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By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is delaying northern Virginia’s reopening amid the coronavirus outbreak until at least May 29, two weeks after the rest of the state is expected to reopen. Northam said Tuesday he’s signed an executive order extending mandated closures and restrictions on businesses in northern Virginia, a heavily populated area where regional officials have said they are not yet ready to reopen.
By ERIK LARSON, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)
Virginia will exempt religious services from the state’s current ban on public gatherings of more than 10 people – an apparent concession to the Trump administration after it came out in support of a church that sued to challenge the pandemic restriction. Governor Ralph Northam’s new executive order will allow faith communities to hold services at 50 percent capacity starting this weekend as long as worshipers are seated at least six feet apart and other safety guidelines are adhered to, the Democrat said in a May 9 court filing. The ban on non-religious gatherings of more than 10 people will continue, according to the order.
By MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities make up a majority of Virginia’s coronavirus outbreaks, but which facilities have been infected remains largely a mystery. The Virginia Department of Health releases data on the number of positive cases and deaths by locality, and lists outbreaks by health district and by type of facility.
By FRANK GREEN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)
A suit alleging Virginia failed to reduce the prison population or protect inmates against COVID-19, impinging on their constitutional protection against cruel and unusual punishment, has been settled and dismissed in federal court in Richmond. The settlement agreement calls for the Virginia Department of Corrections to quickly review inmates eligible for early release under the governor’s budget amendment and creates a procedure for the Secretary of the Commonwealth to consider conditional pardons for prisoners with medical issues or concerns related to COVID-19, the ACLU said on Tuesday.
By FRANK GREEN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)
Gov. Ralph Northam on Tuesday rejected a call by the Republican General Assembly leadership for a moratorium on the early releases of prison inmates with violent records. The state Republican leaders made their plea for the moratorium Tuesday in response to the pending parole release of Vincent Martin, who murdered a Richmond police officer in 1979.
By BRETT HALL AND SARAH FEARING, WAVY
Virginia Beach is laying out specifics of a safety plan in hopes the governor will lift restrictions on beaches ahead of Memorial Day weekend. A presentation given to Virginia Beach City Council Tuesday night includes proposals that would have cleaning crews regularly on the beach as well as safety ambassadors promoting social distancing.
ArlNow
Arlington Public Schools is preparing for the possibility that in-person classes will not, in fact, resume in the fall. There are new questions about when students will be returning to physical classrooms, following today’s Congressional testimony by Dr. Anthony Fauci.
The Full Report
49 articles, 19 publications
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The Virginia Public Access Project
Amid a change in partisan control of the General Assembly, Virginia saw a big jump in companies, trade associations and single-interest groups with registered lobbyists. In the year ending April 30, the number of clients with representation grew 12.6 percent to 1,172. That compares to an average growth rate of about 2 percent over the last decade. The number of individuals who lobbied also shot up, increasing to 1,126 from 1,004.
The Virginia Public Access Project
Data from the Virginia Department of Health shows a timeline of when COVID-19 cases were confirmed and a 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.
By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
As most of Virginia prepares to ease restrictions on Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam is delaying when Northern Virginia can follow suit by at least two weeks. Northam has said he expects the state to start the first phase of lifting restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the coronvirus if it meets certain statistical health standards. However, Northern Virginia officials expressed trepidation about moving into the first phase on Friday.
By NATHANIEL CLINE, Loudoun Times
Gov. Ralph Northam (D) has formally delayed the Phase 1 reopening of the economy in northern Virginia, including Loudoun County. The rest of the commonwealth is still slated to gradually reopen Friday, but northern Virginia's data has been pushed to May 29 at the earliest.
By MARIE ALBIGES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
Virginia finally has a tentative date for reopening some businesses that were forced to close as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The state is expected to move into phase 1 of reopening on May 15, assuming we meet some key coronavirus metrics Gov. Ralph Northam has proposed.
By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)
With the start of Northern Virginia’s reopening delayed by two weeks, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is expressing reservations about whether Friday is the right time for officials to start easing restrictions in the city. Gov. Ralph Northam issued an executive order Tuesday to let localities in Northern Virginia, the densely populated part of the state hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, delay entering the first phase of the state’s plan to relax restrictions mandated in response to the coronavirus’s spread.
By SARAH RANKIN, Associated Press
Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam rejected a call Tuesday from several top GOP lawmakers to institute a moratorium on the release of certain inmates by the Virginia Parole Board, which has come under criticism for some recent decisions.
