VaNews
May 26, 2020

Today's Sponsor:


** Virginia Dental Association
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Thank you to the dentists, dental team members and all healthcare workers caring for Virginians.

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Top of the News


** VPAP Visual With a Democratic legislature, Northam eases up on veto pen ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

This year, Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam vetoed four bills passed by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly, down 54 in his first two years when Republicans ran the legislature. This visual compares the number of vetoes that Northam and his six immediate predecessors had accumulated three-quarters of the way through their four-year terms.
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** Memorial Day during a pandemic means fewer flags, ceremonies in Hampton Roads ([link removed])
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By KATHERINE HAFNER, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Come the morning of Memorial Day, American flags usually grace every gravestone at Hampton National Cemetery. The Friday prior to the holiday, volunteers fan out across the cemetery to mark each grave, honoring the lives of those who fought and died for our country. But this year, only the occasional red and blue could be spotted amid the sea of gray.
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** Hundreds flock to Fellowship Bible Church reopening despite COVID-19 risks ([link removed])
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By EVAN GOODENOW, Winchester Star (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Fellowship Bible Church parishioners prayed, pondered biblical scripture and sang songs together this weekend as they typically do at church. But services weren't typical this weekend. They were the first at the church since coronavirus concerns closed it on March 8. Worship has been onli
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** As Virginia Tech projects diverse class, international admissions drop ([link removed])
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By HENRI GENDREAU, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Virginia Tech could face a two-thirds drop in the number of international students enrolled this fall as universities nationwide struggle with retaining them amid the coronavirus pandemic. That snapshot of admitted students, provided by a university spokesman last week, reflects the toll the pandemic has taken on Tech’s ability to attract students from countries where the closures of U.S. consulates prevented needed visa interviews.
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** Floodwaters displace a dozen Henry County residents, cause road closures and power outages ([link removed])
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By KIM BARTO, Martinsville Bulletin (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Henry County remained under a state of emergency Monday after a severe storm and flash flooding along the Smith River on Sunday night washed out roads, toppled trees and left thousands of people without power overnight...The National Weather Service in Blacksburg issued a Flash Food Emergency — more severe than a warning — for the area. The county also sent out a “code red” alert to homes near the Smith River that were in the greatest danger due to the rising waters.
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** ‘30 percent is a lot to give away’: Local restaurants pushing back against national delivery apps ([link removed])
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By MIKE PLATANIA, Richmond BizSense

Local restaurateurs have been pummeled by empty dining rooms, reduced volume and a reliance on takeout and delivery during the pandemic. Now, some are pushing back against the third-party national delivery apps that they say are thinning their profits even further by taking more off the top of the industry’s already-thin margins.
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** Running low on oyster shells Chesapeake Bay Foundation is asking for your leftovers ([link removed])
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By KATHERINE HAFNER, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Restaurants in Virginia supply several thousand bushels of oyster shells each year to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s efforts to restore local reefs, saving the empty shells after meals that are then recycled into new homes for baby oysters and planted in waterways around the region. But with dining out restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials with the nonprofit said they’re running low.
The Full Report
23 articles, 15 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-capita cases by ZIP Code. VPAP has added daily hospital utilization numbers from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association. Updated each morning before 11:00 am.


** FEDERAL ELECTIONS
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** Alissa Baldwin seeks Republican Nomination for U.S. Senate ([link removed])
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By JOSH JANNEY, Winchester Star (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

U.S. Senate candidate Alissa Baldwin says that faith, family and freedom are the three most important things to her. Baldwin, 42, is running against professor and Army veteran Daniel Gade and Army veteran and intelligence officer Thomas Speciale in the June 23 Republican Primary. The General Election against Democratic incumbent Mark Warner is Nov. 3.


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** Virginia Beach launches $2M ‘We’re Open’ campaign ([link removed])
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By BRETT HALL, WAVY

“This year, we’ll summer smarter.” It’s one of the lines you’ll hear in commercials that have begun airing in cities up and down the East Coast as part of the City of Virginia Beach’s latest full-court press effort to stimulate its multi-billion dollar tourist industry. Until last Friday, the city’s 28 miles of public beaches were closed to the activity most people spend thousands of dollars to enjoy each and every year: sunbathing.
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** Feeling freer at the farmers market ([link removed])
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By TONIA MOXLEY, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

For the first time since March, Adrienne Davis will get to sell one croissant at a time to the shoppers standing in front of her, and that’s such a relief. It means the head baker of Big Indian Farm Artisan Bakery and her small staff won’t have to individually wrap each pastry hours before handing it over to a Blacksburg Farmers Market customer who bought it online earlier in the week.


