Archive for category Virginia’s News

Will Governor Youngkin sign a police facial recognition bill?

Police departments across Virginia may soon be using your Facebook photo to see if you are a suspect in a crime. Michael Pope reports.

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A look at how reforms to pretrial detention are working in Virginia

Last year, Virginia made a significant reform that prevented defendants from being automatically held in detention. Michael Pope has this report on how the reform is working.

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Governor Youngkin’s pick to run elections in Virginia is already proving controversial

Credit: Jahd Khalil / RADIO IQ

Virginia has a new elections commissioner who will oversee voting in the Commonwealth. Michael Pope reports the appointment comes with some controversy.

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Partisanship marked a 2022 session without any major accomplishments

Lawmakers ended their General Assembly session without any major accomplishments. Michael Pope has this report on why.

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Virginia’s community colleges find a new leader, as Youngkin wants more focus on workforce development

Governor Glenn Youngkin and Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick speak at a Women Business Leaders Forum on Friday March 18, 2022 in Richmond. (Credit: Jahd Khalil)

Virginia’s search for a new head of the state’s community college system ended Thursday. Jahd Khalil reports that Governor Youngkin was not pleased with the process. 

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State lawmakers must work out a $3 billion difference between House and Senate budgets

Credit: NPR

The General Assembly session is done and dusted. But as Michael Pope reports, lawmakers are still negotiating on the budget.

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Virginia’s gas tax and the effort to reach a balanced budget

Credit: NPR

Gas prices across Virginia are more than four dollars a gallon. As Michael Pope reports, that has consequences for lawmakers trying to balance the budget.

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Governor Glenn Youngkin wants lawmakers to suspend the state gas tax for three months

Credit: Jahd Khalil

There are three big players in Virginia’s budget negotiations. On one side are Republicans who control the House and Governor Glenn Youngkin. On the other are Senate Democrats who held up much of the Governor’s agenda. Jahd Khalil reports on one signal about how those discussions are going. 

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Years-long battle over sacred Monacan site ends in preservation

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / RADIO IQ

Members of the Monacan Indian Nation declared victory Wednesday in a years-long battle to prevent construction on a sacred spot along the James River.

As Mallory Noe-Payne reports, local officials have agreed to an alternative path for a water pipeline; one that archeologists say won’t impact native burial grounds. 

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A General Assembly rejection of a cabinet pick isn’t without precedent

Credit: NPR

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s controversial pick for Cabinet secretary was rejected by lawmakers, although he’ll be sticking around as an advisor. Michael Pope reports that this has happened only one other time in Virginia history.

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Virginia students could soon get some say in statewide education decisions

Public school students across Virginia may soon be getting more input into education policy. Michael Pope reports.

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The biggest budget sticking point? What to do about the standard deduction

Members of the General Assembly concluded their session without passing a budget. Michael Pope reports.

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Va. News: High-tech vegetable farm, school preservation efforts

Credit: VPAP

Efforts are underway to preserve a school built to educate Black children a century ago. And a high-tech vegetable farm will be producing its first crop near Danville later this year. Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols and Edie Gross.

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Despite some opposition, facial recognition measure moves forward

Governor Glenn Youngkin is considering a bill that would allow police departments to use facial recognition technology. Michael Pope reports.

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A scaled back virtual meetings bill is likely moving forward in Richmond

During the pandemic, many local governments started conducting business virtually. Now as Michael Pope reports, some of that is about to continue into the future.

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Poolside Math

Professor Ken Ono confers with Olympic medal-winner Emma Weyant about how to get faster. (Credit: RADIO IQ)

Later this month, college swim teams will take part in the NCAA Championship.  The University of Virginia is favored to win many races thanks to high-tech training and advice from one of the world’s leading mathematicians. Sandy Hausman has that story.

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Lunch debt legislation headed to Youngkin’s desk

Governor Glenn Youngkin is now considering legislation that’s passed the House and the Senate. As Michael Pope reports, one of those bills is about school lunch debt.

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‘Medical sandbox’ legislation in danger of being dropped for the year

Members of the Virginia state Senate are considering a bill that would expedite the approval process for prescription drugs and medical devices. Michael Pope reports that some senators have concerns.

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Some state lawmakers want to roll back Virginia’s new police documents law

Virginia has a new law that finally makes some police documents available to the public after the case has been closed. As Michael Pope reports, lawmakers are trying to roll that back.

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Localities and natural gas: lawmakers weigh how much power city councils should have

Lawmakers are debating how much power your local government has to prohibit fossil fuels. Michael Pope has more from Richmond.

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Changes are on the horizon for Virginia’s Parole Board

Last year, Republicans campaigned on cleaning up the Virginia Parole Board. Now, as Michael Pope reports, they’re making some changes.

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Tax cuts and a balanced budget: it’s now or never for Virginia lawmakers

Credit: NPR

Lawmakers are trying to balance the books before heading out of town Saturday. Michael Pope reports.

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A voting measure for some Virginia active military members has been shelved for this year’s session

The Senate is rejecting a bill that would allow some active duty military to vote in Virginia. Michael Pope reports.

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Va. News: Recycled plastic roads, state helpline calls

Credit: VPAP

Some drivers in the Richmond area have been traveling over recycled plastic since last fall but most would never know. And the pandemic has brought much more work for the staff of a state sponsored helpline.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link. More now from Fred Echols and Edie Gross.

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‘Medical Sandbox’ legislation headed to the Senate floor

Credit: Wellness GM / Flickr, Creative Commons: flickr.com/photos/130100316@N04/15728773073/

As the pandemic continues to claim lives, lawmakers in Richmond are talking about taking steps to prompt medical innovation. Michael Pope reports.