By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
Republicans say they are ready to end the bitter battle between Rep. Denver Riggleman and Bob Good and picked June 13 for the convention to choose their party nominee. The 5th Congressional District Republican Committee — made up of local party leaders across central Virginia — held a two and a half hour conference call Monday night to discuss and vote on the convention, which had to be delayed from its original April 25 date because of the coronavirus pandemic.
By CHRIS CERBO, CBS 19
On Tuesday morning, Congressman Denver Riggleman’s campaign sent a letter out highlighting what he calls corruption within the Fifth Congressional District of Virginia’s Republican Party. The GOP still needs to choose its candidate for Congress, but the original meeting for that was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
By SANDY HAUSMAN, WVTF
More than 700 inmates in state prisons have now tested positive for COVID-19, and five have died. Meanwhile, the ACLU of Virginia is investigating the mysterious transfer of at least half a dozen men from the Dillwyn Correctional Center after protests erupted there. The low security prison reports more than 200 cases of COVID-19 in staff and inmates.
By NED OLIVER, Virginia Mercury
The good news: After waiting weeks for the state to set up an online system to allow self-employed workers to collect pandemic assistance through the CARES Act, people began receiving their first checks last week. The bad news: Just over 35,000 of them were overpaid between $600 and $1,200 — money the state says will be deducted from future checks.
By SARAH VOGELSONG, Virginia Mercury
With sweeping new clean energy laws set to go into effect July 1, Virginia utility regulators are preparing to reopen a popular program that allowed customers including local governments, school systems and churches to get their energy from non-utility solar developers. The program, which has been run as a pilot by the State Corporation Commission since 2013, lets customers enter into what’s known as a power purchase agreement with a solar or wind company despite being in utility territory. (Although the pilot can also include wind energy, it has only so far been used for solar.)
By ROBIN BRAVENDER AND ALLISON WINTER, Virginia Mercury
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine on Tuesday warned that the U.S. response to COVID-19 is lagging as he pressed top Trump administration health officials to learn lessons from other nations when it comes to combating the pandemic. “The death rate in the United States — especially when compared with other nations — is unacceptable, isn’t it?” the Virginia Democrat asked Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a U.S. Senate hearing on Tuesday.
By JACKIE DEFUSCO, WRIC
Virginia is preparing to start the reopening process as early as Friday and those who refuse to return to work could be at risk of losing their unemployment benefits, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. William Walton, the VEC’s director of unemployment insurance, said the commission is starting to hear more cases like this as the country begins easing coronavirus restrictions. “Simply being afraid of getting sick is not going to be sufficient to decline that job and maintain eligibility for benefits,” Walton said.
By KEN DUFFY, WTOP
Virginia Beach officials said they’re ready to reopen beaches on Memorial Day weekend, or perhaps even sooner, pending Gov. Ralph Northam’s approval. During a city council meeting about the fight against COVID-19, leaders unveiled a gradual reopening plan that involves extra cleaning, social distancing, education and enforcement of restrictions at area beaches during the first phase.
By KAREN GRAHAM, Loudoun Times
Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Tuesday announced the Phase 1 reopening of the economy in northern Virginia, including Loudoun County, will be pushed back until at least May 29. The rest of the commonwealth is expected to reopen gradually on Friday. The reopening affects all nonessential businesses, which have been closed since March 24. Local business owners throughout Loudoun County expressed mixed reviews on the decision.
By CASEY FABRIS, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
Valley View Mall, which closed in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, has announced plans to reopen Friday.
By ANN LIMPERT, Washingtonian
A few weeks ago, the Inn at Little Washington sent out an email blast announcing that the luxury Rappahannock County destination would be reopening for dinner on May 15. Then Virginia governor Ralph Northam threw a hitch into chef Patrick O’Connell‘s plans: Diners can sit outside only for “phase one” of the reopening, and those patios can be filled only to 50 percent capacity. The al fresco mandate wouldn’t work for the Inn’s lavish three-Michelin-star property, so they hopefully pushed the debut to May 29. But the 50-percent-empty thing? O’Connell has a plan.
By WILL VITKA, WTOP
Dozens of union airport workers formed a caravan around Reagan National Airport on Tuesday, circling the transit hub and honking their horns to demand full COVID-19 protection. The dispute is between members of 32BJ SEIU and Spanish-owned contractor Eulen America.
By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
The number of people traveling into and out of Norfolk International Airport last month dropped to just 18,687 passengers. That represented a 94.2% drop compared to the same month a year ago, when 324,638 travelers used the airport, according to statistics released Tuesday by the airport.
By JORDAN PASCALE, WAMU
WMATA officials are predicting a grim road ahead for the transit system thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, according to new budget documents released Tuesday. Metro predicts pre-pandemic levels of ridership, about 994,000 trips per weekday, won’t return until at least summer 2021.
