After standoff, House and Senate to seal deal to stem college tuition costs

By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

For the last few days of the 2020 General Assembly session, college tuition freezes were a sticking point for House and Senate budget negotiators. Such a sticking point, in fact, that legislators extended their deadline for reaching a deal. But a last-minute compromise appeared to offer the best of both worlds for legislators from both chambers. The Senate added roughly $60 million over the next two years for need-based financial aid at Virginia’s publicly funded colleges and universities. And the House added roughly $79.7 million for in-state tuition freezes, something its Higher Education Subcommittee — paraphrasing a quote from Winston Churchill — described as a “tremendous whack” at the problem of college affordability.

PR consultants linked to social media campaign opposing Northern Va. slots won’t say who’s behind it

By GRAHAM MOOMAW, Virginia Mercury

For the last month, someone’s been running a social media campaign built to look like grassroots, community opposition to slot machines in Northern Virginia. In almost $50,000 worth of Facebook ads, a group called Not in Nova has warned that “out-of-state Big Gambling special interests and their lobbyists” were sneaking a bill through the General Assembly that would make Northern Virginia more crowded, expensive and traffic-clogged. But none of the group’s public materials connect back to any identifiable citizen activists working against a proposal to allow Colonial Downs to operate hundreds of slots-like historical horse racing machines in Dumfries.

Scandal-scarred Virginia lawmaker now seeks justice reform

By DENISE LAVOIE, Associated Press

Just a few years ago, Joe Morrissey’s political career appeared to be over. The former prosecutor-turned-defense attorney was pressured into resigning from the Virginia House of Delegates after he was accused of having sex with a 17-year-old receptionist at his law firm. But Morrissey, who calls himself “Fighting Joe,” has pushed his way back into Virginia’s political fold ...

Man sent anti-Muslim tweets to a political candidate who then helped pay his medical debt

By JANELLE GRIFFITH, NBCNews

A man sent anti-Muslim tweets to a political candidate in Virginia. He was not expecting the response he received: The Muslim candidate donated to the man's GoFundMe campaign to help cover his medical debt.

VCU Health to buy Northern Neck hospital

By MIKE PLATANIA, Richmond BizSense

VCU Health is making a big play in river country. The health system announced Tuesday its plans to buy Riverside Tappahannock Hospital as well as a handful of physician practices in eastern Virginia from Riverside Health System this summer.

Port of Virginia sees drop in cargo traffic

By GORDON RAGO, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The Port of Virginia saw close to a double-digit drop in cargo last month that officials are attributing in part to the ripple effects of the coronavirus on the global shipping industry. A total of 207,816 containers, measured in 20-foot increments, were handled at the port last month. That was a 9% drop from the 228,151 containers in February 2019, port officials said in a news release, attributing the decrease to the spread of the virus and the ongoing trade tariffs.

Economic Disruption Comes With Online Classes At JMU, Bridgewater College

By IAN MUNRO, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Many local business operations could be hampered by James Madison University students not returning from spring break for classes, according to local members of the business community. On Wednesday, both JMU and Bridgewater College announced they would be moving classes online till early April to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 ...

Genworth asks employees to work from home for rest of week

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

Genworth is asking its Lynchburg employees to work from home for the rest of the week “after an employee came to work yesterday with cold-like symptoms,” a spokesperson said Wednesday.

Bringing the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission into Action

By PAMELA D'ANGELO, WVTF

Every year since 2008, Congress has authorized more than $30 million in funding to spur economic development in a region referred to as the “Black Belt.” The region extends through seven states from Virginia to Mississippi and includes the largest concentration of historically black communities in the rural South. Most are economically deprived, a result of slavery and Jim Crow laws.

Virginia releases details of Beltway toll lane extension plans near Legion Bridge

By MAX SMITH, WTOP

Major changes to extend toll lanes on the Capital Beltway would involve taking slivers of 89 properties but could provide some improvements to traffic flow, a Virginia Department of Transportation review found. A public meeting is scheduled Thursday night for residents and drivers to provide feedback on the plans to significantly widen the Beltway through McLean in the area between the Dulles Toll Road and the George Washington Parkway. Late Wednesday, VDOT added a live stream of the meeting to address concerns about the coronavirus.

Loudoun County superintendent changes course; schools closed to students March 12 through March 20

By STAFF REPORT, Loudoun Times

Superintendent Eric Williams has cancelled school for Loudoun County students March 12 through March 20. Williams sent the following message to the LCPS community early Thursday: "I sincerely apologize for sending you a message regarding school closure with minimal time to make adjustments; however, given the rapidly evolving situation with the COVID-19 virus, Loudoun County Public Schools are closed today, Thursday, March 12th through Friday, March 20th.

