By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Senate lawmakers on Tuesday approved legislation to further empower civilian panels tasked with overseeing local police departments, adopting a more moderate approach than the House and teeing up a reconciliation fight between the two chambers. The bill, introduced by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, would allow localities to create oversight panels made up of civilians that would have subpoena power to investigate police agencies and issue binding disciplinary action against officers or department employees.

By HANNAH NATANSON, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Teaching math this past week — a job he’s had for nearly 30 years — Jay Bradley found himself recalling Isaac Asimov’s 1951 short story, “The Fun They Had.” The science-fiction tale, set in the 2150s, describes an education program in which children learn individually, at home, from robot teachers. Bradley, 51, last read Asimov’s story in the ’70s, but one scene stuck with him: The moment an 11-year-old enters her classroom.

By ROBIN EARL, Fauquier Times

Fauquier County School Board members heard from 24 parents and students Monday night about how the entirely remote instruction model is working out for their families. With a unified, adamant and at times angry voice, they expressed a clear message. “We are not OK. Open the schools.”

By JAMEY CROSS, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Just two weeks after Campbell County Public Schools began bringing students back for both in-person and remote learning, 43 adults and students in the division are quarantined after potentially being exposed to COVID-19. At its meeting Monday night, the Campbell County School Board received an update from division staff regarding the opening of schools. Elementary schoolers in the division began attending school in person Sept. 1 and 2, while secondary students started the school year Sept. 8.

By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

State regulators on Tuesday granted Gov. Ralph Northam’s request to extend a moratorium on utility disconnections, which was set to expire Wednesday, until Oct. 5. Thousands of Virginians face possible disconnection when the moratorium expires, in large part due to the economic pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 30, Virginians owed more than $184 million in past-due utility bills, including electric, water and gas.

By GRAHAM MOOMAW, Virginia Mercury

The Virginia Lottery Board voted Tuesday to approve the state’s first-ever regulations on sports betting, making some changes in response to feedback from big gambling platforms but maintaining a ban on wagers involving the Olympic Games. Tuesday’s move clears the way for the state to begin accepting applications from sports betting operators in mid-October ahead of an anticipated launch in early 2021.

By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

There are more than 9,000 electronic gaming machines in circulation in Virginia that legislators maintain they will ban next year after they collect tax revenue to support coronavirus relief efforts. The machines contributed about $12 million in tax payments in July, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation. Most of that tax revenue has gone into a newly established COVID-19 relief fund.