VaNews
May 2, 2020

Today's Sponsor:


** Virginia Health Care Foundation
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Many thanks to our dedicated, socially-distanced outreach workers for creatively helping so many newly-uninsured throughout Virginia apply for expanded Medicaid during this COVID crisis.

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Top of the News


** State now says one-half of all COVID-19 deaths linked to senior care facilities ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

The number of COVID-19 deaths that Virginia counts in long-term care facilities nearly tripled overnight on Friday to 311, even as the state's top health official shielded nursing homes and other facilities from disclosing cases and deaths as "people" under state law. The state's tally of COVID-19 deaths in long-term care rose from 118 to 311 in one day due to a lag in reporting by the Virginia Department of Health.
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** One-day surge in testing numbers mostly due to change in methodology, health officials say ([link removed])
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By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

Officials with the Virginia Department of Health abruptly announced Friday that they were changing their methodology for reporting the number of COVID-19 tests conducted in Virginia. The announcement came after data on the state’s coronavirus surveillance page appeared to show a dramatic one-day increase in test results, from 90,843 on Thursday to 105,648 on Friday.
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** Virginia governor to outline reopening guidelines on Monday ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said he’ll present new guidelines next week for the state’s eventual reopening, adding progress has been made in boosting testing and obtaining medical supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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** Roanoke County asks governor for regional reopening to help local businesses ([link removed])
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By ALISON GRAHAM, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Roanoke County officials asked the governor Friday to implement a regional approach in lifting restrictions on businesses after forced closings squeezed the local economy. The board of supervisors held a news conference at the Green Ridge Recreation Center to announce the board would be sending a unanimously supported letter to the governor to advocate for reopening.
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** Virginia counties 'very frustrated' by lack of state plan for federal aid ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

As Congress considers a new relief package for state and local governments, Virginia counties wonder what happened to the federal aid that the state already has received to help them fight the coronavirus pandemic and survive an economic meltdown.
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** Early prison releases raise concerns - as does COVID-19 in Virginia prisons ([link removed])
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By FRANK GREEN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Early releases for some prison inmates by the Virginia Department of Corrections aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 behind bars is drawing concern and criticism from interested parties. Prosecutors would like input and want to be sure it is done carefully with public safety in mind; inmate advocates fear too little is being done too slowly to avoid a potential medical catastrophe; and inmates left behind so far are not happy.
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** Coronavirus fears cause people to avoid children’s checkups and ignore heart attacks and strokes, doctors say ([link removed])
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By ELISHA SAUERS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Most doctor’s offices for children have two waiting rooms for sick and well patients: coughing and sniffling in one corner, and whimpering about shots in another. But in the age of the coronavirus, pediatricians have gone to greater lengths to prevent the spread of germs. Now some are dividing their patients — not by waiting room, but entire location.
The Full Report
34 articles, 18 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 COVID-19 cases and statewide map showing the number of cases and deaths by locality. VPAP has added daily hospital utilization data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Updated each morning shortly after 9:00 a.m.


** EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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** Virginia now has enough supplies to test anyone with coronavirus symptoms, Northam says ([link removed])
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By MARIE ALBIGES AND ROBYN SIDERSKY, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Virginia now has enough supplies to be able to test anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19, Gov. Ralph Northam said Friday. The announcement, made during a Friday afternoon news conference, is a departure from the messaging coming from his office since the coronavirus took hold in Virginia in March.
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** Northam announces expansion of coronavirus testing in Virginia ([link removed])
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By GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER AND LAURA VOZZELLA, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Virginia is rapidly increasing its ability to test for the novel coronavirus after weeks of lagging behind other states, with officials on Friday announcing a doubling of daily testing and contracts with private labs to continue the expansion. “We have made tremendous progress,” said Gov. Ralph Northam (D), who has come under mounting criticism for the state’s slow ramp-up of testing, which is tied to eventually loosening the social and business restrictions that have shut down the economy.
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** Reopen economy — and soon — several Peninsula board members urge Northam ([link removed])
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By PETER DUJARDIN, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Six members of the boards overseeing James City County, Williamsburg and York County are urging Gov. Ralph Northam to reopen the economy sooner rather than later. The six — three from James City, two from Williamsburg and one from York — pressed for a “phased reopening of businesses as soon as possible," contending in an April 24 letter to the governor that not doing so could cause some businesses to be forever lost.
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** Virginia governor’s order on businesses could expire May 8 ([link removed])
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By ROBERT SORRELL, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Non-emergency medical and dental procedures began across Virginia on Friday, but it could still be at least another week until other businesses can open, the governor said. Gov. Ralph Northam allowed restrictions on non-emergency procedures to end at midnight Thursday, allowing procedures, including medical, dental and veterinary procedures, to begin Friday.
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** Small Reopen Virginia protest temporarily shuts down Capitol Square on Friday ([link removed])
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By ALI ROCKETT, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Capitol Square closed for nearly two hours Friday afternoon while a group of about 20 people protesting Gov. Ralph Northam's "stay-at-home" order and calling for the government to "reopen Virginia" refused to leave after Capitol police asked them to disperse for violating the order that prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people.


