Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. While the Confederacy still had smaller fighting forces operating in other states, Lee's capitulation marked the close of the main theater of the Civil War.

The Commonwealth's elections this fall will be expensive. In Top Stories, we explain why the Democratic Party plans to spend big.

We're sponsored today by BOXABL, offering an opportunity to invest in groundbreaking building technology.

Democrats to Bet Big on Virginia

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) stated that it will spend "seven figures" supporting candidates for the House of Delegates in Virginia this November.

Democrats control the House by a narrow 51-49 margin going into the election, and all 100 seats across Virginia will be up for grabs.

"Opportunities to move policy and build power aren't happening in Washington—they're happening in the statehouses," the DLCC's Heather Williams said. "State legislative races are the most immediate opportunity for Democrats to defend and build sustainable power."

Along with the House, Virginians will also be electing a governor and lieutenant governor this year. Democrats will remain in the majority in the Senate, where elections aren't scheduled until 2027.

Gun Fires in Third-Grader's Bag

The parents of a Spotsylvania County third-grader were charged with felony and misdemeanor counts after a gun he brought to school on Monday fired inside his backpack.

Ciara Armstead, 36, and Terrence Carroll Jr., 34, posted bond and are scheduled to appear in court again on Friday.

Police stated that the boy put the unsecured weapon into his backpack before he went to school and accidentally triggered it when he reached inside later in the day.

No one was hurt in the incident, and the student will not be charged.

Charlottesville's Best Bed & Breakfasts

According to the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Bed & Breakfasts rankings, nine B&Bs in Charlottesville are among the best 350 nationwide.

"Bed-and-breakfasts offer local immersion, providing travelers with the personal connection they often crave," said Zach Watson, the magazine's senior travel editor.

The top Charlottesville B&Bs to make the list were Arcady Vineyard, The Dinsmore House, Foxfield Inn, Albemarle Estate at Trump Winery, Hollymead House, The Inn at Court Square, Fairhaven Guesthouse, Little Mod Hotel at the University, and The Townsman.

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➤ Statewide: Elementary schools have until Monday to certify they are following federal civil rights laws and have eliminated DEI programs, if applicable. The Education Department warned that schools that don't comply will lose federal funding. (Details)

➤ Central and Northern Virginia: Spring felt more like winter in much of the Commonwealth this morning as freezing conditions replaced the 80-degree temperatures from last weekend. A slight warmup is forecast for the rest of the week. (More)

➤ Southwest Virginia: Appalachian Voices, a nonprofit that works to wean communities off fossil fuels, said it appealed a decision by the Trump administration to cancel a $500,000 grant that was slated to support five projects in the region. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: Michael "Norah" Horwitz, 38, who was accused of killing his father, Dr. Abbey Horwitz, a prominent local dentist, committed suicide while in custody, police announced. (More)

➤ Loudoun County: The Department of Wildlife Resources said a red fox tested positive for a highly contagious form of bird flu, making it the first mammal to be found with the disease in Virginia. (More)

➤ Alexandria: Federal officers and the state police coordinated to arrest Salvadoran national Silvia Lorena Bonilla-De Jandres, who was in the U.S. illegally. Last year, a federal judge ordered she be removed to El Salvador, where she faces several charges. (Details)

➤ UVA women's and men's tennis teams are both ranked in the Top 10 as they return home this week to face Virginia Tech on Senior Day. The ACC Tennis Championships are next week. (More)

➤ James Madison women's lacrosse visits Georgetown today. The Dukes are ranked 14th in the latest IWLCA poll. (Details)

➤ George Mason topped Towson State 15-3 in a non-conference baseball game. The Patriots are 21-12. (Box Score)

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➤ LS Power said it wants to sell electricity from its power plant in Ashland to a proposed behind-the-meter data center, but Old Dominion Electric Cooperative is protesting the proposal. (Details)

➤ Farmers in the Commonwealth said they have been hit by higher prices because of federal tariff policies. Agriculture in Virginia generates more than $82 billion in economic activity and supports more than 380,000 jobs. (More)

➤ MAKE Roanoke opened a makerspace that will teach new technologies and provide old-fashioned hand tools so people can learn hobbies and crafts. (Details)

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**This is a paid advertisement for Boxabl's Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://www.boxabl.com/invest/ * Reservations represents a non-binding indication of interest to purchase as Casita. A reservation does not require purchase of a Casita and there is no assurance of how many will result in actual purchases.

➤ TSA warned that Virginians have until May 7 to upgrade their driver's licenses to be REAL ID-compliant if they want to use them as identification to get on a domestic flight. (Details)

➤ The Wildlife Center of Virginia is preparing to release seven black bear cubs into the wild after caring for the animals for 12 months. (More)

➤ Virginia Tech and the Moss Arts Center students led Music Monday activities to provide music education to elementary and preschool students in Giles County. (Details)

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