Latest news with #TheProgress-Index
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Decline to opine: Virginia attorney general will not weigh in on Hopewell firings issue
Virginia's attorney general will not intervene in the question of whether a Hopewell city councilor's vote to fire the city manager earlier this month represented a conflict-of-interest because he is a city employee. Hopewell Commonwealth's Attorney Rick Newman confirmed last week that Attorney General Jason Miyares would not offer an opinion on the vote by Ward 4 Councilor Ronnie Ellis. Newman had asked council to delay any action on the future of Dr. Concetta Manker until Miyares could opine on Ellis' ability to vote. A spokesperson for Miyares neither confirmed nor denied there was any action on Newman's request. 'We receive many requests for opinions, and there are numerous grounds upon which we will decline to issue a formal opinion in response,' Shaun Kenney said in an email last week to The Progress-Index. 'We do not comment on specific requests.' According to Virginia law, local prosecutors are one of several Virginia officials permitted to ask for opinions from the attorney general. More: Hopewell commonwealth's attorney finds legal fault with council's firing of city manager Newman had said he thought Ellis – a battalion chief with the Hopewell Fire Department – would be in conflict because of his day job. As the department's second-in-command, Ellis could be called upon at any time to step in for the fire chief who is traditionally appointed by the city manager. Because of that possibility, he still could be considered as a direct report to the city manager. Ellis did not take part in the first effort last February to oust Manker, which failed on a 3-3 vote. However, on May 1, Ellis made the motion to reconsider the termination, which appears to violate Rule 36 of Robert's Rules of Order that only persons who voted on the prevailing side (or any side in the matter of a tie vote) could make the motion. Ellis made the motion May 1 to reconsider the termination and also joined three others on council in the 4-3 vote that let not only Manker go but also fired Brittani Williams as city clerk without cause. Rule 36 also says that any vote reconsideration can happen 'only on the day the vote to be reconsidered was taken, or on the next succeeding day, a legal holiday or a recess not being counted as a day.' Two-and-a-half months passed between the first vote and the reconsideration. The move has generated a great deal of blowback from citizens and some councilors for what they say are an underlying racist tone of the vote – Manker and Williams are Black; Ellis, Mayor Johnny Partin Jr., Vice Mayor Rita Joyner and Ward 5 Councilor Susan Daye are White. More: Tempers, tensions, racism, lawsuits dot Hopewell City Council agenda. How it played out Manker and Williams are expected to file lawsuits over the firings. Ward 7 Councilor Dominic Holloway has also vowed to bring court action. Two protests over the decision were held last week in front of the Municipal Building in downtown Hopewell. One of the groups who protested – the Virginia Party for Socialism & Liberation, whose presence startled many in this somewhat conservative city – is planning another rally May 27 to coincide with the next Hopewell City Council meeting. Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Virginia attorney general stays out of Hopewell firing decision
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hopewell city attorney on assault claim: Not his job to 'get crossways' with councilors
Hopewell's city attorney says it is not his place 'to get crossways' with anyone on City Council because they are all his clients, but he added that he plans to answer a charge of assault being brought against him by a councilor following a brief confrontation at a contentious meeting earlier this week. In a telephone interview May 16 with The Progress-Index, Anthony Bessette said it was 'on video and in clear view of the public' what transpired at the May 13 meeting between him and Ward 7 Councilor Dominic Holloway. Bessette said he planned to go to the Hopewell Police headquarters on the morning of May 19 to personally receive the summons. According to a livestream of the meeting and video shot by The Progress-Index, Holloway took offense to Bessette putting his hand on Holloway's arm as the councilor reached over to point something out to him. At the time, Bessette was wearing multiple hats as council's legal advisor, parliamentarian, and clerk – the latter after council fired Brittani Williams and City Manager Dr. Concetta Manker on May 1 in a decision that has rocked Hopewell and prompted mass calls for resignations of four councilors. The confrontation happened when a group called the Party of Socialism & Liberation – which earlier had protested outside the Municipal Building in support of Manker and Williams – stood up and began chanting for City Council to reinstate the two women. ➤ See the video at the top of this story. As Hopewell deputies escorted the protesters out, Holloway stood up as a sign to oppose Mayor Johnny Partin Jr.'s efforts to shut down his proclaimed 'point of personal privilege.' While Partin was attempting to move on with the meeting agenda, Holloway continued to stand and leaned over to point out on Bessette's computer that he was within his rights to continue speaking. At about the 1:19 mark of The Progress-Index video, Bessette can be seen trying to place his hand on Holloway's outstretched arm. 