Posts Tagged COVID-19
Virginia Senate Strikes Down COVID-19 Business Immunity Bill
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 2, 2020
Credit: CDC
Should corporations be immune from lawsuits if customers contract COVID-19? Michael Pope reports.
Voting in a Pandemic: Drop Box Funding Passes In Virginia House and Senate
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 28, 2020
Lawmakers in Richmond are considering a plan to spend $2 million to help voters cast ballots during the pandemic. But, critics say they are opening the door to vote harvesting and election fraud. Michael Pope has details.
Voting in a Pandemic: Drop Boxes Legislation Moves Forward in Virginia Senate
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 27, 2020
Lawmakers in Richmond are considering a plan to fund drop boxes for ballots across Virginia. Michael Pope reports.
Guzman Bill Providing Paid Quarantine Leave Moves to House Appropriations Committee
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 26, 2020
Delegate Elizabeth Guzmán
Public health officials have recommended self-isolation for people who’ve come down with or come into contact with COVID-19. For many caregivers and workers, staying home means losing days or weeks of wages. Cat Modlin-Jackson has details.
Committee Kills Vaccine Opt-Out Legislation
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 25, 2020
Credit: CDC
What happens when a vaccine for COVID-19 comes online? Tuesday, Republican lawmakers pushed legislation that would’ve limited mandates on immunizations. Cat Modlin-Jackson has this report.
COVID-Altered Budget: Can State Lawmakers Squeeze in Funding for Clerk Positions?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 24, 2020
Some of Virginia’s understaffed courts won big earlier this year when legislators approved funding for new district clerk positions. But their gain was lost to pandemic budget freezes, leaving court administrators to struggle under the weight of a workload that’s only grown because of COVID-19. Cat Modlin-Jackson has the story.
Voting in a Pandemic: State Lawmakers Working to Establish Protections for November Election
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 24, 2020
With a little more than two months to go before the nation’s first pandemic presidential election, lawmakers in Virginia’s General Assembly are fast tracking a measure to establish socially-distant election protocols. Monday, members of the House of Delegates pushed full speed ahead. Cat Modlin-Jackson reports.
Legislating in the Era of COVID: Zoom Meetings and Electronic Votes
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 24, 2020
Republican Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment says the Senate has never voted on anything virtually, and he warns it will be a “dangerous precedent” to start voting via Zoom during Monday’s Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee meeting.
Members of the Virginia Senate are joining the era of Zoom, voting electronically during a special session. Michael Pope reports.
ICE Facilities Could Be Subject to Virginia Regulators Under Boysko Legislation
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 21, 2020
State Senator Jennifer Boysko (Credit: Senate of Virginia)
State regulators may be on their way to inspect detention centers holding people accused of violating immigration laws.
Michael Pope reports.
State Lawmakers Weigh Options to Help Relieve Eviction Crisis
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 20, 2020
Credit: NPR
The economic fallout of COVID-19 has amplified Virginia’s eviction crisis, leaving lawmakers to negotiate a solution that would keep both tenants and landlords from going under. Members of the House and Senate have proposed rules mandating payment agreements, but they’re not entirely on the same page. Cat Modlin-Jackson has the story.
COVID-19 Prompts Cuts to Education in Revised Northam Budget
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 19, 2020
Governor Northam’s revised budget bill proposes cuts for education and a boost to Medicaid spending. But, the loss for schools isn’t necessarily a gain for healthcare. Cat Modlin-Jackson reports.
Here’s the full report from the Commonwealth Institute.
In the Age of COVID-19, Should Every Virginia School Have a Nurse?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 17, 2020
Credit: Wellness GM / Flickr, Creative Commons: flickr.com/photos/130100316@N04/15728773073/
School systems across Virginia are trying to figure out how they can reopen for face-to-face classes. And, they might be getting some help from lawmakers. Michael Pope reports.
COVID-19 Prompting At Least One State Lawmaker to Rethink License Ceremonies
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 12, 2020
Credit: NPR
The pandemic has upended many aspects of day to day life, including teenagers who get their first driver’s license. And as Michael Pope tells us, lawmakers are considering upending a long-standing tradition.
Criminal Justice Reforms: Should Lawmakers Implement a Court Fee Moratorium?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 10, 2020
Lawmakers are about to arrive in Richmond to start considering a number of criminal justice reforms. One issue that might be on the agenda is a moratorium on court fines and fees. Michael Pope reports.
Comparing Virginia’s Unemployment with Other Localities Across the Country
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 5, 2020
Credit: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment in Virginia is currently at 8.4%. That’s a dramatic increase since the pandemic hit. But, metropolitan areas in Virginia are actually doing significantly better than many other cities across the country. Michael Pope reports.
Balancing the Budget: How Should Virginia Handle Economic Situation Amid the Pandemic?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 4, 2020
Lawmakers are headed back to Richmond this month to put together a new budget, one that takes into account the new economic situation presented by the pandemic. And, they’ll be considering a number of proposals for raising new revenue. Michael Pope reports.
