RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - More plans to get Virginia students back in the classroom are coming together from state lawmakers.“We need to get kids back in school. We need to get kids back in school five days a week, preferably,” said Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Richmond.The legislation got its start as a Virginia Senate bill that would require schools to provide some sort of in-person learning, but the bill provided no real information on how to do it. In the Virginia House, VanValkenburg morphed the measure to give it some teeth.“Let’s be real right, virtual learning is not in-person...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - More plans to get Virginia students back in the classroom are coming together from state lawmakers.“We need to get kids back in school. We need to get kids back in school five days a week, preferably,” said Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Richmond.The legislation got its start as a Virginia Senate bill that would require schools to provide some sort of in-person learning, but the bill provided no real information on how to do it. In the Virginia House, VanValkenburg morphed the measure to give it some teeth.“Let’s be real right, virtual learning is not in-person...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) - A Richmond judge has dissolved the temporary injunction that was blocking the Robert E. Lee statue from being removed along Monument Avenue.“We WON the Lee statue case after a judge found that it was raised against a backdrop of white supremacy and that it is against public policy to keep it up,” Attorney General Mark Herring tweeted.🚨BREAKING🚨 We WON the Lee statue case after a judge found that it was raised against a backdrop of white supremacy and that it is against public policy to keep it up. The ruling is *stayed* pending appeal, but this is a HUGE win and we're...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - A Richmond judge has dissolved the temporary injunction that was blocking the Robert E. Lee statue from being removed along Monument Avenue.“We WON the Lee statue case after a judge found that it was raised against a backdrop of white supremacy and that it is against public policy to keep it up,” Attorney General Mark Herring tweeted.🚨BREAKING🚨 We WON the Lee statue case after a judge found that it was raised against a backdrop of white supremacy and that it is against public policy to keep it up. The ruling is *stayed* pending appeal, but this is a HUGE win and we're...WW…

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) -Virginia is trending blue but recently both campaigns for President of the United States have put a focus on the state to vie for the commonwealth and its 13 electoral college votes.“Virginia is very much in play,” Virginia GOP Chairperson Rich Anderson said.“Virginia is important. It’s critical,” said Doug Emhoff, husband of vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris.Emhoff made a stop outside the voter registrar’s office in Henrico County early Thursday, October 1. He greeted voters, supporters, and spoke about the importance of early voting in the commonwealth. Jill...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) -Virginia is trending blue but recently both campaigns for President of the United States have put a focus on the state to vie for the commonwealth and its 13 electoral college votes.“Virginia is very much in play,” Virginia GOP Chairperson Rich Anderson said.“Virginia is important. It’s critical,” said Doug Emhoff, husband of vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris.Emhoff made a stop outside the voter registrar’s office in Henrico County early Thursday, October 1. He greeted voters, supporters, and spoke about the importance of early voting in the commonwealth. Jill...WW…

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - You’re probably hearing a lot of terms right now about voting before Election Day. Here in Virginia, it’s called absentee voting.If that is how you plan to vote, you will need an absentee ballot application request form. You can pick it up at your local voter registrar’s office or have them mail it to you right now. Of course, .That let’s election officials know that you want to vote absentee in Virginia. Now in the state you can vote ahead of the election without needing a reason.“It’s no excuse absentee voting,” said Kirk Showalter, City of Richmond General Voter...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - You’re probably hearing a lot of terms right now about voting before Election Day. Here in Virginia, it’s called absentee voting.If that is how you plan to vote, you will need an absentee ballot application request form. You can pick it up at your local voter registrar’s office or have them mail it to you right now. Of course, .That let’s election officials know that you want to vote absentee in Virginia. Now in the state you can vote ahead of the election without needing a reason.“It’s no excuse absentee voting,” said Kirk Showalter, City of Richmond General Voter...WW…

