DENISE LAVOIE

AP Legal Affairs Writer
FILE - University of Virginia head football coach Tony Elliott speaks at a memorial service for Lavel Davis Jr., D’Sean Perry and Devin Chandler, Nov. 19, 2022, in Charlottesville, Va. (Mike Kropf/The Daily Progress via AP, File)
Ex-student pleads guilty to fatally shooting 3 University of Virginia football players in 2022
A former University of Virginia student has pleaded guilty to fatally shooting three football players and wounding two other students in an attack on campus in 2022.
November 20, 2024
FILE - The Supreme Court building is seen, June 28, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
Supreme Court’s conservative justices leave in place Virginia’s purge of voter registrations
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is allowing Virginia to leave in place its purge of voter registrations that the state says is aimed at stopping people who aren’t U.S. citizens from voting.
October 30, 2024
FILE - Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., speaks at a news conference held by members of the House Freedom Caucus on Capitol Hill, July 29, 2021. A recount of the votes cast in the Republican primary in Virginia's 5th Congressional District has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, 2024, to determine whether Good or challenger state Sen. John McGuire will be the party's nominee. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
Recount will decide if conservative US Rep. Bob Good loses primary to Trump-backed challenger
A recount of the votes cast in the Republican primary in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District has been scheduled for July 31. The recount will decide whether state Sen. John McGuire will hold onto his narrow victory over U.S. Rep.
July 18, 2024
FILE - White nationalist demonstrators walk into the entrance of Lee Park surrounded by counter demonstrators in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. A jury Monday, July 1, 2024, awarded ordered white nationalist leaders and organizations to pay a total of more than $26 million in damages to people who had suffered physical or emotional injuries during the event. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Court orders white nationalists to pay $2M more for Charlottesville Unite the Right violence
Four years after violence erupted during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, a jury ordered white nationalist leaders and organizations to pay a total of more than $26 million in damages to people who had suffered physical or emotional injuries during the event.
July 2, 2024
Stanley Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Richmond Field Office, gestures during a news conference concerning the 1996 murders of Laura "Lollie" Winans and Julianne "Julie" Williams at a campsite in the Shenandoah national park, Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
FBI identifies serial rapist as person responsible for 1996 Shenandoah National Park killings
Federal authorities have identified a now-deceased serial rapist from Ohio as the man they believe raped and murdered two women in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park almost three decades ago.
June 20, 2024
FILE - Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin talks with supporters during a rally in Culpeper, Va., Oct. 13, 2021. Gov. Youngkin announced Wednesday, June 5, 2024 that Virginia will abandon California's stringent vehicle emissions rules aimed at reducing carbon pollution at the end of the year when that state’s current regulations expire, citing an attorney general opinion. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Virginia governor says state will abandon California emissions standards by the end of the year
Gov. Glenn Youngkin says Virginia will abandon California’s stringent vehicle emissions rules aimed at reducing carbon pollution at the end of the year when that state’s current regulations expire.
June 5, 2024
Jacob Joseph Dix arrives at the Albemarle County Circuit Court in Charlottesville, Va., Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Years after a white nationalist rally erupted in violence in Charlottesville, a trial is set to begin Tuesday for Dix ,one of the people charged with using flaming torches to intimidate counterprotesters. (AP Photo/Ryan M. Kelly)
Trial begins for man charged in 2017 Charlottesville torch rally at the University of Virginia
A trial has begun for a man charged with using a flaming torch to intimidate counterprotesters during a gathering of white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia, seven years ago.
June 4, 2024
A bird flies past the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting on the container ship Dali on Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore, as seen from Riviera Beach, Md. An effort to remove sections of the collapsed bridge resting on the Dali was postponed on Sunday. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Cargo ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse had power blackouts hours before leaving port
Investigators probing the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore said in a preliminary report the cargo ship Dali experienced an electrical blackout about 10 hours before leaving the Port of Baltimore and yet again shortly before it slammed into the bridge and killed six constru
May 14, 2024
Police lift a pro-Palestinian demonstrator from the ground on the University of Virginia campus, in Charlottesville, Va., where tents are set up, Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Cal Cary/The Daily Progress via AP)
25 arrested at University of Virginia after police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters
Twenty-five people have been arrested for trespassing at the University of Virginia after police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters who refused to remove tents from campus.
May 5, 2024
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, third from left, and legislative leaders speak to media inside the state Capitol on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Richmond, Va. Youngkin and Democratic leaders announced they had reached an agreement to extend the timeline for budget talks into a May special session. (AP Photo/Sarah Rankin)
Virginia lawmakers agree to extend budget talks as they take up Youngkin amendments, vetoes
Leaders of the Democratic-controlled Virginia General Assembly have reached a last-minute deal with Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to extend state budget negotiations in an attempt to avert gridlock.
April 17, 2024
Newport News Commonwealth's Attorney, Howard Gwynn, talks to the media about the special grand jury's report into the Recheck school shooting Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Newport News, Va. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
A criminal probe continues into staff at a Virginia school where a 6-year-old shot a teacher
Prosecutors in Virginia say that a criminal investigation into staff members at a school where a 6-year-old shot his teacher will continue.
