Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares was at Youth for Tomorrow, at 11835 Hazel Circle Drive in Bristow, today to call attention to human trafficking.
It’s a crime happening in plain sight, and many think it’s not happening right here in their communities. It’s a monstrous crime,” Miyares told PLN in a phone interview after the event.
Miyares praised Youth for Tomorrow for helping pregnant girls who have been trafficked and sexually abused — some less than 10 years old. Miyares said authorities are now finding that offenders are trafficking family members into the U.S. for financial gain.
Authorities found trafficking victims had access to medical care en route to the U.S. That fact prompted Miyares to warn the staff at Medical Center of Virginia in Richmond and Youth for Tomorrow, during recent speaking engagements, to be on the lookout for victims.
“These folks on the front lines of human trafficking,” said Miyares.
In addition to girls, traffickers are also bringing fentanyl into the U.S. it’s killing, on average, the equivalent of two 727 airliners crashing daily, killing everyone onboard. He said the drug is so prevalent that it’s now being found in everything from marijuana to children’s vitamins.
A bill from Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel (R-Fauquier) aims to require first-year college students to learn the signs of human trafficking during orientation classes. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and is now in the House of Delegates for consideration.
A bill that would have satisfied prosecutors calls for stricter penalties punishing those who sell fentanyl to users to die from the drug. The bill would have allowed prosecutors to seek a second-degree murder conviction with 40 years in prison.
The bill died in a party-line vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, with Democrats killing the bill.
“Some of these drug dealers are killing their customers, knowing they’ll just get more,” Miayres said.
Today in Stafford County, the Board of Supervisors recognized National Human Trafficking Month, which falls each year in January. Rock Hill District Supervisor Crystal Vanuch thanked Board Chair Dr. Pamela Yeung for allowing the resolution recognizing the month after the board failed to recognize the annual event last month.
Recent Stories
On Sunday afternoon, nearly 100 people gathered in a Taco Bell parking lot less than a mile from the clinic’s doors with a shared aim: taking ownership of its now-precarious future.
The project to widen Balls Ford Road between Doane Drive and Ashton Avenue to a four-lane, divided roadway is now officially complete. The county’s Department of Transportation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the parking lot of the General Shale Brick Company last week.
Another round of weather challenges is in store today as a robust cold front approaches. The front will bring gusty winds and low relative humidity.
Join us on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., for the dedication of the Town of Occoquan’s LOVEworks sign in River Mill Park (415 Mill Street, Occoquan), designed by artist Darby Leondra. This event is free and open to the public.
To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges? Do stress and anxiety seem to dominate your thoughts? At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand that navigating mental health can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Our team of compassionate therapists is here to guide you on your journey toward inner peace and emotional well-being. With a client-centered approach, we tailor our therapy sessions to meet your unique needs and goals. Whether you’re struggling with depression, coping with trauma, or simply seeking personal growth, we provide a safe and supportive space for healing and growth.
Embark on a path of self-discovery with our comprehensive range of therapy services, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and holistic approaches. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping you cultivate resilience, develop coping skills, and foster a greater sense of self-awareness.
Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