** STATE GOVERNMENT
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** Over $12 million in federal coronavirus funds go to Roanoke, New River valleys school districts ([link removed])
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By CLAIRE MITZEL, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Virginia public schools will receive $238.6 million in federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Security Act, the Virginia Department of Education announced Friday. Approximately $12 million will go toward school districts in the Roanoke and New River valleys.
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** Virginia ABC employee dies of COVID-19, but agency won't give location ([link removed])
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By VIRGINIA ABC EMPLOYEE DIES OF COVID-19, BUT AGENCY WON'T GIVE LOCATION, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

A Virginia ABC employee who was working during the coronavirus pandemic has died of COVID-19, the agency confirmed Thursday. An ABC spokeswoman wouldn’t release the employee’s name or work location, or what day the employee died.
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** State education official disputes findings of state inspector general ([link removed])
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By JEREMY M. LAZARUS, Richmond Free Press

Virginia Inspector General Michael C. Westfall has reported that a top official in the state Department of Education set up a private consulting business that used resources developed through her state job and tweeted an announcement after setting up two websites to advertise her business. Mr. Westfall’s office, which investigates waste, fraud and abuse of state resources, found the actions of Leah Dozier Walker violated VDOE policies, that she lacked the required department approval to set up a private consulting business and that her actions created an apparent conflict of interest.
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** Va. agency studying creation of Culpeper state park ([link removed])
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By CLINT SCHEMMER, Culpeper Star Exponent (Metered Paywall - 20 articles a month)

Prospects for a state park in Culpeper County have never looked so good. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is undertaking a study of the state park that local and state advocates have sought for years.


** CONGRESS
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** Senate proposal championed by Sen. Mark Warner would guarantee paychecks for workers ([link removed])
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By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Congress is gearing up to consider a fourth coronavirus relief proposal, and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner is leading a push on the Senate to guarantee paychecks for workers.
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** Rep. Ben Cline bill bars certain colleges from receiving coronavirus emergency funding ([link removed])
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By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Rep. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, joined Republicans in introducing a bill that would prohibit higher education institutions with large endowments from receiving coronavirus federal emergency funding.
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** Spanberger joins bipartisan plea for federal aid directly to small counties ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, is part of a bipartisan congressional quartet calling on leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives to direct financial aid to counties, especially those in rural counties that haven't benefited from the stimulus package Congress adopted in late March in response to the economic calamity caused by the coronavirus pandemic.


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** Dominion: 100% clean energy in Virginia could mean importing carbon-emitting energy from elsewhere ([link removed])
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By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Retiring all carbon-producing power plants in Virginia by 2045 would require Dominion Energy to import power from “carbon-intensive” facilities outside the state, the company said in a filing to state regulators Friday. The filing, which lays out the company’s 15-year plan for energy production, represents Dominion’s first stab at complying with new legislation signed by Gov. Ralph Northam in April that will overhaul electric energy production in the state in favor of more clean energy. It comes with higher bills for customers.
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** Virginia's seafood industry hit hard by coronavirus ([link removed])
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By ROB HEDELT, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Watermen didn’t need to read the news on Friday, March 13, to know something wicked was coming their way. That’s the week when people who make a living raising, harvesting and selling local seafood saw their spring seasons go from stellar to sunk thanks to the novel coronavirus.


