VaNews
January 7, 2021

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Top of the News


** ‘Use it or you lose it’: Northam says Virginia must speed up rollout of COVID-19 vaccine ([link removed])
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By KATE MASTERS, Virginia Mercury

Gov. Ralph Northam acknowledged Wednesday that Virginia needs to speed up the pace of its COVID-19 vaccinations, announcing a “you use it or you lose it policy” prodding health care providers to administer the shots to more residents. “I want you to empty those freezers and get shots in arms,” he said. “When you have vials, give out shots until they’re gone. No one wants to see any supplies sitting unused.” The governor’s news briefing — his first in nearly a month — came as Virginia experiences its worst COVID-19 caseload than at any other point in the pandemic.
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** State Puts Teachers in Next Line for Vaccines ([link removed])
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Loudoun Now

Gov. Ralph Northam today announced the next phase of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out, and teachers are moving up in the line. Whether K-12 teachers would be eligible for the vaccine had been a frequent question of Loudoun leaders in recent days as school administrators wrestle to resume in-person learning in the face of increasing coronavirus cases. As of this morning, 4,646 Loudouners had received their first vaccination shot, according to figures reported by the state Health Department.
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** Va. releases outlines for who's next in line for COVID-19 vaccines ([link removed])
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By SABRINA MORENO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

The Virginia Department of Health released a more detailed outline on Wednesday of who will be eligible for vaccinations in the next two phases of the state’s efforts. The first round of vaccinations, which Virginia is currently in, prioritizes health care workers and long-term care residents and staff. Here’s what the next two phases will look like: Phase 1b: Front-line essential workers, people age 75-plus, people in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps
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** Local hospitals report highest COVID patient counts with more expected ([link removed])
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By LUANNE RIFE, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Virginia’s hospitals are filling with COVID-19 patients, and more are expected once those exposed to the coronavirus over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays develop serious illnesses. “We are operating on a scalable surge model. We continue to increase and convert hospital beds for COVID patients,” said Mike Abbott, senior vice president of operations for Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, during a press briefing Wednesday.
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** Roanoke Valley congressmen Cline, Griffith among Republicans challenging Biden's Electoral College win ([link removed])
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By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

The Roanoke Valley’s Republican congressmen joined a bid to overturn the 2020 presidential election Wednesday, but the effort to display their loyalty to President Donald Trump by contesting the certification of Electoral College results quickly came to a halt after an angry mob of Trump partisans stormed the Capitol building. Reps. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, and Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, were among lawmakers forced into hiding and pleading for supporters of their own party’s leader to be peaceful as police struggled for hours to regain control.
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** Virginia lawmakers decry violence as pro-Trump mob attacks U.S. Capitol ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-7th, was in the House of Representatives on Wednesday when rioters supporting President Donald Trump smashed glass windows while trying to break into the chamber as lawmakers began the process of counting the Electoral College votes confirming Joe Biden’s victory. “It went sideways pretty quickly as a violent mob came in and tried to break into the chamber,” Spanberger told the Richmond Times-Dispatch in a phone interview.
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** Retired judges pick eight citizen members for Virginia redistricting commission ([link removed])
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By GRAHAM MOOMAW, Virginia Mercury

A panel of retired judges on Wednesday picked the eight Virginia citizens who will serve on the state’s new redistricting commission, finalizing the group that will handle the important task of redrawing the state’s political maps when new U.S. Census data arrives. The judges spent hours trying to solve the puzzle of winnowing more than 60 finalists down to eight people who, by law, were supposed to represent Virginia’s geographic, racial and gender diversity.
The Full Report
50 articles, 23 publications
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** FROM VPAP
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** VPAP Visual "Reflect diversity of the Commonwealth" ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

The Redistricting Selection Committee was tasked with picking eight citizens who "reflect the racial, ethnic, geographic, and gender diversity of the Commonwealth." This visual show how the Committee measured up on those four goals.
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** From VPAP New Pages Focus on Redistricting Commission ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