Black Virginians Are Facing a New Onslaught of Job Losses
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 30, 2020
As the economy opens back up in Virginia, some groups are faring better than others. Michael Pope reports.
Northam Puts More Restrictions on Hampton Roads
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 28, 2020
Governor Northam during his Tuesday, July 28th COVID-19 press conference.
State officials are taking additional steps to combat a surge of COVID-19 in Hampton Roads. Nick Gilmore has details.
COVID-19 and Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 23, 2020
The Virginia DMV is encouraging citizens to conduct as much business as they can online. (Credit: Virginia DMV)
Before the pandemic, the Department of Motor Vehicles was the poster child for a slow-moving bureaucracy. Now, as Michael Pope reports frustrations are mounting.
As the Pandemic Continues, Should Next Month’s Special Session Go Virtual?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 22, 2020
Lawmakers are about to return to Richmond for a special session to reconsider the budget and take up criminal-justice reform efforts. They’ll probably be there in-person, although Michael Pope reports some House members are pushing for a virtual session.
State Lawmakers Must Balance Budget Amidst COVID: What Does that Mean for Legislative Priorities?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 17, 2020
Credit: NPR
As lawmakers prepare to go back to Richmond and put together a revised budget, they’ll be confronting a number of difficult decisions. Michael Pope has this report about one of those decisions involving maternal mortality.
The Paradox of a Rural County: Few Cases of COVID but a Big Economic Impact
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 17, 2020
The Omni Homestead employs 700 people in Bath County. It closed for three months due to COVID, reopening in late June. (Credit: Omni Homestead)
While the COVID-19 pandemic has largely spared rural Virginia, the economies of many communities have taken a big hit. That’s clearly the case in Bath County – a tourist mecca on the West Virginia border where meal and lodging taxes dropped dramatically and unemployment rose to more than 20%. Sandy Hausman paid a visit and filed this report.
And in this report, Sandy Hausman details how locals in Bath County are still hopeful, and how a creative spirit is spreading as they find ways to survive the economic downturn.
Checking in With Virginia’s Latinx Community Following Passage of Workplace Safety Rules
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 17, 2020
Liz Zavala at her job in Harrisonburg. (Credit: Cat Modlin-Jackson)
In May, we brought you the story of a Mexican-American woman whose family was deeply impacted by the spread of COVID-19 in poultry plants. Cat Modlin-Jackson checked in with Liz Zavala after Virginia became the first state to pass mandatory workplace safety rules amidst the pandemic.
Senator Warner Wants to Protect Workers of Big Businesses
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 16, 2020
Almost a million jobs in Virginia were preserved by the Paycheck Protection Program, according to new data from the Small Business Administration. But, that doesn’t help people who work for big businesses. Michael Pope reports.
Virginia Reaches Grim Milestone: One Million Unemployment Claims in 2020
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 16, 2020
Unemployment claims in Virginia have surpassed an unprecedented milestone: one million claims this year. Now state and federal lawmakers are raising the alarm about a backlog of Virginians still waiting on money. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.
State Democrats Split Over Paid Sick Days
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 15, 2020
As members of the General Assembly prepare to return to Richmond next month, many of them are looking for a way to make sure workers in Virginia get sick days. Michael Pope reports.
Congressional Delegation Weighs In: Should Deregulation Efforts Remain Post-Pandemic?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 15, 2020
Credit: Rog Cogswell / Creative Commons
The Trump administration has aggressively moved to unwind an array of federal regulations since the coronavirus pandemic hit America, and to Virginia lawmakers it’s not as cut and dry – even across party lines. Michael Pope reports.
Virginia Becomes First State to Pass Coronavirus Workplace Rules
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 15, 2020
Virginia has become the first state to pass mandated health and safety standards for workplaces, amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Labor activists are celebrating the new enforceable standards. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.
A Look at the Virginia Cultural Institutions that Received PPP Help
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 15, 2020
The Montpelier Foundation was among several Virginia non-profits to receive loans from the Paycheck Protection Program. (Credit: Montpelier Facebook Page / facebook.com/JMMontpelier/photos)
More than 130 museums, performing arts institutions and historical sites in Virginia received a boost from Paycheck Protection Program loans, according to data released this month by the U.S. Treasury Department. Cat Modlin-Jackson took a look at how that money helped salvage a pandemic summer.
COVID-19 Hit Vulnerable Communities Hard: What Happens When You’re In More Than One?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 14, 2020
Credit: CDC
The pandemic has exposed how some communities are more vulnerable than others. But what happens when people are in more than one vulnerable group? Michael Pope reports.
Virginia Faces Hefty Price Tag to Send Kids Back to School
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 13, 2020
The question about when and how to reopen schools isn’t just a question about health and safety. As Michael Pope reports, it’s also a matter of dollars and cents.
Requirement or Recommendation: How Should Virginia Guide Businesses Reopening Amid COVID-19?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 9, 2020
Credit: CDC
Businesses across Virginia are reopening, although state leaders are at odds over what kind of requirements they should be facing. Michael Pope reports.
