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Virginia tradition calls for morning suits at an inauguration. But Spanberger switched things up

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s governors traditionally wear morning suits for their inaugurations. But for her swearing-in on Saturday, Gov. Abigail Spanberger, the first woman to fill that role, dressed in white, the color of women’s suffrage.

According to “A Guide to Virginia Protocol and Traditions,” males in the official party wear morning coats, a formal daytime suit with long tails, and women wear dark suits for the inauguration. Many, including the new governor’s husband, kept to that tradition on Saturday.

Spanberger’s office did not respond to an email seeking comment on her inauguration outfit. But in a recent interview with NPR, Spanberger said she wouldn’t continue that tradition.

“I’m not going to wear a morning coat, not to disappoint anyone,” she said.

The new governor’s white outfit, which included a long, white coat with gold buttons, paired with white gloves, appeared to be a nod to the women’s suffrage movement that led to American women securing the right to vote. In her address, Spanberger noted the gravity of the moment and highlighted suffragists’ refusal to give up.

“I maintain an abiding sense of gratitude to those who work, generation after generation, to ensure women could be among those casting ballots, but who could only dream of a day like today,” Spanberger said.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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