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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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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," …

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 …

Energy prices across the United States increased 5% between 2021 and 2022, according to the Energy Information Administration. Coupled with 8% inflation, ratepayers saw a total 13% increase, the largest growth in electric bills since 1984. (Adobe Stock)

Energy-Efficiency Programs Aid Virginians with High Utility Costs

Growing energy prices have Virginians seeking relief to high utility bills. Earlier this year, Appalachian Power announced its customers will see a $2…

North Carolina farm workers have been organizing in similar fashion to those in Virginia. An Oxfam study found one in four workers is paid less than the federal minimum wage, and more than half aren't paid enough to meet their basic needs. (Adobe Stock)

Labor Rights Group Helps VA Migrant Workers Unionize

Migrant farm workers in Virginia are organizing for better workplace treatment. The Farm Labor Organizing Committee has developed a union with two …

In an AARP survey, Virginia voters said they would support the idea of importing prescription drugs from wholesalers and licensed pharmacies and/or joining a buying pool offering prescription drug discounts. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Virginia Needs Lower Prescription Drug Prices

Despite partisan divides on many issues, a new survey shows Virginia voters are like-minded about the need to do something about rising prescription …

While Virginia Commonwealth University cleaners have gotten their first union contract, union growth in the United States has slowed. A Pew Research poll finds more than half of Americans feel this decline is bad not only for working people, but for all Americans. (Jeff Auth-Wikimedia Commons)

VCU Cleaners Get First Union Contract

Virginia Commonwealth University cleaners have won their first union contract. Along with 12 additional paid days off, the school's janitorial staff …

This summer's data from AARP found 37.2 million people age 55 and older were employed, a slight increase from May. Unemployment for the same group declined to 1 million in the same time period. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Seniors Get Help with Job Training, Confidence Building

A Virginia program is helping older workers launch their "second act" in the workforce. The Northern Virginia Senior Community Services Employment …

Virginia ranked 48th in the 2023 State of Mental Health report undertaken by Mental Health America. This indicates higher rates of mental illness among the state's youth and little access to care. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA, US Children Need Better Health Supports

A new annual report found children in Virginia and across the U.S. need better health support. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book …

Due to sea level rise, 263,500 jobs and more than $11 billion in wage income across the Chesapeake Bay region will be at risk of 100-year flooding by 2050, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Rising Sea Levels to Impact Chesapeake Bay Region’s Economy

A new report finds rising sea levels in Chesapeake Bay will cost the surrounding regions jobs. The Resources for the Future report finds, in …

According to Virginia's Community College System, more than 146,700 students enrolled in community college in fall 2022, a 1.7% increase from the year before when only 144,215 students enrolled. (Virginia's Community College System)

VA Rural Community Colleges Make Comeback After Pandemic

Community colleges across Virginia are rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Virginia Community College System, the fall 2022 …

Seg�n una encuesta de Gallup, solo el 14 % de los republicanos tiene confianza en las escuelas p�blicas despu�s de la pandemia de COVID-19. Esto ha bajado del 34% en 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Audiencia del Congreso vuelve a examinar el plan de pandemia AFT COVID-19

Los legisladores republicanos están cuestionando a los sindicatos de docentes sobre las políticas de cierre de escuelas durante la pandemia …

According to a Gallup poll, only 14% of Republicans have confidence in public schools following the COVID-19 pandemic. This is down from 34% in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Congressional Hearing Re-Examines AFT COVID-19 Pandemic Plan

GOP lawmakers are questioning teacher's unions about school closure policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 26, Randi Weingarten, president …

A report from Generation Hope about child care access for student parents finds 74% of respondents provide over 30 hours of care for their child while attending school. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Student Parents Need Better Access to Child Care

A new report highlights the need for better access to child care for college level student parents. The report, from Generation Hope, finds 92% of …