By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)
The College of William & Mary is keeping tuition and mandatory fees flat next year. The university’s board of visitors unanimously voted Tuesday to roll back a tuition increase it approved in the fall for incoming in-state undergraduate students.
By WILL VITKA, WTOP
Virginia Tech will hold its graduation ceremony for the 2020 class online Friday, the school announced, as the region grapples with the coronavirus. Notable Hokies are slated to deliver remarks. They include Miss America 2020 Camille Schirer, who graduated in 2018, legendary defensive coach Bud Foster, and world-renowned poet and professor Nikki Giovanni.
By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)
Nearly 900 people have died from COVID-19 in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Health reported Tuesday that 891 people have died from the virus, an increase of 41 on Monday. The agency, in its daily data report released Tuesday morning, said the total number of cases in the state has risen to 25,800 from 25,070 on Monday.
By CATHERINE DOUGLAS MORAN, Reston Now
Yesterday, the Fairfax County Health Department announced that the county’s COVID-19 dashboard now includes more granular zip code data. The newly expanded data also offers information on probable cases, deaths by age groups and COVID-19 testing by week, according to the county.
By STAFF REPORT, Loudoun Times
Nine residents at the Tribute at One Loudoun senior living community in Ashburn have died as a result of COVID-19, and 21 residents are currently carrying the virus, according to community representatives. The majority of residents currently with the virus are asymptomatic, representatives said, and they have been separated from residents who have tested negative.
By PETER COUTU, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
As the coronavirus continues to spread across Hampton Roads, some communities have been hit especially hard, according to ZIP code data released by the state. While a few Hampton Roads ZIP codes still have no reported cases, others have tallied more than 100. The hardest-hit areas appear to be near Williamsburg, which is home to two of the region’s three most infected ZIP codes: 23188 and 23815, according to state totals as of May 11.
By LUANNE RIFE AND MIKE GANGLOFF, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
The Virginia Department of Health on Tuesday reported that 891 people have died from COVID-19, but that total does not include 15 people who had lived in the Roanoke Valley and Alleghany Highlands. The agency reports just four deaths in the Roanoke and Alleghany Health Districts, but Dr. Molly O’Dell, who is leading the districts’ pandemic response, said on Tuesday 19 people have died.
By ROBERTO ROLDAN, WCVE
Richmond firefighters and community volunteers handed out masks and hand sanitizer in the city’s East End Tuesday afternoon. It was part of a pilot program with state officials to deliver protective equipment to communities of color during the coronavirus pandemic. In total, the city has received around 20,000 masks and sanitizer bottles from the state.
By LAURENCE HAMMACK, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
A federal judge has declined to lift his temporary ban on a permitting process for the crossing of streams and wetlands by oil and natural gas pipelines, including the Mountain Valley Pipeline. In an order late Monday, Montana U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris denied the Justice Department’s request for a stay pending an appeal of the case.
Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)
The Virginia Creeper Trail — which closed in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic — reopened Tuesday, but facilities and services along the trail will remain closed. The Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines related to social distancing will be required for use of the trail during the pandemic, along with other steps aimed at protecting public health, according to a news release issued Tuesday by the Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy.
By SYDNEY LAKE, Va Business Magazine
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors during its Tuesday meeting approved the establishment of a $25 million small business and nonprofit relief grant program for local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “I am very excited about this program — the first of its kind in Fairfax County,” Board Chairman Jeffrey McKay said.
Bristow Beat
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) has announced that in-person high school graduations are being scheduled for August. The COVID-19 virus and the Governor’s closure of schools across the Commonwealth caused PWCS to cancel the graduations originally planned for June.
By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)
Local governments in the Richmond region will receive more than $96 million in federal emergency relief to pay expenses directly related to the coronavirus crisis. Henrico County, with the second-highest COVID-19 death toll in the state, says it has plenty of uses for the $28.9 million it expects to receive to cover the costs of coping with a virus that has run rampant through long-term care facilities in the county.
By ALISSA SKELTON, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
Last week, the Virginia Beach City Council was divided on how to fund the city government during a pandemic. But members found a way to unite on Tuesday evening. Wearing masks while meeting inside of City Hall, the council voted unanimously to pass the $2 billion budget for the next fiscal year. The council also voted to appropriate more than $320 million on construction projects over the next six years.
