Author: Calvin Pynn
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Calvin Pynn, Contributor
Calvin Pynn is a freelance reporter based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, primarily covering local politics and other issues in the city for The Citizen. He is also a reporter for WMRA Public Radio along with a few of his friends at The Citizen, and is also the Adviser for James Madison University's student-run radio station, WXJM. Calvin grew up in the New River Valley and attended Radford University, where he was a Producer and On-Air Talent for WVRU, and the Arts & Entertainment Editor for the school's newspaper, The Tartan. Since graduating in 2012, his work has appeared in The Roanoke Times, The Southwest Times, the Daily News-Record, and as part of a reporting project for WQSV 106.3 FM in Staunton. Aside from that, Calvin is a relentless music nerd who plays guitar, collects vinyl, and supports local bands.
Plans for Elkton Black Lives Matter protest sparked controversy on social media and debate at Monday’s town council
After a closed-session discussion, the Elkton Town Council ultimately voted 5-1 Monday night to approve a permit that will allow a high school student-led Black Lives Matter protest on Wednesday. Plans for the event had touched off a social media-fueled controversy after a Facebook post calling for armed counter-protesters went viral over the past several days.
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Emailed and mailed ballots fuel record turnout for local Democrats as they picked their council nominees
Harrisonburg Democrats had their biggest-ever turnout for a primary over weekend, as that party’s voters selected Mayor Deanna Reed and two newcomers — Charles Hendricks and Laura Dent — as their nominees for the three city council seats on the ballot this fall.
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Reed, Hendricks & Dent win Democratic primary for city council
According to results announced Saturday evening by the Harrisonburg Democratic Committee, Mayor Deanna Reed, along with political newcomers Charles Hendricks and Laura Dent, have been chosen as the Democratic nominees for City Council in the November election.
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COVID-19 testing increases in Virginia, but officials still can’t provide testing rate in Harrisonburg
The ability to test for COVID-19 and the accessibility of testing are increasing in Virginia this month, health department officials said Wednesday. The Virginia Department of Health held a teleconferenced press briefing Wednesday and reported that capacity has steadily increased over the last few weeks between public health, hospital and commercial labs, said Michael Keatts, the Virginia Department of Health’s Northwest emergency health coordinator.
Democratic council candidates carve out slight differences over approaches toward housing, JMU and the golf course’s fate
The candidates seeking the Democratic nominations for this fall’s city council election signaled a general agreement on big-picture issues, such as supporting education and working to encourage affordable housing, although they each sought to differentiate themselves over how they’d prioritize certain approaches.
Democratic council candidates bring different experiences, priorities in advance of Wednesday’s virtual town hall forum
The five Democratic candidates running for Harrisonburg’s City Council will have their chance to differentiate themselves and show voters what they know about — and envision for — Harrisonburg’s city government a virtual town hall Wednesday night. At this point it’s the only joint appearance before city Democrats vote by email or mail by May 16 in that party’s social distancing version of a firehouse primary.
Sentara RMH has plans to handle additional COVID-19 cases but stays quiet on testing, equipment questions
Harrisonburg has 87 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Monday – the most out of all localities in the Central Shenandoah Health District, according to data from the Virginia Department of Health. Sentara Rockingham Memorial Hospital has been preparing for the increase, while implementing new procedures, such as aggressive screening of visitors and, according to a spokeswoman, by preparing areas within the hospital for additional treatment areas should the region see an even sharper spike in cases.
Two political newcomers begin campaigns as incumbent council members mull re-election
Three seats on Harrisonburg’s City Council will be on the ballot in November’s election, and candidates are already lining up, starting with a pair of newcomers to political office.
