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Virginia legislators take a timeout for puppy playtime
RICHMOND Almost everyone in a crowded elevator at the General Assembly Building this morning cooed when Grace the therapy dog stepped inside. “What’s her name?” asked one rider. “Grace,” replied her handler. “Awwww, I love Grace!” the rider responded.
Bill to expand Va. HPV vaccine mandate to boys fails
RICHMOND It's a two-word change to state law, Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, told a House subcommittee Thursday, but it would do much more than that.
Smoking in car with child present stays legal for now
Virginia lawmakers agreed Thursday that it's a bad idea to smoke in a car with a child present, but they're not ready to make it illegal.
Late Sen. Yvonne Miller memorialized in Senate
The late Yvonne Miller of Norfolk is gone from the Virginia Senate, but not forgotten. Thursday, her successor and one of her closest allies in the Senate memorialized her in floor speeches before the chamber approved a resolution in Miller's name.
Va. lawmakers reject measures on gun control
RICHMOND Gun control legislation is meeting a familiar fate in Virginia's House of Delegates. A House subcommittee voted Thursday evening to kill legislation that would expand criminal background checks for firearms transactions and ban the sale of assault firearms and high-capacity ammunition magazines in Virginia. Similar bills will be heard today by the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
Va. House panel rejects bid to ease tough prison terms
RICHMOND A few lonely voices in the General Assembly are starting to suggest that Virginia went too far with its get-tough-on-crime initiatives in the 1990s. Along with the usual arguments about compassion, redemption and rehabilitation, they are offering another, more hard-nosed reason to revisit those policies: the cost to the taxpayers.
Many efforts, few changes on abortion measures
RICHMOND After more than an hour of debate Thursday morning, Virginia abortion-rights and anti-abortion advocates found themselves in a stalemate that's likely to persist for the rest of this General Assembly session.
Local leaders vote against new sales tax for roads
CHESAPEAKE Despite urging from Virginia Beach's vice mayor, a majority of Hampton Roads' mayors and county leaders voted down a measure Thursday to signal support for a regional sales tax referendum to fund local transportation projects.
Va. delegate from Portsmouth has email – finally
RICHMOND Before this week, if constituents in Norfolk or Portsmouth wanted to reach Del. Johnny Joannou, they would have had to call, write or visit his office. Now - finally - they can reach him by email.
Committee defeats bill to end state funding for some abortions
RICHMOND For the second consecutive year, a Senate committee has defeated legislation that would cut state funding for poor women's abortions if a doctor tells them the child would be born with a severe and incapacitating disability.
Bill to end state funding for some abortions defeated
RICHMOND For the second consecutive year, a Senate committee has defeated legislation that would cut state funding for poor women's abortions if a doctor tells them the child would be born with a severe and incapacitating disability.
Bill to use casinos instead of tolls passes panel
RICHMOND A proposal to allow casinos - in place of tolls - to fund transportation projects in Hampton Roads squeezed by a Senate subcommittee meeting this week and will get a full hearing Monday afternoon. The bill (SB714) faces tough odds in the General Assembly, where other forms of gambling, such as racetrack betting, took years to pass.
