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Virginia
Virginia state flag banned in Texas school district, the reason will stun you
Apr 18, 2025 06:02 AM IST
Virginia’s state flag has been banned for a Texas school district, the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD), over nudity concerns
Virginia’s state flag has been banned for some students in a Texas school district, the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD), over nudity concerns, Texas Freedom to Read Project co-director Anne Russey told Axios. The Old Dominion State’s flag features a depiction of Virtus with an exposed breast.
The Lamar CISD, about 30 minutes from Houston, removed a section about Virginia from its online learning platform, Pebble Go Next, used by 3rd-5th graders, Russey added.
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According to the Texas Freedom to Read Project, LCISD’s school board voted 5-1 to update its EFB Local Library Materials policy. “They made changes to the selection criteria, which they claimed were necessary to comply with the board’s interpretation of House Bill 900 (aka the READER Act). Among other things, the board policy added criteria that prohibit “frontal nudity” in any elementary school materials.”
However, Virginia officials have not commented on the omission yet. “The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the District provides a wide range of library materials for students and faculty that support student achievement and present varying levels of difficulty, diversity of appeal, and a variety of points of view,” LCISD said of the policy on their website.
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“Today, it’s the Virginia state flag. Tomorrow will it be books that contain historical photos or depictions of Holocaust survivors? Breast-feeding mothers? The Paper Bag Princess? Art history books that portray the statue of David or the Birth of Venus?” the Texas Freedom to Read Project further wrote in its blog.
Reacting to Lamar CISD’s reported decision, a Virginia local tweeted: “Virginia’s bare-breasted state flag, and a lesson about the Commonwealth of Virginia, has been banned for some students in a Texas school district. The reason: Our state flag violates the district’s frontal nudity image policy.”
Local News
The victims included a Greenfield couple and their two children, as well as a 25-year-old Worcester woman.
Four members of a Greenfield family and a Worcester woman have been identified as the five Massachusetts residents killed in a fiery charter bus crash on a Virginia highway this week.
Virginia State Police identified the victims as Dmitri Doncev, 45; Ecaterina Doncev, 44; Emily Doncev, 13; and Mark Doncev, 7, all of Greenfield, along with 25-year-old Priscilla R. Mafalda of Worcester.
The crash happened on Thursday on Interstate 81 near Lexington, Virginia, when a charter bus traveling from New York City to Charlotte, North Carolina, struck several vehicles as traffic slowed for roadwork. In addition to the five people killed, 34 others were injured and taken to local hospitals, according to authorities.
Investigators said the bus failed to slow down and slammed into a Chevrolet Suburban driven by Mafalda. The impact pushed the SUV into the Doncev family’s Acura, which caught fire.
Dmitri, a nurse at Holyoke Medical Center, was driving his family through the night to attend a wedding in South Carolina when the crash occurred, according to the Boston Globe.
Dmitri’s 27-year-old niece, Carolina Bublik, shared the family’s grief with the Globe, saying the Doncevs would join extended family at church every Sunday.
“Now it’s going to be very difficult, the next Sunday that comes around, where we will not be able to have them sit next to us at the lunch table,” said Bublik.
The Doncevs were members of the Providence Christian Academy community, where Emily and Mark attended school.
“The Doncev family was a cherished part of our school community, and their loss is being felt deeply by our students, families, faculty, and staff,” the school said in a statement.
A family friend started a GoFundMe to raise money for the family’s funeral expenses.
Few details were immediately available about Mafalda.
Police have charged the bus driver, Jing S. Dong, 48, with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, and authorities said additional charges are pending.
A Staten Island, New York, resident, Dong obtained his commercial driver’s license in 2024, according to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Virginia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 30, 2026, results for each game:
Powerball
Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
01-27-35-44-52, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Monday, June 01, 2026
Pick 3
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 5-2-9, FB: 7
Day: 9-2-4, FB: 4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 8-7-9-9, FB: 9
Day: 3-3-7-6, FB: 0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 4-4-8-8-1, FB: 1
Day: 9-3-9-8-1, FB: 7
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash Pop
Drawing times: Coffee Break 9 a.m.; Lunch Break 12 p.m.; Rush Hour 5 p.m.; Prime Time 9 p.m.; After Hours 11:59 p.m.
Coffee Break: 09
After Hours: 05
Prime Time: 13
Rush Hour: 04
Lunch Break: 14
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash 5
Drawing every day at 11 p.m.
11-16-25-27-33
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Bank a Million
Bank a Million draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
02-13-16-17-22-31, Bonus: 27
Check Bank a Million payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawing everyday at 11:15 p.m.
05-14-22-28-30, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Center for Community Journalism (CCJ) editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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.”
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