VaNews
March 5, 2020

Today's Sponsor:


** Donnie Ratliff, Commonwealth Connections, Inc.
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A consulting company promoting Economic Development, Public Policy and Governmental Affairs for our folks in the Great Southwest. In Memory of Richard Settle.

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** VPAP Visual A closer look at 'Super Tuesday' Turnout ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

Voter turnout in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary in Virginia was 9 percentage points higher than it was four years ago. VPAP provides maps and charts to show the change in turnout by region and demographics.
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** Why Did Biden Suddenly Sweep Virginia? Credit Trump, These Voters Say ([link removed])
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By REID J. EPSTEIN AND STEPHANIE SAUL, New York Times (Metered Paywall - 1 to 2 articles a month)

They were disaffected Republicans in affluent Washington suburbs. They were shipyard employees in Norfolk. And they were health care workers in Petersburg. They all came together on Super Tuesday in an extraordinary surge to the polls in Virginia, propelling former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to an overwhelming victory in a state that just days earlier had seemed up for grabs.
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** Session's end on Saturday in doubt as lawmakers face budget deadline ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Doubts are growing at the Capitol about the General Assembly’s ability to finish its work — especially in adopting a new two-year state budget — in time to adjourn as scheduled on Saturday. Assembly rules require at least 48 hours for legislators to review the proposed two-year budget before acting on it.
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** Virginia is ‘prepared’ for coronavirus, Northam says. But there are no confirmed cases yet. ([link removed])
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By MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Top Virginia officials, including the governor, said Wednesday they were were preparing for the potential spread of the novel coronavirus, a respiratory disease that has become a global epidemic since the outbreak was first detected in China last year.
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** Lawmakers approve local control of Confederate monuments ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Following emotional speeches on the Senate floor, the Virginia General Assembly on Wednesday approved legislation allowing local governments to decide the fate of Confederate monuments in their localities. The votes in the Senate and the House of Delegates set up a negotiation between the chambers over just how much work localities would have to do before deciding whether or not to retain the Confederate symbols.
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** College spring breaks to begin with coronavirus at hand ([link removed])
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By SAM WALL AND HENRI GENDREAU, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Thousands of college students will be leaving the Roanoke and New River valleys to scatter for spring break starting this weekend as universities urge smart decisions for travel in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak. Colleges are largely referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s protocols to guide students on how they should operate and travel during the upcoming break.
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** County Board Member Launches GoFundMe for Unpaid Refs ([link removed])
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ArlNow

Despite nearly a year’s worth of effort, it looks like a group of youth basketball referees left unpaid by a county contractor are not going to get paid via any kind of governmental intervention. Instead, an Arlington County Board member is seeking to crowdfund their payments. Matt de Ferranti, who has “taken on the cause of the referees as his own” and expressed optimism about finding a solution earlier this year, has instead launched a GoFundMe campaign on his own.
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The Full Report
33 articles, 19 publications

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** FROM VPAP
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** VPAP Visual Mapping Turnout at the Precinct Level ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

Nearly one-quarter of registered Virginia voters cast ballots in the March 3 Democratic presidential primary. That was about 9 percentage points higher than Democratic turnout had been in 2016. This statewide map shows how the 2020 turnout in each precinct compared to that of four years ago.


** EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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** 17 in Virginia have been tested for coronavirus; health officials say state has no confirmed cases ([link removed])
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By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

The number of people tested for the coronavirus in Virginia had grown to 17 as of Wednesday morning, but the state remained clear of confirmed cases, state health officials said. Fourteen people have tested negative and three await results, officials said, as the state braces for a possible outbreak.
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** Virginia AG Mark Herring says diverting military funds for border wall could severely impact Virginia economy ([link removed])
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By GEENA AREVALO, WAVY

The state of Virginia is joining in on the fight against President Donald Trump’s border wall. Attorney General Mark Herring filed a joint lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s plan to move billions of dollars allocated for the military to fund the controversial project. The president wants to take $3.8 billion from the Department of Defense and use that toward construction of the border wall. “Virginia could potentially lose up to $600 million worth of spending for military projects,” Herring said.


** GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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** In whirlwind finish to a hectic session, many remaining issues will be resolved in conference, out of the public eye ([link removed])
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By GRAHAM MOOMAW AND NED OLIVER, Virginia Mercury

Lawmakers have a few more days to get their homework done before the 2020 session adjourns. But there’s still a big pile of it to get through. And the policy negotiations that are happening before that pile can shrink mostly happen out of the public eye, through emails and phone calls, quick huddles in hallways or meetings in unknown rooms at unknown times.
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** In rare move, Senate OKs bill over Dominion’s objections ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN AND SARAH RANKIN, Associated Press

The Virginia Senate on Wednesday approved a bill over the objections of Dominion Energy that would restore state regulators’ oversight of how electric utilities can write off certain costs, the first time in recent memory the energy giant has lost a floor vote in the business-friendly upper chamber.
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** Energy bill will go to conference committee ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

The Virginia Senate voted 29-11 Wednesday morning to insist that the House of Delegates include a series of amendments — including one to extend the lifespan of a Wise County power plant — in a controversial energy bill.
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** Bill To Increase Pay Parity Among VA Prosecutors And Public Defenders Dies, But Fight Continues ([link removed])
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By ROBERTO ROLDAN, WCVE

In Richmond, public defenders make nearly 40 percent less than their counterparts in the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. Both public defenders and prosecutors are state-funded jobs and they are generally paid equally. Virginia law allows localities to supplement both offices, and that’s where much of the disparity comes from. Delegate Jeff Bourne (D-Richmond) filed a bill earlier this year that would have required any locality subsidizing its prosecutors to give proportional funding to its Public Defender’s Office. The bill was met with opposition from local governments and Commonwealth’s Attorneys across the state.
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** Virginia raising its threshold for facing felony theft charges from $500 to $1,000 ([link removed])
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By DAVE RESS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

A thief will need to steal something worth at least $1,000 to face Virginia’s felony penalty of up to 20 years in prison after Gov. Ralph Northam signed a bill increasing the trigger for a charge of grand larceny.
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** Virginia becomes fourth state to ban discrimination based on hair texture, style ([link removed])
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By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Gov. Ralph Northam this week signed legislation that bans discrimination on the basis of hair texture or style, making Virginia the fourth state to do so. The new law comes amid a growing movement nationwide that has reached schools and even the U.S. Army, and has sought to shed light on grooming policies that disproportionately affect women of color — like bans on braids, locks and twists.
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** Virginia Lottery can sell tickets over internet ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed legislation Wednesday allowing the Virginia Lottery Board to sell tickets via the internet. Northam signed 32 bills Wednesday, including Senate Bill 922, which allows lottery officials to provide internet sales. It is the first of several pieces of gaming legislation to work its way through the General Assembly and reach the governor’s desk.
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** Fact-checking a debate over controversial immunization legislation ([link removed])
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By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

Legislation to update Virginia’s vaccination requirements for schoolchildren is on its way to the governor’s desk after the House voted 54-44 to approve a Senate-amended version of the bill. The final version adds four new vaccines to the state’s immunization schedule, which hasn’t been updated since 2008.
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** A quiet little opening for class action lawsuits ([link removed])
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By DAVE RESS, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month)

HB 798 came to the House of Delegates as a new section of the Code of Virginia’s Title 40.1, chapter 3 -- state labor law dealing with protection of employees. It banned retaliatory action against employee-whistleblowers, or employees who help investigations into employer’s actions or who refuse to commit a crime for the employer. It came out of the House saying that, too.
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** Sales tax bills pass Assembly, go to Governor for signature ([link removed])
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South Boston News & Record

Voters in Mecklenburg, Charlotte and other Virginia counties may soon have the right to raise sales and use taxes by 1 percent in their respective localities to fund new school construction. On Friday, both houses of the General Assembly approved three bills that would allow a select group of localities to impose a penny increase on top of Virginia’s 5.3 cent sales tax. However, voters would first have to give their consent by approving a ballot referendum authorizing the tax.
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** Roanoke judgeship still in play ([link removed])
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By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Subscription required for some articles)

