Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, August 27. Also check out video of Andy Parker, father of murdered WDBJ reporter Alison Parker, vowing that his “mission in life” will be to do “whatever it takes” to “shame legislators into doing something about closing loopholes and background checks and making sure crazy people don’t get guns.” A courageous man, glad to see Gov. McAuliffe strongly supporting him, as do 80%-90% of Virginians based on the polls.
*Republicans stay mostly silent in face of Trump’s bigotry and misogyny (“But the character of the candidates already has been revealed. Trump is acting like a sexist and a bigot – and the rest of the candidates are, with occasional exceptions, too timid to call him what he is.”)
*The Trumpification of the news (“Nowhere is the tension between financial and public imperatives more obvious than in the massive coverage of the Trump spectacular and the parsimonious attention given to anything serious any other candidate might say. But hey, how often does a serious speech about our economic troubles win ratings for anyone?”)
*Will America finally do something to stop our gun-fueled carnage? (“Congress must act. And if not Congress, then state leaders who want to finally do something about the gun-fueled carnage.”)
*McAuliffe says tragedy reinforces need for stricter gun laws
*Biden unsure if he has the ’emotional fuel’ for 2016 run
*Father Of Slain Journalist Makes Emotional Plea For Gun Control On Fox News
*We’re now averaging more than one mass shooting per day in 2015
*Dow soars more than 600 points, ending a six-day losing streak
*4 Reasons Why a Biden Run Would Help Sanders (I’ve been thinking the same thing for a while, that Sanders has to be very happy about this prospect…)
*State attorneys ask judge to dismiss Virginia Uranium suit
*Feds: McDonnell does not deserve continued freedom (“The Solicitor General urged Chief Justice John Roberts to reject the former Va. governor’s request for bail while pursuing his high court case.”)
*Virginia killings become world’s
*McAuliffe says public can’t see report on U.Va. student arrest by ABC police (“The investigation into a bloody arrest by Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control police is done and Gov. Terry McAuliffe has read it. It concluded the agents involved did not violate ABC policy, and McAuliffe said he agrees they be put back on the job.”)
*City Attorney to seek court order to remove Confederate monument
*Two Roanoke journalists killed on live television by angry former colleague
*Remembering the lives of the news crew killed in Virginia (“Reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward worked as a team at WDBJ in Roanoke, Va.”)
*Gunman in televised shootings of Roanoke journalists used Twitter, sent manifesto
*Deaths of WDBJ journalists leave region in ‘state of shock’
*Nationals’ late rally falls short, and their deficit grows (“Gonzalez is again unable to make it out of the fifth inning in 6-5 loss. Three-run rally in the seventh is not enough.” What happened to Gio?)
*PM Update: Another beautiful night and a gorgeous Thursday; Ragweed heading toward peak
Sign up for the Blue Virginia weekly newsletter
