VaNews
April 17, 2020

Today's Sponsor:


** The Nature Conservancy in Virginia
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Across the lands and waters on which all life depends, we’re working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Learn more: nature.org/virginia ([link removed])

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Top of the News


** In Virginia, 77% of nursing homes recently had infection control problems. Then came the coronavirus. ([link removed])
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By PETER COUTU, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Before the novel coronavirus arrived in Virginia, nursing homes throughout the state had already been struggling to follow routine steps designed to stop infections from spreading. Over the past three years, government health inspectors cited about 77% of the state’s nursing homes for failing to meet infection prevention and control regulations — and many have been repeat offenders, according to a Virginian-Pilot analysis of federal inspection data.
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** With picnic baskets and few masks, demonstrators protest Virginia stay-at-home orders ([link removed])
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By LAURA VOZZELLA AND GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

As acts of civil disobedience go, this was oddly pastoral: Gary Golden spread a blanket on the grassy lawn by Virginia's Executive Mansion, opened a wicker picnic basket and offered strawberries to strangers. As fellow protesters took him up on the offer Thursday, coming up to the edge of the blanket, sticking their hands right into his container of sliced berries, Golden was defying Gov. Ralph Northam ...
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** Weekly unemployment claims in Virginia top 100,000 ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN AND SARAH RANKIN, Associated Press

More than 100,000 Virginians filed unemployment claims in the past week, new data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor shows. It’s a significant drop from the nearly 150,000 from a week before but still a massive number compared to filings before the coronavirus outbreak. Overall there have been more than 415,000 claims filed in the last month, which is about 9% of the state’s workforce.
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** General Assembly Prepares for Unprecedented Pandemic Session ([link removed])
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By BEN PAVIOUR, WCVE

Virginia’s legislature has met in some form for over 400 years, during a revolution, a British invasion and a Civil War. But they’ve never had a meeting quite like the one scheduled for Wednesday. Faced with an unprecedented pandemic, lawmakers will meet in new locations. They’re being asked to wear masks but not ties. And they’ll have to keep a cool six feet of distance that won’t allow for the usual lean-and-whispers.
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** VPAP Visual Looking Ahead to 2021 ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

A look at money raised this year through March by leadership committees associated with announced candidates for Governor and others who have been mentioned as potential candidates for Governor.
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** Ballad to treat COVID-19 patients with survivors' plasma ([link removed])
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By LUANNE RIFE, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Ballad Health said Thursday it will begin to treat seriously ill COVID-19 patients with antibodies from survivors’ plasma. “We would like to take plasma from people who have fully recovered and transfuse that into patients with life-threatening COVID-19 infections with the hope that these antibodies will neutralize some of the virus and help the patients recover,” Dr. Evan Kulbacki, a pathologist and medical director of Marsh Regional Blood Center, said...
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** FCPS Officials Acknowledge ‘Leadership Failures’ in Botched Rollout of Distance Learning ([link removed])
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By FATIMAH WASEEM, Reston Now

Fairfax County school board members expressed major dismay over the botched rollout of the school system’s first week of distance learning, including security issues and technical problems with Blackboard’s system. At an online meeting Thursday, school officials acknowledged the school’s leadership failed to ensure adequate security measures were in place when students and teachers logged on to online sessions.
The Full Report
62 articles, 29 publications

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** FROM VPAP
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** From VPAP Maps, Timeline of COVID-19 in Virginia ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

Data from the Virginia Department of Health shows a timeline of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and a statewide map showing the number of cases by locality. VPAP has added a map of deaths by health district and hospital utilization data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Updated each morning shortly after 9:00 a.m.
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** VPAP Visual Political Fundraising Not Immune ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

First-quarter campaign finance reports offer clear indications that political fundraising will take a hit from the Coronavirus. This visual shows how ActBlue, which processes donations for most Virginia Democratic candidates and committees, did not experience the normal pre-deadline spike in donations during the last week of March. The full extent of the impact on political fundraising will become more apparent in July, when General Assembly candidates are scheduled to report donations for the first half of 2020.


** EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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** Northam: 30,000 volunteers needed in the coronavirus fight ([link removed])
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By ELISHA SAUERS AND ROBYN SIDERSKY, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Gov. Ralph Northam is urging more volunteers to sign up for the state’s public health emergency force, hoping to double its number before the surge expected at hospitals in a matter of weeks. About 14,700 people have already signed up for the Virginia Department of Health’s Medical Reserve Corps, but Northam is asking for 30,000.
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** Northam's task force promises action to help long-term care facilities battle the coronavirus ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

A newly appointed gubernatorial panel is promising aggressive action to help nursing homes and other long-term care facilities facing a lethal threat from the spread of COVID-19 through their medically vulnerable populations. The task force, led by Virginia Deputy Health Commissioner Laurie Forlano, began its work on Thursday with an urgent agenda that includes plans to expand the availability and guidance for testing to track the disease ...
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** About 50 people gather at Capitol Square to protest Virginia's stay-at-home order ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Tired of staying at home, a group of roughly 50 people gathered Thursday on Capitol Square to protest executive orders from Gov. Ralph Northam requiring that some businesses stay closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The people, the majority of whom did not wear masks as Northam has recommended, were part of a new coalition of groups ...
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** Protestors gather in Richmond today demanding end to lockdown ([link removed])
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By CHARLES CONRAD, Times-Virginian

Virginians who are frustrated with Gov. Ralph Northam's mandates forcing certain businesses to close and ordering people to stay home are at the Capitol building in Richmond today to make their voices heard.
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** Northam signs $50 per month insulin cap ([link removed])
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By WILL GONZALEZ, VCU Capital News Service

Gov. Ralph Northam recently signed a bill to cap the costs of prescription insulin copays at $50 per month, one of the lowest caps in the country. House Bill 66, sponsored by Del. Lee Carter, D-Manassas, originally aimed to cap the costs of prescription insulin copays at $30 per month. By the time the bill passed the Senate, the cap was amended to $50 per month.
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** Northam signs bill to regulate CBD products as food ([link removed])
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By JEFFREY KNIGHT, VCU Capital News Service

Gov. Ralph Northam recently signed a bill that would define hemp extract, such as CBD, as food and usher in state regulations on these products. Senate Bill 918, patroned by Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax, will help guide the budding industrial hemp industry in Virginia by regulating facility conditions and requirements for the production of hemp-derived products intended for human consumption.


** GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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** 'I knew we were all in trouble' - Richmond legislator recounts family battle with COVID-19 ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Coffee didn’t taste quite right to Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond. McQuinn already was concerned that her 37-year-old daughter, Daytriel, was showing all the symptoms of COVID-19. By the time test results confirmed that her daughter had been infected with the coronavirus, the 65-year-old legislator and minister was starting to cough...


** STATE ELECTIONS
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** Virginia GOP demands Democratic governor reopen economy ([link removed])
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By SPENCER NEALE, Washington Examiner

The Republican Party of Virginia has a message for Gov. Ralph Northam: Reopen the economy now. In a Thursday morning statement, RVP Chairman Jack Wilson said Virginians can't bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic unless the state's Democratic governor takes action to reopen businesses immediately rather than on June 1, when Virginia's stay-at-home order is set to end.
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** As coronavirus crisis drags on, Virginia Republicans escalate calls to reopen ([link removed])
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By GRAHAM MOOMAW, Virginia Mercury

On Tuesday, state Sen. Amanda Chase, the only declared Republican candidate for Virginia governor in 2021, took to Facebook Live to warn supporters that Gov. Ralph Northam might be using University of Virginia COVID-19 models to justify extending his shutdown orders into August. That prediction — delivered via a video viewed more than 400,000 times — turned out to be incorrect. . . . In a Facebook post Wednesday night, Chase told followers she was glad her theory didn’t pan out and suggested the governor may have sensed a backlash coming from Virginians who “want to get back to work.”


** FEDERAL ELECTIONS
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** Legal threats complicate decisions for 5th District GOP ([link removed])
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By TYLER HAMMEL, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Virginia’s 5th Congressional District Republican Committee will stick with a convention despite legal threats and safety concerns. According to Melvin Adams, chairman of the committee, on Sunday the group voted for the second time to stick with a convention as a nomination method. “Switching to a primary is completely off the table,” he wrote in an email ...


