Most Read Articles Aug. 19, 2020
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Virginia panel approves sweeping police reform bill
A sweeping police reform bill that would eliminate the use of no-knock warrants, limit the use of chokeholds and make it easier to decertify officers for misconduct won approval from a key Virginia legislative committee Tuesday amid widespread calls for change sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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Northam presents scaled-down budget recommendations to lawmakers ahead of special legislative session
Gov. Ralph Northam presented a scaled-down state budget recommendation to lawmakers Tuesday morning as the General Assembly prepared to convene a special session aimed at tough issues of finance and social justice. Virginia's governor always updates legislators on state revenue at this time of year, but Northam did so as lawmakers prepare to rewrite the state budget to reflect the crushing economic effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
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Lawmakers kick off special session with debate over pandemic logistics
Virginia lawmakers kicked off a special session on COVID-19 and police reform on Tuesday, but the day was largely consumed with debating the logistics of the gathering as the pandemic unfolds. Both houses met outside of their traditional chambers to comply with public safety restrictions around COVID-19, with the House meeting at VCU’s Siegel Center while the Senate met at the Science Museum of Virginia.
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VPAP Visual Paths to the House of Delegates
VPAP takes a closer look at the backgrounds of the 99 men and women who currently serve in the Virginia House of Delegates. This visual timeline traces each Senator from their place of birth, their education, military experience, current occupation and, finally, any previous political experience.
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Portsmouth police list city’s chief prosecutor as a witness, which could force her off monument case
Portsmouth police have listed the city’s top prosecutor as a potential witness in the felony cases they filed Monday against state Sen. Louise Lucas and 13 others in a June protest at Portsmouth’s Confederate monument. The move could effectively block Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales and her office from being involved in the prosecution of the cases.
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McAuliffe Favors Gubernatorial Run Over Biden Cabinet Post
Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe says he’ll make up his mind on whether he’ll run for governor within a week of election day. His current focus, he told VPM in an interview on Monday, remains on electing his “very good friend,” former Vice President Joe Biden.
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SCC: Dominion under-earned last year, but excess profits have topped half a billion since 2017
Dominion earned $75 million less than it was authorized to in 2019 but still collected an estimated half a billion dollars more than allowed between 2017 and 2019, the State Corporation Commission reported Tuesday. The numbers appeared in a report the body, which oversees electric utilities, is required to submit to lawmakers every year.
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From VPAP Maps, Timeline of COVID-19 in Virginia
Our COVID-19 dashboard makes it easy to track the latest available data for tests performed, infections, deaths and hospital capacity. There's a filter for each city and county, plus an exclusive per-capita ZIP Code map. Updated each morning around 10:30 a.m.
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Northam cuts spending priorities to fill $2.7 billion shortfall
Gov. Ralph Northam promised the General Assembly on Tuesday that he remains committed to “the progressive budget” it passed this year, but said the coronavirus pandemic paralyzed the state’s economy and drained tax revenues needed to pay for the priorities of the Democratic-controlled legislature. Northam said a projected $2.7 billion revenue shortfall means that the state can no longer afford many of his preferences — especially in education — or theirs.
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Scott Taylor sends cease and desist letter to Elaine Luria alleging defamatory statements
Scott Taylor is accusing Elaine Luria as well as her congressional and campaign staff of making "false and defamatory statements" about him. That's according to Taylor who said on Tuesday that he sent a cease and desist letter to Luria.