VaNews
May 16, 2020

Today's Sponsor:


** Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
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Deepest gratitude to all essential workers everywhere.

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Top of the News


** Social distancing butterflies? Virginia slowly eases restrictions as some businesses reopen, some don’t ([link removed])
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By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The day had surely been marked in more than a few calendars, likely in pencil, as it had already been pushed back once, then again — and there was no guarantee until earlier this week that even May 15 would stick as the moment that some of Virginia might begin to wake up from its pandemic-induced slumber, even as the risk of catching COVID-19 remained. On Friday, most of Hampton Roads took the first step in Gov. Ralph Northam’s three-phase approach to reopen the state’s economy nearly eight weeks after ordering certain high-touch businesses and services to shut down in late March.
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** State Street businesses reopen to eager public ([link removed])
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By LEIF GREISS, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

Enjoying the warm, sunny weather Friday afternoon, diners flocked to Quaker Steak & Lube and the Burger Bar in downtown Bristol. While diners sat, chatting, laughing and enjoying their meals, a forklift set up barricades on Piedmont Avenue, closing the street so the two restaurants could set up more seating in hopes they would have their first busy weekend of dining in nearly two months.
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** 18% of COVID-19 tests done at Eastern Shore poultry plants are positive ([link removed])
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By JESSICA NOLTE, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The Eastern Shore Health District released numbers Friday that showed approximately 18% of tested poultry plant workers on the Shore tested positive for the coronavirus. Last week, around 3,100 tests were conducted. So far, they’ve received about 2,875 of those results with approximately 510 positives.
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** House speaker shakes up tobacco panel, naming Democrats to replace Republicans from tobacco regions ([link removed])
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By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn has changed the lineup to the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission, replacing senior Republican delegates with Democrats. Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, notified the delegates of their new appointments this week. Democrats took control of the House of Delegates this year, and the speaker appoints delegates to the commission. No Democrats have served on the commission in the past few years.
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** VPAP Visual Amid Pandemic, Voting by Mail Takes Off ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

In past municipal elections, few Virginia voters took advantage of the option to mail in absentee ballots. But this May, voters are mailing ballots by the bushel. The massive increase in voting by mail in next Tuesday's elections -- the first in Virginia since the coronavirus pandemic began -- could be a harbinger of what's to come in November.
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** Spanberger opposes latest stimulus package, saying it 'goes far beyond pandemic relief' ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Rebuking efforts by fellow Democrats, Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, voted against the latest coronavirus stimulus package Congress is considering. On Friday night, the House of Representatives passed the “Heroes Act,” a $3 trillion package that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., drafted. It includes help for state and local governments, student loan forgiveness and hazard pay for frontline health care workers, among other things.
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** Charlottesville clergy have 'grave reservations' about plan to restart services ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

A group of religious leaders in Charlottesville issued a statement Friday expressing “grave reservations” about Gov. Ralph Northam’s plan to reopen the state. Members of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective said they appreciate the guidelines implemented for health and safety so far, but have received little help on how to safely reopen houses of worship, and fear a premature opening will put their congregations at even more risk.
The Full Report
36 articles, 19 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 includes a timeline of when COVID-19 cases were confirmed, a statewide map showing the number of cases and deaths by locality and per-capital cases by ZIP Code. VPAP has added daily hospital utilization numbers from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Updated each morning before 11:00 am.


** EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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** Northam says he will listen if other localities urge pause, takes responsibility for combined test results ([link removed])
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By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

As much of Virginia saw some public restrictions lift on Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam said that if any localities wish to return to stricter COVID-19 measures, he will consider those requests. “We are open-minded and willing to have those discussions,” Northam told reporters at his Friday briefing. Also Friday, Northam took responsibility for a practice at the Virginia Department of Health that allowed for antibody testing and diagnostic tests to be reported together for weeks, without disclosure.
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** Northam: Health, labor officials ready to crack down on business coronavirus violations ([link removed])
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By DAVE RESS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Virginians worried about going back to work as the state gradually reopens need to know state officials have their back, Gov. Ralph Northam said. The Virginia Department of Health and the state’s Department of Labor and Industry will shut down businesses that aren’t following safety guidelines.


** GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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** Morrissey criticizes parole board's decision to suspend release of convicted killer ([link removed])
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By MARK BOWES, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

State Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Richmond, is criticizing the Virginia Parole Board’s decision to suspend the scheduled release of Vincent Martin, sentenced in 1980 to life in prison for the killing of a Richmond police officer. “I find it indefensible that outside forces were able to compel the Virginia Parole Board to rescind Mr. Martin’s parole, albeit temporarily for 30 days,” Morrissey wrote in the missive on state Senate letterhead dated Thursday to Parole Board Chairwoman Tonya Chapman.


** STATE ELECTIONS
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** Paul Goldman announces bid for lieutenant governor ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Paul Goldman, a former chairman of Virginia’s Democratic Party who has spent recent years focused on Richmond politics, is running for lieutenant governor. Goldman announced Friday that he will seek the post in 2021 as he looks to succeed Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who is running for governor. The 66-year-old has not filed paperwork to run and said Friday that he will do so on July 4.


** STATE GOVERNMENT
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** Over 800 eviction cases set for Virginia courts starting Monday; VPLC urges courts to protect tenants ([link removed])
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By NICOLE BRAILER, WAVY

As the state begins to open non-essential businesses, beginning May 18 the Virginia courts will ease some restrictions as well to include hearing non-emergency matters such as evictions. Starting Monday, more than 800 eviction cases are scheduled throughout Virginia, and of that, about 240 of the cases are local to Hampton Roads jurisdictions. As a result of this high number, the Virginia Poverty Law Center is asking courts to wait on hearing eviction cases.


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** Va., Md. offer pictures of economic damage of the pandemic ([link removed])
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By DREW HANSEN, Washington Business Journal (Subscription required for some articles)

The budget shortfalls facing Maryland and Virginia as they contend with the Covid-19 pandemic became clearer Thursday as both states issued sobering financial reports. Virginia tax revenue collections fell 26.2% in April, according to an announcement from Gov. Ralph Northam’s office. The dip was primarily due to an extension of tax deadlines until June 1 that was intended to give citizens and companies relief in facing the pandemic.
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** Virginia Dentists Adapt To Changes ([link removed])
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By JESSICA WETZLER, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Going in for a routine hygiene appointment at a dentist's office will look a little different across the commonwealth these days. Dr. Caitlin Batchelor, of Caitlin Batchelor Dentistry in Harrisonburg, was able to reopen her practice on May 1 after Gov. Ralph Northam lifted the ban on elective surgeries and allowed doctors, dentists and veterinarians to resume seeing patients on a non-emergency basis. As restrictions began to rollback, Batchelor, along with many other Virginia dentists, were met with weeks of backlogged appointments, obstacles to obtain necessary personal protective equipment and a need for a plan on how to move forward.
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** 'You have to give us more notice' ([link removed])
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By COLLEEN CURRAN AND MARK ROBINSON, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Richmond’s best-known shopping and dining destination remained a shell of itself Friday. Few were out and about in Carytown on Friday around lunchtime. Parking was abundant at public lots. Closed signs remained posted on doors of darkened storefronts. Patios, normally teeming during peak lunch hours, sat empty. With little in the way of foot traffic, buskers and beggars were likewise absent.
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** For Northern Virginia Restaurants, Reopening Is Full of Moving Targets ([link removed])
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By ADELE CHAPIN, Eater

