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Animal welfare advocates disappointed bill to declaw cats failed
By Cassandra Loper / Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — A proposal to outlaw the declawing of cats, a procedure that animal rights advocates call cruel and unnecessary, failed to advance from a House subcommittee last month. House Bill 1382 would have made cat declawing a $500 civil penalty for the first violation, $1,000 for […]
Write-in candidates span the spectrum in midterm elections
By Darlene Johnson / Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. – How exactly would Wile E. Coyote or SpongeBob SquarePants represent their 7th District constituents in Congress if they had garnered enough write-in votes to best the official candidates? And who would run it better — Jesus Christ or Yeezy? Those were just a few of […]
Climate change ‘serious issue’ for Hampton Roads, but not in recent election
By Adrianna Lawrence / Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. – Sea level rise will continue to impact the Hampton Roads area, scientists warn, but climate change was not necessarily an issue that pulled 2nd District voters to the polls — and it was not a part of the candidates’ platforms either. The tight race ended […]
Virginia patients impacted by nationwide Adderall shortage, doctors say
By Meghan McIntyre / Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — The Food and Drug Administration added Adderall to its drug shortage website last month, and doctors say Virginia patients being treated for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are feeling the impact. The leading reasons for the shortage, which primarily affects immediate-release Adderall and similar generic versions, are […]
Organizers hope voting becomes habit for ‘wildcard’ young voters
By Cassandra Loper / Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — Roughly three years ago, Maria Reynoso determined local policy issues and election information were not readily available or easily digestible to the average voter, and especially younger voters. Reynoso now runs We Vote Virginia, a nonpartisan digital media resource to help voters become more informed. […]
Bill to end Virginia roadway fatalities got zero support in committee
By Faith Redd Virginia legislators tabled a bill during the regular General Assembly session that pledged to end roadway fatalities. The move disappointed road safety advocates, but supporters say they’re still committed to advancing policies to protect pedestrians and drivers. House Joint Resolution 100 was a commitment to the Vision Zero initiative, which seeks to […]
Trucking on: How the industry is battling a historic labor shortage
By Joe Dodson From hand sanitizer and vaccines to groceries and toilet paper, truck drivers are trucking through the COVID-19 pandemic despite a historic labor shortage. Many industries moved workers home during the start of the pandemic, but truckers worked “to meet the needs of this country.” “The trucking industry has stepped up and delivered […]
Virginia voters identify as moderate but support progressive policies, poll finds
Cameron Jones/ Capital News Service Virginia voters in a recent poll ranked themselves as moderate, with a slightly conservative lean, but indicated support of more progressive legislation. The poll, released last week by Christopher Newport’s Wason Center for Civic Leadership, could be a thermometer for the upcoming November election. Virginia voters ranked themselves an average of […]
Graduation plans vary across Virginia
By Sarah Elson/ Capital News Service College and high school graduations will still look different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but more Virginia universities are returning to in-person ceremonies. Graduations will be held online, in person or a hybrid format. Gov. Ralph Northam announced last month preliminary guidance for graduation events, which continues to be updated. […]
Will Virginia colleges require COVID-19 vaccinations? Should they?
By Hunter Britt/ Capital News Service Virginia universities plan a return to campuses in the fall, but there are questions if the COVID-19 vaccine can be mandated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration only authorized the vaccine for emergency purposes, according to Lisa Lee, professor of public health at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The vaccine […]
FOIA bill allows some access to criminal investigation records
By Anya Sczerzenie/ Capital News Service A bill allowing the public access to limited criminal investigation records will go into effect in July, along with a handful of other bills related to government transparency. Del. Chris Hurst, D-Blacksburg, a former television reporter, introduced House Bill 2004. The bill requires files related to non-ongoing criminal investigations […]
College students reflect on COVID-19 anniversary: ‘I’ve grown up’
By Anya Sczerzenie/ Capital News Service Shayla McCartney remembers where she was when the pandemic closed her university. “It was spring break,” said McCartney, a junior at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. “I was at home with my mom, we were marathoning ‘Gilmore Girls.’ We got the email that said ‘don’t come back.’” McCartney said […]