Luca Powell
@lucapowell.bsky.social
Reporter, Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Courts/Cops/Criminal Justice and investigations.
Tips to [email protected].
https://linktr.ee/luca_a_powell
Courts/Cops/Criminal Justice and investigations.
Tips to [email protected].
https://linktr.ee/luca_a_powell
Reposted by Luca Powell
Hindsight's 20/20. If you're Jason Miyares and you get that Jay Jones text exchange, you absolutely use it.
But Miyares had been running a sort of non-partisan tough-on-crime campaign and switched to nonstop ads about the text messages. Looks like the juice ran out.
But Miyares had been running a sort of non-partisan tough-on-crime campaign and switched to nonstop ads about the text messages. Looks like the juice ran out.
November 5, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Hindsight's 20/20. If you're Jason Miyares and you get that Jay Jones text exchange, you absolutely use it.
But Miyares had been running a sort of non-partisan tough-on-crime campaign and switched to nonstop ads about the text messages. Looks like the juice ran out.
But Miyares had been running a sort of non-partisan tough-on-crime campaign and switched to nonstop ads about the text messages. Looks like the juice ran out.
The Miyares campaign also had a lot to run on, if you believe the AG is a crime fighting office.
In October, VCU released a report finding that an AG initiative brought down violent crime in Virginia's most dangerous cities.
But the texts sucked up all the oxygen in the ad drive.
In October, VCU released a report finding that an AG initiative brought down violent crime in Virginia's most dangerous cities.
But the texts sucked up all the oxygen in the ad drive.
November 5, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The Miyares campaign also had a lot to run on, if you believe the AG is a crime fighting office.
In October, VCU released a report finding that an AG initiative brought down violent crime in Virginia's most dangerous cities.
But the texts sucked up all the oxygen in the ad drive.
In October, VCU released a report finding that an AG initiative brought down violent crime in Virginia's most dangerous cities.
But the texts sucked up all the oxygen in the ad drive.
Reposted by Luca Powell
Looks like the Dems will pick up 12 seats in the VA House of Delegates, which will go from 51-49 to 63-37 D-R. That's an honestly shocking result.
November 5, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Looks like the Dems will pick up 12 seats in the VA House of Delegates, which will go from 51-49 to 63-37 D-R. That's an honestly shocking result.
In spite of the Jay Jones text scandal, its easy to find voters at the polls in the Richmond suburbs who are voting blue all the way.
Two voters tell me his texts are basically a drop in the bucket compared to what they've heard from Republicans, particularly gubernatorial candidate Earle-Sears.
Two voters tell me his texts are basically a drop in the bucket compared to what they've heard from Republicans, particularly gubernatorial candidate Earle-Sears.
November 4, 2025 at 7:29 PM
In spite of the Jay Jones text scandal, its easy to find voters at the polls in the Richmond suburbs who are voting blue all the way.
Two voters tell me his texts are basically a drop in the bucket compared to what they've heard from Republicans, particularly gubernatorial candidate Earle-Sears.
Two voters tell me his texts are basically a drop in the bucket compared to what they've heard from Republicans, particularly gubernatorial candidate Earle-Sears.
Reposted by Luca Powell
Hey folks, an update on the battle to bring down prices!
October 31, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Hey folks, an update on the battle to bring down prices!
"The tariffs are paid by the companies."
October 31, 2025 at 7:05 PM
"The tariffs are paid by the companies."
Reposted by Luca Powell
You know it’s serious when corporates begin to complain.
$DAL
$DAL
October 30, 2025 at 5:56 PM
You know it’s serious when corporates begin to complain.
$DAL
$DAL
ACA premium increases for counties in Virginia.
October 28, 2025 at 3:09 PM
ACA premium increases for counties in Virginia.
It's a small scandal, but this remains to me the most interesting part of the Jay Jones texts news cycle: How did he get away with a lesser penalty for his reckless driving charge?