As he prepared for the possibility that Virginia restaurants might soon reopen outdoor areas to customers, Hops N Shine co-owner Matt Rofougaran spent last week hustling to make his Alexandria beer garden as safe from COVID-19 as possible. He raced to Home Depot to buy supplies for a plexiglass sneeze-guard that will separate customers and bartenders. He stocked shelves that usually held glasses and plates with face masks and disinfectant wipes. By Monday, he had made a plan to rearrange the entire back patio, going beyond the state’s minimum requirements for 6 feet of distancing by spacing tables 10 feet apart.
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** Local Restaurants Look At The Rest Of Virginia For Roadmap To Reopening ([link removed])
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By HANNAH SCHUSTER, WAMU

Restaurants in parts of Virginia reopen for on-site dining today as the state begins to emerge from a weeks-long economic shutdown. But D.C. and its surrounding suburbs remain closed. All of Northern Virginia, the city of Richmond and Accomack County on the Eastern Shore will stay closed for at least two more weeks.
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** Three Richmond-area food plants have had employees test positive for coronavirus ([link removed])
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By JOHN REID BLACKWELL, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Three manufacturing plants in the Richmond area that produce food products have had employees test positive for the coronavirus, but the factories continue to operate.
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** 'A great outcome for Virginia': Technology research 'critical' to rebuilding state's economy ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

The sale of the Northern Virginia complex housing the Center for Innovative Technology caught the eye of JB Holston, the newly named chief executive officer at the Greater Washington Partnership. Holston, currently dean of the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Denver, is a believer in the power of high-tech research to help rebuild an economy stricken by the coronavirus pandemic in a metropolitan super-region stretching from Richmond to Washington and beyond to Baltimore.


** TRANSPORTATION
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** GRTC provides more protective gear to drivers ([link removed])
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By JEREMY M. LAZARUS, Richmond Free Press

It took nearly two months, but GRTC is ramping up virus protection for drivers who have kept the public transit system rolling during the pandemic. Four drivers have tested positive for COVID-19, including one who is hospitalized. An order of 400 face shields arrived Monday and was being distributed to drivers willing to wear the extra layer of protection.
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** GLTC to receive more than $7.6 million in coronavirus aid ([link removed])
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By RICHARD CHUMNEY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company will receive more than $7.6 million in federal funding to help the bus system weather the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. With fare collection suspended during the course of the health emergency, the federal aid will ensure bus drivers will continue to get paychecks, help the transit system cover the cost of regularly cleaning its bus fleet and offset a reduction in local funding.


** HIGHER EDUCATION
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** James Madison University joins other Virginia colleges in freezing tuition ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

James Madison University is the latest college in Virginia to freeze tuition for next year. The university’s board of visitors voted Friday to keep tuition rates flat for in-state and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students.
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** Journalists accused of trespassing at Liberty University will not face criminal charges ([link removed])
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By RICHARD CHUMNEY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Lynchburg prosecutors Friday announced they will not pursue criminal charges against two journalists who Liberty University police accused of trespassing on campus while covering the school’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.


** CORONAVIRUS
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** With virus restrictions lifting, a cautious reopening begins in Virginia and Maryland ([link removed])
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By JOE HEIM, LAURA VOZZELLA AND EMILY DAVIES, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Penny Papa was the first customer of the day Friday at the T. Ann Nails salon outside Richmond. All that stood between her and new nails was a “Covid-19 Pandemic Nail treatment Consent Form.” “I understand the covid-19 virus has a long incubation period during which carriers of the virus may not show symptoms and still be highly contagious,” it began. “It is impossible to determine who has it and who does not given the current limits in virus testing."
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** Va. braces for $1B budget shortfall; Northam to make decision on beaches next week ([link removed])
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By ZEKE HARTNER, WTOP

Though much of Virginia entered Phase One of Gov. Ralph Northam’s gradual reopening blueprint on Friday, Northern Virginia localities remained locked down as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases and related deaths continued to rise. The parts of Northern Virginia that remain in “Phase Zero” include: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties; the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park; and the towns of Dumfries, Herndon, Leesburg and Vienna.
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** More than 1 in 5 of Virginia's COVID-19 reported cases have come in the past week ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN MATTINGLY, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