George Mason University extends spring break; encourages students to stay off campus

Inside NOVA (Metered Paywall)

George Mason University on Wednesday announced it will extend spring break an additional week through March 20 to allow students to prepare for "virtual alternative instruction and reduce close contact on campus."

VCU and UR move classes online as local school districts prep for possibility of closures

By SAMUEL NORTHROP, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Universities across Virginia are canceling in-person classes amid concerns over the transmission of the coronavirus while local school districts so far remain open as leaders prepare for the possibility of long-term dismissal.

In first Richmond-area case, Hanover teenager tests positive for coronavirus

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

A Hanover County teenager has tested positive for COVID-19, marking the first known case of the coronavirus in the metropolitan Richmond area. The teen was the state's ninth case of COVID-19. With the World Health Organization declaring the spread of the virus a global pandemic Wednesday, Gov. Ralph Northam held off on declaring a state of emergency to leverage resources and ease regulations to treat patients and slow its spread, but said he is “prepared to do so if needed.”

Fredericksburg-area colleges move classes online

By ADELE UPHAUS–CONNER, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

University of Mary Washington and Germanna Community College officials announced Wednesday they will cancel in-person classes to mitigate the risk of spreading the coronavirus. All UMW classes will be canceled Thursday and Friday to provide faculty time to prepare to move classes to online formats, according to a letter from UMW President Troy Paino.

UVa moving online and canceling in-person classes 'for the foreseeable future'

By RUTH SERVEN SMITH, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

The University of Virginia is the latest college or university to shift classes online as officials ask institutions to batten down the hatches in the face of a widening pandemic. Wednesday afternoon, the university sent a memo to students, staff and faculty that no classes would be held on Grounds “for the foreseeable future, quite possibly through the end of the semester,” ...

Georgetown and U-Va. join cascade of schools that will halt in-person teaching because of coronavirus

By NICK ANDERSON AND SUSAN SVRLUGA, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

For Gracie Kreth, the news Wednesday that the University of Virginia will soon switch to online teaching in an effort to prevent coronavirus infections wasn’t too surprising. She knew U-Va. was following the prudent path taken by many other universities to respond to what is now a global pandemic. It was still painful.

Albemarle schools suspend travel outside the county and to meetings of 100 people or more

Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Albemarle County Public Schools have suspended all school-related travel outside of the county by students and staff as the number of COVID-19 cases in Virginia grows. The division has also suspended travel within the county to events with 100 or more people and canceled school activities or gatherings of 100 people or more, with the only exception being school cafeterias when meals are being served ...

James Madison, Bridgewater suspend in-person classes

By MEGAN WILLIAMS, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

On Wednesday, James Madison University and Bridgewater College followed other Virginia colleges and universities and suspended in-person classes until early April due to concerns surrounding the international COVID-19 outbreak.

Virginia Tech, Radford University move classes online

By HENRI GENDREAU, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Virginia Tech and Radford University on Wednesday announced all in-person classes will switch online after an extended spring break amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The decisions, affecting tens of thousands of students, faculty and staff, will effectively hollow out both campuses in a move, unprecedented in recent history, to contain the spread of a disease.

Impact of virus spreads to schools, colleges in the Mountain Empire

By ROBERT SORRELL, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Local schools and colleges in the Mountain Empire are initiating preventive measures, including canceling classes and conducting deep cleans, as a result of growing concerns about the COVID-19 virus.

Concerned about coronavirus, local jails step up screening of inmates, suspend weekend programs

By JANE HARPER, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Amid concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, jails officials across Hampton Roads say they are stepping up inmate screening procedures. And three — Virginia Beach, Newport News and Hampton — have gone so far as to suspend weekend jail programs entirely.

Virginia Department of Corrections taking precautions against coronavirus

WWBT

Starting this weekend, the Virginia Department of Corrections will be screening visitors at state correctional facilities in an effort to prevent the coronavirus from spreading to the prisons. State correctional facilities will be using a questionnaire-based screening process for members of the public who are visiting offenders.

Health fairs cancelled because of caution over virus

Coalfield Progress

The Health Wagon announced this afternoon that it has cancelled the annual community health fairs scheduled for March 12 and 13. The events are cancelled due to precautionary measures regarding the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to a press release. Ballad Health will continue to be present on Thursday, March 12 in Clintwood at Valley View Freewill Baptist Church to do scheduled mammograms by appointment only.

Health Wagon cancels most health fair events due to coronavirus

Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

The annual community health fairs scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Wise County have been cancelled as a precaution due to the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. The Health Wagon is taking every measure possible to prevent a local outbreak of a novel coronavirus that has not been previously identified and is spread by person to person contact via respiratory droplets, according to a news release from the Health Wagon.

