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“Port host communities” receive revitalization funds
The General Assembly allocated $1 million in grants to redevelop port-related properties in Virginia’s “port host communities,” including Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday. The goal of the funding is to enable timely redevelopment of port structures for economic development and employment growth, according to the Department of Housing and Community […][...]
Virginia ABC breaks ground on $91M HQ in Hanover County
Gov. Ralph Northam led a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s $91 million state headquarters complex in Hanover County, expected to open next year. Virginia ABC’s existing warehouse in Richmond is just more than 295,000 square feet, but is operating at 100% capacity [...]
Committee to consider bill establishing passenger rail authority
A House committee decided Wednesday to temporarily postpone action on a comprehensive transportation bill that, in part, establishes a governing body to purchase and manage railways, something supporters said the state has gone too long without. The House Finance Committee, citing time constraints and the bill’s complexity, will act Monday on House Bill 1414, introduced […]
Nonprofit urges lawmakers to protect domestic worker rights
After a 15-hour work day, Lenka Mendoza is tired but she prepares to do it all over again the next day. Mendoza spoke Tuesday at a Care in Action press conference in support of several General Assembly bills, dubbed the Virginia Domestic Workers Bill of Rights. The nonprofit advocates for fairness and dignity for U.S. […]
Could Democratic General Assembly repeal Va.’s right-to-work laws?
Buoyed by the Virginia legislature’s new Democratic majority, bills to repeal Virginia’s right-to-work laws have the greatest chance of making it to the governor’s desk in a generation, predict political scientists. “I think it absolutely will [get repealed], but it will be a big fight,” says Elsie Harper-A[...]
More than 30 Va. employers send letter to lawmakers asking for LGBTQ protections
More than 30 Virginia employers — including Altria Group Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Capital One Financial Corp. and Dominion Energy — on Monday sent a letter to Virginia lawmakers asking for comprehensive lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) nondiscrimination protections. The letter addressed to House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, D-Fairfax, and Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, […][...]
Liberty University slams Northam’s proposed cut to online tuition aid
Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposal to cut Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG) aid for online students would negatively impact more than 2,000 students per year at Liberty University alone, the state’s largest university by enrollment stated in a news release issued Friday. Currently being considered by the new Democr[...]
Subcommittee advances bill prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination
RICHMOND — A General Assembly subcommittee advanced a bill Thursday that would prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in housing, public accommodations, employment and credit applications. Lawmakers suggested expanding the focus of a bill introduced by Del. Delores McQuinn, D-Richmond,[...]
State awards nearly $12M in affordable housing funds
The state will allocate nearly $12 million to affordable housing and homelessness reduction programs throughout the state, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Thursday. The funding includes $10.7 million in Affordable and Special Needs Housing (ASNH) loans for 12 projects, which will create or preserve 607 affordable housing units for low-income Virginians, and $1.2 million in grants […]
Bill defining milk aims to give dairy farmers supermarket advantage
RICHMOND, Va. — As people drink less dairy milk and some turn to plant-based alternatives such as oat, soy and almond milk, dairy farmers say they’re struggling. That’s why Virginia is the latest state to advance legislation restricting the use of the word milk for marketing purposes. Del. Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, introduced House Bill […]
State announces $18.3M in broadband grants
The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) will award more than $18.3 million in grants to 12 broadband expansion projects in the state, mainly in rural areas, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday. The grants are expected to connect about 36,000 households, according to a press release. The governor’s proposed 2020-21 budget adds $16 million to the $19 […]
Court upholds Northam’s firearms ban for Capitol rally
Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Taylor issued a ruling Thursday upholding Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order to temporarily ban firearms from the grounds of the Virginia State Capitol in advance of a Jan. 20 pro-gun rights rally expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters. Northam had issued a state of eme[...]
