Senate committee says no to Democrats’ assault weapons ban

By MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The final and most controversial of Gov. Ralph Northam’s gun control bills that would have stopped the sale of assault weapons and banned people from having 12-round magazines has been tabled for the year.

Virginia Senate panel puts off assault weapons ban until next year

By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Legislation to ban assault weapons under an expanded definition won’t advance out of the General Assembly this year, a win for gun rights advocates and a setback for Gov. Ralph Northam’s gun control agenda. Four Democrats joined Republicans to defeat the measure Monday in the Senate Judiciary Committee

Sen. John Edwards, 3 other Democrats join 6 Republicans to stop assault weapons bill

By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday halted for the year a highly controversial bill to ban the sale or transfer of assault weapons and the possession of “high capacity” magazines of 12 or more rounds. The Democratic-controlled committee voted 10-5, with four Democrats — Sens. John Edwards of Roanoke, Creigh Deeds of Bath, Scott Surovell of Fairfax County and Chap Petersen of Fairfax City — joining Republicans

Virginia lawmakers reject assault weapon ban

By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s push to ban the sale of assault weapons failed on Monday after some of his fellow Democrats balked at the proposal. Senators voted to shelve the bill for the year and ask the state crime commission to study the issue, an outcome that drew cheers from a committee room packed with gun advocates.

$15 minimum wage, paid sick days hang in balance as Democrats debate labor priorities

By NED OLIVER, Virginia Mercury

CNBC named Virginia its top state for business last year — an honorific lawmakers have recited so many times that, were it tied to a drinking game, everyone would have been carted out of the General Assembly Building with alcohol poisoning by now. Republicans have invoked the cable-news survey results mostly to warn colleagues what’s at stake if a raft of worker and union friendly reforms are allowed to advance. Democrats bring it up, too, but more often to make the point that the state has also recently been ranked worst for workers. But for all the dire talk, labor groups aren’t exactly having the banner year some might have expected under Democratic rule.

Another consumer protection bill for lenders clears a key hurdle

By DAVE RESS, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month)

A second major protection for borrowers who get in over their heads cleared a key General Assembly hurdle Monday as the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved a measure to regulate debt settlement companies. It’s an effort that Attorney General Mark Herring and consumer advocates have been pushing for years,

Northam highway safety bill finds new life in House

By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Gov. Ralph Northam’s plan for improving highway safety has been revived in the House of Delegates after a near-fatal experience in the Senate. A House Transportation motor vehicles subcommittee voted 4-2 Monday to approve a new version of Senate Bill 907, proposed by Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth.

VTLA puts 3 atop list for appeals judgeship

By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Subscription required for some articles)

The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association deems three candidates as “highly qualified” for the vacant seat on the Court of Appeals of Virginia. The VTLA’s top candidates are Fairfax Circuit Judge David Bernhard, Virginia Workers Compensation Commissioner Wesley G. Marshall and former state Solicitor General Stuart A. Raphael.

Virginia moves toward banning conversion therapy

Associated Press

The Virginia General Assembly is moving to ban the discredited practice of conversion therapy for LGBTQ children. Conversion therapy is a practice used to try to change sexual orientation or gender identity. The Virginia Senate voted Monday to ban licensed therapists and counselors from subjecting minors to the practice.

VA House Weighs Possible Release for Sick and Disabled Prisoners

By SANDY HAUSMAN, WVTF

In most states prisoners with a terminal illness can be freed early, but Virginia only considers inmates with less than three months to live. Now, the legislature may change that, making several thousand prisoners eligible for compassionate release.

Gun-Toting Hopewell GOP Chair Protests Outside Delegate’s House

By BEN PAVIOUR, WCVE

A Democratic lawmaker who is leading an effort to ban assault weapons in Virginia has asked local prosecutors to consider pressing charges against a gun-toting Republican Party chair who protested outside his home on Saturday. Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria) said Brandon Howard, chair of Hopewell County’s Republican Party and head of the gun group Right to Bear Arms Virginia , may have violated Virginia statutes related to intimidation and harassment.

Chase is first up for GOP governor nomination

By BILL ATKINSON, Progress Index (Metered paywall - 10 articles a month)

State Sen. Amanda F. Chase officially launched her bid for the 2021 Republican gubernatorial nomination Monday afternoon, vowing to turn the tide of the majority Democrats’ “liberal agenda” and adding she will make gun rights the cornerstone of her campaign.

Chesterfield Sen. Amanda Chase announces run for governor

By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Amanda Chase, the gun-carrying Republican state senator from Chesterfield County, is running for governor. The second-term senator cited Democratic gun control proposals as the reason for running for statewide office.

Trump-supporting senator announces 2021 run for governor

By LAURA VOZZELLA, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

State Sen. Amanda F. Chase, a Trump-style Republican at odds with both parties in Richmond, announced on Monday that she will run for governor next year as a Republican — and failing that, as an independent. “I can’t take it anymore,” Chase (Chesterfield), said, referring to “the liberal, socialistic agenda that has taken control of the Capitol.”

