Virginia's GOP Gov. Declares Confederate History Month

Virginia's Republican governor has overruled his Democratic predecessors and declared April to be Confederate History Month, reports the Richmond Times Dispatch. Bob McDonnell re-instituted the designation for the first time since 2002, when Democrat Mark Warner killed it and called it a "lightning rod" that divided blacks and whites.

"We've known for quite some time we had a good opportunity should he ascend the governorship," a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans tells the Washington Post. "We basically decided to bide our time and wait until we had more favorable politicians in Richmond." (More Virginia stories.)