More than one in five of Virginia's COVID-19 reported cases have come in the past week. The Virginia Department of Health reported Friday that the state has 28,672 cases of the virus, an increase of more than 850 over the 27,813 reported Thursday. Of those cases, 27,293 are confirmed and 1,379 are probable, meaning someone is symptomatic with known exposure to COVID-19, but their case hasn't been confirmed with a positive test.
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** Arlington Test Positivity Rate Still Well Above 10% Goal ([link removed])
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ArlNow

New data from the Virginia Dept. of Health suggests there is not nearly enough coronavirus testing being done in Arlington. The state health department has added testing data, sortable by locality, to its COVID-19 information page. The data for Arlington shows that there are currently only around 150 virus tests being performed and reported per day, and an average positivity rate just above 25%.
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** As Parts of Virginia Begin Reopening, Fairfax County COVID-19 Count Passes 7,000 ([link removed])
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By FATIMAH WASEEM, Reston Now

As some portions of the state move to reopen today, the COVID-19 case count in Fairfax County continues to climb. Although the county’s per capita rate is relatively low, the county has. 7,245 confirmed cases and 1,050 hospitalizations due to COVID-19, according to state health data released Friday.
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** ‘Not booking at all’: Protesters push to reopen Loudoun County ([link removed])
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By NEAL AUGENSTEIN, WTOP

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Loudoun County government building Friday to decry Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall’s role in Gov. Ralph Northam’s decision to allow Northern Virginia to delay entering the first phase of easing pandemic-related restrictions. Many of the protesters were small business owners. They were holding signs along Market Street — “Fear is a virus,” “Liberate Loudoun,” and “The ‘cure’ is worse than COVID” — as they acknowledged horn honks from supporters driving by.
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** A lonely death at ground zero in Chesterfield, as long-term care facilities in Virginia still await aid ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

While Jane Barlow Bacon was battling to survive COVID-19 in a Chesterfield County hospital bed, her son was talking to doctors about how to treat a disease that no one fully understands. They tried hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that proved ineffective in treating the coronavirus disease, but the doctors had higher hopes for remdesivir, a new antiviral drug that had been shipped to COVID-19 hot spots in Northern Virginia and other states.


** VIRGINIA OTHER
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** Arlington National Cemetery visitors restricted to family members during Memorial Day holiday ([link removed])
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By MIKE GLENN, Washington Times

Visitors to Arlington National Cemetery will be restricted only to family pass holders during the Memorial Day weekend because of health concerns from the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Friday. Several thousand family pass holders are expected to be on hand during the Memorial Day weekend to visit the graves of their loved ones, said Charles Alexander, the superintendent of Arlington National Cemetery.
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** VHSL cancels all offseason practices and summer workouts ([link removed])
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By GREG GIESEN, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month)

The Virginia High School League is taking no chances this summer with the coronavirus. Despite Gov. Ralph Northam starting Phase 1 of Virginia’s reopening plan, the league has canceled all out-of-season practices and summer activities. “The current relaxing of the Governor’s stay-at-home order applies only to businesses,” VHSL director of communication Mike McCall said in a release. “Schools remain closed and in-school facility use is off limits.”
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** Mountain Valley drops 1 person from tree-sit case ([link removed])
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By LAURENCE HAMMACK, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

A woman who was said to be up a tree has been dropped from Mountain Valley Pipeline’s legal attempt to have a group of protesters removed. Jordan Romeo was recently non-suited from the case at the request of attorneys for the pipeline, according to court records. Last year, Mountain Valley filed a request for a preliminary injunction, which it said was needed to remove two tree-sitters and their supporters from a protest site in Montgomery County that has blocked tree-cutting for the construction project since September 2018.