'Don't touch me, sir. That is an assault,' Holloway told Bessette. 'You just touched me. You just assaulted me. Do not touch me, sir.' As Bessette withdrew his hand, Holloway said he was in the middle of his personal privilege. 'Did you just grab me?' Holloway asked again. Meanwhile, Partin was banging his gavel and telling Holloway to sit down. 'You have been overruled by the parliamentarian,' the mayor said. Tariffs causing higher prices, Walmart warns In the moments prior to the confrontation, Holloway and Bessette had several verbal back-and-forths over Holloway's quizzing about proper meeting procedure. According to Robert's Rule of Order, which Hopewell and most other governing bodies follow on conduct of government meetings, a 'point of personal privilege' can be brought up at any time by any member. No debate or discussion of issues can be held while a point is raised. Holloway invoked the point because he sought clarity on whether Ward 4 Councilor Ronnie Ellis – a battalion chief with the Hopewell Fire Department – had acted in conflict of interest for voting to fire Manker, his de facto boss. In that position, Ellis is considered second-in-command of the department and at any given time could be called upon to act as the department head, therefore making him accountable to Manker as city manager. Bessette ruled that the issue needed to be addressed as a separate matter on the council agenda, and the council majority did not seem interested in amending the agenda to allow it. That prompted Holloway to repeat previous allegations that Bessette is part of a 'small coup' by council's White majority to quell advancement of Black citizens either in government jobs or on City Council. Washington Commanders schedule 2025: Complete list games In conversation with The Progress-Index, Bessette said he had not yet received the summons but planned to receive it first thing on the morning of May 19. In the meantime, Bessette said the incident 'is on video and in clear view of the public,' and they can see for themselves what happened. 'Councilor Holloway is one-seventh of my clients, and I serve council as a whole,' Bessette said. 'It is not my place in any way to confront or get crossways with any councilor.' Bessette joined Hopewell as city attorney last February. A former senior assistant county attorney in Albemarle, he was the only one who interviewed for the position. The city attorney is one of three Hopewell employees who report directly to City Council. The others are city manager and city clerk. Hopewell: Authorities release fire investigation details, St. James Catholic Church Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell city attorney facing assault claim from councilor after meeting
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hopewell: Fire causes extensive damage to St. James Catholic Church, under investigation
Authorities in Hopewell are investigating what caused a fire on May 14 at St. James Catholic Church that broke out around 9:41 p.m. Hopewell Fire & EMS responded to it swiftly. The blaze was contained to the building, preventing it from spreading to nearby properties. The church suffered extensive damage. Heavy smoke and flames were visible when firefighters arrived on the scene within four minutes of being dispatched. Crews immediately initiated fire suppression tactics, working efficiently to bring the fire under control. First responders conducted a thorough search of the premises and did not discover any occupants inside. No civilian injuries were reported. Mutual Aid assistance was requested and Chesterfield County Fire & EMS and Colonial Heights Fire & EMS responded to the scene to assist in firefighting efforts as well as fire investigations. 'We're here for people year-round' Petersburg names 2024 Firefighter of the Year. He credits his family as his driving force. You're invited Petersburg: Armed Forces Day celebration with live music, fun activities, food trucks 'Our firefighters acted quickly and professionally to contain the fire and protect lives and property,' Hopewell Fire Chief Ben Ruppert said in a statement. 'We are grateful that no one was hurt and appreciate the teamwork displayed by our department and our neighboring localities.' The Hopewell Fire Marshal's Office is currently investigating the cause of the fire. Further details will be released as they become available. Anyone with tips or information is encouraged to call the Hopewell Fire Marshal's Office at 804-541-2290. Are you a bookworm? Hopewell-Prince George Friends of the Library host book sale: Fill bag for only $2 Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly, an award-winning columnist, is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index voted the 2022 Tri-Cities Best of the Best Social Media Personality. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@ follow @KHiggins_PI on X and @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram. Your support is vital to local journalism. Please . This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell fire: Church suffers extensive damage, under investigation
