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state government

May 6, 2021

Va. sees 67% drop in weekly jobless claims

The state’s number of initial unemployment claims continues to fluctuate wildly, with only 12,231 Virginians submitting new jobless claims for the week ending May 1, a drop of 25,125 claims from the previous week, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the April 26-May 1 filing week, the state saw a 67.2% decline in new […]

May 6, 2021

Northam: Many restrictions likely to be lifted June 15

Virginia will relax most COVID-19 mitigation measures by June 15 if vaccination numbers continue to increase and spread of the virus continues to decrease, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday, but lifting the face mask mandate will likely take longer. “We will continue to evaluate our mask guidance,” the governor added, but social distancing requirements and […]

Apr 29, 2021

Northam partly rolls back Va. mask mandate

Virginians will still need to wear masks indoors and at large, crowded events outside, but Gov. Ralph Northam amended his executive order Thursday to allow fully vaccinated people — meaning those who received their final COVID-19 vaccine dose at least two weeks earlier — to remove their masks outdoors in small gatherings, following new Centers […]

Apr 29, 2021

Va. new jobless claims up 171%

For the April 19-24 filing week, 37,356 Virginians submitted initial unemployment claims, a 171.6% increase from the previous week, but a 48.4% decrease from this time a year ago, when jobless claims were near a peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Virginia Employment Commission reports that last week’s number of initial claims has reverted to […]

Falkland Farms property. Photo courtesy of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
Apr 23, 2021

Fortnite video game CEO makes Va.’s largest land conservation gift

North Carolina billionaire and Epic Games Inc. CEO Tim Sweeney has donated 7,300 acres of privately-owned land in Halifax County to the state — the largest single private land conservation gift in Virginia history, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday. Cary, North Carolina-based Epic is the company behind the massively popular video game franchise Fortnite, which […]

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam delivered an April 22, 2021, video message to loosen more COVID restrictions.
Apr 22, 2021

Northam: State to loosen more restrictions May 15

Beginning May 15, the state will loosen more restrictions, including allowing larger social gatherings and expanded audiences for entertainment venues and sporting events, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced in a video message released Thursday. Restaurants will also be allowed to resume serving alcohol after midnight. Northam’s amendments to his pandemic executive orders, which take effe[...]

Jake Crocker closed his two Richmond restaurants indefinitely. Photo by Caroline Martin
Apr 22, 2021

Bar seating reopened statewide, governor declares

For the first time in more than a year, Virginians are now allowed to sit at bars for service as long as they stay at least six feet apart. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam amended Executive Order 72 on Wednesday without an announcement, making the following policy change for restaurants, breweries, distilleries, wineries and tasting rooms: […]

Apr 22, 2021

McAuliffe has significant lead among Dems in latest poll

In a poll released Thursday, 47% of Virginia Democratic voters surveyed are backing former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s primary bid for his party’s gubernatorial nomination, according to data from Christopher Newport University’s Wason Center for Public Leadership. Two months ago, McAuliffe had 26% of the vote in another Wason Center poll. With six weeks until […]

Apr 16, 2021

Va. unemployment stayed steady in March

Virginia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained above 5% in March, dropping just 0.1 percentage points below February’s jobless rate. March’s 5.1% unemployment rate was 2.5 percentage points above March 2020’s rate. Virginia contends to trend lower than the nation, however. The U.S. unemployment rate for March was 6%. “Virginia’s unemployment rate is steadily [...]

Apr 15, 2021

Va. new unemployment claims fall 466% from previous week

About 5,000 Virginians filed initial unemployment claims for the week ending April 10, a 95% decrease from this time a year ago when jobless claims were near their peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week’s 5,034 new claims were 466% lower than the previous week’s, when 28,526 people filed, according to the Virginia Employment Commission’s […]

Apr 14, 2021

Virginia expands Medicaid access for legal immigrants

RICHMOND, Va. — Ni Kin became a permanent resident in 2002 at 70 years old, but she was unable to work after moving from Myanmar to Virginia due to mobility problems. Kin required more medical attention related to her condition as she aged, but was unable to see a doctor because she didn’t have insurance, […]

Apr 13, 2021

Va. General Fund revenue jumped 18.5% in March

Virginia’s General Fund revenue for March 2021 increased by 18.5% compared with March 2020, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. Total revenue collections rose 9% through March on a fiscal year-to-date basis, which was well ahead of the 3% growth forecast.  “Virginia’s solid revenue picture is yet another sign that we are emerging very strong from […]

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