Virginia News & Current Events | Public News Service

According to research from Virginia Commonwealth University, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative created 2,115 local jobs in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

VA General Assembly considers RGGI budget amendments

Virginia's General Assembly will consider budget amendments to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, known as RGGI. Gov. Glenn Youngkin …

The Center for Economic and Policy Research reported if the minimum wage kept up with productivity, it would be $21.50 per hour. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Advocates rip VA governor's vetoes of minimum-wage bills

A bill vetoed by Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin would have raised the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour starting in 2026. While the bill moved out …

AARP data shows the prices for the top 25 Medicare Part D drugs tripled since they were introduced. (Adobe Stock)

VA advocates upset about prescription drug affordability veto

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed legislation making prescription drugs more affordable. The bill would have created an independent body to evaluate …

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a request for information about updating Essential Health Benefits requirements. It is the first time comments have been requested since 2014. (Adobe Stock)

VA Senator calls for updates to ACA health coverage

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., wants to update the 14-year-old Affordable Care Act. He and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., are asking for updates to the Act's …

Environmental justice communities are linked to health issues that include asthma, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The4 effects of climate change often exacerbate these issues. (Adobe Stock)

VA groups angry over Youngkin’s Environmental Justice Council picks

Environmental organizations in Virginia have united in opposition to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's picks for the state Environmental Justice Council…

Expanding solar in VA can provide numerous benefits

Virginia energy experts feel a recent push for solar energy legislation could have benefited the state. Senate Bill 697 would have removed a ban on …

Up to 50% of eligible residents in Virginia's counties were enrolled in a dual-eligible special needs plan in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

VA seniors can benefit from dual-eligible special-needs plans

Virginia seniors can see daily health and well-being benefits from certain health-care plans. Dual-eligible special-needs plans offer Medicare and …

Advocates urge VA governor to sign prescription-drug affordability bill

With the approval of the Virginia General Assembly, a bill reducing prescription drug prices is sitting on Gov. Glenn Youngkin's desk. The bill …

More than 876,000 Virginians use SNAP/EBT benefits, costing the state almost $150 million per month. (Adobe Stock)

VA group helps SNAP/EBT users afford fresh foods

During National Nutrition Month, groups like Virginia Fresh Match are providing people with healthy fresh food options. Since 2009, the coalition of …

Although U.S. government subsidies have helped keep the biomass industry afloat, the programs have a lengthy track record of being unsuccessful. (Adobe Stock)

Biomass company bankruptcy filing shows industry’s instability

Biomass producer Enviva's recent bankruptcy filing is being considered a sign of the industry's volatility. Recent financial challenges have …

As of June 2023, the World Resources Institute estimates there are 2,277 electric school buses on order, delivered, and operating in the U.S. (Adobe Stock

VA school districts, parents working to get electric school buses

By Elizabeth McGowan for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for Virginia News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

Federal legislation has been introduced to improve the efficiency of the U.S. electrical grid. The FASTER Act would amend the Federal Power Act to expedite the review and permitting of electric transmission facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Transmission upgrades needed to keep U.S. climate goals on track

Environmental groups in Virginia are among those looking at how to improve and modernize electrical grid transmission. Experts said the grid's age …

A Bankrate/YouGov poll finds 32% of U.S. adults estimate they would need more than $1 million to retire comfortably. However, 45% of workers say it's unlikely they'll be able to save that much. (Adobe Stock)

AARP event prepares Virginians for life after 50

The goal of an AARP Virginia event this weekend is to help people prepare for their 50s and beyond. The "Life at 50-Plus Academy" is a half-day …

A Virginia worker who takes a month of unpaid leave loses more than $3,700 in income. (Adobe Stock)

VA lawmakers pass minimum wage increase, paid family leave

Virginia lawmakers have approved several bills in the final weeks of their session, including a minimum wage hike. The current minimum wage is $12 …

A recent analysis found PJM Interconnection's processing time of 37 months is the fastest for grid operators in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA grid manager needs better interconnection process

Virginia's electrical grid manager ranked poorly in a new energy scorecard. Advanced Energy United's Generator Interconnection Scorecard gave PJM …

California and New York are the only states with a reparations task force. While New York's is just getting started, California's commission issued a report calling for some compensatory reparations based on numerous disparities like health and housing. (Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Philanthropies examining equity and past actions

A new report examines how philanthropy in and around Virginia came at the expense of Black people. The "Cracks in the Foundation" report noted …

Cavities are a consistent problem for kids. The CDC found more than half of kids ages 6-8 have had a cavity in at least one baby tooth. And more than half of kids ages 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one permanent tooth. (Adobe Stock)

VA pediatric dentists find online appointments growing

As part of Children's Dental Health Month, Virginia pediatric dentists are working to improve kids' dental health habits. Recent surveys indicated …

Polls show 71% of voters across party lines oppose book bans and challenges at their local library. From Jan. 2023 to Aug. 2023, 1,915 unique book titles were subject to challenges. (Adobe Stock)

Public libraries take censorship battles to the ballot box

Libraries across Virginia and the nation are fighting back on censorship issues. So far this year, 100 bills are pending at the state and federal …

The Annie E. Casey Foundation reported neglect is a growing reason Virginia children end up in foster care. Some experts feel the system ends up punishing families for food insecurity or financial hardship. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation addresses long-standing VA foster care legal issues

Virginia's General Assembly is taking up a bill to address outcomes for kids in foster care. Previous legislation either failed to pass or was …

Gas power plants are vulnerable to adverse weather. A report showed during Winter Storm Elliott in late December, gas-fired power plants were responsible for around 70% of unplanned outages. (Adobe Stock)

VA residents oppose proposed Dominion Energy power plant

A proposed power plant in Chesterfield County is meeting with the ire of local residents. Dominion Energy's Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center …

On average, school divisions across the country receive 14% more per student than those in Virginia, or about $1,900 more per student than Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA child advocates calling for increased school funding

Virginia child advocates are calling on state lawmakers to improve school funding. The concern grew when several bills focused on building up school …

While Virginia is proposing an assault weapons ban in public spaces, other states have gone further. Currently, 10 states and Washington, D.C., ban the manufacture, sale and transfer of assault weapons. A 2023 Fox News poll found 61% of people favor a national assault weapons ban. (Adobe Stock)

VA General Assembly looks to pass gun safety legislation

Virginia's Senate recently passed a series of gun safety bills, which now head to the House. Among them are measures to ban assault weapons in …

A 2020 Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action report finds transportation sources are responsible for 190 air pollution-related premature deaths annually in the state. (Adobe Stock)

VA adopts rule to sell only 'clean' cars starting in 2035

Virginia has adopted a new rule advancing clean car use. The Advanced Clean Cars II Rule requires carmakers to only sell zero-emission vehicles by 20…

No commercial small modular nuclear reactors are in use in the United States. The only project to get federal approval was canceled in 2023 because of a series of challenges, including oversized cost increases. (Adobe Stock)

VA General Assembly OKs bills to develop small modular nuclear reactors

Virginia's General Assembly has approved legislation to develop small modular nuclear reactors. The bills passed both chambers despite concerns …

Virginia lawmakers approved a bill to design a study methodology for menhaden research. It estimates the study will take several years and cost $2.6 million. (Adobe Stock)

VA General Assembly nixes menhaden study bill

Virginia's General Assembly has killed legislation to address the declining menhaden population. The tiny forage fish are an important part of the …

A 2021 Christopher Newport University poll finds 68% of Virginians strongly support letting public employees unionize and bargain collectively. (Adobe Stock)

City of Richmond workers ratify first union contract

City of Richmond workers have ratified their first union contract. It includes a cumulative 10.5% raise over the life of the contract. There is also …

Virginia has two liquefied natural gas facilities with a total storage capacity of 407,200 barrels. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental groups discourage U.S. use of liquified natural gas

The U.S. is reconsidering its use of liquefied natural gas. While it has long been touted as a "clean alternative" to fossil fuels like coal…

A Pew Research analysis finds before the Fairness in Lending Act, many Virginians couldn't afford loans, since short-term balloon payments consumed 20% of a borrower's paycheck, leading to repeated borrowing. (Adobe Stock)

Legal advocates look to defend VA Fairness in Lending Act

Virginia legal advocates are on the lookout for attempts to subvert the state's Fairness in Lending Act. The 2020 law establishes a fair regulatory …

In December, Virginia was awarded $600,000 in federal funding to develop infrastructure to improve road safety with the hope of lowering wildlife-vehicle collisions. (Adobe Stock)

Online tool creates wildlife-vehicle collision database

An online tool is connecting Virginians with information on wildlife-vehicle collisions. The Habitat Connectivity Hub is the brainchild of Wild …

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found between January 2022 and January 2023, more than 4,200 drugs had prices rising 46% higher than the rate of inflation. (Adobe Stock)

AARP VA calls on General Assembly for legislative changes

As the General Assembly session begins, AARP Virginia is calling on lawmakers to tackle key reforms. In particular, they're looking to establish a …

The American Civil Liberties Union reported on average, 700 kids are removed from parents' custody per day in the United States, and 200,000 enter the foster care system each year. (Adobe Stock)

Family Preservation Project helps keep VA families together

Virginia legal advocates are partnering on a program to keep families together. The Family Preservation Project is a collaboration between the …

Part of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's budget proposal calls for a $24 billion public school investment. This is coupled with an almost $1 billion increase to support teachers, students and parents, up from the previous budget. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Proposed VA budget doesn’t meet community needs

Virginia advocates feel Gov. Glenn Youngkin's proposed budget isn't meeting community needs. Youngkin's 2024-2026 budget is built around numerous …

Between 2012 and 2021, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found almost 2,000 people nationally were killed in crashes involving deer, including 35 in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA undertakes pilot program to reduce wildlife collisions

