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New voter registration lags compared to last General Assembly election
By Jimmy Sidney / Capital News Service New voter registration has slowed for this election, compared to the last time all 140 General Assembly seats were on the ballot in 2019. The upcoming election is considered high stakes for many reasons, and college students are working to get out the vote. About two-thirds as many […]
House District 65 race: Democrat Cole vs. Republican Peters
By Ryan Nadeau / Capital News Service Two community leaders are campaigning for the open House District 65 seat, containing Fredericksburg city and parts of Stafford and Spotsylvania counties, which was left vacant after extensive redistricting. Democratic candidate Joshua Cole is a local pastor and president of the Stafford County NAACP. Cole grew up in […]
Pickleball serves up new opportunities in Virginia
By Kaitlyn McMahon / Capital News Service Terms like volley llamas, flabjacks and dillballs sound like a bad joke, but are actually terms used in pickleball, a sport that’s a smash hit in Virginia. In fact, there are three upcoming pickleball tournaments in October alone and new facilities opening. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport across […]
Virginia budget puts millions toward support staff as schools struggle to find teachers
By Alyssa Hutton / Capital News Service Virginia schools will be able to hire more support staff positions, something educators say is desperately needed amid a continued teacher shortage. State lawmakers last month approved an amended budget that will direct $152 million toward these school support positions. The appropriations help boost the ratio of allotted support staff […]
Fifth Virginia casino could be in the cards, but Richmond voters still divided
By Kofi Mframa / Capital News Service Virginia could have its fifth casino if a local referendum passes in November, though Richmond voters rejected it the first time. The proposal would extend casino gambling into central Virginia. There are two casinos open in the southern and southwest parts of the state. One casino is operational […]
VCU professor develops THC breathalyzer to help detect driver impairment
By Sahara Sriraman / Capital News Service A Virginia Commonwealth University professor and a partner are developing a new THC breathalyzer that could be used to quickly detect if someone is driving under the influence of cannabis. VCU professor Emanuele Alves, who has a doctorate in forensic science, partnered with Wagner Pacheco, who has a […]
Key part of Fall Line Trail construction starts next month
By Jimmy Sidney / Capital News Service The regional Fall Line Trail is set to officially break ground in Henrico County next month. The 43-mile-long trail will span from Petersburg to Ashland and serve as a counterpart to the Capital Trail. Regional planners see it as a “spine trail” that can connect towns, schools, businesses, […]
Journalism educators, trade organizations endorse bipartisan federal shield law
By Emily Richardson / Capital News Service Journalists could have more federal protections if a reintroduced shield law bill can pass Congress this term. The PRESS Act would protect journalists, including citizen journalists, from federal court-ordered disclosure of information about a source. There are a handful of limitations such as information that could prevent an act of terrorism […]
Virginia lawmaker hopes new posthumous diploma law will help grieving families and students
By Darlene Johnson / Capital News Service Graduation is a month away for approximately 90,000 Virginia high school seniors. For some, that milestone is cut short by tragedy. When a high school student dies before graduation, it can be difficult for a family to obtain a posthumous diploma. State lawmakers this recent General Assembly session passed House Bill […]
More Southwest Virginia families turn to food banks with end of extra SNAP benefits
By Janae Blakeney / Capital News Service A single mother wheeled her cart around a Roanoke Food Lion on a recent Saturday night, plucking a few staples off the shelves for her and her daughter to eat. She selected some eggs, milk, frozen Kid Cuisines and other items for the week and headed for the […]
Youngkin amends bill ending subminimum wage for disabled workers
By Ryan Nadeau / Capital News Service Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently recommended the General Assembly accept an amended version of a bill that ends the practice of paying subminimum wage to certain Virginia workers with disabilities. A certificate exemption under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to determine pay for disabled workers based […]
Third attempt to exempt eyebrow threading technicians from licensing requirements fails
By Janae Blakeney / Capital News Service A bill to help remove licensing requirements for eyebrow threading technicians failed to pass a House committee during the recent General Assembly session. Eyebrow threading is a method to remove facial hair and eyebrows that began millennia ago in Asia, and gained popularity in Western culture. People interested in […]