History holds fast in Leesburg, Virginia
On a recent morning in Leesburg, Virginia, King Street reverberated with modern energy from contemporary shops and cafes on streets plotted in the mid-18th century. Outside the city hub, housing developments around the Loudoun County seat insulate rather than isolate the Colonial city of nearly 50,000.
Originally named George Town after the English monarch, the town's name was changed in 1758 to honor the Lee family, including Thomas Lee, a plantation owner and politician. Lee was the patron of a political dynasty that continued with his son, Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Robert E. Lee, who stayed in the city during the Civil War campaign, was Thomas Lee's great-grand nephew.
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San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee promises ‘relentless effort' at community inauguration
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee promised during a community inauguration Sunday to lead with 'openness, honesty and relentless effort' and invited the community to join her to make the city better. 'If we match hope with hard work, there's nothing that this city can't do, so let's do it,' Lee said on a stage at Jack London Square. 'Let's grab whatever you can grab — a paintbrush, a policy idea, a neighbor's hand, because the next chapter of Oakland starts now.' She added: 'All of you are co-authors of this next chapter.' Lee was elected in April and sworn in last month. The former congresswoman replaced former Mayor Sheng Thao, whom voters ousted in November in a recall fueled by a federal investigation that resulted in bribery charges against her. Thao pleaded not guilty to the charges. Lee takes over as the city confronts a historic budget deficit, public safety concerns, homelessness and illegal dumping, among other issues. By the end of this month, the city must balance its budget, which includes an annual deficit of about $140 million. Lee previously said the city will address the deficit through both short- and long-term solutions, though she did not provide specifics. During her remarks Sunday, after she again took the oath of office, Lee spoke of her work in the first few weeks of her administration. The goal from the start was to 'turn hope into action,' the Democrat told the crowd, which included faith leaders, business owners and other dignitaries, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. Already she's met with faith and business leaders to discuss public safety strategies. She acknowledged that despite violence prevention efforts and a decrease in homicides last year, some residents still don't feel safe. 'We've got to work to change this narrative in Oakland,' she said. Lee also said she traveled to the state Capitol to advocate for the city, 'because Oakland deserves its fair share of state resources,' she said. 'I made it clear: Investing in Oakland lifts the entire Bay Area.' State Sen. Jesse Arreguín, a Democrat whose district includes Oakland, said the city needs a 'proven leader with integrity and experience' to unite the city and region. 'That leader is Mayor Barbara Lee,' he said. Arreguín, who serves as chair of the public safety standing committee, said he's committed to working with Lee to curb crime in Oakland and make the city safer. He pledged to support the city's Ceasefire strategy and other violence-prevention programs. Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins called Sunday 'a beautiful day in Oakland.' He noted that Lee is the city's fourth mayor in two years. 'But I think we got it right this time,' he quipped. Jenkins described Lee as a mayor for all, especially Oakland residents 'who don't know where City Hall is.' 'The way she campaigned is the way she's going to govern: with integrity,' he added. Selena Wilson, CEO of the East Oakland Youth Development Center, urged the public to support Lee. 'We must continue to stand with her.' Barbara Leslie, president and CEO of the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, picked by Lee as a co-chair of her transition team, said she can attest that Lee 'hit the ground running.' 'Frankly, my goal is just to keep up,' Leslie said, joined by members of the Rotary Club of Oakland #3 and Oakland Restaurant Collective. 'We are here to support you, as your success is Oakland's success,' Leslie said.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
North missed £140bn of transport investment over last government, research finds
The North of England would have received an extra £140 billion in transport investment under the previous government if funding levels had been the same as in London, research has claimed. Independent analysis by think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) looked at Treasury figures between 2009/10 and 2022/23, during which time the Conservatives were in power. It reached the figure, which it said was enough to build seven Elizabeth Lines, by considering the amount of spending per person across the different English regions over that period. While England as a whole saw £592 spent per person each year, London received double that amount with £1,183 spent per person, the IPPR said. The entire North region saw £486 spent per person, with the North East and North West seeing £430 and £540 spent per person respectively. This amounted to £140 billion of missed investment for the North, more than the entire £83 billion estimate of capital spending on transport in the region since 1999/2000, according to the analysis. The region with the lowest amount of investment over the period was the East Midlands with just £355 spent per person. Among the most divisive transport investment projects for the previous government was the HS2 rail project, which was axed north of Birmingham in October 2023. Then-prime minister Rishi Sunak pledged to 'reinvest every single penny, £36 billion, in hundreds of new transport projects in the North and the Midlands', including improvements to road, rail and bus schemes. Earlier this week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £15.6 billion package for mayoral authorities to use on public transport projects across the North and Midlands ahead of the spending review. It is expected to include funding to extend the metros in Tyne and Wear, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, along with a renewed tram network in South Yorkshire and a new mass transit system in West Yorkshire. Marcus Johns, senior research fellow at IPPR North, said: 'Today's figures are concrete proof that promises made to the North over the last decade were hollow. It was a decade of deceit. 'We are 124 years on from the end of Queen Victoria's reign, yet the North is still running on infrastructure built during her rein – while our transport chasm widens. 'This isn't London bashing – Londoners absolutely deserve investment. But £1,182 per person for London and £486 for northerners? The numbers don't lie – this isn't right. 'This Government have begun to restore fairness with their big bet on transport cash for city leaders. 'They should continue on this journey to close this investment gap in the upcoming spending review and decades ahead.' Former Treasury minister Lord Jim O'Neill said: 'Good governance requires the guts to take a long-term approach, not just quick fixes. So the Chancellor is right in her focus on the UK's long-standing supply-side weaknesses – namely our woeful productivity and weak private and public investment. 'Backing major infrastructure is the right call, and this spending review is the right time for the Chancellor to place a big bet on northern growth and begin to close this investment chasm. 'But it's going to take more than commitments alone – she'll need to set out a transparent framework for delivery.'
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dozens protest outside Detroit ICE field office against Los Angeles immigration raids
Demonstrators gathered outside the ICE field office in Detroit to protest against ICE raids in Los Angeles. Jun 8, 2025 | Photo by Erick Diaz Veliz Dozens of people carrying immigrant support signs gathered outside the ICE field office in Detroit on Sunday afternoon to protest against ICE raids in Los Angeles, which sparked violent demonstrations. A raid by ICE agents this weekend at a Home Depot in Los Angeles sparked clashes between ICE agents, local police, and protesters, resulting in injuries and property damage across the city. The federal government deployed 2,000 of the California National Guard ear;ier Sunday to take control of the streets, as protests continue to erupt throughout Los Angeles. 'We're here because protests are happening in L.A against ICE. We stand with them. We wanted to hold an emergency protest here to show our support,' said Kasandra Rodrigues, 25, a member of the Detroit Community Action Committee. The protesters gathered on the sidewalks at the intersection, waving and holding up their signs with slogans in Spanish and English toward passing cars. While some drivers honked in support, the protesters chanted against ICE and Trump. At least four Detroit police vehicles monitored the area. Rodrigues emphasized his support for the Hispanic community living in Detroit, emphasizing that the protest was held in support of them. 'I think the Latino community in Southwest is very scared. However, they have a lot of strength and drive for this struggle. So, we're here supporting them,' Rodrigues said. Around 3 p.m., the protest dispersed without incident. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