FWIW: This is from a news blast from his opponent.
FWIW: This is from a news blast from his opponent.
October 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It's a small scandal, but this remains to me the most interesting part of the Jay Jones texts news cycle: How did he get away with a lesser penalty for his reckless driving charge?
FWIW: This is from a news blast from his opponent.
FWIW: This is from a news blast from his opponent.
Well, the Truth that was supposed to be a DM to Bondi has made it into the court filing seeking a dismissal of the case against former FBI Director James Comey.
October 20, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Well, the Truth that was supposed to be a DM to Bondi has made it into the court filing seeking a dismissal of the case against former FBI Director James Comey.
Reposted by Luca Powell
A terrific AFP fact check uses reverse image searches to expose how a White House video took scenes from Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Nebraska and lied that they showed "Chicago is in chaos."
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
October 16, 2025 at 2:07 PM
A terrific AFP fact check uses reverse image searches to expose how a White House video took scenes from Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Nebraska and lied that they showed "Chicago is in chaos."
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com....
Reposted by Luca Powell
This is staggering. “The staff of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the journal that reports on health trends and emerging infectious threats, was also laid off.”
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This is staggering. “The staff of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the journal that reports on health trends and emerging infectious threats, was also laid off.”
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
Trump Administration Lays Off Dozens of C.D.C. Officials
An insider stole at least $1.5 million from Virginia's Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, a state-run charity drive that collects donations from state employees.
She spent the money at a fish pedicures spa in Vegas and a $10,000 plastic surgery job.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
She spent the money at a fish pedicures spa in Vegas and a $10,000 plastic surgery job.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Portsmouth woman admits to stealing more than $1.5 million from state government’s charity drive
Federal prosecutors say Linda Natelle Brown stole over $1.5 million from Virginia’s state employee charity campaign, using the funds for luxury expenses. She pleaded guilty and faces sentencing in Feb...
richmond.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:49 PM
An insider stole at least $1.5 million from Virginia's Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, a state-run charity drive that collects donations from state employees.
She spent the money at a fish pedicures spa in Vegas and a $10,000 plastic surgery job.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
She spent the money at a fish pedicures spa in Vegas and a $10,000 plastic surgery job.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Reposted by Luca Powell
JUST IN: Chicago journalistsa re suing DHS and ICE over force used against reporters:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
October 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
JUST IN: Chicago journalistsa re suing DHS and ICE over force used against reporters:
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Luca Powell
Jane Goodall, ethologist and conservationist, has died. She was 91
October 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Jane Goodall, ethologist and conservationist, has died. She was 91
A federal judge found ICE violated the Fifth Amendment rights of a Bangladeshi artist and asylum seeker in Virginia by refusing to release him on bond.
Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered his release, calling ICE's arguments "an unequivocal violation of due process."
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered his release, calling ICE's arguments "an unequivocal violation of due process."
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Judge orders release of Bangladeshi man detained in Farmville
Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled ICE unlawfully detained a Bangladeshi asylum seeker, finding due process was violated and clarifying that noncriminal immigrants under supervision can be released on bond.
richmond.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:58 PM
A federal judge found ICE violated the Fifth Amendment rights of a Bangladeshi artist and asylum seeker in Virginia by refusing to release him on bond.
Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered his release, calling ICE's arguments "an unequivocal violation of due process."
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Judge Leonie Brinkema ordered his release, calling ICE's arguments "an unequivocal violation of due process."
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Reposted by Luca Powell
BREAKING: Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, delivers the most scathing legal rebuke of the Trump era, ruling that Trump and his cabinet illegally targeted pro-Palestinian students for deportation to "strike fear" into First Amendment protesters. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
September 30, 2025 at 5:03 PM
BREAKING: Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, delivers the most scathing legal rebuke of the Trump era, ruling that Trump and his cabinet illegally targeted pro-Palestinian students for deportation to "strike fear" into First Amendment protesters. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Feels prescient for journalism
September 30, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Feels prescient for journalism
Richmond firefighter Jonathan Clarke is suing America's biggest chemical companies, alleging that PFAS in the gear he wore for ~20 years caused his Leukemia.
