megaschiff-blog

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Meet the men running for governor of Virginia

Alt Daily

http://altdaily.com/meet-the-men-running-for-governor-of-virginia/

While not as sexy as the presidential campaign, the governor’s race will have just as much, if not more, influence over the everyday lives of Virginians. That’s why it’s important to stay informed about who is running and what they stand for. Read this article and take the accompanying quiz to learn about the 2017 candidates for Virginia governor. 

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Dedication of Holocaust Surviving Torah

VCU

http://has.vcu.edu/dedication-for-holocaust-surviving-torah/

The VCU Library received a Torah that survived the Holocaust and hosted a dedication ceremony to mark the occasion. 

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VCU panelists discuss their experiences as women in politics

VCU

http://has.vcu.edu/women-in-politics/

For this piece, I covered a panel hosted by the VCU Department of Political Science featuring prominent women in Virginia politics. 

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Visiting Scholar Using Solar Radiation to Clean Water

VCU

http://has.vcu.edu/visiting-scholar-using-solar-radiation-to-clean-water/

I wrote this article on Dr. Amr Hassan, a visiting Fulbright scholar at VCU working to develop a photocatalyst that can use solar radiation to clean water contaminated by pesticides. 

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VCU poet David Wojahn shares insights into his latest collection, ‘For the Scribe’

VCU News

https://news.vcu.edu/article/VCU_poet_David_Wojahn_shares_insights_into_his_latest_collection

This is the first article I wrote for my new job as a reporter for the College of Humanities and Sciences at VCU. It’s a Q&A with award-winning poet and poetry professor David Wojahn. 

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Activists, lawmakers demand resignation from AG Jeff Sessions

WTVR

http://wtvr.com/2017/03/15/activists-lawmakers-demand-resignation-from-ag-jeff-sessions/

Over 50 protesters joined members of the Virginia General Assembly in demanding the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. 

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State Building Renamed for Civil Rights Activist

US News

https://www.usnews.com/news/virginia/articles/2017-02-23/state-building-renamed-for-civil-rights-activist

Barbara Johns was only 16 years old when she led a student protest against segregation in Virginia. Today the Ninth Street Office Building, which once served as the headquarters of the Massive Resistance campaign, was renamed in her honor.

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House panel rejects redistricting reform bills

The Virginia Gazette 

http://www.vagazette.com/news/va-vg-cns-redistrict-0215-20170215-story.html

Republicans on a House subcommittee killed three redistricting reform bills that advocates had hoped would curtail gerrymandering in Virginia. At a 7 a.m. meeting, the Elections Subcommittee of the House Privileges and Elections Committee voted 5-2 that each proposal be "passed by indefinitely," effectively ensuring that the issue is dead for the 2017 legislative session.

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Republicans divided on Vogel-led redistricting reform

Loudoun Times-Mirror

http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/republicans_divided_on_vogel_led_redistricting_reform432

Redistricting reform has Republicans in the Virginia General Assembly divided. Sen. Jill Vogel held a press conference with OneVirginia2021 about three redistricting reform proposals scheduled to come before the House Elections Subcommittee today. The bills are aimed at curbing gerrymandering in the Virginia legislature, and passed the Senate with overwhelming majorities last week. 

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INSIDENOVA

HBO’s new documentary “SOLITARY” reveals the lives of both guards and prisoners at Red Onion State Prison, where over a hundred people are currently kept in solitary confinement. 

http://www.insidenova.com/headlines/documentary-reveals-life-in-solitary-confinement/article_8d2e6656-efaa-11e6-b49f-1b5d9c95b57e.html

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Gov. McAuliffe vows to veto anti-LGBT legislation

http://wtvr.com/2017/02/07/gov-mcauliffe-vows-to-veto-anti-lgbt-legislation/

Outgoing Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe announced that he would veto any legislation that discriminates against the LGBT community. 

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Richmond Mayor Defiantly Promises to Protect Illegal Immigrants

http://altdaily.com/richmond-mayor-defiantly-promises-to-protect-illegal-immigrants/

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney signed a mayoral directive reaffirming his commitment to protect and promote the safety of all members of the community regardless of their immigration or refugee status. Though Richmond isn’t technically a “sanctuary city”, it will continue it’s policies which protect illegal immigrants from having to reveal their citizenship status to police. 

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Protesters Urge Senators To Block Supreme Court Nomination

http://wtvr.com/2017/02/01/protesters-urge-senators-to-block-supreme-court-nomination/

This story is about a rally which was held outside the offices of Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, protesting the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. The protesters demanded that their senators vote against his confirmation, because they said Gorsuch doesn’t represent their values.

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House Panel In Virinia OKs Bills Targeting Opioid Crisis

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/house-panel-in-virginia-oks-bills-targeting-opioid-crisis/2017/01/27/b83b2e12-e4e0-11e6-a419-eefe8eff0835_story.html?utm_term=.20677a1f0bf4

This is my second article to appear in the Washington Post! 

It’s about seven bills which passed the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee that were aimed at fighting the opioid crisis in Virginia. Legislatures proposed to do this by  limiting the prescription of medications containing opioids, establishing guidelines for the use of opioids to treat pain and making opioid overdose reversal drugs more easily available.

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Ditch dirty fuels rally urges support for clean energy

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/ditch-dirty-fuels-rally-urges-support-for-clean-energy/2017/01/23/8045a3b8-e1c8-11e6-a419-eefe8eff0835_story.html?utm_term=.423a6279f67c

This is my first article to appear in a national newspaper!

I covered an environmental rally called Ditch Dirty Fuels which encouraged legislators to embrace clean energy alternatives.  The Sierra Club sponsored the event, which coincided with Conservation Lobby Day. 

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Senate panel rejects plastic bag tax

http://www.insidenova.com/headlines/senate-panel-rejects-plastic-bag-tax/article_0ada58e2-e003-11e6-8066-2f925d639c0c.html

Story about the defeat of a bill which would have placed a 5-cent tax on plastic bags and donated the proceeds to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan. 

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McAuliffe vows to veto anti-abortion bills

http://wtvr.com/2017/01/20/mcauliffe-vows-to-veto-anti-abortion-bills/?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5881d2bf04d30139e5270c2e&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebook

Coverage of a press conference with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the Women’s Health Care Causus about a series of bills they are introducing to the House which would guarantee women the right to an abortion.