** LOCAL
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** Officials Say Arlington May Reopen in Mini-Phases ([link removed])
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By VERNON MILES, ArlNow

Large portions of the state partially reopened today, but not Northern Virginia. As the region moves closer to a potential reopening after Memorial Day, however, Arlington officials say residents should expect things to move slowly, and a bit unevenly. Within the parks department, for instance, officials said in a virtual town hall Friday that different facilities will be reopening at different stages of recovery.
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** Fairfax Co. teachers’ union calls for more mental health support ([link removed])
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By MIKE MURILLO, WTOP

A teachers’ union in Fairfax County, Virginia, is calling for more mental health staffing and resources after a recent survey raised concerns about the mental health of teachers and students. The Fairfax County Federation of Teachers surveyed 824 staff members, and 55% of them said they perceive the mental health of their students has deteriorated since schools closed and distance learning began.
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** Virginia Beach lifeguards ready for first weekend on the beach ([link removed])
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By STACY PARKER, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The beaches will remain largely closed this weekend, but Virginia Beach plans to make sure those who do venture out amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will be safe. For the first time this season, 12 guards will take up their posts Saturday in the resort area. Another dozen or so supervisors will patrol the water in trucks and on ATVs.
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** Some Fredericksburg-area churches reopen, others remain leery ([link removed])
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By JAMES SCOTT BARON, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Resuming in-person services inside churches may seem like a welcome thing to do after weeks of staying home, but some area pastors are still not ready to preach from the pulpit. Although some local churches will open their doors this Sunday under Gov. Ralph Northam’s reopening Phase I guidelines, several area pastors say they will take a pass for now and err on the side of caution until the COVID-19 pandemic is tamped down further.
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** Danville business owners, customers embrace first phase of reopening ([link removed])
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By CALEB AYERS, Danville Register & Bee

The bright red chairs that would normally seat family members of those getting a haircut or others waiting their turn were empty Friday. The parking lot was full of patrons waiting in cars for their appointment to begin or for their relative who was getting a haircut.

Today's Sponsor:


** Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
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Deepest gratitude to all essential workers everywhere.


** EDITORIALS
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** Think twice ([link removed])
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Richmond Free Press Editorial

We strongly support the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus in its opposition to begin reopening Virginia’s businesses, restaurants and places of worship on Friday....We believe Gov. Northam, a physician, may be knuckling under the pressure of Virginia’s business community without proper regard for all Virginians’ health, particularly that of people of color, and without adequate plans to assist the most vulnerable.
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** We're still waiting ([link removed])
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Roanoke Times Editorial (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Three thoughts about where we stand in what Gov. Ralph Northam has called (correctly) “a biological war”: 1. Virginia is reopening regionally, just not the way some wanted. Northam first said Virginia wouldn’t reopen regionally the way some states have. Then he said we might, citing the predicament of Bristol, where half the city is on one side of the state line and half is on the other. Then he said we wouldn’t, after all.


** COLUMNISTS
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** Schapiro: COVID-19 throws Virginia lobbyists a curve ([link removed])
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By JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Sarah Graham Taylor, Alexandria’s eyes and ears on state government, recalls crowding into a legislator’s stuffy, fifth-floor office in late February with about 15 people, most of them fellow lobbyists, to thrash out a deal allowing the city to impose a nickel tax on plastic grocery bags. In pre-coronavirus Richmond, such get-togethers were routine.


** OP-ED
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** Carrico: The parole board undermines justice ([link removed])
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By CHARLES ‘BILL’ CARRICO, published in Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

This week marks the 58th annual recognition of National Police Week, initially authorized by an act of Congress, with a Proclamation by President John F. Kennedy. Virginia’s recognition of this week appears to be less than wholehearted, judging from a recent decision by the Virginia Parole Board and subsequent inaction by Governor Northam.

Charles 'Bill' Carrico Carrico is a retired Virginia State Police Trooper. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002-2012, and in the Senate of Virginia from 2012-2020.
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