PFAS made turnout gear waterproof and flame resistant, but have since been linked with cancer.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
PFAS made turnout gear waterproof and flame resistant, but have since been linked with cancer.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Richmond firefighter says his gear gave him cancer. Now he's taking companies to court.
Richmond firefighter Jonathan Clarke is suing major chemical companies, alleging PFAS in his turnout gear caused leukemia. His case is one of many tying firefighting equipment to cancer.
richmond.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Richmond firefighter Jonathan Clarke is suing America's biggest chemical companies, alleging that PFAS in the gear he wore for ~20 years caused his Leukemia.
PFAS made turnout gear waterproof and flame resistant, but have since been linked with cancer.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
PFAS made turnout gear waterproof and flame resistant, but have since been linked with cancer.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Reposted by Luca Powell
In which a top US Border Patrol official, incredibly, tells my tall and Anglo colleague @chipmitchell1.bsky.social that he's not the type they're looking for as they go about downtown Chicago arresting people based on "how they look"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Feds in military gear flood downtown Chicago; top border official says arrests based on 'how they look'
The immigration agents were spotted making arrests in downtown Chicago and River North neighborhood early Sunday.
chicago.suntimes.com
September 28, 2025 at 11:49 PM
In which a top US Border Patrol official, incredibly, tells my tall and Anglo colleague @chipmitchell1.bsky.social that he's not the type they're looking for as they go about downtown Chicago arresting people based on "how they look"
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Luca Powell
Incredible pairing of text and chart
September 28, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Incredible pairing of text and chart
Reposted by Luca Powell
BREAKING: The Federal Bureau of Prisons just terminated its union's collective bargaining agreement this afternoon, according to this letter posted online by the national union president:
September 25, 2025 at 11:45 PM
BREAKING: The Federal Bureau of Prisons just terminated its union's collective bargaining agreement this afternoon, according to this letter posted online by the national union president:
Reposted by Luca Powell
(NPR) - Nearly 20 immigration judges received emails this month informing them that they are being let go, NPR has learned, adding to the over 80 judges that have already been cut by President Trump so far this year.
@npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
@npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
Trump administration fires more immigration judges
Nearly 20 immigration judges received emails this month informing them that they are being let go, NPR has learned, the largest single month of firings since the process began in February.
www.npr.org
September 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
(NPR) - Nearly 20 immigration judges received emails this month informing them that they are being let go, NPR has learned, adding to the over 80 judges that have already been cut by President Trump so far this year.
@npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
@npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/09/23/n...
Did a Brooklyn Couple Kill a Neighbor’s Trees for a Better View in Maine? www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/u...
Did a Brooklyn Couple Kill a Neighbor’s Trees for a Better View in Maine?
www.nytimes.com
September 14, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Did a Brooklyn Couple Kill a Neighbor’s Trees for a Better View in Maine? www.nytimes.com/2025/09/11/u...
Second Amendment activists have been trying to overturn a ban on handgun sales to 18-21 year olds.
Richmond's 4th Circuit ruled against them last week.
A lawyer for the activists says he'll appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Richmond's 4th Circuit ruled against them last week.
A lawyer for the activists says he'll appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Richmond’s 4th Circuit upholds federal ban on handgun sales to young adults
"Lawmakers remain free to take a different course,” wrote Judge Harvie Wilkinson.
richmond.com
June 23, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Second Amendment activists have been trying to overturn a ban on handgun sales to 18-21 year olds.
Richmond's 4th Circuit ruled against them last week.
A lawyer for the activists says he'll appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
richmond.com/news/state-r...
Richmond's 4th Circuit ruled against them last week.
A lawyer for the activists says he'll appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
richmond.com/news/state-r...