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Lawmakers have again rejected a homeschool sports bill

Governor Glenn Youngkin was elected on a platform of giving parents more choice. But as Michael Pope reports, homeschool students will not be joining public school sports anytime soon.

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State Democrats using last-ditch effort to move forward amendments referendum

Two significant changes to Virginia’s Constitution are being considered by the General Assembly. But it’s an uphill battle, as Jahd Khalil reports. He has this update on a last-ditch effort by Democrat legislators. 

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Medical debt bill likely headed to Governor Youngkin’s desk

Credit: Wellness GM / Flickr, Creative Commons; flickr.com/photos/130100316@N04/15728773073/

Governor Glenn Youngkin may soon consider a bill that would create a statute of limitations for medical debt. Michael Pope reports.

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An effort to add party affiliation to Constitutional offices is dead

Credit: NPR

Candidates for some offices in Virginia are identified by party affiliation and some are not. Michael Pope has this report on an unsuccessful attempt to add more party affiliation.

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Facial recognition measure will soon be on Youngkin’s desk

Governor Glenn Youngkin will soon be considering a bill allowing local police departments to use controversial facial recognition technology. Michael Pope has details.

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Virginia Constitution language banning same-sex marriage will remain

Voters will not have an opportunity to reject Virginia’s unconstitutional ban on gay marriage. Michael Pope explains why.

The same House subcommittee also killed a proposed referendum on the automatic restoration of voting rights of former felons.

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An effort to roll back Virginia’s red flag law is done for the year

Credit: NPR

Virginia has a red-flag law designed to combat gun violence. As Michael Pope reports, a Republican effort to overturn the law has failed.

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A regulated marijuana marketplace in Virginia likely isn’t happening this year

The effort to create a regulated marijuana marketplace is going nowhere, at least for this year. Michael Pope has more from the General Assembly.

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Va. News: Foster bear moms, decertified police officers

Credit: VPAP

Almost four dozen police officers have been decertified in Virginia since a new law took effect last year. And wildlife officers are having success finding foster moms for orphaned bear cubs.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

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Some state Senators want protective plexiglass in the chamber removed

Senator Siobhan Dunnavant says she wants the box around her desk removed by Monday, vowing to remove it herself if it’s not gone by the beginning of next week. (Credit: Virginia Senate livestream)

Mask mandates are being lifted in schools across Virginia. And as Michael Pope reports, COVID-19 protocols may also be changing in the state Senate.

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Differences of opinion on what to do with Virginia’s grocery tax remain

Governor Glenn Youngkin campaigned on eliminating the grocery tax. Now lawmakers are debating how much of it they want to eliminate. Michael Pope reports.

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One in seven eligible adults have already accessed newly expanded Medicaid dental care

It’s been a little over six months since Virginians with Medicaid also began receiving dental insurance. Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services estimates that in that time more than 100,000 people have gotten dental care.

As Mallory Noe-Payne reports, the next hurdle is getting more dentists to accept Medicaid. 

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An effort to end solitary confinement in Virginia is dead for this year’s session

Lawmakers are rejecting an effort to end solitary confinement. As Michael Pope reports, they’re moving forward with a study instead.

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Bill stripping citizen boards of permitting authority headed to House floor

The House of Delegates is considering a Senate bill that would strip permitting authority from two citizen boards. Michael Pope reports.

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The changing role of Cooperative Extension

Cooperative Extension began, more than 100 years ago, as a service to farm families. (Credit: Virginia Tech)

In the age of climate change, this country’s land grant universities are working overtime to assure that farmers can feed a growing world population.  For Virginia State and Virginia Tech, that means reaching out to cities and to countries around the world.  Sandy Hausman has that story.

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Republican efforts to roll back voting access officially dead for this year’s session

Credit: Jahd Khalil

House Republicans began the session hoping to roll back some of the new voter access laws Democrats put in place over the last two years. As Michael Pope reports, they have been unable to make any of those changes.

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Does Virginia need tax cuts? The debate is heating up in Richmond

Members of the General Assembly are debating the need for tax cuts, and it’s a conversation that is getting heated. Michael Pope reports on the latest flare up.

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House and Senate working to iron out differences in education budgets

Lawmakers are trying to balance the books for the coming year. One part of the budget is a top priority for both parties: education. Michael Pope has more on the newly-released proposals.

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Concealed carry law violation bill dies in state Senate

Senate Democrats are standing in the way of House Republicans who want to expand access to guns. Michael Pope reports.

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Va. News: Pandemic relief water park, Albemarle County rowing team

Credit: VPAP

A Virginia town will have a water park thanks to pandemic relief money. And some Albemarle County teens are trying to make winter a little easier for elderly residents. Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols and Edie Gross.

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State Senators want solar developers to study potential adverse impacts

Credit: Dominion Energy

The growth of solar energy in Virginia is creating concern among many people about solar farms, potentially putting green space in conflict with green energy. Michael Pope reports.

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A bill rolling back local employee collective bargaining faces unlikely odds in state Senate

House Republicans are hoping to roll back some of the new labor laws that Democrats put into the code when they were in power. As Michael Pope reports, Senate Democrats are standing in their way.

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Republicans and Democrats at odds over best approach to marijuana licenses

Credit: NPR

The House of Delegates is considering a bill from the Senate that creates new licenses to sell marijuana. Michael Pope reports.

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Governor Youngkin signs legislation allowing parents to decide whether kids wear masks in school

Starting next month, masks will no longer be mandated in Virginia schools. Michael Pope has more from the state Capitol.

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Effort to move up commercial marijuana sales moves forward in Senate, but future is hazy in the House

Credit: DEA

Legal sales of marijuana could begin as early as September. Michael Pope reports on the potential change of plan.

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