** CORONAVIRUS
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** Nearly 1,500 new coronavirus cases and 37 more deaths reported by Virginia health officials ([link removed])
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By KATHERINE HAFNER, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Virginia reported nearly 1,500 more cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday, bringing the state’s total to 37,727. That’s the highest number of new cases reported in a single day in at least the past week. The state also saw 37 more deaths, totaling 1,208. The number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 is currently 1,376, according to the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.
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** Virginia COVID-19 cases rise to 37,727 ([link removed])
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By SABRINA MORENO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

The Virginia Department of Health reported Monday that due to its disease reporting system being down Saturday, COVID-19 data from the weekend was added to today’s report, resulting in numbers reflecting an increase of 14,621 tests and a 1,483 jump in cases. This brings the total number of cases to 37,727. Of those, 35,890 are confirmed and 1,837 are probable. Total deaths reached 1,208, an increase of 37 deaths from Sunday.
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** Va. reports record number of new cases ([link removed])
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By RACHEL CHASON AND JULIE ZAUZMER, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said Monday that the city is “back on track” to move toward a gradual reopening after seeing a slight spike in new cases over the weekend. Meanwhile, Virginia reported a record number of new cases — mostly in the Washington suburbs — but the area’s leaders said they are planning for a transition to Phase 1 of reopening starting at the end of the week.
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** Sixth inmate in Virginia dies from COVID-19 ([link removed])
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NBC 12

The Virginia Department of Corrections reports a sixth Virginia inmate has died due to COVID-19. According to information posted on VADOC’s site, the death was reported at Buckingham Correctional Center. This is the second death at that facility - it previously reported the state’s fourth inmate death.
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** Virginia sees 2nd case of inflammatory pediatric syndrome ([link removed])
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Associated Press

The Virginia Department of Health has reported the second confirmed case in the state of a pediatric inflammatory illness associated with the new coronavirus. The department’s website on Monday showed a second case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children in the Fairfax Health District, which includes Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church. No other details, including the age of the child, were provided.
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** 3-year-olds must wear masks: CHKD tightens rules as doctors brace for syndrome linked to coronavirus ([link removed])
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By ELISHA SAUERS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

It might be a jarring sight: Tiny toddlers in face masks. But Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters will require its patients, from as young as 3, to wear cloth face coverings for all visits. The hospital is tightening its rule — from a request to bring masks to a demand — as another way to shore up its infectious disease controls amid the spread of the coronavirus, a public health crisis that has infected over 34,000 Virginians.
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** Failed partnership with the Norfolk Naval Shipyard illustrates Virginia’s early troubles in sourcing PPE ([link removed])
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By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

At first, it seemed like a promising lead. In late March, the Virginia Department of Health — a key player in the state’s unified command team responding to the COVID-19 pandemic — reached out to the U.S. Navy, which operates its largest base in Norfolk. Bob Mauskapf, the director of VDH’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, had gotten a tip that the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (actually located in nearby Portsmouth) could use its 3D printer to manufacture plastic face shields.
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** What Virginia’s decreased air emissions tell us ([link removed])
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By SARAH VOGELSONG, Virginia Mercury

...[C]arbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide or ozone, many emissions that at certain concentrations are considered hazardous to human health and are therefore tracked and regulated by state and federal governments have seen noticeable declines since the pandemic was declared in mid-March. The effect, said Jeremy Hoffman, chief scientist at the Science Museum of Virginia, has been akin to “a traumatizing geophysical experiment.”


** VIRGINIA OTHER
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** 20 hikers rescued from Devil's Bathtub ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

The trails around the Devil’s Bathtub in Scott County were temporarily closed Monday after the rescue of 20 hikers who were stranded by flooding along the trails. Mike Armstrong, chief of the Bristol Virginia Fire Department, said hikers were walking the trails around the popular swimming hole Sunday, but evening rain caused flash flooding.