With eight citizen members selected, Virginia's new Redistricting Commission is set to begin work once it receives updated population numbers from the U.S. Census. VPAP has added a section to its website that makes it easier to follow the process of redrawing legislative districts. We've added photos and profiles of the four Democrats and four Republicans who were picked yesterday to serve alongside a bipartisan group of eight legislators.
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** From VPAP Maps, Timeline of COVID-19 in Virginia ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

Our COVID-19 dashboard makes it easy to track the latest available data for tests performed, infections, deaths and hospital capacity. There's a filter for each city and county, plus an exclusive per-capita ZIP Code map. Updated each morning around 10:30 a.m.


** EXECUTIVE BRANCH
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** 'Empty those freezers': Northam vows to speed vaccine delivery; Richmond's Danny Avula to lead state's vaccination effort ([link removed])
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By MEL LEONOR, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Lagging COVID-19 vaccination progress in Virginia has prompted changes to the state’s approach, including new leadership for the effort and penalties for distributors that don’t use the vaccines quickly enough. Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday tapped Richmond and Henrico Health Director Danny Avula to lead the state’s COVID-19 vaccination effort.
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** All Virginians wanting vaccine should have it by later this year, Northam says ([link removed])
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By ELISHA SAUERS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Virginia hopes to immunize everyone who wants a coronavirus vaccine before the end of the year, Gov. Ralph Northam said Wednesday. But based on estimates of how many people would need to be vaccinated daily, that goal might be a stretch. So far, the state has received 481,550 total doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Over 116,200 shots have been given, with only about 2,200 Virginians having received both doses of the two-part vaccine.
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** Northam to health care providers with vaccines: Use it or lose it ([link removed])
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By LUANNE RIFE, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday warned health care providers that if they didn’t quickly get all of their doses of COVID-19 vaccines into people’s arms, Virginia would short subsequent shipments. “We can be faster, and we are going to be faster, and that starts with a simple message to health care providers, health departments, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and everywhere: You use it, or you lose it,” Northam said during a news briefing. “I want you to empty those freezers and get shots in arms. When you have vials, give out shots until they are gone.”
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** As covid-19 hospitalizations hit new highs, Northam takes steps to speed vaccinations ([link removed])
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By JENNA PORTNOY AND GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Coronavirus hospitalizations reached record highs in the District, Maryland and Virginia on Wednesday, as Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam joined the chorus of public officials saying the pace of vaccinations must move faster. Northam (D) threatened to reallocate doses of vaccine if hospitals and local vaccination clinics could not administer them, and deployed the National Guard to help with inoculations, echoing actions announced Tuesday by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R).
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** Northam outlines new coronavirus vaccine plans ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN AND SARAH RANKIN, Associated Press

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is urging hospital systems to move quickly to administer coronavirus vaccines, saying the state will now implement a “use it or lose it” policy designed to speed up distribution of the shots. “No one wants to see any supply sitting unused,” Northam said at a news conference Wednesday, saying health systems that don’t move fast enough will receive fewer doses in future distribution rounds.


** GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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** Citizen members chosen for Virginia’s new bipartisan redistricting commission ([link removed])
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By GREGORY S. SCHNEIDER, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

A panel of retired judges on Wednesday selected eight citizens to participate in Virginia's new redistricting commission, choosing a racially diverse group of six men and two women from every region of the state. The group was chosen from 62 nominees put forward by leaders from both major parties in the state Senate and House of Delegates. The legislators drew those nominees from a pool of more than 200 citizens who had applied for the commission, which was created after voters approved it in a constitutional amendment in November.
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** A diverse group will help draw Virginia’s new political maps ([link removed])
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By GORDON RAGO, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

A Virginia Beach Navy veteran is among the eight citizens who will join eight legislators on a bipartisan commission that will redraw Virginia’s legislative boundaries for the next decade. Brandon Hutchins found out Wednesday as he watched a livestream from his new home in Virginia Beach. The 39-year-old thinks his diverse background in the military, healthcare and owning a small business will help him in the new role. “I think that I can help make sure that this process is done in an equitable fashion,” Hutchins said when reached Wednesday afternoon.
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** Citizens chosen for Virginia bipartisan redistricting panel ([link removed])
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Associated Press