** STATE GOVERNMENT
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** Virginia cool to federal call to allow interstate telemedicine to ease coronavirus pressure ([link removed])
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By DAVE RESS, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month)

Virginia has so far rebuffed a federal request to let out of state doctors use telemedicine to ease the load on hard-pressed healthcare providers struggling to keep ahead of the new coronavirus. More than two dozen states have already adopted U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar’s suggestion from three weeks ago to allow interstate telemedicine care ...
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** Amid outbreak, Virginia’s health department keeping some COVID-19 information under wraps ([link removed])
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By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

At first, information on COVID-19 in Virginia came out in a trickle. For several weeks after the first infection was identified, health officials often reported cases, and especially deaths, by health district — 35 regions encompassing multiple counties and dozens of miles. . . By late March, the Virginia Department of Health began reporting cases by locality on its daily surveillance dashboard. But weeks later, some information remains opaque.
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** Volunteers needed for Virginia Medical Reserve Corps ([link removed])
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By LUANNE RIFE, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The Virginia Medical Reserve Corps is recruiting volunteers to help with the state’s response to COVID-19. The corps is seeking 30,000 medical and non-medical volunteers to provide support for the expected surge in hospitals and to help in long-term care facilities across Virginia.
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** Courts stop speedy trial clocks because of virus ([link removed])
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By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Subscription required for some articles)

Many Virginia prosecutors have relief from their normally tight speedy-trial deadlines for bringing criminal defendants to justice under rulings from three influential courts. The decisions were prompted by the coronavirus outbreak. The federal courts of Virginia and the Fairfax County Circuit Court have published orders making specific findings that delays in criminal proceedings are necessary and the need outweighs the interest in speedy indictments and trials.
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** Richmond police advocate asks governor to stay the parole release of man convicted of killing officer ([link removed])
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By MARK BOWES, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

A well-known Richmond police advocate met with Virginia’s public safety secretary Thursday to request that the governor stay the release of a Richmond man who was granted parole last week after serving 40 years of a life sentence for the 1979 capital murder of a Richmond police officer.


** CONGRESS
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** With Virginia colleges facing budget crisis, McEachin, others call for $47 billion influx ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Members of Virginia’s congressional delegation want more money for colleges and students dealing with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. A letter written by Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th, asks congressional leaders for $47 billion more in emergency funding, saying that steps colleges have taken, including issuing housing and dining refunds and moving classes online, among other things, “have helped save lives” but have “come at a significant financial cost."


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** Jobless claims down 29% in Virginia, but numbers still at high levels ([link removed])
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By GREGORY J. GILLIGAN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

The pace at which Virginians filed jobless claim benefits eased significantly last week from the previous two weeks, but the filings are still at highly elevated levels. The number of week-over-week unemployment claims filed in Virginia fell by 29%, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday.
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** Amazon is building its own COVID-19 testing capacity, Jeff Bezos said ([link removed])
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By JONATHAN CAPRIEL, Washington Business Journal (Subscription required for some articles)

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) founder and CEO Jeff Bezos would like to see all of his employees screened for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — even those not showing symptoms — and plans for the company to do some of that testing, he said Thursday in a letter to shareholders. "We’ve begun the work of building incremental testing capacity," Bezos said.
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** Amazon.com Inc. hires 3.3k+ Virginians, more to come ([link removed])
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By SYDNEY LAKE, Va Business Magazine

Amazon.com Inc. has hired more than 3,300 employees in Virginia to meet the increased demand for home deliveries during the coronavirus crisis, the e-commerce giant announced Thursday. The hirings are part of Amazon’s initiative to create more than 100,000 full- and part-time jobs in the U.S. in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also more than double the number of Virginia jobs Amazon had anticipated to fill in mid-March.
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** With demand down during coronavirus, some farmers have to let crops die in the field ([link removed])
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By GORDON RAGO AND MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Justin Colson was facing a daunting prospect for the future of his legumes. As the coronavirus spread across the globe, finally reaching American soil, the Eastern Shore farmer began to see news of closed restaurants or businesses selling their food online. That didn’t bode well for his green beans, which unlike crops that can be stored away for better times, have a short shelf life.
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** Times not lean for area butchers during COVID-19 ([link removed])
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By MATT WELCH, Northern Virginia Daily

