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Questions swirl at ABC over store thefts and high-ranking officials being put on leave
Embezzlement occurred at seven stores operated by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority over the last year, according to ABC officials, after employees exploited a vulnerability in the cash register system that was flagged by an internal audit report in September 2022. The liquor authority’s leadership insists that audit report went undetected by senior officials […]
Virginia to study Maryland program after backlash over disability caregiving change
After outcry from hundreds of families and letters from state Democrats, Virginia plans to study whether a Maryland program allowing certain family members to be paid for caregiving services for people with disabilities can be adopted in the commonwealth. Del. Mark Sickles, D-Arlington, a ranking member of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee, said […]
Over 20,000 Virginians lose Medicaid coverage a month into unwinding
Since the start of April, over 20,000 Virginians have lost Medicaid coverage as part of the state’s return to normal enrollment following the end of the COVID-19 federal public health emergency. For the past three years, anyone who was enrolled in Medicaid was allowed to keep their coverage regardless of whether or not they still […]
‘Godsend’ caregiver program for Virginians with disabilities set to end this fall
Young, in love and ready to take on the world together, former U.S. Army sergeant Shane Phillips and Emily Siddens tied the knot in 2000 – unaware that a year later, a severe brain injury resulting from a car accident would leave Emily bedridden and completely dependent on others for day-to-day living. For the past […]
Louisa County man trafficked $13,000 worth of turtles on Facebook Marketplace
A Louisa County man amassed nearly $13,000 selling box turtles on Facebook Marketplace, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Stanlee Fazi, 41, pleaded guilty to trafficking turtles in a federal court in Alexandria after admitting he illegally collected the animals from the wild, bound them in socks and shipped them by FedEx to online […]
TikTok trend spurs record-breaking numbers of Virginians to cash out unclaimed property
A TikTok trend of people cashing out unclaimed property held by state governments is helping break records in Virginia’s Treasury Department and fill the pockets of Virginians with money they’re rightfully owed. Bradley Earl, director of the Unclaimed Property Division at the Virginia Treasury Department, said the agency’s “claims numbers jumped last week, and I […]
Warner backs resolution declaring local news essential to democracy
Amid dire shortages of local news outlets nationwide, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, is backing a resolution recognizing the industry “serves an essential function in the democracy of the United States.” “In Virginia and across the country, local news outlets are relied on to keep our citizens informed, combat disinformation, and serve as a crucial […]
Petersburg maternal hub opening reignites discussion over commercial doula benefits
Virginia officials say the expansion of Medicaid coverage to include doula services last year is one of several accomplishments that has made the state a leader in increasing access to maternal health resources. Now the state’s Health Insurance Reform Commission is weighing whether this coverage should be mandated for commercial insurers as well. In a […]
General Assembly shelves Youngkin’s proposal to make protesting at judges’ homes a misdemeanor
A proposal from Gov. Glenn Youngkin to make protesting outside the residence of a judge, witness or court official with the intent of impeding or influencing the administration of justice a Class 1 misdemeanor failed to pass out of the General Assembly yesterday. Democrats in the Senate voiced opposition to the amendment on the floor […]
Lack of transparency from ghost kitchens spooks state officials
Scrolling through UberEats offerings in the Richmond neighborhood of Shockoe Bottom can make the area seem like poultry heaven: The app shows six similar-looking chicken restaurants available to order from all within a stone’s throw of the community’s mainstreet. However, finding “Tender Luvin” or “CHIC CHICK” on foot is an impossible task. That’s because the […]
Youngkin recommends tighter parental approvals for children accessing websites
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is recommending changes to a pending state law that would require a parent to approve whether or not their child can set up accounts on social media and other websites that process or sell data. The extra layer of permission would be on top of the requirements of the original bill, which […]
Expanded telehealth services are ‘here to stay’ in Virginia as public health emergency ends
As the federal public health emergency spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic expires this May, so will waivers that expanded the amount of health care services patients can access through telehealth. But Virginia officials say most of the services the waivers allowed, such as being able to have virtual appointments instead of in-person visits at a […]