A panel of judges has selected eight citizens who will join eight legislators on a bipartisan commission that will redraw Virginia’s legislative boundaries for the next decade. A referendum approved by voters in November creates the 16-member commission to draw lines for Virginia’s seats in Congress and the General Assembly. The judges selected four names each from lists submitted by Democratic and Republican legislative leaders.
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** Richmond's Harris, Hanover's Babichenko among eight named to Virginia redistricting commission ([link removed])
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By ANDREW CAIN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

A panel of retired judges on Wednesday selected the eight citizen members of Virginia’s new redistricting commission, including Greta Harris of Richmond, president and CEO of the Better Housing Coalition, and Hanover County prosecutor Mackenzie Babichenko. The list of eight citizen commissioners also includes Marvin Gilliam of Bristol, a former coal executive who has donated nearly $1 million to Republican campaigns.
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** Virginia Beach asks General Assembly to allow the city to create a tourism authority ([link removed])
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By ALISSA SKELTON, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Virginia Beach is one step closer to changing the structure of its tourism department. On Tuesday, the Virginia Beach City Council voted 8-3 to ask the General Assembly to pass legislation to allow the city to create an authority that would handle the city’s tourism marketing efforts, which is currently overseen by city staff. If the legislation is supported, the council would still need to approve its creation and determine how to implement it. Oceanfront hotel and restaurant owners have urged the city to consider restructuring its tourism department to allow the private sector to have more input.
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** Bill to legalize marijuana in Virginia reintroduced by Hampton Roads Del. Steve Heretick ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, WAVY-TV

After years of attempts, could 2021 be the year local Del. Steve Heretick’s marijuana legalization bill passes in the Virginia General Assembly? Heretick (D-Portsmouth), who’s proposed both decriminalization and legalization bills in the past, reintroduced his signature legislation to “legalize the cultivation, sale, and consumption of marijuana in Virginia.” The proposed legislation provides for the issuing of licenses for cultivation and retail services and legalizes home cultivation for personal use.


** STATE ELECTIONS
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** Dickenson Co. Deputy Jony Baker to run for state Sen. Ben Chafin’s seat ([link removed])
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By SLATER TEAGUE, WJHL-TV

Dickenson County, Virginia Deputy Sheriff Jony Baker will run for the Virginia state Senate seat previously held by Sen. Ben Chafin, who recently died from COVID-19, a campaign spokesperson confirmed to CBS affiliate WJHL. Baker plans to formally announce his bid for the District 38 seat on Thursday.


** STATE GOVERNMENT
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** Service fee for Appalachian Power customers approved by SCC ([link removed])
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By LAURENCE HAMMACK, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

State regulators have approved a service fee of $1.80 a month for most customers of Appalachian Power Co., which will be used to protect lower-income ratepayers from the increased costs of switching to renewable energy. In an order last month, the State Corporation Commission allowed Appalachian to collect $25 million annually through the service fee to cover some of the costs of complying with the Virginia Clean Economy Act.


** CONGRESS
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** D.C., Virginia declare curfews amid turmoil at Trump rallies ([link removed])
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By EMILY ZANTOW, Washington Times

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday declared 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfews for regional jurisdictions after protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol Building while Congress was certifying the Electoral College’s election tally. . . . Mr. Northam ordered a curfew for the city of Alexandria and Arlington County, saying in a statement that he made the decision “at the request of local officials and in response to today’s violence at the U.S. Capitol.”
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** Northam sending Va. National Guard members and 200 state troopers to respond to unrest at U.S. Capitol ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said he is sending members of the Virginia National Guard along with 200 state troopers to respond to the unrest at the U.S. Capitol. In a tweet on Wednesday afternoon, Northam said he and his team are working closely with Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer "to respond to the situation in Washington, D.C." "Per the Mayor's request, I am sending members of the Virginia National Guard along with 200 Virginia State Troopers," the tweet said.
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** Northam sends Va. National Guard, state troopers to D.C. as Trump supporters attack Capitol ([link removed])
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By GRAHAM MOOMAW, Virginia Mercury

