The woman who has accused Fariss of purposely striking her with his SUV in March said in court that she was “terrified.” The two of them had been in a romantic relationship for at least a year, his attorney told the court.

Markus Schmidt
Markus Schmidt is a reporter for Cardinal News. Reach him at markus@cardinalnews.org or 804-822-1594.
Sen. Warner pushes bill to make it easier for miners’ survivors to claim black lung benefits
The Black Lung Benefits Act provides compensation to relatives of coal miners whose deaths are attributable to the disease. The senator said current requirements call for “unnecessarily strict burdens of proof” for families to get benefits.
Court appearance for Del. Fariss postponed again
Del. Matt Fariss, R-Campbell County, was due in Campbell County General District Court for a preliminary hearing on two felony charges in an alleged hit-and-run that injured a pedestrian in March and led to the woman obtaining a protective order against him.
Four Democrats may not make the ballot because of paperwork problems
Trudy Berry of Mecklenburg County, Gregory Maxwell of Franklin County, Jessica Rowlands of Chesterfield County and Zach Coltrain of Virginia Beach are those whose place on the ballot is in doubt.
Virginia’s tax holiday on school supplies has come to an end because legislators forgot to renew it
The tax-free weekend has been a back-to-school staple in Virginia since 2006, but the General Assembly missed a critical deadline to extend it.
Smyth County woman challenges Virginia’s process for restoring voting rights to convicted felons after her application was denied
Toni Heath Johnson, who served time for drug possession, had her voting rights application denied without explanation. She is part of a suit that says Virginia is violating a provision of the 1870 law that readmitted the state to the Union after the Civil War.
State Board of Elections takes no action on Danville Democrat’s request to get on the ballot
The board also took no action on requests by a Northern Virginia Democrat to be placed on the ballot as an independent and by a central Virginia Democrat who was late with his state Senate paperwork.
Danville Democrat who was denied nomination asks state Department of Elections to put her on the ballot
Democrats have refused to nominate Jasmine Lipscomb for a House of Delegates seat after a dispute over a filing fee.
Republicans censure former House candidate for dropping out of race after voting began
John Marsden withdrew from his primary after early voting had begun, citing a personal conflict with unidentified Republicans nominated elsewhere. The party says putting on a primary with only one candidate cost taxpayers $50,000.
Del. Fariss files for reelection as an independent
The delegate faces two felony charges and missed the filing deadline for the Republican nomination.