Justin Fairfax’s Next Act

By BEN PAVIOUR, WCVE

The 1,500 or so guests at Virginia Democrats' largest fundraiser were digging into their salads when Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax strode onstage at Main Street Station on Saturday. Despite tepid applause and a boycott from a couple dozen women, it was a comeback of sorts for Fairfax. A year ago, many politicians in the room had called for his resignation after two women came forward with accusations of sexual assault. Now he was back at what he saw as his rightful place at the podium.

Republican senate candidates outline visions at Liberty University

By RICHARD CHUMNEY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Four Republicans vying to take on U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., this fall outlined their competing visions at Liberty University on Monday. In a candidate forum that stretched a little more than an hour, Daniel Gade, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel; Alissa Baldwin, a public school teacher; Omari Faulkner, a U.S. Navy reservist; and Thomas Speciale, a U.S. Army reservist, each described why they are the best candidate

BWXT awarded $1 billion contract for naval reactor components

By RACHEL SMITH, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

BWX Technologies announced Monday that the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program has awarded subsidiary BWXT Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. new contracts with options totaling approximately $1 billion for the manufacture of naval nuclear reactor components.

Proposal would wipe out mine reclamation funds

By STAFF REPORT, Coalfield Progress

President Donald Trump’s fiscal year 2021 budget, which would take effect in October if approved, calls for elimination of the federal abandoned mine land reclamation grant program. ...Less than a week earlier, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced that more than $3.56 million of federal abandoned mine land reclamation grant funds will be provided to Virginia in the current federal fiscal year.

Loudoun County supervisors push for better relationships between communities, businesses

By NATHANIEL CLINE, Loudoun Times

Members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors are aware of the differences that separate the growing eastern part of the county from the rural west, but they say they don't want those differences to lead to divisiveness. On Friday, the east-west divide was touched on at the Loudoun Chamber’s annual breakfast

General Assembly Set To Approve New Residency Rules For Richmond City Council

By ROBERTO ROLDAN, WCVE

Virginia lawmakers are backing a change to Richmond’s charter requiring City Council members to live in their district throughout their entire term in office. A Senate committee voted unanimously on Monday to advance the charter change being sponsored by Del. Dawn Adams (D-Richmond). The bill has already passed the House with unanimous support. Richmond City Council asked the General Assembly to clarify the residency rules after Councilman Parker Agelasto was sued for moving outside of his district last year.

Regional party officials to supervise Henrico Democrats after elections dispute

By C. SUAREZ ROJAS, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Henrico County Democrats will operate under the supervision of regional party officials over the next year after activists appealed a recent committee election. In what was an unusually competitive election last December, a slate of progressive party members seeking to retool the local party machine collectively fell short of winning

Some Virginia Beach council members question plan to prioritize flood control projects

By PETER COUTU, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

As Virginia Beach engineers start to assess thousands of flood control projects for at-risk areas, some members of the City Council are questioning their priorities — specifically, why sea level rise issues aren’t getting more attention. C.J. Bodnar, a public works engineer who is helping lead the effort, told City Council last Tuesday that projects to fix areas currently at risk of flooding would be prioritized over safeguards against future problems caused by sea level rise.

Charting Virginia’s energy future

Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

On Monday last week, Dominion Energy committed itself to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The next day, on Tuesday, the global oil giant BP (that stands for British Petroleum) outdid every other major oil with a similar promise. It will, by 2050, eliminate or offset “all of the planet-warming emissions from its operations.” Something is going on here and it obliges some measured thought.

Flu is the known threat — and it should be taken seriously

Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

As headlines and daily media briefings keep circulating about the spread of a new strain of coronavirus, a common infection continues to sweep its way across the commonwealth. On Feb. 11, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported the state’s first pediatric death for this flu season.

Virginia steps up to protect migratory birds

Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Virginia offers some of the best birding in the United States, especially for migratory birds. So we were relieved last week when Gov. Ralph Northam’s office announced plans to create new habitat for about 25,000 seabirds that have lost their longtime nesting site to expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

Campbell: Hurst made right decision on Long

By H. GREGORY CAMPBELL, JR., published in Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The op-ed written by attorneys Branscom, Rogers, and Turk titled “We Support the Reappointment of Judge Long” published Feb. 8, 2020 is an effort by good lawyers to create a narrative that supports their position. I have practiced law in Blacksburg for forty-two (42) years. I know and respect the authors, but their narrative skirts the main story which is Marc Long’s judicial evaluation.

Campbell is an attorney in Blacksburg.

Pratt: Gun control measures go too far for Virginia

By ERICH PRATT, published in Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Gov. Ralph Northam and Democrats in the General Assembly are ignoring the hornet’s nest of opposition they have stirred up across Virginia. In their rush to pass gun control, Democrats are marching in lockstep with their campaign benefactor, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who dumped $4 million in recent elections in the Old Dominion

Erich Pratt is the senior vice president of Gun Owners of America, a national firearms advocacy organization located in Springfield

Minor: Early education must be a top priority for all

By GIL MINOR, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

The workforce pipeline begins with quality early education. Sadly, this fall, according to the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP), 44% of Virginia’s children entered kindergarten not ready in one or more critical areas of literacy, math, self-regulation and social skills. That number is even higher for children from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds.

Gil Minor is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Owens & Minor Inc, a Fortune 200 company serving the health care industry. He has served as chairman of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia