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Virginia places 20-day moratorium on evictions
With almost 400,000 Virginians still unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout, Gov. Ralph Northam has announced a temporary statewide moratorium on eviction proceedings in the commonwealth, to remain in effect through June 28. Granted by an order from Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Lemons, the moratorium will pause evictions will the Northam […]
$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 […]
State tax collection revenue fell 26.2% in April
State revenue from tax collections fell 26.2% in April, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. This is primarily due to tax deadline extensions for individual and corporate income taxes, which were extended until June 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “April tax receipts are consistent with our estimate of a $1 billion reduction in the fourth […]
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 […]
Northern Va. reopening delayed until May 29
In a new executive order, Gov. Ralph Northam allows localities in Northern Virginia to delay reopening nonessential businesses until Friday, May 29, two weeks after the rest of the state enters Phase One of the governor’s “Forward Virginia” plan. The counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William, as well as the cities of Alexandria, […]
Drones tested for emergency medical deliveries
The sky’s the limit when it comes to COVID-19-related solutions. After being approached by the state government, the Herndon-based Center for Innovative Technology (CIT) partnered with Virginia Beach-based DroneUp to test how drones can assist medical professionals in delivering test samples and personal protective equipment in no-contact, emergency situations, DroneUp announced this week. [...]
Governor signs clean energy legislation
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Sunday that he has signed the Virginia Clean Economy Act into law, requiring state electricity providers to become 100% carbon free by 2050. The legislation sets a 2045 carbon-free deadline for Virginia power operations for Dominion Energy Inc. and a 2050 deadline for Appalachian Power. It also requires virtually all […]
Northam signs laws expanding election access
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed laws this weekend repealing Virginia’s voter ID law, making Election Day a state holiday and expanding access to early voting. After July 1, voters will not be required to show a photo ID in order to vote. The new laws also repeal the controversial Lee-Jackson Day state holiday in January, […]
Northam signs LGBTQ protections into law
Gov. Ralph Northam announced Saturday that he has signed the Virginia Values Act into law, making Virginia the first Southern state to pass sweeping anti-discrimination laws protecting the LGBTQ community. The act, which passed the Democratic-majority General Assembly in February and goes into effect July 1, prohibits discrimination in housing, employment, public spaces and credit […]
Battling coronavirus, Northam seeks faster release of prisoners
In light of the threat that coronavirus could pose to prison inmates, Gov. Ralph Northam has asked the state Department of Corrections to begin planning for the release of nonviolent prisoners with less than a year of time left to serve, the governor said during his Friday coronavirus news conference. When the General Assembly reconvenes […]
State extends ban on utility service disconnects
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the Virginia State Corporation Commission has extended the ban on utilities disconnecting electricity, water, sewer and gas services until June 14. “While we fervently wish otherwise … it appears that the devastating economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are unlikely to abate significantly” by mid-May, when the order was […]
