A proposal to boost jury duty pay and more Va. headlines

The State Capitol. (Ned Oliver/ Virginia Mercury)

• Southwest Virginia Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick, was acquitted of a misdemeanor assault charge brought against him by the primary opponent and fellow Del. Marie March, R-Floyd. Williams called March’s claims a “political hit-job.” March took to Facebook to say: “Politicians appoint judges, and the swamp is deep, folks.”—Cardinal News

• A Democratic senator wants Virginia to boost jury duty pay from $30 to $100 per day, which would be the first increase in 30 years.—VPM

• Officials announced the sculptor selected to create a new statue of civil rights pioneer Barbara Johns, who will replace Robert E. Lee as Virginia’s honoree in the U.S. Capitol. The chosen sculptor, Steven Weitzman, also presented his concept for what the statue will look like.—Richmond Times-Dispatch

• Attorney General Jason Miyares said he’s opening a formal investigation into Northern Virginia’s elite Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology following complaints the school didn’t notify students about merit awards they’d received.—Washington Post

• Former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, an attorney, now represents families of some of the victims of the 2019 mass shooting at the Virginia Beach government complex.—13News Now

by Staff Report, Virginia Mercury

---

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sarah Vogelsong for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter.