Keya Vakil is the deputy political editor at COURIER. He previously worked as a researcher in the film industry and dabbled in the political world.
Keya Vakil
Latest from Keya Vakil
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Only 7% of foster children in Virginia are placed with family members
Somewhere in Virginia right now, there’s a child waiting to be placed with a foster family. To minimize stress and instability, the best resolution for foster children is placement with a family member, which is the desired policy in most states. But according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, this happens…
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Dogwood Weekly Wrap-Up – April 7, 2019
Happy Sunday, Virginia. It was another busy news week in the Commonwealth, so we’ve got everything you need to know in our weekly wrap-up. Virginia Cavaliers one win away from history – A year ago, the Virginia Cavaliers men’s basketball team made the wrong kind of history, becoming the first 1-seed to lose to a…
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Dogwood Daily: News to Go – April 5, 2019
Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. We’ve got all the Virginia news you need to know coming right up. But First… A Presidential candidate was asked to prom, the Queer Eye cast hit D.C. to support the Equality Act, and Del. Ibraheem Samirah (D-86) lays out his case for a Virginia version of…
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Democratic-controlled U.S. House passes Violence Against Women Act
According to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca.), the choice in front of lawmakers today was between helping victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse or helping the NRA and allowing stalkers and abusers to have access to firearms. In voting against the Violence Against Women Act, 157 House Republicans chose to help the NRA instead…
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It's easier than you think for felons to buy bullets in Virginia
If you are a felon in Virginia, you can go into a gun store right now and buy thousands of rounds of ammunition. That may sound surprising, but it’s true. On March 9, a group of four men walked into a gun store in Danville, Va. and purchased bullets. One of those men was actually…
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$17+ million on the line in battle over Spotsylvania solar farm
Update: April 15, 2019 The Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors approved three special use permits for the solar farm. The project will go forward, despite complaints from local residents. Tens of millions of dollars in revenue, nearly 900 new jobs and fighting climate change. That’s what residents of Spotsylvania could get with a massive new solar…
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Dogwood Daily: News on the Go – April 3, 2019
Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. We’ve got all the Virginia news you need to know coming right up. But First… We know hump day can be hard, so we want to bring some joy into your life: Faye sparks joy. If only we could all have a Faye. 5 things you need…
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Dogwood Daily: News to Go – April 2, 2019
Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. We’ve got all the Virginia news you need to know coming right up. But first… Did you know today is #EqualPayDay? The average woman loses $10,086 a year because of the pay gap between men and women. Here’s a list of things women could afford if the…
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Dogwood Weekly Wrap-Up – March 31, 2019
Here’s Dogwood’s week in review. Trump comes for your healthcare – Another week, another example of the Trump administration actively working to undermine the Affordable Care Act. Earlier this week, Trump directed his Justice Department to intervene in a federal-court case seeking to have the entire ACA struck down. If Trump gets his way and…
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President Trump’s wall could cost VA $493 million
If President Trump’s national “emergency” declaration survives the courts, the Commonwealth could lose up to $493 million in military project funding. President Trump has raised the possibility of diverting $3.6 billion that Congress approved for military spending to build his wall. While the White House insists the use of military funds would be a last…