April 11, 2024
FILE - Signs stand outside Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. A former assistant principal at a Virginia elementary school has been indicted on eight felony counts of child neglect in the case of a 6-year-old boy who shot and wounded his first-grade teacher in Newport News, Virginia, last year, according to indictments unsealed Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Newport News Circuit Court. (AP Photo/Denise Lavoie, File)
Assistant principal ignored warnings that 6-year-old boy had gun before he shot teacher, report says
A grand jury report says a former assistant principal at a Virginia elementary school ignored warnings that a 6-year-old had a gun in the hours before he shot his teacher. The 31-page report was released Wednesday.
April 10, 2024
FILE - Signs stand outside Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va., Jan. 25, 2023. A former assistant principal at a Virginia elementary school has been indicted on eight felony counts of child neglect in the case of a 6-year-old boy who shot and wounded his first-grade teacher in Newport News, Virginia, last year, according to indictments unsealed Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Newport News Circuit Court. (AP Photo/Denise Lavoie, File)
Former assistant principal charged with child neglect in case of 6-year-old boy who shot teacher
A former assistant principal at a Virginia elementary school has been indicted on eight felony counts of child neglect in the case of a 6-year-old boy who shot and wounded his first-grade teacher in Newport News last year.
April 9, 2024
FILE -Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivers his State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly, Jan. 10, 2024, at the state Capitol in Richmond, Va. Youngkin on Wednesday, March 20, vetoed nearly two dozen pieces of crime and law enforcement legislation, including a bill that would expand the credits inmates can receive to get out of prison early and one that would allow some immigrants who are not U.S. citizens to become police officers. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Virginia governor vetoes 22 bills, including easier path for certain immigrants to work as police
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed nearly two dozen pieces of crime and law enforcement legislation.
March 21, 2024
In this image taken from a video provided by the Richmond Wildlife Center, executive director and founder Melissa Stanley wears a fox mask as she feeds an orphaned red fox kit, March 10, 2024, in Richmond, Va. Stanley said the mask creates a visual barrier to prevent animals from imprinting on humans. (Richmond Wildlife Center via AP)
Staff at a Virginia wildlife center pretend to be red foxes as they care for an orphaned kit
Employees of the Richmond Wildlife Center in Virginia are doing their best to act like mother foxes as they feed and care for an orphaned kit that found her way into their care.
March 12, 2024
An overview of the floor of the Virginia Senate is pictured Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Richmond, Va. Virginia lawmakers wrapped up their 60-day legislative session Saturday by approving a two-year budget that includes pay raises for teachers and state employees, increases education funding and extends the state sales tax to cover digital services. (AP Photo/Jay Paul)
Virginia lawmakers approve budget, but governor warns that changes will be needed
Virginia lawmakers have wrapped up their 60-day legislative session by approving a two-year state budget that includes pay raises for teachers and state employees.
March 10, 2024
FILE -Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivers his State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. Gov. Glenn Younkin took final action Friday, March, 8, 2024 on 84 pieces of legislation as the legislative session neared its conclusion in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Virginia governor signs 64 bills into law, vetoes 8 others as legislative session winds down
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has taken final action on 84 pieces of legislation. He signed 64 bills into law and vetoed eight others Friday. The Republican governor vetoed legislation that would add more restrictions on firearms transfers.
March 9, 2024
FILE - Virginia state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath, gestures, Oct. 5, 2005, in Richmond, Va. A bill, sponsored by Deeds, that would have allowed people serving lengthy prison terms to petition a court to consider reducing their sentences after serving a minimum of at least 15 years defeated in the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Virginia lawmakers defeat ‘second look’ bill to allow inmates to ask court for reduced sentences
A bill that would have let people serving with prison terms in Virginia petition a court to consider reducing their sentences after serving a minimum of 15 years has been defeated in the state’s General Assembly.
February 28, 2024
FILE- This undated photograph released by the U.S. military's Central Command shows what is described as Iranian-made missile components bound for Yemen's Houthi seized off a vessel in the Arabian Sea. Four foreign nationals were charged Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, with transporting suspected Iranian-made weapons on a vessel intercepted by U.S. naval forces in the Arabian Sea last month. Two Navy SEALs died during the mission. (U.S. Central Command via AP, File)
Captain of ship carrying Iranian-made missile components to remain behind bars pending trial
A Pakistani national who U.S. officials say was the captain of a ship carrying Iranian-made missile components to Houthi rebels in Yemen has been ordered to remain behind bars while he awaits trial on charges of attempting to smuggle a warhead and other weapons and lying to U.S.
February 27, 2024
FILE - This undated image released by the U.S. military's Central Command shows what it is described as the vessel that carried Iranian-made missile components bound for Yemen's Houthi in the Arabian Sea. Four foreign nationals were charged Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, with transporting suspected Iranian-made weapons on a vessel intercepted by U.S. naval forces in the Arabian Sea last month. Two Navy SEALs died during the mission. (U.S. Central Command via AP, File)
Two Navy SEALs drowned in the Arabian Sea. How the US charged foreign crew with smuggling weapons
Two Navy SEALs drowned last month while trying to board a vessel that was intercepted by U.S. naval forces in the Arabian Sea.