By ANA LEY, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
City Council members have signed off on increasing Portsmouth’s meal tax as well as several fees for residents even as the city cuts costs during the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the city’s budget plans for the next fiscal year, council members agreed Tuesday night to raise the meal tax from 6.5% to 7.5% as well as increasing the stormwater utility fee by 7%. They also voted to incrementally raise the water rate by 9% and sewer rates by 9% and 15%.
By GORDON RAGO, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
A $1.16 billion budget approved unanimously Tuesday night by Chesapeake City Council members eliminates proposed pay raises for employees and reduces the city’s funding to schools, concessions made in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
By DAVE RESS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
Hampton Roads cities and counties are in line to receive more than $143.5 million of federal coronavirus relief funds, the state’s top financial official says. In a letter to local officials Tuesday, Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne detailed how the state would allocate some $3.1 billion it received under the federal CARES Act, to cover government costs incurred because of the virus.
By LAWRENCE EMERSON, Fauquier Now
One thing remains certain: Nobody knows how Fauquier County Public Schools will operate when classes resume in the fall semester. More than 11,000 students and 900 teachers might return to classrooms on Wednesday, Aug. 12 — as planned. But, administrators for weeks have considered the full range of possibilities, including continued “distance learning” and a hybrid approach that would have groups of students alternating between classroom instruction and online studies.
By ALISON GRAHAM, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
The Salem City Council will add a public comment period to one meeting each month starting in June. The council approved an ordinance Monday that changed the language of city code to allow meetings to start at 6:30 p.m. and added a public comment period to the order of proceedings.
By LAURENCE HAMMACK, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
The Botetourt County Planning Commission endorsed a plan Monday for wind turbines atop North Mountain that could be as tall as a 50-story skyscraper. However, the proposed renewable energy project faced more opposition and questions than it did four years ago, when smaller turbines were approved but never built.
Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)
The city’s office of elections and voter registration will be open for the final day of absentee voting via the drive-thru window Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., according to a written statement.
Roanoke Times Editorial (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
The president says he wants to reopen the country and to “liberate” Virginia, in particular. We have protesters here and elsewhere clamoring to lift the stay-at-home orders. Many governors —including our own Ralph Northam —have started to loosen restrictions or at least lay out a plan to loosen restrictions. If you were to rely solely on much of the political class, you’d think things would soon be headed back to normal. But things are not going back to normal, not anytime soon.
Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
Revitalization of the St. Paul’s area of Norfolk — encompassing 200 acres of land adjacent to downtown — represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to replace dilapidated public housing with mixed-use, mixed-income development and, in doing so, breathe new life into the heart of the city. The success of that initiative depends on finding or building housing for the displaced residents. On this, the city has ample room for improvement.
Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)
After months of contentious talks, The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Minor League Baseball (MiLB) officials are easing objections to a plan that would contract a few dozen farm system teams. The report said fear was growing over a “nuclear option” by Major League Baseball (MLB), eliminating the current MiLB structure and placing every franchise at risk. That’s no small threat for Virginia, where nine minor league teams support local economies across the commonwealth.
By MERRILL C. "SANDY" HALL, published in Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
As a small business owner who has been self-employed since 1993, I certainly have experienced a lot of challenges related to owning and operating a small business. Catastrophic events like 9/11 and the 2008 economic downturn created large hurdles for small businesses throughout the United States. Those challenges, however, were insufficient preparation for the shuttering of businesses to combat COVID-19.
Hall is the owner of Gold's Gyms in Virginia, including one in Roanoke
By GLENN DAVIS, published in Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)
Discussions regarding when to ease restrictions related to the coronavirus seem to be based around one single factor: flattening the curve. That’s the point where the number of people needing treatment at any one time stops climbing and becomes a consistent number. When that occurs, the curve will essentially become flat and then potentially begin to decline.
Glenn Davis represents the 84th District, which includes part of Virginia Beach, in the Virginia House of Delegates.
By JEFF KATZ, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)
With a view to honoring police officers and remembering the ranks of the fallen, President John F. Kennedy issued a proclamation in 1962 declaring May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which it falls as Police Week. Since Kennedy’s proclamation 58 years ago, America has continued to see countless heroes give their lives while performing their sworn duty — as support for the comrades they’ve left behind teeters between minimal and moderate in most cases.
Jeff Katz hosts the afternoon show on Newsradio WRVA 96.1 FM and 1140 AM.
By EDWARD LYNCH, published in Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)
The hysteria surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic is, as many have noted, an unprecedented crisis. However, there are other moments in U.S. history when we have been faced with generational challenges that we can look to for lessons learned and examples to follow. As politicians point fingers and publicize erroneous information and predictions, the private sector is stepping up to help in very practical ways.
Lynch is professor and chair of political science at Hollins University.
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