Virginia Public Radio

Lawmakers in Richmond are debating how much power they want to put in the hands of prosecutors and judges.

And as Michael Pope reports, even Democrats are divided on a few issues.

Complaints about parking are forcing the city of Hampton to try to figure out the difference between driveways and lawns…and the prevalence of online education is putting some school jobs in jeopardy.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols.

It took months for state officials to begin publishing the names of nursing homes with COVID-19 outbreaks.

Now, an effort to establish mandatory reporting requirements has passed both houses of the General Assembly.

Cat Modlin-Jackson has the story.

Del. Joshua Cole (Credit: House of Delegates)

With thousands of eviction cases sitting in Virginia’s courts and many more likely on the way, lawmakers are attempting to enact a suite of legislation that would prevent evictions or minimize the damage brought on in their wake.

Cat Modlin-Jackson has this report.

Between the coronavirus pandemic and increased attention on police brutality, Virginia lawmakers are trying to figure out how to distribute the state’s available money.

Thursday, a number of Delegates went before a budget committee to make their case for how to spend and save.

Cat Modlin-Jackson has more.

Lawmakers are in Richmond trying to figure out a way to help people caught up in the economic crisis.

Michael Pope reports on a plan to help with utility bills.

Rep. Bobby Scott

Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott helped Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden craft a stance on marijuana.  And it isn’t sitting well with the progressive wing of the party.

Correspondent Matt Laslo reports from Washington.

Lawmakers are in Richmond considering a host of criminal justice reform efforts.

As Michael Pope reports, one issue that’s about to be under consideration is allowing people to get old convictions off their records.

Posing across the street from Virginia’s capitol, demonstrators vowed to keep coming back until state prisons are improved, parole restored and good time expanded. (Credit: Sandy Hausman)

About 40 people rallied in Richmond this weekend as part of a national protest against prisons.

Sandy Hausman was there and filed this report.

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow some prisoners to be released early if they can demonstrate good behavior.

Michael Pope reports.

Normally Virginia voters need to cast an absentee ballot in the presence of a witness.

But a partial settlement will allow Virginians to vote absentee without a witness signature in the upcoming November election due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Jahd Khalil has more.

There’s a movement underway to strike the name of a slaveholder from another public place in Virginia.  But this time the man in question was not a Virginian.

And the issue of which workers deserve bonus pay during the pandemic has gone public in Virginia Beach.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols.

Police departments across Virginia may be on the verge of getting new oversight.

Michael Pope reports.

Sen. Barbara Favola (Credit: Virginia Senate Livestream)

Lawmakers are back in Richmond considering how they should handle the pandemic.

And as Michael Pope reports, one thing they’re not doing is requiring businesses to offer paid sick days, at least not yet.

The graves of Joshua and Nannie Forbes in Richmond’s Evergreen Cemetery. (Credit: Cat Modlin-Jackson)

While many are focused on removing relics of the Confederacy, people across Virginia have been working for years to memorialize volumes of history hidden under sacred ground.

Cat Modlin-Jackson has this look at what increased funds for historic African American cemeteries means to descendants.

With coronavirus spreading a concern in prisons across the country, lawmakers in Virginia are considering a plan that would allow for early release of geriatric prisoners.

Michael Pope reports.

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center set up to host the House of Delegates. (Credit: Cat Modlin-Jackson)

In a year of historic firsts, members of the state legislature gathered in Richmond Tuesday, with senators meeting in a science museum and delegates conducting business in a basketball arena.

Months into a global epidemic and national unrest, the General Assembly’s special session kicked off with a rocky start in the House…or rather, in the arena.

Cat Modlin-Jackson has this report.

Gov. Ralph Northam

As workers, parents and students are dealing with a world of uncertainty, the costs of the coronavirus pandemic are becoming clearer in Virginia.

Tuesday, Governor Northam met virtually with leaders of the General Assembly’s money committees to discuss how to revise the budget in the face of an estimated $2.7 billion  revenue shortfall.

Cat Modlin-Jackson has the story.

Under current law, a parking pass hanging on your rear view mirror could be enough to get pulled over. (Credit: Michael Pope)

Do you have rosary beads dangling from your rear view mirror? Maybe a parking pass?

Police officers can use that as a pretext to stop you and ask to search your vehicle.

Michael Pope reports lawmakers may be about to change that.

Psychology Professor Bob Emery offers advice to couples on surviving and thriving during a pandemic. (Credit UVA)

The pandemic poses unique challenges to each of us – whether we’re single, part of a couple or family.

At the University of Virginia’s Center for Children, Families and the Law, psychologist Bob Emery is taking notes and offering advice.

Sandy Hausman spoke with him and filed this report.

Lawmakers are headed to Richmond to consider a long list of proposed criminal justice reforms.

As Michael Pope reports, one of those proposals would change how defendants are sentenced.

As some Virginia school districts prepare to re-open without students in the classroom at least one county is looking at renting out unused school buildings. And the city of Radford will limit gatherings as college students return for the fall semester.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols.

(Credit: Herndon Police Dept.)

Lawmakers are about to consider a proposal that would limit when police officers can serve warrants.

Michael Pope reports.

As a professor at UVA’s Darden School of Business, Roshni Raveendhran has studied productivity and working at home. (Credit: UVA)

With many of us now working from home, managers face a challenge – how to promote productivity when people aren’t in the office.

Some are turning to sophisticated software to track workers’ every move online.  But a business professor at the University of Virginia says that’s the wrong way to go.

Sandy Hausman spoke with her and filed this report.

Virginia is rolling out a coronavirus exposure app, the first of its kind in the country.

David Seidel explains how it works.