Business has picked up for area farmers and meat producers during the coronavirus pandemic. Gore’s Meats and Skyview Acres, both with Frederick County locations, are two such establishments that have seen an increase in customer traffic. “It’s been quite different. I don’t think any of the meat industry was prepared for this, especially the first probably two weeks,” said Levi Gore, who runs Gore’s Meats.
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** Citing coronavirus, Port of Virginia to close Portsmouth Marine Terminal for now ([link removed])
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By GORDON RAGO, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The Port of Virginia will close down one of its cargo terminals over the coming weeks as the coronavirus continues to smother the global shipping industry. Portsmouth Marine Terminal, which sits along the Elizabeth River by the Midtown Tunnel, will be closed effective May 4.
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** Utility Trailer laying off employees amid COVID-19 pandemic ([link removed])
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By ROBERT SORRELL, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Utility Trailer Manufacturing, one of the largest employers in Southwest Virginia, plans to lay off 326 employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of “unprecedented challenges” presented by the novel coronavirus and government-required closures, the Utility Trailer issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letters April 9 and 10 to certain members of its Glade Spring workforce.


** TRANSPORTATION
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** VDOT brings Ferry services to a halt ([link removed])
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Northern Neck News

Effective April 11, Virginia Department of Transportation canceled ferry service in the Northern Neck, bringing a halt to the Merry Point and Sunnybank operations. Each vessel has one operator and given the small size of the ferries, VDOT found it difficult to meet the recommended social distancing standards when motorists were on board.


** HIGHER EDUCATION
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** Virginia Tech marks annual Day of Remembrance, without gatherings ([link removed])
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By HENRI GENDREAU, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

President Tim Sands and First Lady Laura Sands on Thursday morning walked out of Burruss Hall and into the wind. On opposite sides of the memorial, they placed wreaths with white flowers. As a candle flickered on the edge of extinction, the couple paused at each stone. Each was adorned with a bouquet and a single rose. Normally, the Drillfield would be alive, with students on their way to class, with onlookers in silent prayer. But things are not normal.
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** Two Liberty University employees test positive for coronavirus ([link removed])
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By RICHARD CHUMNEY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Two Liberty University employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, two are awaiting test results and seven have been asked to self-quarantine, the university announced Wednesday night. The diagnoses mark the first cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, among the thousands of people who work at Liberty — the largest employer in the region.
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** Falwell Focuses on Critics as Coronavirus Cases Near His University Grow ([link removed])
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By ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON, New York Times (Metered Paywall - 1 to 2 articles a month)

Jerry Falwell Jr.’s angry counteroffensive against critics of his decision to invite Liberty University students back to its Lynchburg, Va., campus after spring break has played out in the media, the courts, even with the campus police. But his campaign has been undermined by the spread of a virus he cannot control.


** CORONAVIRUS
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** COVID-19 death toll surpasses 200 in Virginia; dozens protest social distancing orders ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Virginia’s COVID-19 death toll eclipsed 200 on Thursday, but the number of people who have been hospitalized in the state due to the coronavirus and discharged is nearing 1,000. Hours after the state Department of Health and Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, respectively, reported the statistics, roughly 50 people on Capitol Square protested Gov. Ralph Northam’s announcement Wednesday that he was extending the closure of recreational businesses.
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** D.C. region's cases double in a week to exceed 20,000 ([link removed])
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By ERIN COX, OVETTA WIGGINS AND ANTONIO OLIVO, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

The coronavirus caseload in Virginia, Maryland and the District has doubled in a week to more than 20,000 confirmed patients as of Thursday evening. The death toll reached 750 and continues to climb, as the economic standstill implemented to stem the virus’s spread wrought a new round of financial pain and worry.
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** Virginia's COVID-19 death toll rises to 208, including 12 in Prince William ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, Prince William Times

Virginia's COVID-19 death tally rose to 208 on Thursday, up 13 from Wednesday. Meanwhile, the state added 389 new COVID-19 cases, for a new total of 6,889, according to the Virginia Department of Health. COVID-19 is now tied to at least 12 deaths in the Prince William Health District, up one from Wednesday's report, and the fifth-highest death count of any health district in the state.
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** First person in West Piedmont District dies of coronavirus ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, Martinsville Bulletin (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