A Virginia pilot program aims to reduce wildlife collisions with cars. The program stems from a $350 million federal Wildlife Crossings Pilot …

Some environmental effects of pipeline projects are loss of water and air filtration capability from forests, risk of severe erosion in mountainous areas, and increased air pollution from leaking methane gas. (Adobe Stock)

Despite opposition, VA pipeline expansion moves ahead

Despite extensive opposition, the Virginia Reliability Project is moving forward. This month, the state's Marine Resources Commission issued a …

Between 2020 and 2022, 16.1% to 18.5% of Virginia adults engaged in excessive drinking. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Chronic conditions on the rise in Virginia

Virginia lost ground in a national health report. The state ranked 19th in this year's America's Health Rankings report, down from 14th in 2022…

One industry where Virginia is seeing sharp workforce declines is health care in the Department of Veterans Affairs. A state Inspector General report found 3,118 roles with

VA organization takes ‘human side’ of workforce development

By Victoria Lim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for Virginia News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News …

Part of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's Building Blocks for Virginia Families plan includes reducing child care educator shortages through a $1 million scholarship program, and another $10 million per year for child care educator incentives. (Adobe Stock)

Funding boost on the way for VA child care centers

In the new year, a new plan will put $448 million toward early childhood education in Virginia. Known as "Building Blocks for Virginia Families," …

A 2022 Southern Environmental Law Center study found Enviva wood pellet plants in Virginia and North Carolina harvest 60,300 acres of forests per year. Research shows clear-cutting trees at such a magnitude can destroy necessary ecosystems and damage water quality. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Biomass outpaces emissions of other fossil fuels

A new report found woody biomass is worse for the environment than other fossil fuels. The study showed biomass facility emissions are almost three …

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's biennial State of the Bay report gave the bay's overall health a D+, the same grade it received in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill funding impacts Chesapeake Bay conservation efforts

Virginia environmentalists are seeking Farm Bill funding to help Chesapeake Bay conservation efforts. The proposed Chesapeake Bay Conservation …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported 12% of methane emissions stem from leaks in natural gas systems. (Adobe Stock)

New methane safeguards protect VA communities

New methane safeguards can protect communities in Virginia and the U.S. A new rule targets leaks from wells and pipelines, which can emit at least 2.…

Along with flooding, Virginia is experiencing sea level rise. Between 1950 and 2023, the state has seen a 14-inch rise in sea level rise, putting 45,000 homes at risk of tidal flooding. (Adobe Stock)

Wetlands forming on VA surface mines, impacts uncertain

A recent report found wetlands forming on surface mines in Virginia can benefit the state. The wetlands form because surface mining flattens land…

Virginia's Department of Energy is one of nine state and tribal programs to receive funds from Congress for repurposing abandoned mine lands. It was first authorized in 2016, and the state received $10 million in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

VA group looks at carbon-offset market to help reforest former mines

A Virginia group is working out ways to reforest former mines across Appalachia. The state has several hundred thousand acres of mine land, which …

Based on current environmental impacts, residents of Petersburg have a life expectancy 10 years lower than the national average, according to U.S. News & World Report. (Adobe Stock)

VA environmentalists frustrated by FERC-approved pipeline extension

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a plan extending a natural-gas pipeline in Virginia. The Virginia Reliability Plan and Transcot's …

In the three decades between 1980 and 2010, Virginia's York River lost more than 20% of marsh area. By 2050, the region is projected to lose 40,000 acres to sea-level rise. (Adobe Stock)

New plan outlines ways to conserve VA’s coastal wetlands

A new plan takes an interconnected approach to saving Virginia's coastal wetlands. The aim of Virginia's York River and Small Coastal Basin …

Around 41% of low-income parents and 45% of middle-income parents noticed a negative attitude in their child's behavioral and physical health when they don't have enough to eat. (Adobe Stock)

Surveys: Families' food insecurity grows ahead of Thanksgiving

New surveys find food insecurity has risen in Virginia and across the U.S. No Kid Hungry's survey finds more than half of families in Virginia said …

According to AARP, there are 6.5 million veteran and military caregivers across the U.S., providing the equivalent of $14 billion in unpaid care per year. (Adobe Stock)

AARP co-hosts webinar on caregiving for veterans

AARP is partnering with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation for a webinar today on the financial impacts of caregiving for veterans. New data show family …

A Commonwealth Institute report found Black and Hispanic city employees in Richmond are more likely to be paid low wages. More than 80% of the workers cannot afford supporting themselves or their families on their city salaries. More than half of the city's workers are Black. (Adobe Stock)

Richmond city workers hit snag with union negotiations

City employees in Richmond are frustrated by the city's unwillingness to negotiate a union contract. Earlier this year, the workers voted to …

A 2021 report found Virginia has the potential to create more than 220,000 terawatts of offshore wind energy by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Dominion Energy plan falls short on renewables

A new report found Dominion Energy's Integrated Resource Plan does not align with Virginia's climate goals. Dominion wants to keep using gas and …

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