RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) has a five-month backlog in processing unemployment claims.About 70,000 people are still waiting to collect their unemployment benefits right now.The coronavirus pandemic has fueled Virginia’s total unemployment number to over 218,000 people as of October, which is almost double the number of unemployed people last year.According to some advocates, the department faces a couple of issues such as a 35-year-old computer system and not enough manpower.One state senator says he’s hearing from people who’ve been waiting for benefits...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) has a five-month backlog in processing unemployment claims.About 70,000 people are still waiting to collect their unemployment benefits right now.The coronavirus pandemic has fueled Virginia’s total unemployment number to over 218,000 people as of October, which is almost double the number of unemployed people last year.According to some advocates, the department faces a couple of issues such as a 35-year-old computer system and not enough manpower.One state senator says he’s hearing from people who’ve been waiting for benefits...WW…

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Governor Ralph Northam announced $7 million of CARES Act funding will go to food banks in Virginia.This allocation of CARES Act funding will help the Federation of Virginia Food Banks purchase fresh food and dairy products, filling an expected gap caused by the end of the federal Farmers to Families Food Box program and a severe drop in commodities at the end of the year.Food banks can also use money to purchase shelf-stable commodities and address storage, refrigeration, and transportation issues.“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the already serious...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Governor Ralph Northam announced $7 million of CARES Act funding will go to food banks in Virginia.This allocation of CARES Act funding will help the Federation of Virginia Food Banks purchase fresh food and dairy products, filling an expected gap caused by the end of the federal Farmers to Families Food Box program and a severe drop in commodities at the end of the year.Food banks can also use money to purchase shelf-stable commodities and address storage, refrigeration, and transportation issues.“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the already serious...WW…

By and RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The Virginia Democrats are negotiating an agreement with Richmond’s top election officials following a lawsuit filed Monday over absentee ballot issues. According to Susan Swecker, the plaintiff and the chairwoman for the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA), the General Registrar violated the Virginia Freedom of Information Act by failing to provide requested records related to voters whose ballots contain errors. Court documents say these records were requested so that the DPVA could notify and assist registered Virginia voters in Richmond with fixing any...…By and RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The Virginia Democrats are negotiating an agreement with Richmond’s top election officials following a lawsuit filed Monday over absentee ballot issues. According to Susan Swecker, the plaintiff and the chairwoman for the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA), the General Registrar violated the Virginia Freedom of Information Act by failing to provide requested records related to voters whose ballots contain errors. Court documents say these records were requested so that the DPVA could notify and assist registered Virginia voters in Richmond with fixing any...WW…

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Governor Ralph Northam announced he has signed new laws that will advance police and criminal justice reform in the state.Governor Northam has been working closely with legislators on these measures since early summer after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked unrest.“Too many families, in Virginia and across our nation, live in fear of being hurt or killed by police,” Governor Northam said. “These new laws represent a tremendous step forward in rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. I am grateful to the legislators...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Governor Ralph Northam announced he has signed new laws that will advance police and criminal justice reform in the state.Governor Northam has been working closely with legislators on these measures since early summer after the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor sparked unrest.“Too many families, in Virginia and across our nation, live in fear of being hurt or killed by police,” Governor Northam said. “These new laws represent a tremendous step forward in rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. I am grateful to the legislators...WW…