The first person in the region has died from infection with the coronavirus. The Virginia Department of Health’s West Piedmont Health District announced Thursday morning that a resident of the district who was ill with COVID-19 had died. The district did not release the location of the patient . The district includes Henry, Patrick and Franklin counties and the city of Martinsville.
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** Inova bans hospital workers from wearing PPE they bring from home ([link removed])
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By JENNA PORTNOY, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Inova, which operates Northern Virginia’s largest hospital, has prohibited employees treating covid-19 patients from wearing N95 respirator masks that they bring from home, despite national shortages of the protective equipment and workers’ concerns about contracting the virus.
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** Centra discharging COVID-19 patients, ramping up testing ([link removed])
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By RACHEL MAHONEY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Centra Health hospitals have seen four patients in intensive care settings recover from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and more than a dozen patients have been discharged from their care. Centra’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Thomson said at a news conference Thursday Centra has run 1,163 coronavirus tests and 85 have returned to them with positive results within its 9,000-square mile coverage area.
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** Ballad to begin COVID-19 plasma treatment ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Ballad Health is asking recovered COVID-19 patients to donate plasma to help treat others suffering with a disease for which there is no proven cure. The treatment will be part of a larger research study Ballad is conducting in cooperation with the Mayo Clinic. Health system officials announced the effort Thursday...
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** Meadowview Terrace social workers offer updates to residents’ families ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, South Boston News & Record

Social workers at Sentara MeadowView Terrace in Clarksville are offering daily telephone updates to residents’ families during the COVID-19 pandemic, should they desire to receive calls this often on the status of their loved ones. This service includes residents who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and those who have not. “We’re offering to call families every day in the interest of transparency and open communication ...
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** Disability Rights Groups Say Virginia Emergency Medicaid Waiver Doesn’t Go Far Enough ([link removed])
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By MEGAN PAULY, WCVE

Over a month ago, the federal government announced it would start accepting emergency Medicaid waiver applications from states seeking extra support for providers during the pandemic. Twenty-seven states have already received approval from the federal government for emergency Medicaid waivers that extend flexibility to providers of people with developmental disabilities.
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** Local grocery stores aren't mandated to report COVID-19 cases ([link removed])
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By CATHY DYSON, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

When a worker at a large grocery store tests positive for COVID-19, which has happened in the Fredericksburg area, local health officials don’t treat the incident any differently than if it involved someone in a small office—or mandate that the store notify the public.
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** A viral Facebook post swells volunteer numbers at a parish in Arlington ([link removed])
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By EMILY DAVIES, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Before the coronavirus crisis shut down baseball stadiums across the country, Daniel Tillson would have typically slipped on his Washington Nationals jersey around this time of year to watch his favorite team play. But on Wednesday, he exchanged cold beers for medical masks and the seventh-inning stretch for three-minute prayers as he began his shift at the food pantry at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. “I can’t believe it’s only 9 o’clock,” Tillson said while hauling another bag of groceries to a chair outside the church in Northern Virginia. The food pantry had been open for under an hour that morning, and he had already served more than 100 people.


** VIRGINIA OTHER
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** Father Mark White responds to removal: "I don't intend to go anywhere" ([link removed])
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By BILL WYATT, Martinsville Bulletin (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Father Mark White said he is staying in the pulpits in Martinsville and Rocky Mount. On Monday night, after Bishop of the Diocese of Richmond Barry Knestout had notified him and his parishioners in an emailed letter that White had been removed as pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Martinsville and St. Francis of Assisi in Rocky Mount, White said he would remain as priest and is seeking legal counsel to defend his right to do so.