Despite agreement among legislators on most of the candidates seeking vacant Virginia trial court judgeships this year, one circuit court vacancy in Roanoke sparked public debate at the Capitol Tuesday. A move was afoot to advance the House of Delegates’ preference – a former delegate – for the 23rd Circuit seat. Onzlee Ware, once a Democratic legislator, is now a juvenile and domestic relations judge in Roanoke.
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** Governor signs bill making Virginia Council on Environmental Justice permanent ([link removed])
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By SARAH VOGELSONG, Virginia Mercury

After almost two years of operating on a temporary basis, the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice became permanent Wednesday when Gov. Ralph Northam signed a bill establishing it as an advisory body to the executive branch. The final legislation, which was carried by House Majority Leader Charniele Herring of Alexandria, creates the 27-member council to provide recommendations to the governor “that maintain a foundation of environmental justice principles intended to protect vulnerable communities from disproportionate impacts of pollution.”


** FEDERAL ELECTIONS
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** What do Virginia Democrats like more than Obama? Showing up to beat Trump ([link removed])
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By GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Virginians showed up in record numbers for Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary, leading a national wave of strong voter turnout that analysts said is all about defeating President Trump. Roughly 1.3 million Virginia voters cast ballots, about 21 percent of the electorate, according to unofficial results.
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** Turnout for Virginia Democratic primary sets record ([link removed])
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By ROBYN SIDERSKY, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

More than 1.3 million Virginia voters turned out on Super Tuesday, surpassing the record set in 2008, according to preliminary results from the state’s Department of Elections. About 23% of registered voters cast ballots to decide the Democratic nominee for president. It set a record in the history of Virginia primaries.
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** Biden Wins Arlington, but County Split Across Second Choices ([link removed])
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By VERNON MILES, ArlNow

Joe Biden had a commanding lead in nearly every Arlington precinct in yesterday’s Super Tuesday race, but Arlington’s second-choice was not as universal. Across Arlington, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg all found small enclaves of support.


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** Dominion Energy considers shutting down coal-fired generators ([link removed])
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By RICH GRISET, Chesterfield Observer

As the General Assembly considers legislation that would retire most of Virginia’s coal-fired electric generation facilities by 2025, Dominion Energy has filed a deactivation notice for its last two coal-fired units in Chesterfield. The notice, submitted Feb. 20 with Dominion’s electrical grid operator PJM Interconnection, requests a deactivation date of May 31, 2023 ...


** HIGHER EDUCATION
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** UVa cancels spring break study abroad programs ([link removed])
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Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

The University of Virginia has canceled all outbound study abroad programs scheduled for its spring break amid coronavirus concerns.


** VIRGINIA OTHER
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** Team Tommie license plates coming to Virginia ([link removed])
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By VERNON FREEMAN JR., WTVR

Team Tommie license plates are coming to Virginia after Governor Northam signed a bill into law Tuesday. A portion of each plate’s annual fee will go to The Tommie Fund, which helps offset the costs of emergency medical care services at municipal shelters and public animal control agencies in Virginia. Team Tommie formed following the death of Tommie, a dog who was set on fire in a Richmond park in 2019.


** LOCAL
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** Paul Goldman gathering signatures, mulling Richmond mayoral bid ([link removed])
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By MARK ROBINSON, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Paul Goldman is weighing a run for Richmond mayor. Supporters of Goldman, a one-time chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, gathered voter signatures at the polls on Super Tuesday, a step toward getting Goldman’s name on the November ballot.
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** Teachers stage walkout to protest pay imbalance ([link removed])
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By JIM MCCONNELL, Chesterfield Observer

