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No more private-run state prisons in VA, state takes control of Lawrenceville
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No more private-run state prisons in VA, state takes control of Lawrenceville

There are no more private-run state prisons in Virginia. As previously reported, in December, Virginia Department of Corrections announced a plan to take over control of Lawrenceville Correctional Center, which was the state’s only privately-run prison. On schedule, VADOC announced that it assumed control of the Lawrenceville today, August 1. VADOC assumed control from the GEO Group, a company that owns, leases, and manages prisons in the U.S., Australia, and South Africa. Lawrenceville opened in 1998, and today marks the first time during its existence that the facility has been run by the state, VADOC confirmed. “Today marks a new day at Lawrenceville Correctional Center,” said director Dotson. “Our Department is excited to assume operations at this facility – and to ...
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2 charged in Scott County after death of 7-week-old baby
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2 charged in Scott County after death of 7-week-old baby

Scott County Sheriff’s Office announced two people have been charged in connection with the death of a 7-week old baby. At around 5 p.m. on Monday, July 22., a call came in to Scott County Central Dispatch regarding a baby who wasn’t breathing. According to the sheriff’s office, rescue and deputies were immediately dispatched to the scene in the Alley Valley area. Meanwhile, a dispatcher provided instructions on how to perform CPR. An investigator was already in the area and arrived on the scene about 5 minutes after the call came in and took over the CPR effort until the rescue squad arrived, SCSO stated. The investigator drove the ambulance while rescue workers attended to the baby, according to SCSO. And the 7-week-old was first taken to Indian Path Emergency Room. From there, ...
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Another crash on Rt. 17 bridge in Middlesex, VDOT confirms bridge replacement
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Another crash on Rt. 17 bridge in Middlesex, VDOT confirms bridge replacement

The northbound bridge over Dragon Run on Rt. 17 at the Middlesex-Gloucester line requires repair once again after another crash, this time on July 26. According to VSP Sergeant Michelle Anaya, around 2 a.m., John Fletcher of Shacklefords was driving a 2022 Ford F450 when he attempted to avoid a deer causing him to run off the road and hit the bridge and a guardrail. Fletcher was charged with failure to maintain the lane, Anaya said. Around 20 feet of bridge rail was damaged in the crash along with about 208 feet of guardrail north and south of the bridge, VDOT reported. Due to that damage, traffic has reduced to a single lane at the bridge since the incident. Double-sided car mount phone holder: $12.58 This latest crash reignited comments from some critics who believe the...
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2 wanted men found, 1 officer flown for treatment after police chase in Stafford
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2 wanted men found, 1 officer flown for treatment after police chase in Stafford

Three men were arrested on Centreport Parkway after a high-speed chase that left a Stafford officer injured. Around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, First Sergeant A.I. Assur saw a wanted suspect in a black Honda Civic on Kings Highway, Stafford County Sheriff stated. But because he was unable to make a traffic stop at that time, he alerted other Stafford officers and Virgina State Police. Deputy J.W. McAlister spotted the car on Richmond Highway and attempted to make a traffic stop, but the car took off at a high rate of speed and went onto I-95 North, SCSO reported. Other deputies and Virginia State Police joined the chase on I-95 and were led to Courthouse Rd., I-95 South, and then Centreport Pkwy. According to SCSO, McAlister, who is P.I.T.-certified, used the maneuver to push the Civic ...
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Mathews man pleads guilty for shooting at cars
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Crime, News

Mathews man pleads guilty for shooting at cars

A November 2023 Mathews County Sheriff’s Report stated a male subject was in the middle of Cricket Hill Road shooting a rifle at cars. MCSO reported that one driver told police the man pointed a rifle at his windshield. Another driver reported witnessing a muzzle blast come from the barrel of the rifle and said he had to take cover and drive on the shoulder to get around the shooter. The man with the gun was 27-year-old Daniel Adam Miller of Hudgins. According to MCSO, when police responded to the scene, he was arrested without incident. Initially, Miller was charged with reckless handling of a firearm, brandishing a firearm, and public intoxication. But additional charges were added later. This week, Miller pled guilty to reckless handling of a firearm, two counts of brandishi...
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4 men beat felonies for bringing guns to Gloucester School Board meeting
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4 men beat felonies for bringing guns to Gloucester School Board meeting

