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Lawsuit seeks to block Virginia’s stricter hemp laws
Two hemp businesses and a private citizen are challenging a Virginia law that instituted tougher limits on hemp products in Virginia in federal court, saying the new rules cause financial harm to hemp businesses and interfere in interstate commerce. The law, which went into effect July 1, set the maximum amount of THC in hemp […]
Statewide police conduct standards will soon be enforceable almost two years after law passed
From 1999 to Feb. 2021, just 81 law enforcement officers lost their ability to work in Virginia because of unacceptable conduct on the job. Since then, numbers have surged. Between March 2021 and Aug. 5 of this year, 103 Virginia police officers have been decertified, largely as a result of a law passed in 2020 […]
Where can public sector employees collectively bargain in Virginia?
Local public sector collective bargaining is slowly gathering steam across Virginia, with a majority of the most populous localities looking into developing agreements and in many cases signing off on proposals. Richmond City Council voted Monday for an ordinance to allow collective bargaining with most city employees in what is only the latest success for […]
Virginia Explained: How can you save on residential solar?
Scammy internet ads and dubious “qualification” surveys about solar installation in Virginia abound online, but it is difficult to find clear, accurate information on what the state and federal government are doing to encourage cleaner energy consumption. With a price tag similar to that of a used car, Virginia homeowners looking to make a financial […]
Hospital group introduces statewide health care pricing information database
A new online tool aimed at centralizing hospital service prices from across the state was launched by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association on Wednesday. The tool consolidates public access to online links to pricing at every hospital in Virginia in order to “help support patients’ health care decision-making,” according to the VHHA. In 2019, […]
‘A slap in the face’: Prisoners, families have hopes dashed by governor’s amendment
Ashley Crocker had a message for Gov. Glenn Youngkin after he signed into law an amendment curtailing the expansion of an earned sentence credit program that would have released hundreds of people currently in state prisons beginning July 1. “You’re ruining families,” Crocker, of Woodbridge, called out to Youngkin at a political event in Prince […]
State education savings plans mostly miss targeted returns, JLARC report finds
Virginia’s state-run educational savings programs have not met the majority of their investment-return benchmarks, according to a legislative audit released Monday. The report by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission assessed valuations and returns until the end of the first quarter, March 31. The programs are used by families to save tax-advantaged money for […]
Youngkin vows to ‘protect life’ as Supreme Court overturns right to abortion
Gov. Glenn Youngkin applauded Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision abolishing the constitutional right to an abortion and said Virginia Republicans will get to work on legislation “protecting the life of unborn children” by potentially banning most abortions after 15 weeks. “The Supreme Court of the United States has rightfully returned power to the people and […]
‘Punched, kicked, spit on’: Va. health care workers say they face more violence since pandemic
Expressing frustration with what they say are increasing incidents of violence at work, doctors at the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians are urging federal lawmakers to support a U.S. Senate bill that would give greater protections to health care workers. “I have been assaulted by patients hundreds of times — have been punched, kicked, spit […]
Judge dismisses restraining orders against Sen. Joe Morrissey over radio show outburst
A Republican delegate and a Democratic senator huddled in the corner of a courtroom Tuesday afternoon, trying to make out what was said on a garbled audio recording that captured some of the expletives hurled in a heated altercation last month in a Richmond radio studio. “Is that: ‘I will f**king knock you down’?” asked […]
COVID-19 cases have climbed in Virginia over the spring
Seven-day COVID-19 case averages in Virginia have been climbing over the spring, from about 700 cases a day in early April to nearly 3,000 daily last week. Hospitalizations, currently with a seven-day average of 573, have seen a comparatively modest increase, but tend to lag behind case counts as infections take time to develop and […]