** HIGHER EDUCATION
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** Virginia Tech planning in-person fall classes, with 'caveats,' president says ([link removed])
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By HENRI GENDREAU, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Virginia Tech President Tim Sands hinted on Friday that the university would hold classes on campus this fall, but that no final decision will be made until June. “We’re really hoping and planning that it will be an in-person fall, with some caveats and still some major decisions to be made,” Sands said on a Zoom call with local government leaders. “The fall is an opportunity for us to bring the campus back to life to some degree.”
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** University of Lynchburg to resume on-campus instruction in the fall ([link removed])
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By JAMEY CROSS, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The University of Lynchburg announced Friday plans to resume on-campus instruction for its fall 2020 classes. In a campus-wide email sent just six weeks after the campus was closed for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester amid the coronavirus pandemic, Kenneth Garren, president of the university, said the university will resume on-campus residential services and teaching in the fall.
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** Virginia athletic director Carla Williams, coaches take voluntary pay cuts through end of the year ([link removed])
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By NORM WOOD, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month)

Virginia athletic director Carla Williams and 71 head coaches, assistant coaches and staff members from the school will take voluntary salary reductions through the end of the calendar year, according to a release from U.Va.'s athletic department. All 20 of U.Va.'s head coaches and many staff members were asked in mid-April by Williams to participate in the pay cuts, and all of the head coaches ultimately volunteered.


** CORONAVIRUS
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** D.C., Maryland and Virginia pass 2,000 covid-19 deaths; disclose most infections in one day ([link removed])
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By FENIT NIRAPPIL, JOHN D. HARDEN AND ERIN COX, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

The covid-19 death toll in the District, Virginia and Maryland climbed past 2,000 on Friday, and all three jurisdictions recorded their highest single-day increases in new infections. The Washington region entered May with doses of good and bad news in key indicators that will help leaders decide whether to extend or lift restrictions set to expire in the coming weeks.
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** Virginia COVID-19 cases increase by 1,055; department now counting tests, not people ([link removed])
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By LUANNE RIFE, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The Virginia Department of Health on Friday changed the way it reports COVID-19 cases, making it appear daily testing had nearly tripled overnight. A retooled dashboard debuted in the morning that offers more demographic information by localities. Statewide Virginia has 16,901 COVID-19 cases on Friday, 1,055 more than Thursday’s 15,846 cases.
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** Testing increases in Virginia, but state remains thousands from 10,000 per day goal for reopening ([link removed])
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By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

COVID-19 testing in Virginia has increased this week over last, as officials work to boost it while the state is highlighted for lagging behind others. Since Sunday, 24,473 people have been tested for COVID-19 — about 4,000 per day, on average — from a total of 20,247 people last week.
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** Virginia Health Officials Offer New Data as COVID-19 Cases Climb ([link removed])
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By CATHERINE DOUGLAS MORAN, Reston Now

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Fairfax County, new data from the county and state provide more insight with age and racial demographics. Earlier this week, Fairfax County unveiled a new COVID-19 dashboard with geographic and racial data — for the first time providing case numbers by zip code groups.
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** Spotsylvania man in his 40s dies from COVID-19; over 500 cases in region ([link removed])
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By CATHY DYSON, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

A Spotsylvania County man in his 40s has become the 11th person in the Rappahannock Area Health District to die from COVID-19. No other information was available about the man or if he had underlying health conditions. He’s the first person in his 40s to die from the novel coronavirus in the local health district, which includes Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford.
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** 64 health care workers on the Peninsula have tested positive for the coronavirus ([link removed])
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By JULIA MARSIGLIANO, Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily (Metered paywall - 3 articles per month)

Coronavirus cases continue to rise on the Peninsula among the most vulnerable populations, from the elderly in nursing homes and long-term care facilities to the essential workers at the shipyard and hospital staff attending to positive COVID-19 patients. The Virginia Department of Health’s website now shows the number of health care workers who have tested positive for the coronavirus by health district. So far, 64 health care workers on the Peninsula have tested positive.
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** Arlington Planning Walk-Thru Coronavirus Testing Center ([link removed])
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By VERNON MILES, ArlNow

