid out one reward – for $2,041. READ MORE
Schapiro: Politics columnist Jeff Schapiro writes that getting away gave him a chance to grow closer to people and politics. READ MORE
A Beyond Boundaries boat moves down the James River on Friday. Losing river days due to sewage overflows is a “missed opportunity,” said Shep Roeper, the nonprofit’s founder.
IN OTHER NEWS
• Samuel B. Parker talks reports on how fishermen, rafters, and businesses are affected when sewage reaches the James. READ MORE
• Eric Kolenich reports that a site has been picked for a Richmond bus transfer station and mixed-use project. READ MORE
• Anna Bryson reports that Virginia’s new school rating system is likely to rate a majority of schools as “off-track.” READ M?ORE
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Jennifer Ponton, left, and Vanessa Johnson look at a computer at Chimborazo Elementary School on Thursday. They are part of a task force of 25 family liaisons to help combat chronic absenteeism. “The work is not easy. The work is demanding,” Ponton said.
MONDAY TRIVIA
Which Secretary of Labor was the first woman to serve in a President’s Cabinet?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Suzanne and I are angered and heartbroken by the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a senseless murder at the hands of terrorists. Today, Virginians, Americans, and the world join the Goldberg-Polin family and the Keneseth Beth Israel Synagogue in prayer.”
TRIVIA ANSWER
Frances Perkins served as FDR‘s Labor Secretary from 1933 to 1945 and has the longest tenure in the position.