Posts Tagged COVID-19
Northam: Vaccination Efforts Ramping Up, New Guidelines for Reopening Schools
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 14, 2021
Virginia’s governor announced plans to speed up vaccine distribution and the reopening of schools. Nick Gilmore has details.
You can find that new guidance from the Virginia Department of Education here.
Northam: Teachers and Childcare Workers to Be Included in Next Round of Vaccines
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 6, 2021
Virginia has begun vaccinating people on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. And now, Governor Ralph Northam has provided a roadmap for the state’s next steps. Nick Gilmore has details.
The Economic Impact of COVID-19 is Hurting Certain Parts of Virginia More than Others
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on December 18, 2020
The economic crisis is hitting some parts of Virginia harder than others. Michael Pope has the story.
State Lawmakers Face Unique Challenge With Doling Out Education Funding Next Year
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on December 11, 2020
Lawmakers will return to Richmond next month – and writing a new budget will be a priority. But, they’ll have to answer some questions about what kind of assumptions they want to make about schools. Michael Pope reports.
Economic Recovery Following the Pandemic is on Track, But Could Take Longer in Rural Virginia
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Uncategorized on December 11, 2020
Recovering to pre-pandemic employment levels is expected to take longer in rural Virginia. Michael Pope reports.
Northam Announces Curfew, Other Restrictions Amid Pandemic
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on December 10, 2020

New COVID-19 restrictions will go into effect Monday morning thanks to record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 infections. Nick Gilmore has details on what Virginians can expect.
You can find the full executive order here.
The Pandemic’s Impact on Where People Want to Live
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on November 27, 2020
The pandemic economy is influencing the prices of rental housing, and where people are choosing to live. Michael Pope has details.
‘What We Were Meant To Do’ Medical Reserve Corps Preps for Vaccinations
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on November 25, 2020
More than 12,000 volunteers have stepped up to help battle the COVID-19 pandemic, but officials say more will be needed before it’s all over. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.
Virginia Restaurants Coming to Terms with New Alcohol Restrictions
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on November 19, 2020
Restaurants across Virginia are adapting to new rules about when they can serve alcohol. Michael Pope reports.
New Virginia COVID-19 Restrictions Begin Monday
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on November 13, 2020
Governor Ralph Northam announced a series of increased restrictions designed to combat the increase of COVID-19 cases. Nick Gilmore has details on the new restrictions set to go into effect at 12:01am Monday.
You can find more information here.
State Election Officials Reflect on Efforts to Safely Vote in a Pandemic
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on November 4, 2020
As the polls closed yesterday, Commissioner of Elections Chris Piper talked about the changes and challenges Virginia saw during this election. Jahd Khalil has more.
New Study: More Deaths Can Be Attributed to COVID-19
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on October 12, 2020
A new study from Virginia Commonwealth University suggests the death rate from COVID-19 is higher than reported.
Sandy Hausman spoke with its lead author about the under-count, what some states have done wrong during the pandemic and how this state has performed.
Officials Hope New VDH Tool Will Help Virginia School Divisions
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 28, 2020

State health officials continue to roll out more tools to help in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. And as Nick Gilmore reports, they hope the newest one will help school divisions across Virginia.
Virginia Senate Committee Kills Paid Quarantine Leave Bill
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 16, 2020

Lawmakers are rejecting an effort to require businesses offer paid quarantine leave. Michael Pope reports.
State Lawmakers Working to Balance the Budget… Again
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 15, 2020

Lawmakers are trying to budget the state out of the red ink created by slumping revenues tied to the economic crisis. Michael Pope reports.
Advocates Say There’s Adequate Funding to Reinstate Healthcare Spending
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 10, 2020

Faced with uncertainty about the costs of the coronavirus, lawmakers hit pause on plans to spend more money on Medicaid coverage earlier this year. But, in spite of an expected revenue shortfall, policy experts say there’s plenty of money left for healthcare spending. Cat Modlin-Jackson reports.
Virginia Senate Shelves COVID Workers Comp Bill for Now
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 9, 2020

Should workers who get COVID-19 be eligible for workers’ compensation? As Michael Pope reports, lawmakers aren’t sure.
Paid Sick Days Proposal is Dead, but Virginia House Moving Forward With Quarantine Leave
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 8, 2020

Efforts to require paid sick days during the pandemic have already fallen apart in the Senate. But, efforts are moving forward in the House for a quarantine leave. Michael Pope reports.
Bill Adding Civil Penalty for Emergency Order Violations Passes State Senate
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 4, 2020

What happens if someone violates the governor’s executive order on the pandemic? Michael Pope reports.
State Lawmakers Want to Ensure a Tuition Freeze Still Happens
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 3, 2020

