Editor’s Note: First in a two-part series on gun-related bills in the recently concluded state legislative session. Part 1 deals with the Senate; Part 2 deals with the House of Delegates and will appear shortly By Sen. Dick Saslaw: Our…
March for Our Lives: Grief, hope and joy
By Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: Equal parts of grief and hope came together at The March For Our Lives in Washington, D.C., and echoed in towns and cities across the country. An estimated 200,000 people gathered on Pennsylvania Avenue on March…
March for Our Lives: Photo essay
Hundreds of thousands of people showed up for the March for Our Lives on March 24 in Washington, D.C. Led by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas School in Parkland, FL., they carried creatively crafted signs supporting gun control measures, including banning assault weapons. The…
First Person: A hateful encounter just increased my determination
By Marion Stillson: I love distributing literature to the public, using a wheelchair as I have done full time since I was twenty-three. And I am good at it: good at catching the mood of an oncoming pedestrian, good at…
Barbara Comstock is an extremist hiding in plain sight
By Adam Siegel: Ideas once on the furthest extreme of the American political system have become mainstream in the Republican Party. Yesterday’s “extremist” is today’s “moderate.” Barbara Comstock is a poster child of this problem. For anyone thinking about decades of American…
Behind the Headlines: The Facebook dilemma
By Karen Kirk: Is it time to quit Facebook? I’m not alone in asking this question. There’s #DeleteFacebook on Twitter and various stories in the media about those who’ve gone cold turkey. Maybe it was always too good to be…
Virginia Democrats blocked in opposing puppy mills
By Susan Laume: Despite the known dangers, pet stores in Fairfax County and throughout Virginia can still legally sell puppies and kittens from commercial breeders, commonly called puppy mills. Virginia Democratic legislators sponsored anti-puppy mill bills this session, but the…
Americans get the worst healthcare for the most money– why?
By Brad Swanson: Medicaid expansion in Virginia will be a major issue in the special session of the legislature that begins on April 11. To understand the issue better, I looked at other rich Western countries and compared the quality…
First Person: A stand with youth brings hope
By Linda Liner: Despite the blustery cold, I felt my heart lift watching the students of South Lakes High School in Reston stage a 17-minute walk-out on March 14, exactly one month after the slaughter of 17 students in Parkland,…
A vote for Democrats is a vote for … business?
By Chris King: A vote for Democrats is a vote for … business? That is not what voters usually hear, but it is true. Especially here in Northern Virginia, which is a diverse and dynamic business hub: tech, defense, engineering,…
Grassroots Profiles: VA Democracy Forward
By Holly Hazard: VA Democracy Forward (VADF) is a local, progressive group working to turn Virginia blue by connecting people, sharing ideas, and taking action toward a better future. Here, Holly Hazard interviews Chris Le Menestrel, its Co-Lead. Q: Other…
Five ways to help advance the progressive agenda this spring
By Mary Anne Mulligan: Tired of sitting on the couch, consuming carbs, and fretting about the Mueller investigation? Here are a few ideas for taking action over the next few months. 1. Grassroots groups and Democratic committees in Northern Virginia are…
Not just another protest outside NRA — this time was different
By Kathi Levin and Maggie Godbold: It was the 14 th of the month, and, just as every month on that date, protesters had gathered outside the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax to wave signs, encourage drivers to honk…
McAuliffe’s magic brought investment when most needed
By Allison Dickert Madson: The outlook was dismal when Terry McAuliffe assumed office in 2014 as Virginia’s governor. A federal government shutdown, coupled with budget sequestration, meant big trouble for the state that receives more federal dollars than any other.…