0:01News StoryGov. Ralph Northam speaks at a news briefing on May 7, 2020. (Gov. Ralph Northam’s office)If is truly following the science and data, Phase 3 should start on Friday.— VA House GOP (@vahousegop)Xby Kate Masters, June 22, 2020by Kate Masters, June 22, 2020Some Virginians — and Gov. Ralph Northam’s political opponents — were surprised when Northam announced the state wouldn’t be proceeding into its third phase of reopening, despite significant improvements in COVID-19 metrics since the start of Phase 2 earlier this month.If is truly following the science and data, Phase 3 should...…0:01News StoryGov. Ralph Northam speaks at a news briefing on May 7, 2020. (Gov. Ralph Northam’s office)If is truly following the science and data, Phase 3 should start on Friday.— VA House GOP (@vahousegop)Xby Kate Masters, June 22, 2020by Kate Masters, June 22, 2020Some Virginians — and Gov. Ralph Northam’s political opponents — were surprised when Northam announced the state wouldn’t be proceeding into its third phase of reopening, despite significant improvements in COVID-19 metrics since the start of Phase 2 earlier this month.If is truly following the science and data, Phase 3 should...WW…

10:01BriefVirginia Democratic Sens. Mark Warner, left, and Tim Kaine, center left, joined their counterparts from Maryland to push for more federal Metro funding last year. (Robin Bravender/States Newsroom Washington Bureau)Kaine and Warner have heard reports of this problem in Virginia, though the letter does not mention specific hospitals and health systems. In a press briefing on Friday, though, Northam said he had not heard of any orders taken from Virginia health facilities.“We have checked with our CEOs, and to date, we haven’t had that issue,” he said.UPDATE: This story was updated...…10:01BriefVirginia Democratic Sens. Mark Warner, left, and Tim Kaine, center left, joined their counterparts from Maryland to push for more federal Metro funding last year. (Robin Bravender/States Newsroom Washington Bureau)Kaine and Warner have heard reports of this problem in Virginia, though the letter does not mention specific hospitals and health systems. In a press briefing on Friday, though, Northam said he had not heard of any orders taken from Virginia health facilities.“We have checked with our CEOs, and to date, we haven’t had that issue,” he said.UPDATE: This story was updated...WW…

18:16News StoryVirginia Health Commissioner Dr. Norm Oliver, flanked by Gov. Ralph Northam, left, and Secretary of Health Dr, Daniel Carey, right, at a news conference on Capitol Square in last year. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)Xby Kate Masters, May 1, 2020by Kate Masters, May 1, 2020Officials with the Virginia Department of Health abruptly announced Friday that they were changing their methodology for reporting the number of COVID-19 tests conducted in Virginia.The announcement came after data on the state’s appeared to show a dramatic one-day increase in test results, from 90,843 on...…18:16News StoryVirginia Health Commissioner Dr. Norm Oliver, flanked by Gov. Ralph Northam, left, and Secretary of Health Dr, Daniel Carey, right, at a news conference on Capitol Square in last year. (Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury)Xby Kate Masters, May 1, 2020by Kate Masters, May 1, 2020Officials with the Virginia Department of Health abruptly announced Friday that they were changing their methodology for reporting the number of COVID-19 tests conducted in Virginia.The announcement came after data on the state’s appeared to show a dramatic one-day increase in test results, from 90,843 on...WW…

18:50News StoryThe Virginia Department of Emergency Management heavily redacted a copy of its contract with McKinsey, which the Mercury obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.The Mercury also requested any reports or recommendations that McKinsey had issued through the contract. All of those reports — roughly 120 pages — were withheld. was released, replete with blacked-out passages that make its full scope difficult to understand.Alan Gernhardt, executive director of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council — a state agency tasked with resolving disputes over...…18:50News StoryThe Virginia Department of Emergency Management heavily redacted a copy of its contract with McKinsey, which the Mercury obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.The Mercury also requested any reports or recommendations that McKinsey had issued through the contract. All of those reports — roughly 120 pages — were withheld. was released, replete with blacked-out passages that make its full scope difficult to understand.Alan Gernhardt, executive director of the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council — a state agency tasked with resolving disputes over...WW…

0:05News StoryGov. Ralph Northam toured a warehouse last month housing state supplies of personal protective equipment. (Governor’s office)Xby Kate Masters, May 19, 2020by Kate Masters, May 19, 2020At a news conference on Monday, Gov. Ralph Northam called nursing homes, which have accounted for more than half of the state’s COVID-19 deaths, a “top priority,” adding that his administration is doing “everything we can” to take care of them, including the provision of personal protective equipment.“If they need more PPE, we have the PPE,” he added. “And hopefully they’ll know the proper...…0:05News StoryGov. Ralph Northam toured a warehouse last month housing state supplies of personal protective equipment. (Governor’s office)Xby Kate Masters, May 19, 2020by Kate Masters, May 19, 2020At a news conference on Monday, Gov. Ralph Northam called nursing homes, which have accounted for more than half of the state’s COVID-19 deaths, a “top priority,” adding that his administration is doing “everything we can” to take care of them, including the provision of personal protective equipment.“If they need more PPE, we have the PPE,” he added. “And hopefully they’ll know the proper...WW…