Earlier this year, lawmakers set aside millions of dollars to freeze tuition rates. They shifted course and unallotted that money when COVID-19 cast a shadow of economic doubt, but now, a move to restore those funds has bipartisan support. Cat Modlin-Jackson has the story.
Virginia Senate Strikes Down COVID-19 Business Immunity Bill
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 2, 2020

Credit: CDC
Should corporations be immune from lawsuits if customers contract COVID-19? Michael Pope reports.
Voting in a Pandemic: Drop Box Funding Passes In Virginia House and Senate
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 28, 2020
Lawmakers in Richmond are considering a plan to spend $2 million to help voters cast ballots during the pandemic. But, critics say they are opening the door to vote harvesting and election fraud. Michael Pope has details.
Voting in a Pandemic: Drop Boxes Legislation Moves Forward in Virginia Senate
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 27, 2020
Lawmakers in Richmond are considering a plan to fund drop boxes for ballots across Virginia. Michael Pope reports.
Guzman Bill Providing Paid Quarantine Leave Moves to House Appropriations Committee
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 26, 2020

Delegate Elizabeth Guzmán
Public health officials have recommended self-isolation for people who’ve come down with or come into contact with COVID-19. For many caregivers and workers, staying home means losing days or weeks of wages. Cat Modlin-Jackson has details.
Committee Kills Vaccine Opt-Out Legislation
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 25, 2020

Credit: CDC
What happens when a vaccine for COVID-19 comes online? Tuesday, Republican lawmakers pushed legislation that would’ve limited mandates on immunizations. Cat Modlin-Jackson has this report.
COVID-Altered Budget: Can State Lawmakers Squeeze in Funding for Clerk Positions?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 24, 2020
Some of Virginia’s understaffed courts won big earlier this year when legislators approved funding for new district clerk positions. But their gain was lost to pandemic budget freezes, leaving court administrators to struggle under the weight of a workload that’s only grown because of COVID-19. Cat Modlin-Jackson has the story.
Voting in a Pandemic: State Lawmakers Working to Establish Protections for November Election
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 24, 2020
With a little more than two months to go before the nation’s first pandemic presidential election, lawmakers in Virginia’s General Assembly are fast tracking a measure to establish socially-distant election protocols. Monday, members of the House of Delegates pushed full speed ahead. Cat Modlin-Jackson reports.
Legislating in the Era of COVID: Zoom Meetings and Electronic Votes
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 24, 2020

Republican Senate Minority Leader Tommy Norment says the Senate has never voted on anything virtually, and he warns it will be a “dangerous precedent” to start voting via Zoom during Monday’s Senate Finance & Appropriations Committee meeting.
Members of the Virginia Senate are joining the era of Zoom, voting electronically during a special session. Michael Pope reports.
ICE Facilities Could Be Subject to Virginia Regulators Under Boysko Legislation
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 21, 2020

State Senator Jennifer Boysko (Credit: Senate of Virginia)
State regulators may be on their way to inspect detention centers holding people accused of violating immigration laws.
Michael Pope reports.
State Lawmakers Weigh Options to Help Relieve Eviction Crisis
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 20, 2020

Credit: NPR
The economic fallout of COVID-19 has amplified Virginia’s eviction crisis, leaving lawmakers to negotiate a solution that would keep both tenants and landlords from going under. Members of the House and Senate have proposed rules mandating payment agreements, but they’re not entirely on the same page. Cat Modlin-Jackson has the story.
COVID-19 Prompts Cuts to Education in Revised Northam Budget
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 19, 2020
Governor Northam’s revised budget bill proposes cuts for education and a boost to Medicaid spending. But, the loss for schools isn’t necessarily a gain for healthcare. Cat Modlin-Jackson reports.
Here’s the full report from the Commonwealth Institute.
In the Age of COVID-19, Should Every Virginia School Have a Nurse?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 17, 2020

Credit: Wellness GM / Flickr, Creative Commons: flickr.com/photos/130100316@N04/15728773073/
School systems across Virginia are trying to figure out how they can reopen for face-to-face classes. And, they might be getting some help from lawmakers. Michael Pope reports.
COVID-19 Prompting At Least One State Lawmaker to Rethink License Ceremonies
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 12, 2020

Credit: NPR
The pandemic has upended many aspects of day to day life, including teenagers who get their first driver’s license. And as Michael Pope tells us, lawmakers are considering upending a long-standing tradition.
Criminal Justice Reforms: Should Lawmakers Implement a Court Fee Moratorium?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 10, 2020
Lawmakers are about to arrive in Richmond to start considering a number of criminal justice reforms. One issue that might be on the agenda is a moratorium on court fines and fees. Michael Pope reports.
Comparing Virginia’s Unemployment with Other Localities Across the Country
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 5, 2020

