Transparency News, 7/6/2022

 

 

Wednesday
July 6, 2022

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state & local news stories

 

Parents in Richmond's Fox community said they were left with more questions than answers after reading and processing the findings of the Fox fire investigation over the long holiday weekend. The report found the fire was an accident in nature, but investigators did not pinpoint a cause. “To wait five months for something that says, 'Well, we just really don't know,' is frustrating," said Fox mom, Chloe Rote. The investigation report, which was provided to CBS 6 through a Freedom of Information Act request, is redacted in several areas. The blacked-out findings are included under the "Exposure Room - Areas" section in which investigators appeared to list "the absence or presence of physical evidence." Nearly all of the "points considered" section is also redacted toward the bottom of the report. The fire department gave multiple reasons for exemptions at the beginning of the report including information that could jeopardize one's safety. However, it's unknown which exemptions apply to which redactions.
WTVR

Just a few days into her new job, Portsmouth City Manager Tonya Chapman fired Police Chief Renado Prince on Tuesday, Portsmouth City Council members say. Councilman Bill Moody told The Virginian-Pilot he received a phone call Tuesday afternoon from City Attorney Lavonda Graham-Williams confirming the termination. Moody said she characterized it as a personnel issue and didn’t provide additional details. Neither Chapman nor Prince could not be reached for comment Tuesday. With the termination taking place on Chapman’s third work day — she started Thursday — Councilwoman Lisa Lucas-Burke said she fears it signals more firings could be on the way, which puts the city at risk of losing quality people.
The Virginian-Pilot

If you or a family member have ever been the victim of a violent crime, chances are you'd like to be in the know about what is happening with the person who was responsible. The Virginia Department of Corrections' Victim Services Unit was created to help those who have been impacted directly by crime to find needed resources and support. They just launched a new state-of-the-art interactive alert system, called the Notification and Assistance for Victim Inclusion (NAAVI,) which can tell victims who register when there is a change in status for their perpetrator in the state system. That means that survivors can be alerted of their attacker's movement between prison locations and other important updates on their sentence.  Currently, there is a separate system in place for those in local and regional jails called VINE. That system also provides updates on parolees. This new system is for prisoners in Virginia who are sentenced to a year or more. 
WRIC
 

 

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