Latest news with #Hopewell
Fox News
4 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Youngkin signs Virginia law limiting 'bell-to-bell' cellphone use in public schools
Print Close By Deirdre Heavey Published May 30, 2025 Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law Friday limiting cellphone use for all Virginia public elementary, middle and high school students. Youngkin, who built his political career championing parents' rights in education, ceremoniously signed two versions of the bill, HB1961 and SB738, at the Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, Virginia. Youngkin said it was a fitting location for a day filled with such "hope." "When we come together — elected officials, administrators, teachers, parents and all of you — we can move mountains, and we can change something that needs to be changed, and that is to find freedom, freedom from cellphones," said Youngkin, who was flanked by his wife, Virginia first lady Suzanne S. Youngkin; public school students; education advocates; and local politicians. "We come together in order to move a mountain," Youngkin said, as he highlighted the negative effect of cellphones in schools on mental illness, conduct in class, academic performance and interpersonal relationships. TEENS SPEND MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THEIR TIME AT SCHOOL ON PHONES, NEW STUDY FINDS The bill strictly limits the use of phones in classrooms to reduce distractions and disruptions, codifying Youngkin's executive order signed last year "to protect the health and safety of students in Virginia's K-12 public schools by issuing guidance on the establishment of cellphone-free education policies and procedures." DC COUNCIL PROPOSES BILL TO BAN CELLPHONES IN DISTRICT'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS "We are building on the foundation laid by Executive Order 33 to make Virginia the national leader in restoring focus, academic excellence in the classroom and restoring health and safety in our schools. This legislation ensures that every school division adopts a full bell-to-bell policy and removes cellphones from classrooms, creating a distraction-free learning environment," Youngkin said as he signed the bill into law. Research indicates using cellphones in the classroom can have a negative effect on students' grades, social skills, emotional development and mental health. In a 2024 Pew Research Center study, more than 70% of high school teachers said cellphones distracting students in the classroom is a major problem. "This wasn't just an issue. It's a crisis. And when we have a crisis, we have a unified call for action, and that's what this gathering is all about, this unified call for action," Youngkin said Friday. Hopewell City Public Schools adopted a "pouch system" in its secondary schools at the start of the 2022-2023 school year, which has been used as a case study and potential model for the Virginia Department of Education's cellphone-free education rollout. "I want to add my appreciation for Hopewell's leadership because it was your leadership that inspired the executive order that I wrote last summer," Youngkin said. The statewide legislation requires school boards to develop and public schools to enact policies to restrict student cellphone use during the school day. The law includes exceptions for students with individualized education plans, Section 504 plans or health conditions, so cellphones can be used when medically necessary. The law also prohibits schools from suspending, expelling or removing students from class for violating cellphone policies. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Florida became the first state to pass a law regulating cellphone use in schools in 2023. More than half of all states now have similar laws in place. Print Close URL
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Georgia offers elite DL recruit T-Ron Richardson
The Georgia Bulldogs are one of the latest schools to offer a scholarship to elite class of 2026 defensive line recruit T-Ron Richardson. Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Penn State are among the recent schools to offer Richardson, who is a hot prospect on the recruiting trail, over the past couple of weeks. Richardson is ranked as a three-star recruit. He plays high school football for Hopewell High School in Hopewell, Virginia. Hopewell is located south of Richmond. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive lineman also competes in track and field for Hopewell. Advertisement 247Sports ranks Richardson as the No. 105 defensive lineman in the country and the No. 24 recruit in Virginia. Based on all of the recent interest in Richardson, his recruiting ranking is bound to rise. "I am extremely blessed to receive a scholarship from The University Of Georgia!!" said Richardson via social media after earning a scholarship offer from Georgia. Both Virginia and Virginia Tech also offered the in-state defensive end. Richardson plans to take official visits with both Virginia and Virginia Tech in June. Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia are always looking for top defensive line talent. Georgia has nine commitments in the class of 2026, but just one along the defensive front in three-star Seven Cloud, who is the top-ranked junior college prospect in the nation. This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: UGA football offers 3-star defensive line recruit T-Ron Richardson
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Multiple vehicles broken into, guns stolen in Hopewell Township
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Police are investigating a series of vehicle break-ins that happened along several streets in Hopewell Township. West Main Street was hit the hardest. Vehicles sit there with plastic covering smashed windows. Resident Erin Rudolph said she feels violated. 'I've owned this car for less than three months,' Rudolph said. Her Mercedes is now missing a window. 'They tried to get into my window here with some sort of pry bar. There are slice marks in my seals. The door frame is bent. My back window is completely smashed out,' said Rudolph. The broken glass is still on the ground where the car was parked. She tells Channel 11 that two hoodies and a work phone were taken. The damage is equivalent to about $2,200. Other valuable were left inside but Rudolph believes her beagles scared the thief away when they ran outside and started barking. 'It was smashed in. The two bads were gone and a bin of paper towels and Kleenexes had been rifled through,' Rudolph said. Renee Bears is dealing with the same issue. 'I have a window coming from the junkyard, so, hopefully, that'll get taken care of soon,' said Beard. Hopewell Township police tell Channel 11 these are two of at least six cars involved. Some items, like credit cards, were found in a dumpster, but two guns are still missing. 'Are they going to keep them? Are they going to use them the next time, doing what they do? Will they come back?' Beard said. Rudolph had this message for the person responsible. 'My guy, I'm just a person who works a crappy job. Mid-40s. Finally got a new car and you damaged my baby,' she said. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
