Virginiaâs redistricting commission is not turning out the way we thought it would.
The half-legislature, half-citizen, half-Democrat, half-Republican commission has already broken its first promise to the voters who approved the constitutional amendment creating it last year.
Perhaps the bigger question is: Has it broken the law?
The law that created the commission the amendment set in motion specified that âIn making its appointments, the appointing authorities shall give consideration to the racial, ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity of the Commonwealth.â
The initial appointments came short of the most obvious way to achieve diversity â by having an equal number of men and women.
School districts review mask policies following new guidance ahead of academic year
Ted S. Warren/AP
FILE - In this Feb. 2, 2021, file photo, students wear masks as they work in a fourth-grade classroom, at Elk Ridge Elementary School in Buckley, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
and last updated 2021-07-21 19:16:58-04
RICHMOND, Va. Many school districts in the Metro Richmond area said, for the most part, they are beginning to review the new guidance issued Wednesday covering COVID-19 preventative measures for the upcoming school year.
However, on Wednesday evening, Richmond Public Schools announced that they will maintain their 100% mask policy for all students, staff members and visitors.
July 21, 2021
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration issued new guidance Wednesday on COVID-19 prevention measures for the upcoming school year, urging but not requiring continued masking in many circumstances.
With a statewide public health order that had mandated masking in schools coming to an end Sunday, school divisions will have the ability to implement local policies “based on community level conditions and public health recommendations,” the Democratic administration said in a news release.
The departments of health and education released a 14-page document with advice about reducing the spread of the coronavirus, addressing issues like ventilation and physical distancing, in addition to masking.
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