Transparency News 5/20/16
State and Local Stories
A federal judge upheld Virginia's voter I.D. law Thursday, saying the state's Democratic Party failed to show that it targets minority voters. The law has created "a layer of inconvenience for voters," but that, "appears to affect all voters equally," U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson wrote in his 62-page opinion. Hudson, a George W. Bush appointee, also wrote that none of the 12 voters who testified during the case's seven-day, non-jury trial, "was actually denied his or her right to vote." "Admittedly, for some, the process was cumbersome," Hudson wrote, but that's not enough to declare Virginia's law unconstitutional on any of the arguments presented. The judge also noted that Virginians can register to vote online and that photo IDs are available for free.
Daily Press
The Hampton Roads Regional Jail failed to inform the public that an inmate committed suicide in April 2015, making it at least two deaths that occurred in the facility last year that came to light only when people who knew the inmates reached out to the media.
Virginian-Pilot
Bob Gibson, executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, will step down to take a position at the university’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Gibson will join the center’s Academy for Civic Renewal, which trains people to be civic leaders in their communities.
(NOTE: Gibson serves on VCOG’s Board of Directors)
Daily Progress
Officials from one Augusta County company claim their workers and business practices were the target of harassment by county employees. Nexus Services, a company headquartered in Verona, and two of the company's executives, filed suit Wednesday in Augusta Circuit Court against local bail bondsman David Bourne, Augusta County Commissioner of the Revenue Jean Shrewsbury, Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith and Donald Moran, an Augusta Sheriff's deputy. The suit alleges defamation, conspiracy, racial and ethnic harassment and asks for a jury trial, $1 million in damages plus court costs, and other potential relief. Nexus provides GPS tracking and bond securing sevices to immigrant detainees, real estate and entertainment services and pro bono legal services to immigrants. In addition to Nexus, the suit plaintiffs include Nexus CEO/President Mike Donovan and Richard Moore, a Nexus vice president.
News Virginian
National Stories
Last March, a six-year legal battle between Frederick’s Flying Dog Brewery and the Michigan Liquor Control Commission — over the latter’s rejection of the former’s Raging Bitch IPA name and label — ended when the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled in favor of the beer company. Now, after being awarded just over $40,000 in damages, Flying Dog is using the money to promote free speech. The brewery created the 1st Amendment Society, a nonprofit organization whose goals include advocating for free speech, educating the public on the First Amendment and fighting censorship, the group's executive director, Erin Weston, said recently. “Civil liberties are incredibly important to us,” Weston said. “We pursued this case against the state of Michigan based primarily on principle over anything else.” In fact, the commission reversed its initial decision in April 2011 and approved Flying Dog’s label. The company, however, continued to fight in court in order to set a precedent, Weston said.
Baltimore Sun
Editorials/Columns
York County School Board Chairman Robert George doesn't need a community member or a newspaper reporter to tell him what the school board can and can't do. We know this, because he said so. In fact, perhaps coincidentally (or perhaps not), he said it to a newspaper reporter. What Dr. George could use, apparently, is a refresher course on how to deal with the people with whom he comes into contact in his official capacity. A copy of the Freedom of Information Act might be good, too. It is not right for a school board member to be, by his own description, resentful of parents who seek basic information and simple input into the operation of the schools where they send their children.
Daily Press
A D in public integrity! That’s how the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity rates Virginia. What would Thomas Jefferson think? Here’s a hint: “This I hope will be the age of experiments in government, and that their basis will be founded on principles of honesty.” (Jefferson to John Adams, Fen 28, 1796) Even when cut some slack on the old A,B,C,D,F scale many of us remember – you know when less than 60 is an “F” – Virginia's overall 55/100 barely ekes by with a passing grade on the Center for Public Integrity’s annual survey.
Dave Ress, Daily Press