Gov. Ralph Northam said he was sending Virginia National Guard personnel and state troopers to help restore order in D.C. Wednesday after a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. One person was reported shot. The governor said he would be sending National Guard resources and 200 Virginia state troopers to assist with the situation, adding that his administration is “working closely” with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Democratic congressional leaders.
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** McEachin: Trump should be held accountable for 'treasonous act' ([link removed])
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By BILL ATKINSON, Progress Index (Metered paywall - 10 articles a month)

Just when you think you have seen everything there is to see in the world of politics, something comes along to make you think otherwise. For Rep. A. Donald McEachin, that something was Wednesday's storming of the Capitol by pro-Trump supporters angered by Congress' certification of the Electoral College results. "It certainly was eye-opening," Virginia's Fourth District congressman said by phone from one of several undisclosed secure locations in the Capitol where he and others were being sheltered.
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** Rep. Donald McEachin says Trump engaged in sedition and ‘must be impeached’ ([link removed])
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By SIERRA JENKINS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

As he waited for the U.S. Capitol to become safe again, U.S. Rep. Donald McEachin said he didn’t know how dangerous the pro-Trump mob outside was until it was almost too late. “You knew there were protesters on the ground, you knew that things were happening, but you didn’t know the severity of it until (security officers) started whisking us away,” he said Wednesday evening.
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** Wexton, Randall call for Trump’s removal amid Capitol chaos ([link removed])
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By MARK HAND AND KAREN GRAHAM, Loudoun Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Hundreds of President Donald Trump’s supporters easily broke through lines of overmatched police officers Wednesday and took control of parts of the U.S. Capitol, creating a stunning scene for a nation that prides itself on its Democratic institutions and peaceful transfers of power. Trump, the defeated president, had been encouraging his followers to gather in Washington as Congress convened for a joint session to certify Joe Biden’s win in November’s presidential election. Last month, Trump targeted Jan. 6 as the crucial date. “Be there, will be wild!” Trump tweeted.
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** More than 100 Lynchburg-area residents head to D.C. to protest certification of Biden's win ([link removed])
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By SARAH HONOSKY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

It was still dark at 6 a.m. Wednesday in the Candlers Station Shopping Center parking lot, but the floodlights were enough to illuminate the steady stream of MAGA hats and posters, and a larger-than-life print-out of President Trump's face slung over someone's back. More than a hundred Lynchburg-area residents boarded buses to Washington, D.C., ready to join the rallies and protests planned to contest "election fraud," coinciding with the congressional vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden's win in the Electoral College.
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** Group gathers in Abingdon to protest election results ([link removed])
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By SARAH WADE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, hours after pro-Trump protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., some area residents gathered in downtown Abingdon to express their own opposition to the presidential election results. The roughly two dozen people waving pro-Trump flags and signs like “HONK 4 TRUMP” and “DRAIN THE SWAMP” were peaceful and often enthusiastic, cheering whenever a passing vehicle honked, which was often.


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** Dominion Energy to give $500K in scholarships to minority students ([link removed])
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By SALEEN MARTIN, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

If you’re a minority student in Virginia or the nine other states in Dominion Energy’s service area, the power company wants to hear from you. This year, the company is awarding $500,000 in scholarships to students who identify as Black, Hispanic or Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, according to a news release. Dominion Energy said 20 students at two-year schools will get $5,000, and 40 students at four-year schools will get $10,000.
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** Amazon helps nonprofit purchase Arlington building for affordable housing ([link removed])
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By KYLE SWENSON, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

As the Washington region continues to wrestle with how to create affordable housing for working-class residents, an area nonprofit organization has teamed with one of the region’s most prominent corporate residents. On Wednesday, the nonprofit Washington Housing Conservancy announced that it had purchased the Crystal House, an 825-unit apartment complex in Arlington, Va. The acquisition was financed through a $381.9 million package of below-market loans and grants from Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund.


** CORONAVIRUS
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** In terms of virus, '2021 has not started on a good note,' says Fredericksburg-area health official ([link removed])
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By CATHY DYSON, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

While vaccines against COVID-19 promise light at the end of the tunnel, local health care officials are concerned about the darkness surrounding them. “We still have to get through that tunnel,” said Joe Saitta, incident commander of the Rappahannock Area Health District, who’s worked with other local health officials on the plan to roll out the vaccine. “Unfortunately, we are not there yet, and 2021 has not started on a good note when it comes to our district’s COVID-19 metrics.”
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** Virginia reports nearly 5,400 new COVID cases on Wednesday, hitting yet another record high ([link removed])
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By SABRINA MORENO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Along with states across the country, Virginia is seeing concerning, record-high spikes in new cases. On Wednesday, the state reported 5,387 additional infections. Four out of the five highest single-day increases in cases occurred in the last week. All surpassed 5,000.
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** Sovah Health-Danville records highest level of COVID-19 patients this week ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, Danville Register & Bee

Sovah Health officials are urging the community to practice COVID-19 prevention methods after the Danville facility reported its highest virus patient count Monday. The local health system was treating 30 COVID-19 patients at its Danville campus Wednesday, the same number as two weeks ago. In Martinsville, 21 people were hospitalized, a decrease from 28 pm Dec. 23.
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** One in four Central Virginians tested for COVID-19 see positive result ([link removed])
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By RACHEL MAHONEY, News & Advance (Metered Paywall - 18 articles a month)

About a quarter of all COVID-19 tests administered in the Lynchburg area have been coming back positive after the holidays, according to the latest state data. Days after Christmas, the percentage of daily positive results from a PCR test, the most common and accurate nasal swab test, climbed to a peak of 35.8% and has fluctuated between 20% and 30% since, numbers from the Virginia Department of Health show.
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** Region's COVID cases high as vaccinations get under way ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

The region’s battle with COVID-19 is approaching a crossroads as beleaguered health care workers treat ever increasing numbers of patients while a small percentage of the public is beginning to receive vaccinations against the virus. Ballad Health reported 357 inpatients in its hospitals Wednesday, compared to 262 on Dec. 6, a 26.6% increase in daily census in one month.
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** Local Immigrants Hold Diverse Views On Vaccine ([link removed])
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By IAN MUNRO, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Bilal Al-Rawi said goodbye to his family and went out the front door dressed head to toe in a black tracksuit to take a commercial driver’s license test Wednesday afternoon. Al-Rawi is pursuing a career as a truck driver for the same reason he would also be open to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine — to help his family. “Why? Because to protect my family, my children,” the Iraqi immigrant said about getting an inoculation against the novel coronavirus.
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** Virginia Beach helps state administer COVID-19 vaccines to essential workers ([link removed])
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By ALISSA SKELTON, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Masked drivers pulled into a Virginia Beach ambulance bay and rolled down their windows to receive the Moderna vaccine in their left arms on Tuesday. Hannah McConnell, 26, who works for Virginia Beach Neurology, was one of the health care workers given the opportunity to get the vaccine. Erol Aydar, a senior paramedic, prepped the vaccine at a table next to her car and approached her window to explain the procedure and administer the shot.
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** Avula Named New State Vaccine Czar ([link removed])
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By CONNOR SCRIBNER, WCVE-FM

Dr. Danny Avula has a new job. Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday that Avula, who serves as the director of the Richmond City Health District, will head the state’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts. This comes as Virginia struggles to administer vaccines. As of Jan. 6, only 24% of vaccine doses received by the state have been administered. Avula said he plans to help streamline the state’s vaccination process.


** LOCAL
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** Fairfax County Schools Postpone Planned Return to In-Person Learning ([link removed])
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By FATIMAH WASEEM, Reston Now

Fairfax County Public Schools students will not start returning to in-person learning next week as planned. After getting an update on local COVID-19 trends last night (Tuesday), the Fairfax County School Board gave its support to FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand’s suggestion that the school system delay bringing students back into buildings until February at the earliest.
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** Walts recommends delaying the return of 4th-12th grade students until late April ([link removed])
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By JILL PALERMO, Prince William Times

Prince William County students in the fourth through 12th grades would have to wait until late April to attend school in person under the revised timeline Superintendent Steven Walts proposed early Thursday. In response to rising local COVID-19 infections and in hope that teachers might be vaccinated by early spring, Walts' presented a new timeline for returning students to in-person instruction during a marathon school board meeting that stretched to nearly 3 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7.
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** Report suggests schools could reopen safely, despite surge ([link removed])
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By JIM MCCONNELL, Chesterfield Observer

As the Chesterfield School Board prepares to meet Jan. 12 and announce the instructional format in which the local school system will begin the second semester, there’s a growing body of research suggesting COVID-19 is not widely transmitted in schools that adhere strictly to mitigation protocols. Amid continuing pressure from people on both sides of the school reopening debate, however, incomplete data and seemingly contradictory health guidance have made it difficult for school officials to confidently conclude they can deliver in-person instruction safely during a surge in new cases.
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** Untreated wastewater diverted into James River from Newport News ([link removed])
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By JESSICA NOLTE, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

With no other options, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District had to divert untreated wastewater into the James River after a major line break Monday in Newport News. The line spilled wastewater into 16th Street in the area between Garden Drive and Walnut Avenue. The wastewater did not reach inside any of the homes in the area, but it spilled into the yards.
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** King George moving meetings back to board room ([link removed])
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By CATHY DYSON, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

After months of meeting in a larger venue because of concerns about the pandemic, King George County is moving back to its original location: the board room of the Revercomb Building in the county office building. There wasn’t a lot of discussion about the move on Tuesday, when the board organized for the new year. Supervisor Annie Cupka, who represents the at-large district, was elected chairwoman, and Jeff Stonehill, Dahlgren District, vice-chairman.
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** Police Adapt To New Cellphone Law ([link removed])
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By PETE DELEA, Daily News Record (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Leading up to New Year’s Day — the date it became illegal to drive and hold a cellphone in Virginia — Harrisonburg police placed electronic signs throughout the Friendly City informing drivers of the soon-to-be law. Lt. Chris Monahan of the Harrisonburg Police Department said officers, for now, remain focused on educating the public rather than issuing tickets. “Driving distracted, especially with using a cellphone, is extremely dangerous,” Monahan said, adding that it’s not just electronic devices that can be problematic. “The main goal is for people to pay attention to the roadway.”
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** EDA to receive $500,000 to cover loss ([link removed])
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By ALEX BRIDGES, Northern Virginia Daily

The Front Royal-Warren County Economic Development Authority can expect to receive $500,000 to help cover money lost as a result of an alleged embezzlement. The EDA Board of Directors voted 5-0 at a special meeting Wednesday to release Cincinnati Insurance Company, which maintained the authority’s theft liability policy during the time that Jennifer McDonald served as the agency’s executive director. McDonald resigned from the position in December 2018 prior to an investigation into possible embezzlement from the authority reaching approximately $21 million.

Today's Sponsor:


** Philip Shucet and Debbie Messina
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For Scott Harper, who always knew that the only way to write a story was to say what was true.


** EDITORIALS
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** Rebellion in our capital ([link removed])
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Daily Progress Editorial (Metered Paywall - 25 articles a month)

This is revolution. A mob has stormed the U.S. Capitol, breaching security, ransacking desks in the Senate, sending members of the House cowering for cover. At least one shot has been fired. News organizations are reporting that a woman has died; someone has suffered a cardiac arrest; someone else has suffered broken bones in a fall. Police officers have been injured. Another victim was — as intended — the Congress’s lawful duty to review and certify the Electoral College count from the presidential election.
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** Redistricting judges fall short of mandate ([link removed])
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Roanoke Times Editorial (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Sometimes government appears to move maddeningly slow. Right now, though, the machinery of Virginia’s new redistricting process is whirring right along at an exceptionally brisk pace. On Nov. 3, Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment that takes the power of drawing new district lines out of the hands of the majority party in the General Assembly — right now Democrats — and gives it to a special commission.
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** Try carrot approach to paid sick leave ([link removed])
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Free Lance-Star Editorial (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

When the Virginia General Assembly convenes virtually on Jan. 13 for the beginning of its 30-day “short session,” mandatory paid sick leave will once again be on the agenda. But the issue failed to make traction last year for the same reason it should be rejected again this year: Small businesses that are already operating on the edge due to the pandemic simply cannot afford it.
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** Paid sick leave needed for Virginia workers ([link removed])
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Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

With a pandemic surging, it should be a given that if you feel ill, you stay home from work. After all, we have our temperature checked before we enter many establishments, and we’re constantly being reminded to wear masks, wash our hands and maintain distance from others. People who feel ill should take a few sick days until they feel better, or they should find out what’s wrong and act accordingly, right? That’s common sense. The problem is, it’s not that easy for the more than 1 million workers in Virginia who don’t have paid sick leave.
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** Driving and hand-held phones don't mix ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

It’s simple: Put it down. As of Jan. 1, it is illegal to hold a phone while driving in Virginia. That means no fiddling with your hand-held device as you barrel down the interstate or navigate your neighborhood. Use your Bluetooth or talk through a speaker — but don’t cradle your cellphone.
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** Capitol attack is a stain on our history ([link removed])
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Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

For more than two centuries, the United States has relied on the votes of its people and the process of the Electoral College to elect its president. As we watched the 2020 count of our nation’s electoral votes devolve into a violent breach of security at the U.S. Capitol, we saw the true toll of the four years of disinformation and demagoguery that a majority of Virginians and Americans rejected at the polls in November.


** COLUMNISTS
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** Schapiro: Benefiting from Southern political melodies ([link removed])
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By JEFF E. SCHAPIRO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Everyone’s had Georgia on their mind. But the apparent Democratic sweep there carries us back to New Virginia. On the same Tuesday in January, in special elections on distant points along the Atlantic seaboard, Democrats restored their majority in the U.S. Senate and affirmed it in the Virginia House of Delegates. The former — a high-turnout contest — has career-altering implications for one of Virginia’s dominant political figures. The latter — a low-turnout affair — could augur complications for Virginia’s dominant political party, exposing possible weaknesses in one of its strongholds, the outer suburbs of Washington, D.C.


** OP-ED
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** Rashid: Election challenges show contempt for democracy ([link removed])
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By QASIM RASHID, published in Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Congressman Rob Wittman’s defense of his signing onto the Texas amicus brief to overturn the presidential election is both hypocritical and devoid of fact. Without providing evidence of mass voter fraud or raising a legitimate constitutional question, the Texas lawsuit did not even meet the basic constitutional standard of alleging a wrong. Unsurprisingly, the Supreme Court rejected it 9-0. This is not about left versus right. It’s about our Constitution and democracy.

Rashid is an attorney and the 2020 Democratic candidate in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.
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** Longton: How unique financial institutions can save small businesses in underserved areas ([link removed])
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By ANDREA LONGTON, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Dr. Shantelle Brown is owner-operator of Hope Pharmacy, a minority-and-woman-owned pharmacy in Richmond’s East End delivering critical health services in a neighborhood where residents too often are overlooked and underestimated. While Hope has remained operational throughout the pandemic, some days are slower than normal. Many people are choosing not to be seen by their physician for minor aches and pains.

Longton is senior vice president of financial services for Opportunity Finance Network, a national not-for-profit organization in Washington, D.C.


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