** LOCAL
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** Fairfax County establishes $2.5M small business loan fund ([link removed])
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By SYDNEY LAKE, Va Business Magazine

Fairfax County announced Thursday that it has established the Fairfax County Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Fund — a $2.5 million fund to support small businesses that have suffered economic hardship during the pandemic. The recovery fund will make no-interest loans of up to $20,000 to eligible businesses.
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** Former Arlington County Board member Erik Gutshall dies after battle with brain cancer ([link removed])
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By CLARENCE WILLIAMS AND PATRICIA SULLIVAN, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Erik Gutshall, the former vice chair of the Arlington County Board, died Thursday after being diagnosed with brain cancer earlier this year, his family announced. Gutshall, 49, resigned his seat April 6 to quarantine at home with family after an earlier hospitalization and treatment for a brain tumor.
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** Arlington judges resist prosecution policies ([link removed])
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By PETER VIETH, Virginia Lawyers Weekly (Subscription required for some articles)

Northern Virginia criminal lawyers are chafing at new ground rules for prosecutors in Arlington County. The four judges of Arlington County Circuit Court now require a written explanation for any motion to dismiss or reduce criminal charges. In briefs in the case of a marijuana defendant, lawyers on both sides pushed back, saying prosecutors have “virtually unfettered discretion” to handle charges except in rare cases.
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** Fairfax County Public Schools postpones distance learning due to app glitches ([link removed])
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By SOPHIE KAPLAN, Washington Times

The Fairfax County Public Schools system (FCPS) postponed its distance learning this week just two days after its launch, citing technical issues with the remote learning app Blackboard. “We sincerely appreciate your patience and share your frustration related to our distance learning challenges this week,” schools Superintendent Scott Braband wrote Wednesday on the system’s website.
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** Fairfax Co. school officials apologize for tech flub; company says software hadn’t been updated in 2 years ([link removed])
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By JOHN DOMEN, WTOP

Leaders in Fairfax County Public Schools are apologizing and promising things will be better when students resume distance learning on Monday. During a virtual school board meeting that focused on the mishaps and glitches in the distance learning experience, representatives from Blackboard, the system the county uses for online and distance learning, also repeatedly apologized for the platform’s performance, but told board members the school system hadn’t updated the software that runs the virtual system in two years.
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** Herndon Town Council Extends Tax Due Dates to Offer Financial Relief ([link removed])
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By FATIMAH WASEEM, Reston Now

Town of Herndon residents and businesses now have more time to file real estate property and transient occupancy taxes. The Herndon Town Council approved two measures at a meeting earlier this week to extend due dates due to financial hardship created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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** County launches plan to house sick, elderly, medically at-risk homeless in motels during COVID-19 pandemic ([link removed])
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By JILL PALERMO, Prince William Times

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors signed off on a plan Tuesday to provide motel rooms for homeless people who are elderly, have underlying medical conditions or fall ill with COVID-19 during the coronavirus pandemic.
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** Schools plan to deploy solar-powered internet hotspots ([link removed])
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By DAVID HOLTZMAN, Central Virginian

Though public school students in Louisa County haven't been relying on high-speed internet to do their homework during the coronavirus crisis, they would sure like to have it. Students will soon have a new way to tap that valuable commodity. Louisa County Public Schools is preparing to deploy a network of about 12 solar-powered internet hotspots in rural parts of the county. The hotspots are intended to help students access their teachers' supplemental assignments, ...
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** Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office releases COVID-19 testing database for city jail ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, WAVY

The Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office has created a database where it will post daily numbers on coronavirus testing and positive cases within the city jail. The VBSO’s new database can be found here. It will be updated every day by 5 p.m. As of 5 p.m. April 15, the VBSO’s database shows that of more than 400 staff members working, 10 deputies have been tested for COVID-19. Two of those deputies received positive results for the disease.
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** Fredericksburg to furlough some staff, reduce wages for others ([link removed])
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By CATHY JETT, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Faced with revenue shortfall in its current budget, the City of Fredericksburg will furlough 40 staff members beginning May 2 and reduce the salaries for many of the remaining employees.
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** Rapphannock YMCA raises $100,000 to offer free child care to first responders ([link removed])
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By ADELE UPHAUS–CONNER, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Brittanie Newbold, a patient services manager at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, has one child of her own and also cares for her brother’s four children. Before the coronavirus outbreak, the children, who range in age from 5 to 12, attended elementary school in Spotsylvania and had an in-home nanny to provide before- and after-school care.
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** Charlottesville starts providing grants, loans to local businesses ([link removed])
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By NOLAN STOUT, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Charlottesville has begun doling out grants and loans to support local businesses suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. The city’s Minority Business Commission held an electronic meeting on Thursday to discuss how money is being distributed through several measures approved last month by the city’s Economic Development Authority.