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cops: Woman killed Saturday in Hopewell's Thomas Rolfe Court area was beaten in her head
Police in Hopewell are investigating the city's second homicide in three days that happened three streets away from the first one. The victim was found lying on the ground around 6:45 a.m. May 3 in the 200 block of South 7th Avenue, police Lt. Jacquita Allen said in an email. That is in Hopewell's Thomas Rolfe Court neighborhood. Allen said she was dead when officers arrived and had suffered "apparent head trauma." The victim's identity has not been released pending notification of next-of-kin. Anyone who may have information about the death is asked to contact Detective Cameron List at (804) 541-2284. That information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Solvers at (804) 541-2202 or the P3Tips mobile app. It is Hopewell's third homicide of the year and the second in three days. On May 1, Sharod Tucker, 41, of Hopewell was found stabbed to death in the 200 block of South 4th Avenue. Raimona Renee Freeman, 46, also of Hopewell, was arrested shortly after the stabbing and has been charged with voluntary manslaughter. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Woman found beaten to death in Hopewell's Thomas Rolfe Court
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hopewell councilor abruptly resigns his seat at Tuesday night council meeting
Hopewell City Councilor Dominic Holloway, facing both political and legal backlash over GoFundMe account spending and questionable use of a city credit card, abruptly resigned his seat Tuesday night. Holloway, who represented Ward 7 on council for the past two years, announced his intention to step down before Tuesday's council meeting. He said he would submit his official letter soon. He then left the meeting when council went into closed session and as of Wednesday morning had not made any more public comment or submitted the resignation letter. Once the resignation is official, council may appoint someone to fill the seat on an interim basis. That person would serve until the next scheduled election for the seat in November 2026. Holloway had not attended several recent council meetings. Holloway is scheduled to go to trial July 29 in Charles City County Circuit Court on his embezzlement indictment. The case was moved to Charles City after Hopewell's commonwealth's attorney and its judges recused themselves from the prosecution. He is charged with spending roughly $700 on catering for a June 2023 event that he claimed was sponsored by the city, but Hopewell officials said they knew nothing about the event. Prosecutors allege Holloway used the catering for a private dinner after a funeral for a family member over which he officiated. The indictment came after The Progress-Index reported on the use of the city-owned credit card. New Chester bakery sells macarons, sourdough bread, sweet rolls, pastries, coffee, more Holloway was also successfully sued by the mother of a Hopewell murder victim for whom he set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses. He reportedly spent $5,600 of the funds for his own personal use, according to the civil lawsuit. In a separate action, the city of Hopewell garnished Holloway's council salary after he reportedly spent more than $1,200 on the city credit card for a trip to Atlanta to attend a conference, then was unable to cancel the trip in time for a full refund. The city claimed Holloway made the reservations with the knowledge he could not leave the state as a condition of his indictment and only tried to cancel after the city found out about it. Holloway was also known for making controversial statements during council meetings. At one last January, he claimed a Black council colleague referred to himself as an "Uncle Tom" for siding with white councilors in ending a lawsuit brought by a city employee who challenged the authenticity of a quickly passed ordinance blocking municipal workers from serving on City Council. That employee, Hopewell Fire Battalion Chief Ronnie Ellis, ran for and won the Ward 4 seat last November. Then at a meeting last month, Holloway criticized Mayor Johnny Partin Jr. for suggesting that council slash its travel fund allotments in order to put more revenue back into the city budget. Holloway said he could not support that because, unlike Partin, he does "not come from a rich family." Chester: New European-style bakery uses high quality, clean ingredients: View gallery Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@ or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell Councilor Dominic Holloway will step down from seat