US District Court sides with Atlantic Coast Pipeline, dealing blow to Nelson County

By EMILY BROWN, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

A United States District Court judge ruled in favor of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline this week, dealing a blow to Nelson County in a fight over the locality’s power in the ongoing permitting process for the natural gas project. In a 24-page ruling and an accompanying order issued Monday, Judge Norman K. Moon, of the U.S. District Court’s Western District of Virginia, said the ACP will not have to comply with Nelson County regulations governing floodplain crossings ...

EDA funding included in proposed budget

By JOSH GULLY, Northern Virginia Daily

The budget that County Administrator Doug Stanley presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday includes $406,028 of funding for the Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority. This compares to the $108,234 budgeted last year for the EDA's operating funds

Richmond’s Affordable Housing Trust Could Receive Record Amount

By ROBERTO ROLDAN, WCVE

Richmond’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund could receive more than $5 million this year. That would be the largest one-time contribution since the trust fund was created in 2004. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has proposed a contribution of $3.5 million in the 2021 budget, which begins on July 1, 2020. He also said he will submit a resolution to City Council to direct $2.1 million in surplus revenue from the previous fiscal year to the fund. City Council will still have to approve Stoney’s proposal by May 31.

As a first step to fight sea level rise, Virginia Beach wants to plant more trees

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

To battle against sea level rise and frequent flooding, Virginia Beach is looking to trees. From reforesting a 10-acre plot of land near the troubled Ashville Park development to allocating money to the city’s open space program, city officials are pitching new green infrastructure strategies as a quick and inexpensive initial step.

Despite opposition, JRWA still to pursue Rassawek site

By ALLISON WRABEL, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Despite 50 people speaking in opposition, the James River Water Authority will submit an application with a Monacan Indian Nation heritage site as the preferred location for a proposed raw water intake and pump station in Fluvanna County.

Immigrant advocacy group sues sheriff’s office over access to documents

By RANDI B. HAGI, Harrisonburg Citizen

A local immigrant advocacy group is taking Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson and the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office to court after unsuccessfully attempting to obtain certain documents through the Freedom of Information Act. The coalition, called Friends United for Equity & Grassroots Organizing, or FUEGO, made a request last July for 16 categories of public records pertaining to the sheriff’s office’s cooperation with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

To generate funding for Dan River Region school upgrades, voters likely to decide on sales tax increase

By JOHN R. CRANE, Danville Register & Bee

It looks like voters in Danville and Pittsylvania County will decide whether they want to see a 1% increase in local sales tax to fund school improvement projects. Gov. Ralph Northam is expected to sign a bill Thursday allowing localities — including the city and county, as well as Henry County, Patrick County and Northampton County — to hold referendums on a tax-rate bump.

UVa's plan on housing signals paradigm shift

Daily Progress Editorial (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

For the University of Virginia to support affordable housing in Central Virginia could be a game-changer. Not only because of the amount of affordable housing that would be added, although those additions will be valuable. But also because the proposal is a departure from the usual role envisioned for a university ...

Time to revisit how Va. makes laws

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

Lawmaking. There are different ways to go about it and Virginia’s habits in this regard are deeply engrained. We’ve been at the work of representative democracy for a long time. Accordingly, reforms to the legislative process — rearrangements of the mechanics of making laws, all those levers, buttons and cogged wheels — have been incremental, at best ...

COVID-19 response requires communication and leadership

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

On Wednesday, Gov. Ralph Northam and state officials updated Virginians on how the commonwealth is responding to COVID-19. As of the 10 a.m. briefing, nine cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Virginia, but departments are actively preparing for future scenarios. As a doctor, Northam preached that no two patients or cases look exactly alike. He said the state’s approach would stay flexible as circumstances change.

Schapiro: Redistricting fight shaped by fears, not facts

By JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Props to Democrats in the House of Delegates who failed to kill a constitutional amendment stripping the General Assembly of its power to draw legislative and congressional boundaries, turning it over to a bipartisan panel of solons and civilians. Adopting a strategy of delay and destroy, they tried this, that and the other — and they almost succeeded. It was an impressive display by Democrats who after 20 years in the minority are only two months in the majority.

Ware: Dominion Energy will get a 'blank check' from the Virginia Clean Economy Act

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

Gov. Ralph Northam and Dominion Energy combined their powers during the 2020 General Assembly to push to passage the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA). Advanced by House Bill 1526 (carried by Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax) and Senate Bill 851 (patroned by Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond), the VCEA strips the State Corporation Commission (SCC) of its constitutional responsibility to protect ratepayers from unreasonable and imprudent utility expenditures.

Lee Ware, R-Powhatan, represents the 65th District in the Virginia House of Delegates.