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Today’s Sponsor: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Jemma the baboon has been held captive at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) since 2011. She has been impregnated four times. Three of her babies were cut out via a Caesarian section and killed. She gave birth to a son, Boo, and the months she spent with him were the only time period during which she did not self-mutilate and/or show other signs of severe psychological distress. Entries made by lab staff over the last 12 years include “self-trauma,” “overgrooming,” “scabbed ulcers on rump,” “genital tears,” “left hand now missing tips of three fingers,” “anorexia,” “gingival abscess,” (“evidence of biting cage bars”). Jemma is one of many baboons at EVMS used in pregnancy experiments that have been going on since the 1980s.
Session starts soon
Lawmakers continue to file bills before the legislative session begins on Jan. 10. The leadership in both chambers will look different, with Democrats taking the majority in the House of Delegates and both party leaders in the Senate retiring.
With a Democratic General Assembly and Republican governor, much compromising will have to happen for any substantive change in Virginia.
Below is a look at some of the bills that were pre-filed recently.