Un informe de Generation Hope sobre el acceso al cuidado infantil para los estudiantes padres encuentra que el 74 % de los encuestados dedica m�s de 30 horas semanales al cuidado de su hijo mientras asiste a la escuela. (Adobe Stock)

Padres estudiantes necesitan un mejor acceso al cuidado infantil

Un nuevo informe destaca la necesidad de un mejor acceso al cuidado infantil para los padres estudiantes universitarios. El informe, de Generation …

According to a study from the Commonwealth Institute, Virginia's local public employees make about 30% less than people in the private sector with similar levels of education, age and hours worked. It is considered to be one of the largest pay penalties in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Richmond City Employees File to Vote on Union Contract

City of Richmond employees have filed to vote on their first union contract, and while they are still in the early stages of establishing a union in …

According to the Food Research and Action Center, with SNAP emergency allotments ending, some people will see their SNAP benefits drop from $281 a month to $23. (Adobe Stock)

Ending Emergency SNAP Benefits Impacts VA Families

Starting this week, emergency allotments for SNAP benefits will end as pandemic programs conclude. All SNAP households received an extra $95 a …

A 2022 report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shows the Virginia Employment Commission is facing a backlog of 97,814 unemployment insurance appeals cases. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Hope to Aid VA Employment Commission in Reducing Backlog

Advocates and stakeholders have solutions for the Virginia Employment Commission to get through its backlog of unemployment appeal cases. According …

Virginia law says all state agencies and institutions need to take

VA Bill Would Ban Withholding Student Transcripts for Debt Collection

As the Virginia General Assembly begins its new legislative session, one bill will be returning - with the goal of alleviating some student-debt …

According to the Columbia University Center on Poverty and Social Policy, the expanded child tax credit helped reduce child poverty, reduce food insufficiency, and help families afford basic necessities. (Adobe Stock)

VA Group Calling for Child Tax Credit Revival

Family and child advocates are hoping to see a revival of the expanded Child Tax Credit approved by Congress by the end of this year. According to …

A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates permanently expanding the child tax credit would cost $97 billion per year. But, it would generate social benefits with net present value of $982 billion per year. (Adobe Stock)

VA Families Urge Revival of Child Tax Credit

It's been about a year since Virginia families last received funds from the U.S. Child Tax Credit, and they want it to be reinstated. According to …

According to the Richmond Eviction Lab, several parts of the city's Southside neighborhood saw 67 percent of eviction filings during the first quarter of 2022. (Jon Anders Wilken/Adobe Stock)

Evictions in VA Continue to Grow

Evictions are on the rise in Virginia after numerous protections provided by federal and state rental assistance programs ended. According to the …

Experts say the gap between Social Security benefits and the cost of living leaves many older Americans struggling to pay the bills. (Andrii Iemelianenko/Adobe Stock)

Many Older VA Residents Struggle, Even as Government Benefits Go Unused

Many older, low-income adults in Virginia struggle to pay for medicine, food, and rent, and they may be unaware of the many programs available to …

A shortage of affordable housing is seen as one reason for a spike in eviction cases in Virginia. According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, the state needs 153,415 affordable rentals for people who are extremely low-income. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Evictions on the Rise After Rent Relief Ends

With Virginia's Rent Relief Program ending, a flood of eviction cases has emerged. Established during the pandemic, the program was designed to help …

According to research from Consumers for Quality Care, 60% of Americans say they've skipped or delayed care at some point in their lives out of concerns over out-of-pocket costs. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Lawmakers Mull Drug-Pricing Reforms as Costs Become Top Issue for Voters

Democrats say they have reached an agreement on the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes measures aimed at lowering prescription-drug prices…

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, Virginia's steel industry generates nearly $2.7 billion in output annually. (Adobe Stock)

Steelmakers Push Biden Administration to Preserve Protective Trade Policies

As the global economy faces an uncertain future, Virginia's steel producers are pushing President Joe Biden to recommit to trade policies designed to …

The Federation of Virginia Food Banks' seven regional food banks distributed approximately 165 million pounds of food in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Food Banks Seek Support Amid High Inflation, Supply-Chain Issues