February 23, 2024
This image released by the U.S. Department of Justice in an FBI affidavit filed in U.S. District Court, Alexandria, Va., shows what is described as an Iranian-made warhead bound for Yemen's Houthi, seized off a vessel in the Arabian Sea. Four foreign nationals were charged Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, with transporting suspected Iranian-made weapons on a vessel intercepted by U.S. naval forces in the Arabian Sea the previous month. Two Navy SEALs died during the mission. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP, File)
4 charged in transporting suspected Iranian-made weapons. 2 SEALs died in intercepting the ship
Four foreign nationals have been arrested and charged with transporting suspected Iranian-made weapons after U.S. naval forces interdicted a vessel in the Arabian Sea last month. Two Navy SEALs died during the mission.
February 23, 2024
FILE - Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivers his State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the Virginia General Assembly, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. The ACLU of Virginia filed two separate lawsuits Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, against the state Department of Education challenging Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin's policies on the treatment of transgender students. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Lawsuits ask courts to overturn Virginia’s new policies on the treatment of transgender students
The ACLU of Virginia is suing the state Department of Education to challenge Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s policies on the treatment of transgender students.
February 15, 2024
FILE - State Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, center, speaks during the Senate floor session in the temporary Virginia Senate chamber inside the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, Va., Sept. 16, 2020. The Virginia Senate has approved a bill, sponsored by McPike, that would allow some immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since they were young children to work as police officers or sheriff's deputies in the state. (Bob Brown/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP, File)
Virginia Senate approves bill to allow DACA recipients to become police officers
The Virginia Senate has approved a bill that would allow some immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since they were young children to work as police officers or sheriff’s deputies in the state.
February 13, 2024
FILE - The Virginia Capitol is viewed on March 4, 2010, in Richmond, Va. Virginia lawmakers plowed through hundreds of bills Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, as they approached a key deadline for this year's legislative session. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Lawmakers take up ‘skill games,’ minimum wage, marijuana as Assembly hits midpoint deadline
Virginia lawmakers have worked their way through hundreds of bills ahead of a key deadline for this year’s legislative session.
February 14, 2024
Virginia doctor who prescribed more than 500k doses of opioids granted new trial
A Virginia doctor who was sentenced to 40 years in prison after prescribing more than half a million doses of highly addictive opioids in two years has been granted a new trial by a federal appeals court.
February 5, 2024
FILE - House of Delegates members eat boxed lunches on the steps of the Virginia Capitol, April 22, 2020, in Richmond, Va. A bill that cleared an early hurdle Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in the Virginia House of Delegates would broaden Virginia's revenge porn law by adding a new category of “sexual” images that would be unlawful to disseminate and extending the statute of limitations for potential prosecutions. (Bob Brown/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP, File)
Revenge porn bill backed by former candidate Susanna Gibson advances
Virginia may be on its way to expanding the state law against distributing so-called revenge porn. A subcommittee of the Virginia House of Delegates on Wednesday advanced a bill that would add a new category of sexual images that would be unlawful to disseminate.
February 1, 2024
FILE - Pharmaceutical items are kept locked in a glass cabinet at a supermarket, Tuesday Jan. 31, 2023. A move to repeal a new Virginia law that makes organized retail theft a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison was defeated for this year after members of a a House subcommittee voted Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, to send the bill to the Virginia State Crime Commission for further study. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
Move to repeal new Virginia law on organized retail theft blocked for this year
A move to repeal a new Virginia law that makes organized retail theft a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison has been blocked for this year.
January 23, 2024
FILE - Deja Taylor arrives to the United States Courthouse, Sept. 21, 2023, in Newport News, Va., with her lawyer James Ellenson. Taylor, the mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot his teacher in Virginia, is scheduled to be sentenced for felony child neglect in the city of Newport News, Friday, Dec. 15. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot via AP, File)
Mother of 6-year-old who shot teacher in Virginia gets 2 years in prison for child neglect
The mother of a 6-year-old who shot his teacher in a Virginia classroom has been sentenced to two years in prison for felony child neglect.
December 15, 2023
Virginia court revives lawsuit by teacher fired for refusing to use transgender student’s pronouns
A lawsuit filed by a Virginia high school teacher who was fired after he refused to use a transgender student’s pronouns has been reinstated by the state Supreme Court.
December 14, 2023
FILE - NAACP Virginia President Robert N. Barnette Jr. speaks near the Virginia Capitol, July 18, 2023, in Richmond, Va. From left, Denise Harrington, Gaylene Kanoyton, Barnette and Karen Jones attended the news conference. The Virginia NAACP said Monday, Nov. 6, that Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration lacks clear standards for how it restores voting rights for convicted felons who served their sentences, leaving many frustrated and unable to vote in the nationally watched state elections on Tuesday, Nov. 7. (Daniel Sangjib Min/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP, File)
Youngkin and NAACP spar over felony voting rights ahead of decisive Virginia elections
The Virginia NAACP says Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration lacks clear standards for how it restores voting rights for convicted felons who served their sentences.
November 6, 2023
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