Every July, we celebrate Social Wellness Month, a time dedicated to nurturing our relationships, building supportive communities, and prioritizing meaningful social connections. As we move through an increasingly digital and fast-paced world, social wellness serves as a reminder that our bonds with others are not just important for emotional support—they're vital to our overall well-being.
Following a week of intense political engagement and several days of firehouse primary caucus and canvass, both major parties have now selected their nominees for the September 9th Special Election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. The race, triggered by the passing of longtime Democratic Congressman Gerald Connolly on May 21st, promises to be one of the most closely watched contests in the Commonwealth this year.
Vibrant shades of red and blue are seemingly the trademarks of American candy. Such colors, however, do not occur naturally.
Synthetic dyes have been used...
For the last two years, the Town has been targeted by the New York Board of Regents which directs the state’s K-12 education system. Its schools faced a loss of state funding. Its School Board members were threatened with legal removal.
In late November, I sat in Arlington County Courthouse's courtroom 10A and witnessed a scene that left me deeply unsettled as a veteran defense attorney. A young prosecutor, Abhimanyu Mehta—whose name fittingly translates to "warrior" in the mythological Mahābhārata story about war—stood before Judge Daniel S. Fiore advocating for the dismissal of charges against a young black man, 31, whom I’ll refer to pseudonymously as Ross Lamas. Charged in late 2022 with one count of felony intent to distribute drugs and four counts of illegal possession of a firearm, Mr. Lamas’ case had been delayed multiple times over two years. Lamas sat quietly with his public defender, Brad Haywood, waiting for what should have been a routine resolution.
Every lawyer in Virginia must take a mandatory professionalism course as part of their bar admission, a course designed to teach integrity, fairness, and respect in the practice of law. Yet, in 2025, this course still bears the name of former Chief Justice Harry L. Carrico—a man whose judicial legacy includes defending racial segregation and upholding laws that denied basic rights to Virginians.
On Feb. 22 2023, police sergeant Wesley Shifflett shot and killed Timothy McCree Johnson in an incident that has since sparked extensive controversy and debate around the use of deadly force by law enforcement. Johnson had reportedly fled after being caught shoplifting two pairs of sunglasses from the Nordstrom inside Tysons Corner Center. Police confronted him in a poorly-lit wooded area following a short foot pursuit. After issuing two commands to get on the ground, Shifflett fired two rounds at Johnson, striking him in the chest. He was pronounced dead 44 minutes later at Fairfax Hospital.
There are 61,000 Virginians on probation, which is the largest segment of the state’s criminal justice system. Severe understaffing is burdening active probation officers...
