AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotFeb 23, 2021 at 12:05 pmVirginia’s General Assembly with Democrats boasting big changes in law that reverse many conservative policies long kept in place by Republicans who once controlled the state.It’s the Democratic party’s second year in power, and in that span they have pushed sweeping overhauls to criminal justice practices and bills that would make Virginia the first state in the South to abolish the death penalty and legalize marijuana. With a Democrat in the governor’s mansion, their legislation will likely be signed into law.AdvertisementHere’s...…AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotFeb 23, 2021 at 12:05 pmVirginia’s General Assembly with Democrats boasting big changes in law that reverse many conservative policies long kept in place by Republicans who once controlled the state.It’s the Democratic party’s second year in power, and in that span they have pushed sweeping overhauls to criminal justice practices and bills that would make Virginia the first state in the South to abolish the death penalty and legalize marijuana. With a Democrat in the governor’s mansion, their legislation will likely be signed into law.AdvertisementHere’s...WW…

AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotFeb 09, 2021 at 11:02 amGov. Ralph Northam says Virginia will have a statewide system within weeks for people to get their names on a list for a coronavirus vaccine. But once their turn comes, they’ll still have to schedule appointments through their local health departments for a few more months.Responding to criticism over Virginia’s inconsistent vaccination efforts, Northam had said on Jan. 27 the state was trying to make it easier for people to know when and how they can get a shot.AdvertisementHe had promised that a single statewide phone number and...…AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotFeb 09, 2021 at 11:02 amGov. Ralph Northam says Virginia will have a statewide system within weeks for people to get their names on a list for a coronavirus vaccine. But once their turn comes, they’ll still have to schedule appointments through their local health departments for a few more months.Responding to criticism over Virginia’s inconsistent vaccination efforts, Northam had said on Jan. 27 the state was trying to make it easier for people to know when and how they can get a shot.AdvertisementHe had promised that a single statewide phone number and...WW…

AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotJan 09, 2021 at 10:25 amFaced with a persistent pandemic and continued calls for police reform, Virginia lawmakers will convene Wednesday — mostly virtually, but with some in Richmond — to begin considering proposed legislation.This will be the second consecutive year the General Assembly is under the control of Democrats, who, as recently as three months ago, .AdvertisementThey’re expected to continue those efforts while finding more ways to grapple with a pandemic that has devastated the economy, sent unemployment rates soaring and upended the lives of...…AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotJan 09, 2021 at 10:25 amFaced with a persistent pandemic and continued calls for police reform, Virginia lawmakers will convene Wednesday — mostly virtually, but with some in Richmond — to begin considering proposed legislation.This will be the second consecutive year the General Assembly is under the control of Democrats, who, as recently as three months ago, .AdvertisementThey’re expected to continue those efforts while finding more ways to grapple with a pandemic that has devastated the economy, sent unemployment rates soaring and upended the lives of...WW…

AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotNov 28, 2020 at 2:08 pmOnce every decade, government officials across the country take on the monumental task of counting every person living in the United States. The job is critically important — for one, population totals determine how much federal money is spent for each community’s roads, schools, housing and social programs.In Hampton Roads, officials who oversee some of the region’s poorest places worry many people there have been left out of this year’s count. Along with complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, they blame a breakdown at the U.S....…AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotNov 28, 2020 at 2:08 pmOnce every decade, government officials across the country take on the monumental task of counting every person living in the United States. The job is critically important — for one, population totals determine how much federal money is spent for each community’s roads, schools, housing and social programs.In Hampton Roads, officials who oversee some of the region’s poorest places worry many people there have been left out of this year’s count. Along with complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, they blame a breakdown at the U.S....WW…

AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotMay 16, 2020 at 11:55 amGov. Ralph Northam has started opening parts of Virginia’s economy against fears that people of color will be hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic — a concern that is backed by the state’s own testing data.A Virginian-Pilot analysis of COVID-19 data released with location information for the first time last week shows that ZIP codes with high concentrations of people of color have higher rates of infection compared with whiter ZIP codes throughout the commonwealth. That’s consistent with previously released state data showing...…AdvertisementBy The Virginian-PilotMay 16, 2020 at 11:55 amGov. Ralph Northam has started opening parts of Virginia’s economy against fears that people of color will be hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic — a concern that is backed by the state’s own testing data.A Virginian-Pilot analysis of COVID-19 data released with location information for the first time last week shows that ZIP codes with high concentrations of people of color have higher rates of infection compared with whiter ZIP codes throughout the commonwealth. That’s consistent with previously released state data showing...WW…