During an online town hall discussion Friday, county officials announced that a new walk-thru testing center for COVID-19 is coming to Arlington. Assistant County Manager Jim Schwartz said the county is currently planning to open the site somewhere on the southern side of Arlington County. The site would be an addition to other drive-thru locations currently operating in Arlington.
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** 10 inmates at Piedmont Regional Jail infected with COVID-19; 4 other regional jails are virus free ([link removed])
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By MARK BOWES, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Ten inmates and two corrections officers at Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville have tested positive for COVID-19, but four other regional jails in central Virginia that hold prisoners from 18 localities remain virus free, authorities said.
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** James City County announces plans to reopen several parks ([link removed])
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Virginia Gazette (Metered Paywall - 4 Articles per Month)

James City County said it had plans to reopen “several” parks and recreation services May 4, which the county says is permitted by Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order. The James City County Marina and the Marina Store will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for fuel sales, payments and other transactions.


** LOCAL
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** Captive neighbors seek relief from Amazon construction noise ([link removed])
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By MATTHEW BARAKAT, Associated Press

Amazon deliveries may be delayed for some folks because of the coronavirus, but construction of Amazon’s new Virginia headquarters is moving right along, with piledriving work so loud it's driving the stuck-at-home neighbors crazy. For weeks on end, the relentless clang and bang from construction equipment preparing foundations for the online giant's new headquarters has reverberated throughout Arlington County's Pentagon City neighborhood.
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** Arlington Board Seeks To Push Back Special Election Date ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL O'CONNELL, Patch.com

The Arlington County Board wants to push back the July 7 special election. The Circuit Court of Arlington County chose that date for the special election to fill the vacancy on the Board caused by the death last month of Vice-Chair Erik Gutshall. The Board passed a resolution Thursday asking the Virginia Supreme Court to extend the special election to Aug. 4 or later to give potential candidates more time to file, according to a county release.
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** As cities scramble to adjust budgets for coronavirus, Portsmouth hasn’t told the public what it’s doing ([link removed])
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By ANA LEY, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The novel coronavirus pandemic is expected to devastate the economies of cities across Hampton Roads just as they get ready to adopt their budgets for the next fiscal year. Most have been making cuts and keeping the public up to date. Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake have adjusted their spending plans to reflect revenue declines and expense hikes. Portsmouth has been doing the same behind the scenes, but City Manager Lydia Pettis Patton hasn’t kept residents in the loop on how.
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** Norfolk buys Military Circle mall for $11 million ([link removed])
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By TREVOR METCALFE, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The Norfolk Economic Development Authority has approved a plan to buy Military Circle Mall and several surrounding parcels on the 75-acre property for $11 million. The most recent property assessment put the site’s value at $41.1 million. An affiliate of Harbor Group International facilitated the sale.
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** Lynchburg law enforcement awarded more than $112,00 in coronavirus aid ([link removed])
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By RICHARD CHUMNEY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The city of Lynchburg has been awarded more than $112,000 in federal funds to help local law enforcement pay for personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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** Danville zoning officials waiting on direction from ABC concerning skill games ([link removed])
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By CALEB AYERS, Danville Register & Bee

The legal end of skilled gaming machines was pending in Virginia. Then the economic fallout from the coronavirus forced government officials and lawmakers to rethink their strategy. But in Danville, zoning questions – which have been a hurdle for skilled gaming machines for the past 10 months – will remain unanswered for a little longer, said Ken Gillie, community development director.

Today's Sponsor:


** Virginia Health Care Foundation
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Many thanks to our dedicated, socially-distanced outreach workers for creatively helping so many newly-uninsured throughout Virginia apply for expanded Medicaid during this COVID crisis.


** COLUMNISTS
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** Schapiro: Ahead of Va. governor's race, geography as destiny ([link removed])
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By JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Ken Stolle, a former state senator from Virginia Beach and, since 2010, the resort city’s sheriff, knows geography can be destiny in Virginia politics. It has shaped the fortunes of the Stolle clan in two of the state’s largest population centers, Hampton Roads and central Virginia. This past winter, amid speculation his sister, Siobhan Dunnavant, a Henrico County senator, might run for lieutenant governor in 2021, Stolle said he’s told her what he tells other fellow Republicans: Forget about running statewide until you find a way to win Northern Virginia, a Democratic xxxxxx.
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