Today's Sponsor:


** The Nature Conservancy in Virginia
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Across the lands and waters on which all life depends, we’re working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Learn more: nature.org/virginia ([link removed])


** EDITORIALS
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** Virginia’s tireless LGBTQ advocates win legal protection at last ([link removed])
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Washington Post Editorial (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

It was easy to overlook the news last weekend that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) signed a bill adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s anti-discrimination law. In fact, it was a remarkable capstone that marked the defeat of long-entrenched opposition by Republican lawmakers to a broadly popular measure — the first of its kind enacted in the South — that puts Virginia in league with other states that have fully embraced sexual and gender equality.
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** 2 things to be grateful for ([link removed])
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Roanoke Times Editorial (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Much of the political commentary over the pandemic has revolved around the question “how did we get here?” As in, what mistakes were made at the federal (or state and local) levels ... There are a lot of critical questions to be asked. What doesn’t get asked nearly so much is the flip side of “how did we get here?” As in, what did we do right?
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** Improving lives for students, nonprofits ([link removed])
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Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

There is reason for hope and optimism following the release of modeling that shows Virginia should have sufficient capacity in its hospitals to handle the expected peak of coronavirus cases in the coming weeks.
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** Are we there yet? No. ([link removed])
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Roanoke Times Editorial (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

“Are we there yet?” The question asked by every kid on every family trip ever is now the one we’re all asking. Except this time instead of asking whether we’re at grandma’s house or the beach, we’re all wondering: Are we at the peak of the pandemic yet?
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** We're suffering from a data crisis in the commonwealth ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Two and a half weeks ago, Virginia issued a stay-at-home order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Gov. Ralph Northam’s directive spelled out “allowable travel” for which Virginians could leave their residency, such as work, medical treatment, care for family members, and obtaining essential goods and services like groceries and prescriptions.


** OP-ED
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** Masinter: Virginia must not gamble with its economic future ([link removed])
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By ARNOLD MASINTER, published in Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Last weekend, as we remained completely focused on the fight to preserve our lives and our livelihoods, Governor Northam quietly moved forward on a plan to award no-bid casino licenses to well-connected investors. Like most Virginians, I do not have a problem with casinos. With the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic it will become even more essential to create high-quality jobs and secure our economy for the long-term. Casinos can certainly play a role in that.

Masinter is founder of a healthcare benefits company. He is based in Roanoke.
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** Drinan: Clemency in a time of COVID-19 ([link removed])
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By CARA H. DRINAN, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

There are more than 60,000 adults and children behind bars in Virginia, and these individuals are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19. Nationwide, the percentage of prisoners older than age 55 has increased steadily for two decades. In addition, prisoners live in close quarters, often with inadequate basic hygiene, let alone quality health care. Social distancing in prison is nearly impossible.

Cara H. Drinan is a professor of law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where she teaches criminal law and procedure.
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** Hashmi: Virginians wanted action on gun safety — the legislature delivered ([link removed])
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By GHAZALA HASHMI, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

One of my earliest memories is the death of a childhood playmate. She was just 6 years old when she was accidentally shot and killed by her young cousin. The two of them had been playing in a bedroom when they found a loaded gun in the nightstand. In an instant, she was gone. As my parents and I grieved with her family the next day, her mother said, through eyes swollen shut, “I’ve cried so much that I don’t even have any tears left.” The pain of her words have remained with me, for more than 50 years.

Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, represents the 10th District in the Virginia Senate


** THE FRIDAY READ
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** Nurses and doctors are posting photos of their faces bruised by masks. A boy stepped in to help. ([link removed])
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By CATHY FREE, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

For weeks, photos have been circulating online of the many weary doctors and nurses with marks and bruises on their faces from wearing tight-fitting medical masks while helping covid-19 patients. Quinn Callander, a seventh-grader from Canada, saw the photos, and then he saw a plea from Canadian hospitals to create ear guards — devices that help relieve some of the pressure felt by health-care workers on their ears and faces.
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