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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Virginia Groups Urge Prioritizing Race as Redistricting Goes to Courts

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Thursday, November 4, 2021   

RICHMOND, Va. -- Republicans made definitive gains in Virginia's election on Tuesday, but what is less certain is the makeup of state and congressional districts next time voters cast ballots.

Last month, Virginia's bipartisan redistricting commission called it quits on drawing up new General Assembly and congressional maps.

Vanessa Clinton, press secretary for Progress Virginia, said the 16-member committee could not agree on how to fashion a fair partisan split of the state, especially concerning race.

In public meetings, her groups emphasized the importance of keeping communities of color together.

"If the lines are cutting right in between these communities that have worked so hard to be a unified voice, it's really going to hinder their progress and set them back in terms of school funding, hospital funding, everything that they rely on," Clinton explained.

She is concerned the final maps will dilute the power of communities of color because now the mapmaking process goes to Virginia's Republican-dominated state Supreme Court. The seven justices will choose two experts to present maps for final approval by the end of November.

Clinton contended another issue was the committee members, which included lawmakers and citizens, were more concerned with keeping incumbents in office and future elections than in helping residents, and argued redistricting needs public input to succeed.

"When these districts are drawn, we're going to live with this decision for 10 years," Clinton stated. "And these decisions are going to impact our school system, our hospitals, and it even impacts who we vote for and how our vote is counted. So it's just really important to make sure that you're involved in the process."

Clinton added Virginia's redistricting commission was pushed by Democrats to stop political gerrymandering, but the committee's failure means the party cannot benefit from the state's population boom among city residents and communities of color, who usually vote Democratic.


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