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More Virginia college students head into quarantine as COVID-19 cases rise
By Noah Fleischman/ Capital News Service As more universities open, they’re collecting and releasing COVID-19 data and grappling with contingency plans for those who contract the disease. The University of Virginia in Charlottesville released its first set of COVID-19 testing data on Wednesday. There have been 58 total positive cases at the university since Aug. 17, including 31 […]
Bill to establish mental health alert system reports out of House committee
By Andrew Ringle A bill that could reshape how law enforcement responds when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis reported out of the House Public Safety Committee on Tuesday by a vote of 13-9. House Bill 5043 by Del. Jeff Bourne, D-Richmond, would create teams of mental health service providers, peer recovery specialists and […]
Lawmakers split over bill to ban plastic foam to-go containers
By David Tran/ Capital News Service A bill in the General Assembly that bans expanded polystyrene containers, also known as plastic foam, at all food vendors by 2025 currently is in limbo while both chambers hash out a Senate amendment rejected by the House. House Bill 533 would prohibit food vendors, including restaurants, catering trucks and […]
Bill removing race requirement in marriage records passes
By Zach Armstrong/ Capital News Service When William Christiansen married his college sweetheart, he was disturbed that they had to disclose their race to the registrar, considering they are an interracial couple. “It reminded me and my wife of a time when interracial couples were unable to get married,” said Christiansen. “It’s an unneeded reminder of […]
Bill banning handheld cellphone use while driving clears House, Senate
By Andrew Ringle/ Capital News Service The state Senate voted Tuesday in favor of a bill that would prohibit holding a phone while driving a motor vehicle on Virginia roadways and which implements a penalty for the traffic violation. House Bill 874 will head to the desk of Gov. Ralph Northam, who has voiced support for […]
Bill to make pawpaws the state fruit delayed to 2021
By Macy Pressley/ Capital News Service Countless Virginians remember biting into the custardy sweetness of a pawpaw, the peculiar combination of mango and banana filling their mouths as the drops of juice dribbled down their chins, the perfect treat for a sweltering late August afternoon. These memories might be honored with state recognition, but not […]
Bill advances to grant undocumented immigrants driver’s licenses
By Ada Romano/ Capital News Service Legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to possess a driver’s license advanced in the Senate Wednesday. Senate Bill 34, introduced by Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, would allow immigrants to obtain a driver’s license regardless of legal status. Applicants must prove they don’t have a social security or individual taxpayer identification number and […]
Subcommittee advances bill allowing voters to choose multiple candidates
By Macy Pressley/ Capital News Service A bill allowing Virginia voters to choose more than one candidate on the ballot narrowly advanced through subcommittee Monday. House Bill 1103, introduced by Del. Sally Hudson, D-Charlottesville, would open a pilot program for ranked-choice voting in local elections, such as city council or school board contests. “Rank choice voting is […]
More pedestrians are dying on Virginia’s roads
By Kelly Booth and Judi Dalati /Capital News Service On a Friday night in October, Katelyn Tilts was walking to a convenience store with a group of friends when she saw headlights coming at her. “A car came around the corner really quickly and was swerving. The driver was swerving but started going directly at […]
Evictions, a focus of concern, fall 14% in Virginia
By Jaclyn Barton and Patricia Cason/ Capital News Service Martin Wegbreit has known for a long time that Richmond has a problem with evictions, but a 2018 New York Times article brought national attention to the issue. It said the city’s eviction rate was more than 11% — three to four times the national average. “The […]
Buttigieg leading in donations from Virginia
By Adam Hamza/ Capital News Service Pete Buttigieg has raised more money in individual donations from the commonwealth than any other candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, has received nearly $950,000 from Virginians, according to data from the Federal Election Commission. That puts him ahead of former Vice President […]
Virginians are recycling more of their trash
By Eric Everington/ Capital News Service Virginia recycled almost half of its trash last year, setting a record despite China’s ban on importing plastic and other solid waste. The statewide recycling rate in 2018 was 46% — up 3 percentage points from the previous year, according to data released this week by the Virginia Department of […]