Northam declares Juneteenth a state holiday
Joined by superstar musician Pharrell Williams and many black elected officials, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that Juneteenth — marking June 19, 1865, when the last group of enslaved Americans were told they were free — will be an annual state holiday in Virginia starting this Friday, June 19. Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the governor said […]
Phase Three timeline is coming Tuesday, Northam says
Gov. Ralph Northam said that he will provide information at Tuesday’s news conference about when the state could enter Phase Three of his “Forward Virginia” reopening plan, although he noted Thursday that the state will spend a minimum of two weeks in Phase Two, which started for most localities June 5. Richmond and Northern Virginia, […]
Virginia Chamber releases blueprint for reopening
The Virginia Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday released its “Blueprint for Getting Virginians Back to Work” plan, which provides reopening guidance to businesses and policymakers. “As our government and business leaders consider how to best recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that they have the guidance to ensure consumer confidence and worker safety,” […]
NoVa and Richmond to enter Phase Two June 12
Northern Virginia and the city of Richmond will enter Phase Two of Gov. Ralph Northam‘s “Forward Virginia” plan Friday, June 12, joining the rest of the state in loosened restrictions on dining areas, personal care and grooming services and other nonessential businesses, Northam announced Tuesday. The state’s mask mandate in enclosed, public areas remains in […]
Colonial Williamsburg to reopen on limited basis June 14
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation announced Friday that it will open for limited public programming at some of its historic sites on June 14 while the state moves into Phase 2 of Gov. Ralph Northam‘s “Forward Virginia” plan. “We are eager to welcome employees and guests back to Colonial Williamsburg, but reopening our public sites requires […]
Much of Virginia to enter Phase Two reopening Friday
Much of Virginia will enter Phase Two of Gov. Ralph Northam‘s “Forward Virginia” reopening plan on Friday, with restaurants and gyms able to offer limited indoor service, the governor announced during his Tuesday news briefing. Northern Virginia and Richmond will remain at Phase One, however, Northam said, adding, “We need more time to monitor their […]
Va. sees 1,005 new COVID-19 cases in last 24 hours
While much of Virginia continues Phase One of Gov. Ralph Northam‘s Forward Virginia reopening plan, Virginia reported a spike of 1,005 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday — the second time since Saturday that the commonwealth saw the daily number of confirmed and probable new coronavirus cases rise above 1,000. The state now has 32,145 COVID-19 cases […]
Va. COVID-19 death toll tops 1,000
UPDATED MAY 17 Even as much of Virginia began the first steps of reopening Friday, the commonwealth marked a few milestones in the coronavirus pandemic over the weekend: The statewide COVID-19 death toll now tops 1,000, the total number of cases surpassed 30,000 and, for the first time, Virginia reported more than 1,000 new cases […]
$2.2 billion in federal funding headed to state agencies
Next week, Virginia officials will allocate about $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds to state agencies, which are sending requests to the governor‘s office through Monday, Virginia Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne announced Friday. So far, of the $3.1 billion in federal funds from the CARES Act given to Virginia, $650 million has been allocated […]
Reopening will be delayed in Richmond, Accomack County
The city of Richmond and Accomack County, the Eastern Shore locality that has seen COVID-19 outbreaks in its poultry plants, will not enter Phase One of Gov. Ralph Northam‘s “Forward Virginia” reopening plan Friday. Like Northern Virginia, the localities will wait two weeks until May 29. The governor‘s announcement comes after Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney […]
Mayor: Richmond may not join Phase One reopening unless state provides more support
Update, May 14 at 6:15 p.m.: Gov. Ralph Northam announced that the city of Richmond and Accomack County will delay Phase One of the reopening plan by two weeks, joining localities in Northern Virginia. Earlier: Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has said that the city may not join Gov. Ralph Northam’s Phase One reopening plan on Friday […]
What does ‘reopening’ actually mean?
Updated May 14, 6:15 p.m. With most of Virginia preparing to enter the first phase of Gov. Ralph Northam‘s “Forward Virginia” plan on Friday, there’s still a fair number of questions about what exactly Phase One of “reopening the state” means for business owners, employees and consumers. Here’s what you should know: Reopening in Phase […]