Virginia's food banks are facing a perfect storm of issues. High inflation for everyday goods is driving up food costs for lower-income families…

Dominion Energy has cited the Russian invasion of Ukraine and global inflation as factors contributing to the rising cost of energy. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Customers Could See Dominion Energy Rate Hikes

Dominion Energy is proposing a rate hike, which would push up utility costs for Virginia's homes and businesses. The company has submitted several …

In January, pharmaceutical companies increased the prices on more than 800 drugs by about 5%. (Adobe Stock)

Virginians Call on Congress to Regulate Prescription-Drug Costs

Virginia residents have signed nearly 104,000 petitions urging Congress to lower prescription drug prices. The petitions were delivered to Virginia …

Groups advocating for the Build Back Better plan say it would shore up support systems that are critical to American workers, such as improving the child care system and helping families save money on child care. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Supporters: Build Back Better Essential for Workers

As Democrats scramble to rescue the Build Back Better Act, a Virginia labor leader said some provisions in the bill are necessary to bolster support …

Across the nation, family caregivers provide $470 billion in unpaid care each year so loved ones can live independently in their homes, according to AARP research. (Adobe Stock)

On Election Day Eve, Virginia Voters Want Family Caregiver Relief

RICHMOND, Va. -- As the Virginia governor's race comes down to the wire tomorrow, a new survey showed a majority of the state's voters would favor a …

A new report from Georgetown University explains that opportunities to explore careers through field trips, career days and other activities should start as early as elementary school. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Build Back Better Could Help Prepare Youth for Employment

RICHMOND, Va. -- The pathway to a career has become more difficult for some in recent years, with many young people not landing the right job until …

A new program will boost support services, such as child care or school counseling, for students of color taking non-degree courses for workforce readiness at community colleges in six states. (Adobe Stock)<br />

VA Community Colleges Gain New Support for Adult Students of Color

RICHMOND, Va. - A new program aims to give underserved students of color extra support to close education and workforce training gaps that have grown …

Virginia has the fourth-highest student-loan debt per borrower in the nation, totaling almost $39,000. (Adobe stock)

Report: Sinking Under Student Debt, VA Voters Ask Candidates for Relief

RICHMOND, Va. -- With the Virginia governor's race neck and neck, advocates are urging candidates to address easing the burden of student debt after …

A new law in Virginia gives local municipalities the authority to pass ordinances allowing public sector employees like teachers to form unions and collectively bargain. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA Moves Up from 'Worst Place to Work,' Thanks to Policy Changes

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia's made big strides over the last two years to improve employee protections, and a new report shows it moved from dead last …

The expanded Child Tax Credit gives families $250 to $300 every month per child and can be used for anything the family needs, such as groceries, rent or utilities. (Adobe stock)

Child Tax Credit Expansion Seen as Major Boost for Virginia Families

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. -- Beginning last week, thousands of Virginia families with children saw more money in their bank accounts as the federal …

About 16% of Latino families with children in Virginia were uninsured in March 2021, compared with 8% of all households in the state, according to the Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Virginia Must Improve Child Health Coverage for Latino Families

RICHMOND, Va. -- Children in Virginia are better off than in most states, but a new report said the Commonwealth needs to improve health outcomes…

New College Institute in Martinsville, Va., just started offering wind-turbine safety certification training to meet the need for clean-energy job openings. (Adobe stock)

A Year After Clean Economy Act, VA Sees Renewable Jobs Expand

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- One year after Virginia adopted its Clean Economy Act, workforce development and new jobs in clean energy are booming in the …

Some schools don't have access to STEM classes for underrepresented students, which can lead to an equity gap in STEM careers later in life. (Adobe stock)

New Grant to Boost Diversity for Virginia Tech STEM Program

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - With Black and Hispanic workers still underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics careers, Virginia Tech …

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VA: Livable Wages/Working Families