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Giant Panda Baby Born, PPP Fraud, Voting Survey Result | Top News

Top VA, DC news includes backlash over diverse book remarks, "America's Got Talent" local contestants, and man accused of spying for Russia.

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Patch has 32 sites in communities in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Here are some of the top posts from the past week related to the coronavirus and other topics.

A Moment Of 'Pure Joy': National Zoo's Giant Panda Gives Birth

The Smithsonian National Zoo spent most of this past week on baby watch after announcing on Monday that Mei Xiang, its matriarch giant panda, was due to give birth to her fourth cub.

Ashburn Man Pleads Guilty In Paycheck Program Fraud Scheme

An Ashburn man pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program, a federal initiative designed to help businesses pay their employees and meet their basic expenses during the coronavirus crisis, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

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Remarks On LGBTQ+, BLM Books Bring Calls To Oust Library Trustee

A Fairfax County Library Board of Trustees member is facing criticism for comments about the diverse titles featured on the library's online catalog. The Virginia Library Association expressed opposition to Phillip Rosenthal's comments in a letter, while the NOVA Equity Agenda Coalition took it a step further and called for his resignation or removal.

Virginia Lawmakers Push For Police Review Boards With 'Teeth'

Members of a police consulting firm hired by the city of Fredericksburg completed their initial round of community engagement this week as they review the city's police department and its deployment of chemical agents and arrests of protesters between May 31 to June 2 in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

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Former US Army Green Beret Charged With Spying For Russia

A former U.S. Army Green Beret living in Gainesville was arrested Friday for allegedly conspiring with Russian intelligence operatives for more than a decade to provide them with national defense information, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

How Virginia Residents Plan To Vote: Patch Survey Results

The pandemic is slated to change some voters' habits as we head toward the November election. But according to our Virginia Patch survey, voting by mail isn't the overwhelming choice for readers.

'America's Got Talent' Dream Continues For DC's Malik DOPE

D.C. street performer Malik DOPE was one of three acts at risk of being sent home during NBC's "America's Got Talent" results show Wednesday night. But he received a last-minute reprieve from two celebrity judges.

Dr. Chung Champions Patient, Employee Safety: Centreville Hero

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. Together with Ring, we're working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

NoVA Accounts For Almost A Third Of State's New Coronavirus Cases

The Virginia Department of Health reported 1,013 new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing the cumulative total in the state to 117,592 cases. Twenty-three deaths were reported Friday. A total of 2,550 people have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and 9,460 people have been hospitalized.

Jerry Falwell Jr. Resigns As President Of Liberty University

Jerry Falwell Jr., the embattled president of Liberty University, has resigned from the evangelical Christian university founded by his father.

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