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GOP lawmakers push to protect workers who decline COVID vaccines
RICHMOND, Va. – Lawmakers narrowly passed a bill this month that would allow people fired for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine to receive unemployment benefits if no other misconduct took place. The measure advanced from the House of Delegates on a 51-48 party line vote and was assigned to a Senate committee on Feb. 10. The [&helli[...]
ID.me to drop facial recognition requirement for government agencies
Amid concerns over privacy and data security, McLean-based tech company ID.me announced Tuesday it would drop the facial recognition requirement in its identity verification software, offering a new option to all government clients. Founded in 2010 as TroopSwap, ID.me works with 10 federal agencies, including Social Security and[...]
Va. Senate rejects former EPA chief for Cabinet
The Virginia Senate voted Tuesday to reject Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointment for state secretary of natural and historic resources, former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler. Youngkin spokesperson Macaulay Porter said in a statement, “It’s clear Mr. Wheeler is extraordinarily qualified to be [...]
IRS drops plan to use Va. firm’s facial recognition tech
The Internal Revenue Service is dropping a controversial plan to require taxpayers to submit to facial recognition to access their online accounts, the agency announced Monday. McLean-based contractor ID.me was working on the facial recognition system, which the IRS had earlier said would be implemented on its website this summe[...]
Avula tapped as Va. social services commissioner
Dr. Danny Avula, the director of Richmond and Henrico County’s health districts and the state’s former COVID vaccine coordinator, has accepted Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointment to become commissioner of the state’s Department of Social Services, the health districts announced Friday. In January 2021, Avul[...]
Va. Senate committee rejects former EPA chief for Cabinet
The Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted 9-6 Tuesday against confirming former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s appointment for state secretary of natural and historic resources. The vote does not eliminate Wheeler’s chances of confirmation. Youngkin spok[...]
Va. bills advance to halt minimum wage increases
RICHMOND, Va. – Two bills introduced by Republicans to halt future minimum wage increases have advanced to the House floor. Minimum wage in Virginia increased to $11 an hour on Jan. 1 and is set to increase to $12 next January. The House Commerce and Energy committee approved House Bill 320, introduced by Del. Nicholas [&helli[...]
New Va. unemployment claims down 32%
Virginia’s new unemployment claims declined by almost 32%, the Virginia Employment Commission reported Thursday. For the filing week ending Jan. 22, Virginians filed 1,940 initial claims, down 909 from the previous week. Continued claims totaled 7,543, an increase of 484 claims from the week before. Compared to the same week l[...]
Lawmakers debate human trafficking bill
RICHMOND, Va. — Legislators raised a few questions with a measure that would deploy hotel staff to help combat human trafficking. The bill introduced by Del. Shelly A. Simonds, D-Newport News, was heard Thursday in a House subcommittee. House Bill 258 would authorize the Department of Criminal Justice Services to create an[...]
Virginia ABC stores to change to noon opening
The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority will change its daily opening hours to noon at its 395 stores starting Monday. Staffing stores has become difficult as “increasing numbers of ABC’s retail employees continue to be affected by COVID-19,” the authority said in a news release. Store closing times will remain t[...]
Heritage Foundation exec tapped as Va. diversity officer
Gov. Glenn Youngkin rounded out his Cabinet picks Wednesday by announcing Angela Sailor as his choice for the state’s chief diversity, opportunity and inclusion officer, a change in title from the Northam administration’s post. Sailor is currently vice president of the Feulner Institute at the Heritage Foundation and[...]
Youngkin sworn in as Virginia’s 74th governor
RICHMOND, Va. — Republican Glenn Youngkin was sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 74th governor on the steps of the state Capitol. The political newcomer and former private equity executive is the commonwealth’s first Republican governor since Bob McDonnell, who took office in 2010. The commonwealth also made history in el[...]