Credit: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Unemployment in Virginia is currently at 8.4%. That’s a dramatic increase since the pandemic hit. But, metropolitan areas in Virginia are actually doing significantly better than many other cities across the country. Michael Pope reports.
Balancing the Budget: How Should Virginia Handle Economic Situation Amid the Pandemic?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 4, 2020
Lawmakers are headed back to Richmond this month to put together a new budget, one that takes into account the new economic situation presented by the pandemic. And, they’ll be considering a number of proposals for raising new revenue. Michael Pope reports.
Black Virginians Are Facing a New Onslaught of Job Losses
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 30, 2020
As the economy opens back up in Virginia, some groups are faring better than others. Michael Pope reports.
Northam Puts More Restrictions on Hampton Roads
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 28, 2020

Governor Northam during his Tuesday, July 28th COVID-19 press conference.
State officials are taking additional steps to combat a surge of COVID-19 in Hampton Roads. Nick Gilmore has details.
COVID-19 and Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 23, 2020

The Virginia DMV is encouraging citizens to conduct as much business as they can online. (Credit: Virginia DMV)
Before the pandemic, the Department of Motor Vehicles was the poster child for a slow-moving bureaucracy. Now, as Michael Pope reports frustrations are mounting.
As the Pandemic Continues, Should Next Month’s Special Session Go Virtual?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 22, 2020
Lawmakers are about to return to Richmond for a special session to reconsider the budget and take up criminal-justice reform efforts. They’ll probably be there in-person, although Michael Pope reports some House members are pushing for a virtual session.
State Lawmakers Must Balance Budget Amidst COVID: What Does that Mean for Legislative Priorities?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 17, 2020

Credit: NPR
As lawmakers prepare to go back to Richmond and put together a revised budget, they’ll be confronting a number of difficult decisions. Michael Pope has this report about one of those decisions involving maternal mortality.
The Paradox of a Rural County: Few Cases of COVID but a Big Economic Impact
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 17, 2020

The Omni Homestead employs 700 people in Bath County. It closed for three months due to COVID, reopening in late June. (Credit: Omni Homestead)
While the COVID-19 pandemic has largely spared rural Virginia, the economies of many communities have taken a big hit. That’s clearly the case in Bath County – a tourist mecca on the West Virginia border where meal and lodging taxes dropped dramatically and unemployment rose to more than 20%. Sandy Hausman paid a visit and filed this report.
And in this report, Sandy Hausman details how locals in Bath County are still hopeful, and how a creative spirit is spreading as they find ways to survive the economic downturn.
Checking in With Virginia’s Latinx Community Following Passage of Workplace Safety Rules
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 17, 2020

Liz Zavala at her job in Harrisonburg. (Credit: Cat Modlin-Jackson)
In May, we brought you the story of a Mexican-American woman whose family was deeply impacted by the spread of COVID-19 in poultry plants. Cat Modlin-Jackson checked in with Liz Zavala after Virginia became the first state to pass mandatory workplace safety rules amidst the pandemic.
Senator Warner Wants to Protect Workers of Big Businesses
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 16, 2020
Almost a million jobs in Virginia were preserved by the Paycheck Protection Program, according to new data from the Small Business Administration. But, that doesn’t help people who work for big businesses. Michael Pope reports.
Virginia Reaches Grim Milestone: One Million Unemployment Claims in 2020
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 16, 2020
Unemployment claims in Virginia have surpassed an unprecedented milestone: one million claims this year. Now state and federal lawmakers are raising the alarm about a backlog of Virginians still waiting on money. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.
State Democrats Split Over Paid Sick Days
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 15, 2020
As members of the General Assembly prepare to return to Richmond next month, many of them are looking for a way to make sure workers in Virginia get sick days. Michael Pope reports.
Congressional Delegation Weighs In: Should Deregulation Efforts Remain Post-Pandemic?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 15, 2020

Credit: Rog Cogswell / Creative Commons
The Trump administration has aggressively moved to unwind an array of federal regulations since the coronavirus pandemic hit America, and to Virginia lawmakers it’s not as cut and dry – even across party lines. Michael Pope reports.
Virginia Becomes First State to Pass Coronavirus Workplace Rules
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 15, 2020
Virginia has become the first state to pass mandated health and safety standards for workplaces, amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Labor activists are celebrating the new enforceable standards. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.
A Look at the Virginia Cultural Institutions that Received PPP Help
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 15, 2020

The Montpelier Foundation was among several Virginia non-profits to receive loans from the Paycheck Protection Program. (Credit: Montpelier Facebook Page / facebook.com/JMMontpelier/photos)
More than 130 museums, performing arts institutions and historical sites in Virginia received a boost from Paycheck Protection Program loans, according to data released this month by the U.S. Treasury Department. Cat Modlin-Jackson took a look at how that money helped salvage a pandemic summer.
COVID-19 Hit Vulnerable Communities Hard: What Happens When You’re In More Than One?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 14, 2020

Credit: CDC
The pandemic has exposed how some communities are more vulnerable than others. But what happens when people are in more than one vulnerable group? Michael Pope reports.