• Amari Pollard, 20, pleaded guilty to the shooting death of Richmond teen Shawn Jackson outside of Huguenot High School’s graduation last June. Pollard was sentenced to 43 years in prison, 18 of them suspended.—Richmond Times-Dispatch
• State legislators in both chambers advanced measures to lay the foundation for a recreational marijuana market. If Gov. Glenn Youngkin signs the plan into law, the market would go live by May 2025 and retail sales of weed would be taxed at 11.625%.—Washington Post
• “A bill that would have established a fund aimed at reducing wildlife collisions on Virginia’s highways has again failed to advance in the General Assembly.”—Cardinal News
• New state restrictions that limit compensation for family members who care for their disabled spouses or children, which are set to take effect March 1, have met significant public backlash.—VPM News
• “What began with a play about social justice at Alexandria City High School in Northern Virginia turned into a partnership with social studies teacher Ra Alim Shabazz, who heads the Black Student Union. Together, they launched a project at the intersection of art and civic engagement.”—NPR
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