News
Senate Republicans fume over Medicaid work requirement time frame
Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services has completed a draft of the state’s Medicaid work requirement proposal, which is now open for public comment before it goes to the federal government for approval. But when they were briefed on the work requirement during a meeting Thursday, Republican members of the Senate Finance Committee gnashed their […]
Human rights lawyer announces plan to challenge Sen. Dick Saslaw in a primary
The first Muslim woman elected to the Democratic National Committee will mount a primary challenge to Virginia’s most senior Democratic senator. Yasmine Taeb called herself a “real progressive” in a video announcing her candidacy. She took veiled shots at her opponent, Sen. Dick Saslaw, who has served 42 years in the General Assembly. “Unfortunately right […]
Virginians more supportive of Medicaid expansion than ever before, survey shows
A new statewide survey conducted by the University of Mary Washington shows that more Virginians support Medicaid expansion than ever before. The survey, based on telephone interviews with 801 Virginia adults, found that 76 percent support expansion, 18 percent oppose it and the remaining 6 percent are uncertain. The highest approval ratings were in Northern […]
Port’s cranes won’t be hit with tariffs; Norfolk federal office ‘rife’ with racist behavior; Henry County has the meats; and more headlines
NEWS TO KNOW Our daily roundup of headlines from Virginia and elsewhere. Massive cranes the Port of Virginia is planning to import from China were removed from the list of goods the Trump administration plans to hit with stiff new tariffs, saving the port about $10 million. – The Virginian-Pilot A federal investigation into the Department […]
Will thousands of new Medicaid enrollees inundate an already overloaded social services workforce?
Virginia’s 120 local social services departments are on the front lines when determining eligibility for benefit programs like Medicaid, and they’re trying to prepare for the wave of applicants they’ll likely see once Medicaid expansion hits the state in January. That could be a daunting task, though, as the state’s eligibility workers are already overworked and […]
Up to half of Medicaid expansion population could have mental-health or substance-use diagnoses
Based on the experiences of other states, about 50 percent of Virginia’s newly eligible Medicaid expansion population — about 200,000 people — could have behavioral health or substance-use diagnoses. In a presentation he made to the Joint Commission on Health Care on Tuesday, Dr. Daniel Carey, secretary of health and human resources, told lawmakers that […]
Opponents take a page from Brat’s 2014 playbook in 7th District race
Editor’s note: Whether Democrats can retake the House of Representatives is the big storyline of this fall’s midterm election cycle. Four competitive Virginia House races for seats currently held by Republicans, profiled this week in a series in the Mercury, could play a key role come Election Day. In a 2014 primary race against an […]
Environmental groups sue over ‘rushed permits’ that allowed Atlantic Coast Pipeline construction to resume
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed the suit on behalf of the Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Virginia Wilderness Committee. Construction of the 600-mile pipeline ground to a halt the beginning of August when the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled permits issued by the National Park Service allowing the pipeline to […]
New report says Virginia could be a leader in coming offshore wind boom
A new report says Virginia’s port infrastructure, experienced maritime workforce and geographical advantages make it an ideal candidate for becoming a hub for the East Coast offshore wind supply chain. The report, by BVG Associates and commissioned by Virginia’s Sierra Club chapter, says the window for action won’t be open forever, however. “A number of […]
Virginia’s Bureau of Insurance recovers more than $3.4 million for consumers so far this year
The State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance has recovered more than $3.4 million worth of benefits and savings so far this year through complaint investigations, managed care appeals and market conduct examinations, according to a news release. Two of the bureau’s divisions — Life and Health and Property and Casualty — recovered the money for […]
Calls to ban Confederate imagery in Albemarle schools; conforming the tax code; coal jobs bottom out and other news
NEWS TO KNOW Our daily roundup of headlines from Virginia and elsewhere. The National Weather Service said more than five tornadoes touched down in Richmond on Monday. – WVTF A Louisa County man died when his truck was swept into flash flooding Tuesday brought by the remnants of Hurricane Florence. It’s the second weather related death in the state in […]
White supremacy, Bigfoot erotica attack lines take center stage as newcomers vie for vacant 5th District seat
Editor’s note: Whether Democrats can retake the House of Representatives is the big storyline of this fall’s midterm election cycle. Four competitive Virginia House races for seats currently held by Republicans, profiled this week in a series in the Mercury, could play a key role come Election Day. In the aftermath of last year’s deadly […]