Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, January 28. Also see President Obama speaking at the "Righteous Among Nations Award Ceremony" yesterday.
- Donald Trump’s Biggest Gamble Yet ("If his Fox News debate ploy works, he’ll be stronger than ever. If it fails, it will be an epic disaster.")
- Trump refuses to reconsider debate in fiery Fox interview
- In the age of Trump, grim warnings from Holocaust survivors ("On Holocaust Remembrance Day, we should heed those who have seen darkness and hate.")
- Is This the End of the GOP as We Know It? ("Historian Rick Perlstein on the rise of Trump, the fall of Reagan, and the fate of contemporary conservatism.")
- Companies worry Trump-led convention could hurt brands (No company should associate itself in any way with a bigot and extremist like Trump.)
- Obama, Sanders talk foreign policy, economy and politics
- More Oregon occupiers arrested, others leave as standoff appears to dwindle (The FBI needs to really crack down on these domestic terrorists, wherever they are. Arguably, they are far more of a threat to Americans than ISIS is.)
- Oregon militiamen fell right into the feds’ trap: Sorry, liberals, the government was right to wait before taking them out (Interesting argument.)
- Demographers Say Population Growth in Virginia Has Slowed ("Loudoun County saw the greatest population gains, and Wise County saw the greatest losses.")
- Widowed mother makes case for Medicaid expansion
- Richmond attorney announces bid for GOP AG nomination (This guy is hard right.)
- An open letter to the Republican House member we saw on Grindr this weekend (Based on the information provided, it's extremely easy to narrow this one down to two possibilities, and I've emailed those two legislators for comment - Del. Israel O'Quinn emailed me back promptly to say "I don't have a comment on the story, but can confirm the lawmaker in question is not me." Having said that, I basically agree with Brad Kutner, who broke the story, on his reasoning for not explicitly "outing" this guy, so I'll join Kutner in not doing so. Let's see how SW Virginia Republican House of Delegates members vote on anti-LGBT crap like this.)
- Our view: Would McAuliffe's corporate tax cut really work? (Shor answer: no.)
- McAuliffe puts squeeze on legislators over I-66 plan (I'm going to be closely watching how Dems vote on this. The correct answer in this case, of course, is to support Gov. McAuliffe's plan.)
- Lawmakers quiz McAuliffe’s pick for the high court, but questions remain ("House Republicans plan to take a largely symbolic vote against Jane Marum Roush on Thursday.")
- Clerks could deny marriage licenses to gays under bill advanced in Va.
- Purple Heart recipient enters 9th District race ("Derek Kitts "is joining about a half dozen Democrats who have expressed interest in taking on Griffith, Democratic district committee Vice Chairwoman Aviva Frye said Tuesday. The field includes Roanoke Mayor David Bowers and farmer and retired postal worker Bill Bunch of Tazewell County.")
- McAuliffe: Snowstorm could be most expensive ever in Virginia
- $5,000-per-acre oyster lease bill to die
- Body or mind: Appeals court judges question what defines gender in Gloucester lawsuit ("Judges with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals questioned the definitions of sex and gender identity Wednesday in the appeal filed by Gavin Grimm, the 16-year-old transgender student who is suing Gloucester County schools over its restroom use policy.")
- Editorial: Reverse court ruling; keep public records public
- Local health-care providers gear up to fight Zika virus
- Emails detail extent of city official's involvement in church construction
- Virginia Beach leaders urge Randy Forbes to jump congressional districts (Kinda pitiful.)
- Portsmouth mayor to Sen. Lucas: Withdraw bill regarding Jordan Bridge dispute
- As region returns to life, some still snowbound feel abandoned
- Cool but sunny today; Big weekend warm-up ("The weekend readings warm into the 50s by Sunday and potentially lower 60s by early next week!")