Packing on Pandemic Pounds: Expert Advice on Avoiding Stress Eating
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 9, 2020
Melanie Brede counsels UVA students about nutrition. (Credit: UVA)
College students sometimes joke about the “freshman 15” – the weight they gain from eating more high-calorie food at the campus cafeteria. These days, nutritionists are also talking about the COVID-19 – pounds added during a pandemic. Sandy Hausman spoke with an expert on stress eating and filed this report.
School Reopening Efforts are Becoming Increasingly Political
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 8, 2020
School is out for summer. But what happens when classes start again this fall?
Michael Pope has this preview of the coming political debate over the fall semester.
COVID-19 and the 2020 Census
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 7, 2020
Credit: CDC
The count of Virginia’s population this year during the Census is likely to be clouded because of the pandemic. Michael Pope reports.
As Virginia Considers Workplace Health Requirements, Businesses Are Already Lashing Out
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 26, 2020
Credit: CDC
Virginia is considering strict new workplace safety requirements for businesses that are now reopening. And, the proposed standard is controversial in the business community. Michael Pope reports.
A Temporary Moratorium on Evictions Will Soon End
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 23, 2020
The Supreme Court of Virginia (Credit: Morgan Riley / Creative Commons / Wikimedia Commons
The Supreme Court of Virginia is ending the eviction moratorium, a move that could spell trouble for people caught up in the economic crisis. Michael Pope reports.
Voting in a Pandemic: A Look at Safety Precautions for Tuesday’s Primary Elections
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 22, 2020
Credit: NPR
Voters across Virginia will vote in primary elections Tuesday – casting ballots during a pandemic. Michael Pope reports.
Consumer Behavior: What Have Virginians Been Buying During the Pandemic?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 16, 2020
New numbers from the federal government show how the pandemic is influencing consumer choices in Virginia. Michael Pope reports.
State Officials Weighing Emergency Medicaid Services for Undocumented Immigrants
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 12, 2020
Credit: CDC
Undocumented immigrants are being hit hard by the COVID-19 health crisis, and access to health care is a major stumbling block for many. But, Virginia could take action to increase availability of testing and treatment. Michael Pope reports.
Virginia Schools Face Another Financial Crisis Thanks to COVID-19 and Economic Woes
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 10, 2020
In August, lawmakers will return to Richmond for a special session, and money for schools will be one of the key areas they’ll focus on. Michael Pope reports.
State Officials Outline Plan for Reopening Virginia’s Public Schools This Fall
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 9, 2020
Governor Ralph Northam during a recent COVID-19 update.
State officials outlined a plan Tuesday to reopen Virginia’s public and private schools this fall amid the ongoing pandemic. Nick Gilmore has details.
Here is more information from Governor Northam on the school plan, and details about what each phase of his reopening plan will mean for the state’s schools.
Rent Still a Concern for Many Struggling Economically, But Some Relief Possibly on the Way
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 5, 2020
The Virginia Supreme Court halted evictions Monday while state leaders work on a rent-relief program.
Meanwhile, new data from the Legal Aid Justice Center shows just how tenuous the situation is for many families struggling with the ongoing health and economic crisis.
Michael Pope reports.
You can find the court’s order here. And you can find more information on the report from the Legal Aid Justice Center here.
**Editor’s note: this story has been updated to include the eviction order from the Virginia Supreme Court.
As Unemployment Rate Soars, Will Job Losses Be Temporary?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 28, 2020
Credit: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment in Virginia hit a new record this week. Michael Pope reports.
Assessing Higher Education in a Post-Pandemic Virginia
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 26, 2020
Since 2011, private colleges and universities have offered more online learning opportunities. (Credit: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at UVA)
The pandemic is changing many aspects of life as we now know it, and that’s a trend that will only continue for the rest of the year. Michael Pope has this preview for the fall semester of higher education.
Virginia Finalizing Phone App For COVID-19 Tracking
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 21, 2020
Credit: CDC
State officials expect to have an online COVID-19 self-check tool up and running within the next few days. Virginians will be able to record symptoms and get referred to testing. It’s just one aspect of the digital effort to control the pandemic. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.
COVID-19 Benefits: Should Virginia Provide Them to Undocumented Immigrants?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 20, 2020
Should state and local governments in Virginia be helping undocumented immigrants who are being left behind in federal recovery programs? Michael Pope reports.
Virginia Nursing Homes Report Lack of N95 Masks, Isolation Gowns
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 19, 2020
Credit: CDC
Nursing homes in Virginia continue to have difficulty obtaining personal protective equipment. That’s according to new data published this week by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.
Working Groups to Northam: Recommendations Should Be Requirements
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 13, 2020
Most of Virginia is about to start opening back up for business, and groups representing Virginia workers are hoping the governor adopts some emergency regulations first. Michael Pope reports.
COVID-19’s Economic Impact is Hitting Communities of Color Harder, Too
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 12, 2020
Credit: The Commonwealth Institute
Virginia is seeing massive amount of unemployment, and massive amount of claims for unemployment insurance. But, some groups are being hit harder than others. Michael Pope reports.
Here’s more information from the Commonwealth Institute.
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