Teachers across Chesterfield County staged a symbolic walkout Tuesday afternoon, briefly leaving their buildings during a teacher workday to rally for better pay and increased funding for the local school system. As voters walked by on their way to cast ballots in Virginia’s Democratic Party primary at Robious Elementary School, teachers gathered outside and chanted “Fund our schools!” “2% is not enough!” and “This is what democracy looks like!”
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** After the Virginia Beach mass shooting, the city wants to restructure its human resources department ([link removed])
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By ALISSA SKELTON, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The City of Virginia Beach’s Human Resources Department is in need of a massive overhaul to avoid conflicts of interest in disciplining employees. That’s what an audit concluded late last year, and the city’s top leader says he agrees.
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** In closed meetings, casino company finalists make pitch to Danville leaders ([link removed])
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By JOHN R. CRANE, Danville Register & Bee

Danville officials have been meeting with casino company representatives in closed sessions this week, the Danville Register & Bee has learned. The meetings, the city mayor confirmed, have included presentations from four casino company finalists who had responded to a request for proposals issued by the city Dec. 2 to bring a gambling facility here.

Today's Sponsor:


** Donnie Ratliff, Commonwealth Connections, Inc.
------------------------------------------------------------

A consulting company promoting Economic Development, Public Policy and Governmental Affairs for our folks in the Great Southwest. In Memory of Richard Settle.


** EDITORIALS
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** Preserve the Electoral College ([link removed])
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Free Lance-Star Editorial (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

A bill to enter Virginia into an interstate compact designed to bypass the Electoral College has been put on hold in the General Assembly this year. Under the compact, Virginia would join other states that agree to award all of their electoral votes to the presidential ticket that won the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
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** Take broad view on Virginia’s energy future ([link removed])
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Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

This is about regulating electricity generation in Virginia, but let’s first jump into the future – a future arriving perhaps sooner than expected. In the opening scene of Blade Runner — Ridley Scott’s cinematic depiction of a fantastic, futuristic world — you see a lot of gas flare-offs. Quick fires bursting off the tops of nose-bleed-high buildings.
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** Super Tuesday shows why Virginia matters ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

On Tuesday, former Vice President Joe Biden’s campaign saw a resurgence worthy of a Chrysler comeback. Still glowing from a big win in South Carolina on Saturday, the affable candidate easily won nine of the 14 states that voted on Super Tuesday. Biden did particularly well in Virginia, where he handily won against his top competitor, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., by more than a 2-1 margin.
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** Time to end gerrymandering in Virginia ([link removed])
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Washington Post Editorial (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

With a timely nudge from Gov. Ralph Northam, Democratic state lawmakers in Richmond seem poised to make good on the promise they made last year: to reform Virginia’s blatantly partisan redistricting procedure so it serves voters, not politicians. It’s about time.
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** 4 takeaways from Super Tuesday ([link removed])
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Roanoke Times Editorial (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Virginia and the other Super Tuesday states are now in the rearview mirror as the candidates — the ones still in the running — move on to six other states next week. Here are four thoughts as we clean up all the signs and stickers:


** COLUMNISTS
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** Schapiro: The intersection of primary and legislative politics ([link removed])
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By JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Bernie Sanders’ defeat in Virginia was titanic. On Super Tuesday, he lost all but three of the state’s 95 counties and 38 cities. And he won those by plurality. The Sanders-carried localities included Floyd County, a rural hotbed for hippies and hemp, where he got 42%.


** OP-ED
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** Colston: Don’t let America down, Virginia: Passing the redistricting amendment will help ([link removed])
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By AYLETT COLSTON, published in Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

This week, the Virginia House of Delegates will decide whether or not to uphold campaign promises and approve a proposal to add a bipartisan redistricting commission to the Virginia Constitution. This is happening at a crucial moment for America. Many Americans no longer have faith and trust in government.

Colston serves as the Political Action Chair of the Raleigh NAACP in North Carolina.
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** Gasink: Northam should act to protect Virginia's children ([link removed])
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By EMMELINE GASINK, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

In Virginia and around the country, the growing threat of vaccine-preventable illness to our children’s health and safety is coming into focus. Despite the enormous and well-documented public health benefits of immunizations, the re-emergence of measles and meningitis have encouraged a call to action.

Dr. Emmeline Gasink is president of the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians and is a family physician in Newport News.
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