Last summer, four out-of-town men were charged with felonies for bringing guns to a Gloucester County School Board meeting. Last week, on July 19, a jury found them not guilty. The charges stemmed from a previously reported incident at the July 2023 Gloucester School Board meeting. Trevor Herrin, of Williamsburg, came to the podium to offer some words of caution to school board members. He said someone slashed his tire at the school board meeting the month before. The self-described “experienced political operative” described the tire-slashing as an act of violence and told the School Board they had an opportunity to make things right. Herrin had a knife visible on the back of his belt, as shown in this Watchful Eye video. But a Gloucester deputy claimed he also spotted a gun. ...
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Murder suspect named & charged for Richmond man found dead in Caroline
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Murder suspect named & charged for Richmond man found dead in Caroline

One suspect has been named for the murder of Reginald Terrance Holmes, a 51-year-old Richmond man found dead in the woods in Caroline. But this first suspect is not likely to be the last, according to Caroline County Sheriff Scott Moser. Holmes’ body was discovered by a citizen on May 26, and, at the time, CCSO announced that “significant” evidence was collected from the scene. In an update this week, CCSO said investigators took that evidence from the scene and immediately began tracking down leads. That investigation pointed them to 32-year-old Johnathan O’Bryan Ellis. Working with Richmond City Police and Virginia State Police, CCSO said they executed a search warrant on Ellis’ home in Richmond on May 28. CCSO said they recovered additional evidence, including a gu...
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Arrests made for string of business and church burglaries in Herndon, pair suspected incidents
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Arrests made for string of business and church burglaries in Herndon, pair suspected incidents

Herndon Police Department announced two arrests for a string of burglaries and larcenies. On July 12, Herndon PD announced a church was broken into twice over the span of a couple days. Surveillance images of two suspects were released, and police urged anyone with information or who could identify the males to reach out. This week, Herndon PD expressed gratitude to the community noting that the surveillance images helped identify “the offenders” and once they were identified police were able to locate them. Yesterday, Herndon PD announced 19-year-old Erik Zelaya Franco and 23-year-old Christian Castellanos Lopez were arrested for : Two incidents at a church in the 600 block of Spring Street An incident at a church in the 800 block of Elden Street Two incidents at a busi...
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After South Hill fire, DEQ confirms water contamination, air testing remains underway
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Biz & Life, Business, News

After South Hill fire, DEQ confirms water contamination, air testing remains underway

A multi-faceted response operation is still underway a week after fire ripped through a Nutrien Ag Solutions warehouse in South Hill. On July 6, a vehicle crashed into two propane tanks next to the warehouse, and one ruptured, DEQ reported. The propane ignited and spread to the Nutrien facility at 501 W. Danville St. where chemicals are stored. (Photo: South Hill VFD) Water contamination The South Hill Fire Department used several hundred thousand gallons of water to fight to the fire, said DEQ. The emergency responders weren’t able to stop the runoff, which included the chemicals. Nutrient Ag Solutions’ response contractor didn’t begin began collecting water running off the site until after the fire was extinguished, DEQ noted. But it was too late. The firefighters’ wate...
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Illegally imported meat and chicken products distributed in states, including Virginia
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Illegally imported meat and chicken products distributed in states, including Virginia

Virginia is one of nine states where restaurants, retailers, and households are urged not to consume a list of meat and poultry products that were illegally imported into the United States from the Philippines, according to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Meat and poultry from the Philippines can't be legally imported. Yet, authorities say eight products have been in circulation. Those items include: 150-g. can of "Argentina BRAND CORNED BEEF." 175-g. can of "Argentina BRAND CORNED BEEF." 260-g. can of "Argentina BRAND CORNED BEEF." 150-g. can of "PUREFOODS CORNED BEEF." 210-g. can of "PUREFOODS CORNED BEEF." 150-g. can of "CHUNKEE CORNED BEEF." 190-g. can of "CHUNKEE CORNED BEEF." 7.43-oz. jar of "Lady's Choice Chicken Spread." Here...
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