Around 11 p.m. Monday night, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to update followers on his endorsements in several tight congressional races across the country.Among them was a second endorsement for U.S. Rep. Dave Brat, who is running against Democrat Abigail Spanberger in the Richmond area's 7th District; and...
Virginia’s proposed carbon rule gets lower emissions cap, adds environmental justice component
Mechelle Hankerson -
Virginia’s State Air Pollution Control Board approved a handful of changes Monday to a sweeping proposed carbon rule that would cap the allowable amount of emissions from power plants starting in 2020 and enter into a multi-state market-based program to reduce emissions.If approved — which could be next year...
‘Little kingdoms:’ Administration of social services in Virginia rests largely in the hands of localities. What happens when they can’t fix themselves?
Katie O'Connor -
In August, Sherry Flanagan stood before Virginia's Board of Social Services and made a plea."I encourage you all to help Pittsylvania County," said Flanagan, then-director of the county's Department of Social Services. "We are outside of the realm of what we can do."A social media battle had been raging...
In a radio ad released last week, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine sings the praises of fellow Democratic candidate, Jennifer Wexton — in Spanish.“We need Jennifer Wexton in Congress,” he says, before Wexton, a state senator, jumps in, thanking him for his support.She goes on to highlight her platforms,...
After years of racking up violations, state shuts down Richmond assisted living facility
Katie O'Connor -
The Department of Social Services has started relocating residents of Jones & Jones Assisted Living in Richmond after shutting down one of the facility's two buildings, NBC12 reports.Jones & Jones has been open for decades and racked up hundreds of violations from DSS, but has remained opened, even after...
Two state agencies serving as a pilot for a push to slash state regulations have almost 5,000 discretionary regulations on the books.More than 1,200 of them have been identified for elimination by 2021.A bill passed during the last General Assembly session, is aimed at getting the Department of Professional...
Amid push to expand gambling in Virginia, Lottery could manage sports betting, director says
Mechelle Hankerson -
If Virginia allows more gaming — sports betting and casinos, to be exact — where does that leave the Virginia Lottery?It’s too soon to know, Kevin Hall, executive director of the Virginia Lottery, told state senators during a finance committee meeting Thursday.“We are closely watching the conversation as it...
In four months, the Lottery has found 16 incidents of possible fraud among winners
Mechelle Hankerson -
In the first four months of tracking whether lottery winners are connected to stores that sell winning tickets, officials are investigating 16 suspicious instances out of 6,955 winners.Winnings forms — which people must fill out if they win $600 or more — now ask if winners own, work at...
Backers of a long-shot push to open a casino resort in Bristol are dropping major campaign cash on Republican House Speaker Kirk Cox, a longtime opponent of expanding gambling in Virginia.Cox's leadership PAC, Colonial Leadership Trust, has reported $200,000 in donations from the two men leading the project, their...
It can't be said enough, and it's something that's easy to lose sight of amid the labyrinthine legal and permitting debates around the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which could be getting federal approval to start full construction in Virginia any minute now.The need for Dominion Energy's 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline...