VaNews
January 13, 2021

Today's Sponsor:


** Clean Virginia
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Fighting to empower Virginians by promoting clean government and clean energy. Visit www.cleanvirginia.org ([link removed]) to learn more.
* Read Online ([link removed])
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Top of the News


** State adds some new vaccine information but details on distribution still lacking ([link removed])
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By LUANNE RIFE, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

The Virginia Department of Health added information Tuesday to its COVID-19 vaccine dashboard that shows how many doses hospitals, health departments, long-term care facilities and others have put into arms, but it doesn’t provide much in the way of details. While the department reports that it has distributed 773,825 doses, it does not show who received the vaccine vials.
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** Fairfax County to Launch New Vaccine Registration Form After Overwhelming Demand Jams System ([link removed])
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By FATIMAH WASEEM, Reston Now

Following a flood of demand Monday, Fairfax County plans to launch a new online vaccine registration system as early as Wednesday that will allow residents to schedule an appointment according to the county’s Information Technology Department. On Friday, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that the Fairfax Health District is one of several districts in the state to jumpstart the next phase of vaccinations — phase 1b. The first priority group in this phase is adults age 75 and older, followed by priority groups like police and grocery store workers. The new system, which is currently under development, follows a pre-registration tool that was launched by the county on Monday after overwhelming demand for scheduling jammed county phone lines and flooded the overall system.
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** Virginia’s Capitol Square to close on annual lobbying day ([link removed])
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By SARAH RANKIN, Associated Press

Amid reports of possible armed protests at state capitals across the country, Virginia officials plan to close Capitol Square in Richmond to the public Monday, an annual day for constituents to lobby lawmakers. Dena Potter, a spokeswoman for the Department of General Services, confirmed the closure and said her department had also denied permits to four advocacy groups that had been seeking to hold small gatherings on the square Monday.
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** Northam will introduce bill to end death penalty ([link removed])
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By FRANK GREEN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Gov. Ralph Northam will be introducing a bill to abolish the death penalty that, if successful, would make Virginia the first Southern state to end capital punishment. “I understand about timing and I suspect this is the year to end the death penalty in Virginia,” Northam told the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Tuesday. “I’ve felt strongly about this for a long time,” the governor said. “We’ve been doing so much good work on equity, especially criminal justice reform, and we have the majority in the House and the Senate.”
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** Lawmakers push for stronger oversight of Dominion’s rates ([link removed])
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By ALAN SUDERMAN, Associated Press

A group of Virginia lawmakers is set to push for stricter regulatory oversight of the state’s dominant electric utility, saying Dominion Energy’s customers have overpaid billions of dollars because of the company’s outsized political sway. Virginia’s regulatory structure has long been viewed as utility-friendly by Wall Street, and Dominion has routinely pushed through legislation that minimized the chances it has to lower its rates. That’s even though the regulators have routinely found that the electric monopoly’s rates provide excessive profit to the company, including a report last year that found Dominion earned $503 million above authorized levels in 2017 through 2019.
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** Former DMV official sentenced to more than 2 years in bribery scheme ([link removed])
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By FRANK GREEN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

The former program manager of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ motorcycle training program — who admitted to receiving cash and other considerations from contractors — was sentenced Tuesday to two years and four months in prison. Bruce Biondo, 65, of Mechanicsville managed the Virginia Rider Training Program and was employed by DMV from 1988 to May 2018 when he retired several months after he was confronted by his wrongdoing.
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** Feelings raw as Rocky Mount investigates 2 town police officers inside Capitol during riot ([link removed])
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By MIKE ALLEN, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

A selfie of two Rocky Mount police officers inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots sparked a confrontation Monday night at the town’s municipal building. Outside, critics of the officers’ actions shouted “Silence is violence!” and supporters of the officers shouted “First Amendment!” Inside, the Rocky Mount Town Council meeting, which could only be watched via livestream due to coronavirus crowd restrictions, proceeded with no public discussion of the officers’ fate.
The Full Report
54 articles, 24 publications
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** FROM VPAP
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** VPAP Visual A record 9 delegates seek to move up ([link removed])
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The Virginia Public Access Project

For ambitious members of the House of Delegates, a bid for statewide office can mean risking their House seats. That's because primary elections for the House and statewide offices usually occur at the same time. But this year, redistricting is likely to change the political calendar so House members do not have to choose between 'up or out.' A record number of delegates are giving it a go for Governor, Lt. Governor or Attorney General.
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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. We've added a link the VDH vaccination data. There's also 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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** Northam: Virginia National Guard to provide extra security for inauguration ([link removed])
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By GABRIELLA MUÑOZ, Washington Times

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said Tuesday that “a couple thousand” state National Guard troops will stay in the Northern Virginia/D.C. area past the Jan. 20 inauguration to help shore up security. Mr. Northam told reporters at a vaccine distribution center tour in Alexandria that he is ramping security in Richmond ahead of Wednesday’s start of the legislative session. “We want to make sure that our legislators can do the work of the people and that they can do it safely,” he said. “
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** Veterans charity to shut down amid allegations it was defrauding donors ([link removed])
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By DAVE RESS, Daily Press (Metered Paywall - 1 article a month)

A Florida-based group running a supposed charity for wounded veterans has settled allegations that it deceived donors and has agreed to close its doors, Attorney General Mark Herring said. The settlement also bans Healing Heroes Network Inc.’s directors, Stacey Spiegel, Allan Spiegel, and Neal Spiegel, from running any entity soliciting charitable donations for five years. It includes a company, Hero Giveaways, LLC, that Stacey and Neal Spiegel set up to continue the operation after a multi-state investigation into the business started.


** GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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** State prepares to close Capitol Square, denies permits for Lobby Day, citing possible 'civil unrest' ([link removed])
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By MICHAEL MARTZ, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Virginia officials moved to shut down Capitol Square and curtail public demonstrations during Lobby Day next week as the state girds for potential armed protests in the seat of government with the approach of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. The Department of General Services, the state agency that manages the Capitol complex, said Tuesday that it has denied requests by four groups that had planned to gather on Capitol Square on Monday, the traditional Lobby Day for the General Assembly, which this year falls two days before Biden’s inauguration.
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** Pandemic Looms Over Virginia General Assembly’s 2021 Session ([link removed])
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By BEN PAVIOUR, WCVE-FM

It was over quickly. Two pricks to her arm, spaced weeks apart, and state Sen. Shiobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico) is on track to become the first member of the General Assembly inoculated against COVID-19. The obstetrician-gynecologist said she was “just thrilled” that the vaccine had come through so quickly. “I just want everybody to be able to get it,” Dunnavant said on Tuesday. Soon other Virginia lawmakers will follow Dunnavant’s path. But their 2021 session, which begins on Wednesday, comes with ominous trends.
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** Virginia Lawmakers Now Eligible For COVID-19 Vaccination ([link removed])
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By BEN PAVIOUR, WCVE-FM

Virginia lawmakers can begin getting vaccinated for COVID-19, a spokesperson for Gov. Ralph Northam confirmed Tuesday. Some General Assembly members are already eligible for vaccines in their home districts as part of Phase 1b, the second priority in the commonwealth’s current guidelines. But Alena Yarmosky said the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are offering all lawmakers vaccines to help streamline the process.
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** Virginia Democrats continue push for criminal justice reform as General Assembly convenes ([link removed])
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By NED OLIVER, Virginia Mercury

As the General Assembly reconvenes this week, Virginia Democrats are continuing a push to reform the state’s criminal justice system that began last year amid widespread social unrest. The effort during a special legislative session culminated in November with the passage of a slate of laws that empowered civilian oversight of police, banned no-knock search warrants and reformed a 224-year-old criminal sentencing statute. Advocates and lawmakers say that was just the start of the conversation.
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** Lawmaker takes another shot at lifting Sunday hunting restrictions ([link removed])
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By SARAH VOGELSONG, Virginia Mercury

With plans for the House of Delegates to meet virtually amid the COVID-19 pandemic and still-fresh Democratic majorities, little about the 2021 General Assembly session may look familiar. Even the normal bickering over menhaden has been silenced after last year’s legislature brought the long-running fishery fight to a close. But never fear: Lawmakers still have the debate over Sunday hunting, an issue once compared to “a cat with nine lives,” as a touchstone of tradition. This year, as they have for decades, legislators will again take up the question of whether Virginia should still be prohibiting hunting on Sunday in any capacity.
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** State Senate will take calls from Virginians to express opinions on legislation ([link removed])
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By SIERRA JENKINS, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Virginians can leave a message for their state Senator expressing their opinion on legislation proposed during the 2021 regular session. The Virginia General Assembly will convene for a short session Jan. 13 to consider issues affecting residents, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and criminal justice reform.


** STATE ELECTIONS
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** Ex-Trump appointee to Pentagon seeks GOP nomination for Virginia governor ([link removed])
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By ANTONIO OLIVO, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

A former Trump appointee to the Pentagon has announced his intention to run for Virginia governor, adding to an increasingly crowded field of Republicans seeking their party’s nomination. Sergio de la Peña, a retired Army colonel who helped oversee military operations in the Western Hemisphere for the Trump administration, announced his bid for the GOP nomination on social media on Monday.
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** Special election set to fill Virginia Senate seat vacant after Sen. Ben Chafin's death ([link removed])
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By AMY FRIEDENBERGER, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

A special election to fill the state Senate seat that represents a swath of far Southwest Virginia and includes part of the New River Valley will be held March 23. The seat will remain vacant through the General Assembly’s regular session, which starts Wednesday and will last about a month. Sen. Ben Chafin, R-Russell, died Jan. 1 from complications related to COVID-19. He was 60 years old.
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** Date set for election to fill late Virginia senator’s seat ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

A special election to fill the vacant 38th District Virginia Senate seat has been set for March 23, Gov. Ralph Northam’s office announced Tuesday. The seat was previously held by Sen. Ben Chafin, R-Lebanon, who died Jan. 1 of complications due to COVID-19. He served since 2014.
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** Tazewell County supervisor announces candidacy for Senate seat ([link removed])
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By CHARLES BOOTHE, Bluefield Daily Telegraph

A Tazewell County supervisor has announced his candidacy for the nomination to run for the Virginia State Senate seat available after the death of Sen. Ben Chafin. Chafin, a Republican serving the 38th District, died on New Year’s Day after battling COVID-19. Travis Hackworth, the Northwestern District Supervisor, said he will seek the Republican nomination for the post.
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** Lebanon Town Council member Elijah Leonard to run for Virginia State Senator Ben Chafin’s seat ([link removed])
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By MURRY LEE, WJHL-TV

A Lebanon Town Council member and Air Force veteran has announced he is running for the 38th Virginia Senate District seat. Elijah Leonard will hold an official announcement at the Russell County Veterans Memorial Park in Lebanon at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. “Leonard is a conservative Republican focused on defending the 2nd Amendment, advocating for the Pro-life cause, and standing up for Southwest Virginia values,” according to a release from Leonard’s campaign.
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** Alexandria Vice Mayor Announces Bid For Virginia House Seat ([link removed])
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By EMILY LEAYMAN, Patch.com

Alexandria Vice Mayor Elizabeth Bennett-Parker announced Tuesday she is running for the House of Delegates District 45 seat. The district, which includes parts of the City of Alexandria, Arlington County and Fairfax County, is represented by Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria). Levine previously announced his bid for lieutenant governor.


** STATE GOVERNMENT
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** English learners in Virginia being asked to come to school to take standardized test ([link removed])
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By KENYA HUNTER, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

The Virginia Department of Education is asking English language learners to take a federally mandated English proficiency test in person. But as COVID-19 cases hit record highs in Virginia, some teachers say that any in-person testing is irresponsible, and they want state Superintendent James Lane to advocate alongside them. State education officials say the ACCESS test, which is taken annually, is needed now more than ever due to the pandemic. WIDA, the company that administers the test in Virginia, did not provide a remote option.
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** Franklin County Circuit Court judge announces retirement ([link removed])
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By NEIL HARVEY, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

A Franklin County Circuit Court judge has stepped down after serving on the bench for about five years. In a letter late last week to the Virginia Supreme Court, Judge Clyde Perdue announced his retirement, effective Jan. 8, “regretfully, and due only to health reasons.”


** ECONOMY/BUSINESS
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** Amazon offers to vaccinate its 25,000 front-line Virginia employees against Covid ([link removed])
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By JONATHAN CAPRIEL, Washington Business Journal (Subscription required for some articles)

Amazon.com Inc. has offered to aid Virginia in inoculating the masses by vaccinating its tens of thousands of employees deemed essential during the health crisis, according to a letter the e-commerce giant sent Gov. Ralph Northam last month. The company said it has the infrastructure to provide vaccinations to its more than 25,000 full and part-time laborers at fulfillment centers, warehouses and grocery stores across the state, said Brian Huseman, vice president of public policy, in the letter dated Dec. 21.


** HIGHER EDUCATION
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** Virginia Tech to hold 6% of spring classes fully in-person, much like the fall ([link removed])
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By HENRI GENDREAU, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

While thousands of Virginia Tech students will return to the Blacksburg campus this weekend for the spring semester, only 6% of classes will be fully in-person – the same rate as the fall. The university in October said every effort would be made to provide more in-person classes for the spring. At that time, Provost Cyril Clarke urged professors to reassess their class mode when initial plans showed that the spring would look much like the fall.
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** VCU will begin spring semester with all remote classes ([link removed])
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By ERIC KOLENICH, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Virginia Commonwealth University will begin the spring semester with classes taught remotely, it announced Tuesday, the result of a rising wave of coronavirus cases. The semester will begin Jan. 25, and the university will consider resuming in-person education in mid-February. It hopes to restart face-to-face and hybrid classes on or before March 8.


** CORONAVIRUS
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** With 84 new COVID-19 deaths, Virginia nears 5,500 total with 40% coming in just the last three months ([link removed])
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By SABRINA MORENO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

On a day in September, a lag in the Virginia Department of Health’s reporting resulted in a one-day toll of 96. Currently, the state is averaging almost 41 daily deaths. Of the state’s 5,477 deaths, 445 have been reported since New Year’s. Almost 40% of Virginia’s COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the last three months, indicating the potential start of an upward trend public health officials worried would occur in the winter months and post-holiday travel.
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** What to know about the coronavirus vaccine rollout in D.C., Maryland and Virginia ([link removed])
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By JULIE ZAUZMER, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

Vaccines against the novel coronavirus are now available in the D.C. region. In the District, Maryland and Virginia, senior citizens and health-care workers are lining up for their shots, and many other groups of people — from grocery store workers and teachers to inmates to people with asthma and diabetes — are eagerly anticipating their turns, which will come soon. But the rollout has been bumpy, and many residents have questions about how the region’s local governments are administering vaccines. Here’s what we know right now.
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** VCU Health changes course, offers vaccine to patient-facing students ([link removed])
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By ERIC KOLENICH, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Access to this article limited to subscribers)

Virginia Commonwealth University and its health system will immediately offer the COVID-19 vaccine to students who work and train in direct patient care. The move, announced Tuesday, represents a swift change in direction from less than two weeks ago, when administrators told medical students there was no immediate timetable for their vaccination.
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** Richmond and Henrico moving into second phase of COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday ([link removed])
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By SABRINA MORENO, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

On Monday, Richmond and Henrico County will enter the second phase of COVID-19 vaccinations, which prioritizes front-line essential workers and residents who are age 75 and older. It's unclear how many people in the two localities qualify for the next phase — which also includes people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps — but statewide, at least 760,000 people are deemed to be in the state's essential industries.
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** Northam: Vaccine Event for ACPS Brings ‘Light at the End of the Tunnel’ ([link removed])
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By VERNON MILES, Alx Now

In contrast to the mainly virtual events of 2020, an in-person vaccination held at T.C. Williams High School today had an air of cautious optimism as Alexandria City Public Schools staff received the first round of a COVID-19 vaccine. Governor Ralph Northam and Mayor Justin Wilson were in attendance, along with several others in the City Council and local leadership. Northam said combatting coronavirus has been a team effort on both a state and local level.
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** Alexandria educators hope vaccine is key for return to classroom ([link removed])
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By GABRIELLA MUÑOZ, Washington Times

The effort to reopen public schools in Alexandria got a shot in the arm Tuesday, when two educators were among the first to receive vaccinations at a COVID-19 vaccine distribution site in the city. Gregory Hutchings, superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools, and teacher Danielle Thorne both said the vaccine gives them hope that the school district can get back to a relatively normal schedule soon. “I think that, you know, it’s just something that we’re so lucky that they started working here in Alexandria so quickly, but I feel a lot more comfortable [with] the idea of coming back. And I think my colleagues feel the same,” said Ms. Thorne, who teaches geometry at T.C. Williams High School.
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** Williamsburg launches online hub for residents to follow COVID-19 vaccine process ([link removed])
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By STAFF REPORT, WAVY-TV

Williamsburg just launched an online dashboard that lets residents follow the progress of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The dashboard is an extension of the online hub launched in March that allowed the public to follow global, national, state, and local information and resources.
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** Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office deputy dies of covid-19 amid outbreak at jail ([link removed])
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By JUSTIN JOUVENAL, Washington Post (Metered Paywall - 3 articles a month)

A veteran Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office deputy has died of covid-19 amid an outbreak of the coronavirus at the county jail that has sickened more than 30 guards and inmates in recent days, authorities said. The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office declined to say whether the death of Frederick “Butch” Cameron, 51, was directly related to the current wave of cases at the jail, but a spokeswoman described his death as in the “line of duty.” Sheriff’s deputies guard the jail and the courthouse in Fairfax County.
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** Prince William elementary school custodian dies of COVID-19 ([link removed])
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By JILL PALERMO, Prince William Times

A custodian who worked at a Prince William County’s Potomac View Elementary School has died from complications to COVID-19, the school division has confirmed. The custodian, identified by the school division as Dinora Mejia, was “a longtime daytime custodian” at the Woodbridge elementary school. She had been on medical leave since Dec. 9, Potomac View Elementary School Principal Latiesa Geen said in a Jan. 11 email to parents.


** VIRGINIA OTHER
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** Judge blocks federal executions of former Richmond gang member and man sentenced in Maryland to die ([link removed])
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By FRANK GREEN, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

A federal judge in Washington has granted a stay of execution to two federal death row inmates scheduled to die this week. U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan held that executing Cory Johnson on Thursday and Dustin Higgs on Friday — before they recovered from COVID-19 — would result in a sensation of drowning akin to waterboarding and violate the Eighth Amendment protection against cruel and unusual punishment.


** LOCAL
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** Fairfax Co. school board member sues police after being pepper-sprayed ([link removed])
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Associated Press

A Muslim school board member from northern Virginia has filed a federal lawsuit alleging her civil rights were violated after she was pepper-sprayed during a traffic stop and then photographed without her hijab following her arrest. Abrar Omeish, who was elected in 2019 to the Fairfax County school board, filed the lawsuit Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria against the Fairfax County police officer who arrested her and against Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid.
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** Electric School Bus Arrives in Fairfax County Today ([link removed])
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By ANGELA WOOLSEY, Reston Now

Fairfax County Public Schools is getting its first electric school bus today as part of a statewide initiative led by Dominion Energy. The bus is expected to arrive at the Stonecroft Transportation Center in Chantilly. It is the first of eight vehicles that FCPS will receive from Dominion in an initial deployment of 50 buses throughout Virginia. FCPS says it anticipates getting the remaining seven buses by the end of January.
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** School board votes to return grades 4-12 to schools as soon as late February ([link removed])
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By JILL PALERMO, Prince William Times

Over Superintendent Steven Walts’ strong objections, the Prince William County School Board voted Tuesday to allow students in grades four through 12 to return to schools as soon as late February, depending on COVID-19 metrics and the progress of vaccinating teachers and staff. The school board will revisit the situation at their next meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 17.
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** Protests continue over hiring of Peter Newsham as county's next police chief ([link removed])
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By DANIEL BERTI, Prince William Times

About 20 people gathered again Tuesday to protest Prince William County’s hiring of former Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham, requesting that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors rescind the offer ahead of his Feb. 1 start date. The protesters held banners and chanted outside of Prince William County Complex during today’s meeting of the Board of County Supervisors, the first of the new year. It is the second such protest to occur in the last month.
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** Richmond City Council strikes proposed parks ordinance for medians around Lee monument ([link removed])
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By C. SUAREZ ROJAS, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

The Richmond City Council agreed Monday to strike a proposed parks ordinance intended to give law enforcement more authority to police the medians around the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue. With Gov. Ralph Northam proposing $11 million in state funding to create new plans for the area around the soon-to-be-removed Confederate monument, city officials said it would be premature to approve the local ordinance.
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** Chesterfield elementary schoolers are heading back to school five days a week Feb. 1 ([link removed])
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By JESS NOCERA, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

Chesterfield County elementary schoolers are welcome back into the classroom five days a week starting Feb. 1. In a 4-1 vote Tuesday, the Chesterfield School Board approved bringing all of the county’s youngest learners back into school buildings after the district abruptly switched back to virtual learning on Nov. 30.
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** In-person learning in Henrico delayed for a third time so school nurses can administer vaccines ([link removed])
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By KENYA HUNTER, Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

After saying last week that she did not anticipate a delay, Henrico County schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell on Tuesday again pushed back plans to return students to classrooms, with no timeline for changing course. In a statement, Cashwell said Henrico school nurses are temporarily being pulled to help administer the COVID-19 vaccine to the county’s school employees and others who are eligible under Phase 1b. Without them in school buildings, she doesn’t think the system could properly mitigate spread of COVID-19 in schools.
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** Virginia Beach will pay Atlantic Avenue shop owners to fix up their storefronts ([link removed])
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By STACY PARKER, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

Many of the businesses on the Oceanfront’s Atlantic Avenue can’t blame the pandemic for needing a makeover. Their owners have been letting the buildings go for years. So the city is trying to get the property owners to spruce up run-down storefronts along the resort strip by offering grants, an effort to refresh Atlantic Avenue for the 2021 summer season.
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** Portsmouth City Council voted to hire Danny Meeks as city manager. He still needs to apply for the job. ([link removed])
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By JOSH REYES, Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

The Portsmouth City Council voted to hire Danny Meeks — a former councilman who lost a bid for mayor in November — as city manager Tuesday night. After a few minutes of discussion in a closed session, the council took its vote back.The members who initially voted for Meeks did not rescind their support. Meeks had not applied to be city manager, so his supporters on the council voted to re-open the job application portal until Jan. 20.
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** Spotsylvania, King George school divisions extend virtual learning ([link removed])
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By ADELE UPHAUS–CONNER, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

Public schools in Spotsylvania and King George counties will remain virtual for most students through the end of January because of rising COVID-19 case numbers. The Spotsylvania County School Board voted Monday evening to continue virtual learning through Jan. 29, with a possible return to the hybrid in-person model Feb. 1 following a reevaluation of the health metrics on Jan. 26.
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** Spotsylvania School Board will change name of Robert E. Lee Elementary ([link removed])
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By ADELE UPHAUS–CONNER, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

The Spotsylvania County School Board voted Monday evening to rename Robert E. Lee Elementary school. The board approved Battlefield District representative Baron Braswell's motion to change the name by a vote of 5–2, with Livingston District representative Kirk Twigg and Courtland District representative Rabih Abuismail voting no.
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** King George getting ready to tax cigarettes on July 1 ([link removed])
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By CATHY DYSON, Free Lance-Star (Metered Paywall - 10 articles a month)

King George County wants to be ready on July 1 to impose a tax on cigarettes, and the deadline is lighting a fire under county officials. The King George Board of Supervisors last week appointed a committee of county officials to research, review and report back to the board March 16 on what’s needed to implement a cigarette tax by the first of July.
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** City Council continues streak of closed meetings, anticipates open matters soon ([link removed])
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By CHARLOTTE RENE WOODS, Cville Weekly

After more than 15 hours in closed meetings in less than a week, the Charlottesville City Council is still silently chipping away at resolving issues that contribute to its current “leadership crisis.” On Monday, the council’s latest meeting lasted for 5½ hours and ended with no actions taken, but Councilor Michael Payne said it won’t stay that way for much longer.
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** Blacksburg Town Council passes gun ban in town buildings ([link removed])
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By YANN RANAIVO, Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

The Blacksburg Town Council voted 7-0 Tuesday to ban the carrying of firearms in its municipal buildings and other public places such as streets during festivals. Passage of the ordinance makes Blacksburg one of several Virginia localities that have taken such action — something localities can now do based on a local option measure passed by the General Assembly last year and that took effect in July.
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** Pittsylvania County teachers plead with school board to consider virtual learning ([link removed])
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By PARKER COTTON, Danville Register & Bee

With stories of daily cries and concern for safety, an impassioned group of teachers addressed the Pittsylvania County School Board during Tuesday evening’s meeting, making an emotional case for implementing virtual learning. Teachers in the county have long advocated for a remote learning environment until the spread of COVID-19 is more under control.
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** Pittsylvania Education Association requests more transparent reporting of COVID-19 cases in county schools ([link removed])
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By PARKER COTTON, Danville Register & Bee

Upon the return from winter break, the Pittsylvania Education Association reaffirmed its long-held position that in-person learning is not safe at the present time due to climbing numbers of COVID-19 cases in Pittsylvania County Schools. Following the announcements of new cases already in January, the number of alerts sent out by the school division has become exhausting, Pittsylvania Education Association President Jessica Jones said.
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** Wind energy process brings training program to New College Institute ([link removed])
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By BILL WYATT, Martinsville Bulletin (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

The electricity that flows to Danville and Pittsylvania County someday may come from an offshore windfarm that is operated by people trained in Martinsville. New College Institute in Martinsville near the end of this month will add an intensive training program that will equip its students with certifications needed to be considered for one of the largest offshore energy projects in the country.
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** Council approves landfill project in response to odor concerns ([link removed])
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By DAVID MCGEE, Bristol Herald Courier (Metered Paywall - 15 articles a month)

The City Council on Tuesday approved a $140,000, three-prong project designed to rein in an acrid stench coming from the city’s solid waste landfill. Responding to a flurry of citizen complaints over the past couple of months, the council voted 4-1 to approve a plan to improve landfill gas collection, reduce emissions and remove water from the Shakesville Road quarry landfill.
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** Bristol, Virginia city leaders approve work order to aid in ‘unusual odor' ([link removed])
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By ANSLEE DANIEL, WJHL-TV

Bristol, Virginia city leaders voted Tuesday night to fix an upcoming complaint of many within the area — an abnormal odor filling the air. It’s coming from the city landfill on Shakesville Road. “I’m not really sure what this is but it doesn’t smell good and it doesn’t smell like it should be happening,” said Vice Mayor Anthony Farnum who lives about a mile from the landfill.

Today's Sponsor:


** Clean Virginia
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Fighting to empower Virginians by promoting clean government and clean energy. Visit www.cleanvirginia.org ([link removed]) to learn more.


** EDITORIALS
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** Northam has been dizzingly transformational ([link removed])
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Roanoke Times Editorial (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

It’s hard to remember now, but when Ralph Northam was elected governor in 2017, he was widely considered to be someone who probably wouldn’t make much of a mark. His predecessor, Terry McAuliffe, fancied himself a larger-than-life character who liked to do dramatic things — like trying to restore the rights of every convicted felon with one stroke of the pen (something the Virginia Supreme Court soon told him he couldn’t do). Northam, a mild-mannered former legislator, was considered an incrementalist. Funny how things turn out.
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** Plenty on the agenda ([link removed])
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Virginian-Pilot Editorial (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

It seems like only yesterday that the Virginia General Assembly adjourned its 83-day special session focused on the pandemic and social justice, but lawmakers return to work today in what promises to be a very busy period of legislative action. The gatherings themselves will be disjointed — the House intends to meet virtually, while the Senate will convene at the Science Museum of Virginia to allow for social distancing — but the work they do will be vitally important to the future of the commonwealth.


** OP-ED
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** Rainsbury: Legal snake oil ([link removed])
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By JOSEPH RAINSBURY, published in Roanoke Times (Metered Paywall - 5 articles a month)

Morgan Griffith and Ben Cline were among the 138 House objectors to the Electoral College vote. Others have rightfully condemned them for their actions. But, relying on the 2000 opinion in Bush v. Gore, they have tried to justify their conduct on legal grounds. As a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Supreme Court of the United States, I write to explain—in common-sense terms—why their legal arguments are rubbish.

Rainsbury is an attorney in Roanoke
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** Hudson: Helping unemployed workers during COVID-19 ([link removed])
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By SALLY HUDSON, published in Richmond Times-Dispatch (Metered Paywall - 7 articles a month)

It’s hard not to grow numb to the scale of COVID-19: more than 22 million cases nationwide, 379,000 deaths and countless grieving loved ones. The economic fallout only amplifies the pain. Since March, more than 1 in 6 Virginians have filed for unemployment. Unemployment payments are a good thing.

Hudson, D-Charlottesville, represents the 57th District in the House of Delegates.


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