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - A Henrico County General District Court Judge found Harry Rogers guilty of four misdemeanor assault charges and two additional property crimes, but not the hate crimes that were later added by the Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney.In court Monday, the judge said the victims in the June 7 incident were white and there is no clear case law on how to deal with that.Hate crimes were specifically added after a lead investigator in the case says KKK paraphernalia was found inside Rogers’ residence and in his car, including his robe and his Klan bible.THIS MORNING➡️I...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - A Henrico County General District Court Judge found Harry Rogers guilty of four misdemeanor assault charges and two additional property crimes, but not the hate crimes that were later added by the Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney.In court Monday, the judge said the victims in the June 7 incident were white and there is no clear case law on how to deal with that.Hate crimes were specifically added after a lead investigator in the case says KKK paraphernalia was found inside Rogers’ residence and in his car, including his robe and his Klan bible.THIS MORNING➡️I...WW…

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - After weeks of unrest, the demands of protesters are now turning into new policy for Richmond City Council."This is light speed for government," said Mike Jones, Richmond City Council. "And especially for Richmond because we will take a measured approach to so many things, which is good but we do have the ability to kind of pivot in real time and get things going."A virtual city council meeting, set for Wednesday, is where the mayor and councilors will introduce legislation on monument removal and police policy change."A lot of them are just going to have to be...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - After weeks of unrest, the demands of protesters are now turning into new policy for Richmond City Council."This is light speed for government," said Mike Jones, Richmond City Council. "And especially for Richmond because we will take a measured approach to so many things, which is good but we do have the ability to kind of pivot in real time and get things going."A virtual city council meeting, set for Wednesday, is where the mayor and councilors will introduce legislation on monument removal and police policy change."A lot of them are just going to have to be...WW…

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) -Virginia’s former health commissioner will lead a new workgroup focusing specifically on COVID-19 testing in the state.Governor Ralph Northam made the announcement Monday during a coronavirus briefing in Richmond. Northam said as of Monday, the state does not have the testing materials to even consider phase one of lifting restrictions.But the state is slowly increasing testing capabilities. Northam said that’s in part thanks to private and university labs stepping up. The state lab will also increase testing capacity per day thanks to new equipment from Altria....…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) -Virginia’s former health commissioner will lead a new workgroup focusing specifically on COVID-19 testing in the state.Governor Ralph Northam made the announcement Monday during a coronavirus briefing in Richmond. Northam said as of Monday, the state does not have the testing materials to even consider phase one of lifting restrictions.But the state is slowly increasing testing capabilities. Northam said that’s in part thanks to private and university labs stepping up. The state lab will also increase testing capacity per day thanks to new equipment from Altria....WW…

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Elective surgeries and a visit to the dentist can resume Friday.Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said the state is ready to get those businesses back up and running. Starting May 1, a ban on elective surgeries in the state and limitations on dentists will be lifted.With personal protective equipment shortage fears over, medical and dental offices across the commonwealth are preparing for patients at the end of the week."Our hospitals, our clinics, our dental offices, these are safe, these are clean places to go and so while we have been through this pandemic I want to...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Elective surgeries and a visit to the dentist can resume Friday.Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said the state is ready to get those businesses back up and running. Starting May 1, a ban on elective surgeries in the state and limitations on dentists will be lifted.With personal protective equipment shortage fears over, medical and dental offices across the commonwealth are preparing for patients at the end of the week."Our hospitals, our clinics, our dental offices, these are safe, these are clean places to go and so while we have been through this pandemic I want to...WW…

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Virginia has received $3.3 billion in federal funding to allocate to localities. According to Virginia Finance Secretary Aubrey Layne, there are several federal acts feeding money into the state, including the CARES Act. Conversation today with Virginia Finance Director Aubrey Layne about what money the state is getting and how it’s being spent. Important details on what localities can get and the restrictions. Hope is to have details to my mid-May. — Henry Graff (@HenryGraff)The state has received $8 billion in small business loans and $3.3 billion to allocate to...…RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Virginia has received $3.3 billion in federal funding to allocate to localities. According to Virginia Finance Secretary Aubrey Layne, there are several federal acts feeding money into the state, including the CARES Act. Conversation today with Virginia Finance Director Aubrey Layne about what money the state is getting and how it’s being spent. Important details on what localities can get and the restrictions. Hope is to have details to my mid-May. — Henry Graff (@HenryGraff)The state has received $8 billion in small business loans and $3.3 billion to allocate to...WW…