** LOCAL
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** Charlottesville given high marks in efforts to open meetings to the public ([link removed])
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By NOLAN STOUT, Daily Progress (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

Although safety guidelines are urging people to stay home as much as possible to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the work of government is still continuing. With government offices closed to the public, most public business is being conducted online through guidance from the state about open-meeting laws.
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** In a time of economic uncertainty, James City County applies for new grant to help residents ([link removed])
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By ALEXA DOIRON, Williamsburg-Yorktown Daily (Metered paywall - 3 articles per month)

James City County is in the process of applying for a community development block grant that would directly address the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The county had a public hearing last week for the Urgent Need CDBG application. . . . The funding will be used to stabilize low and moderate income households who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus. These are households who would now face eviction or utility cutoff as a direct result of unpaid bills.
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** Emergency response warehouse completes mission, closes doors ([link removed])
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By JAMES SCOTT BARON, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Stafford County’s temporary warehouse, which was used to gather, stage and distribute essential supplies to first responders and health care professionals during the coronavirus pandemic, has closed its doors.
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** A social distancing Memorial Day at Colonial Beach ([link removed])
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By ADELE UPHAUS–CONNER, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

At times early on Monday afternoon, the squawking of seagulls was the loudest sound along the Colonial Beach pier. The town’s beaches were open for the Memorial Day weekend, but the partly cloudy weather and concerns about the coronavirus—or both—kept crowds away on Monday. Residents said the crowds were larger on Saturday.
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** Shenandoah keeps Memorial Day tradition alive ([link removed])
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By RANDY ARRINGTON, Page Valley News

It wasn’t supposed to happen. And as of Friday morning, it still wasn’t. For 23 years, the Town of Shenandoah had held a special ceremony to honor our fallen soldiers on Memorial Day. But this year, the annual event that includes activities spread out over several days was cancelled on April 28.

Today's Sponsor:


** Virginia Dental Association
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Thank you to the dentists, dental team members and all healthcare workers caring for Virginians.


** EDITORIALS
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** Vetoes will slow Virginia’s recovery ([link removed])
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Free Lance-Star Editorial (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Gov. Ralph Northam’s vetoes last Thursday of three bipartisan bills passed by the General Assembly to expand Virginians’ access to affordable health insurance were a major disappointment, to say the least. Two identical bills would have allowed self-employed individuals, such as real estate agents, to purchase policies through their trade associations. The other bill (SB 861) would have allowed other small business associations—such as the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce—to offer competitive group health plans to their members.
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** Who we should thank (yes, thank) for rural broadband ([link removed])
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Roanoke Times Editorial (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

Here’s how fast things have changed. Until just a few weeks ago — before self-distancing, before stay-at-home orders — only about 1% of the patient visits in the Carilion Clinic system were being handled “virtually” through video calls or sometimes regular phone calls. Now, about 75% are.
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** Work to improve foster care system continues ([link removed])
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Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The consultant hired by the city of Norfolk earlier this year produced specific, practical recommendations for improving the city’s foster care program, and Norfolk’s Department of Health and Human Services says it fully agrees and is implementing them. All this gives hope that there is a way forward to improve the plight of these vulnerable children.


** OP-ED
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** Moody: Environmental measures may save threatened birds ([link removed])
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By GARY MOODY, published in Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

In these unprecedented times, we find ourselves social distancing and staying at home to protect our neighbors and loved ones and to help our healthcare workers on the front line — and many are turning to birds and nature for solace and hope. Among many things, this crisis underscores how valuable our outdoor spaces and the natural world are to our well-being. It shows why it is so important to maintain a healthy natural environment by making commitments such as the recently passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

Gary Moody is director of state and local climate strategy for the National Audubon Society.
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** Toscano: For Virginia's foster care system, the pandemic's true impact is not here yet ([link removed])
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By NANCY TOSCANO, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

The immediate impact of COVID-19 already is sweeping across every part of our lives, from schools and offices, to businesses and hospitals. Day in and day out, we find ourselves at home, coping with equal parts anxiety and good humor, and a whole lot of patience. The longer-term effects, of course, still are unknown, the yet-to-be realized consequences that are months or even years away.

Nancy Toscano, Ph.D., is the chief operating officer at United Methodist Family Services of Virginia (UMFS).
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