Lawmakers Struggle To Balance Shielding Businesses From COVID-19 Lawsuits While Keeping Workers Safe From The Virus

It’s a short bill filled with lawyerly jargon. But it could have a major impact on future coronavirus-related lawsuits in Virginia.

We Must Work Together To Halt The Spread Of COVID-19

Author praises caregivers and staff for their hard work and dedication.

Access To Ballot Boxes And Other Measures Will Help All Voters

Voting drop boxes aren’t sinister repositories of fraud. They’re not working overtime to deny candidates their proper electoral victories.

General Assembly Votes Down Bills Aimed At Ending Qualified Immunity For Police In Virginia

A House of Delegates panel voted down legislation Monday aimed at making it easier to sue police officers who abuse their authority.

Treat Evictions Like A Chronic Disease

The challenges of eviction must be confronted.

Bill To End Police Stops For Marijuana Smell Passes Va. Senate

The state Senate approved a bill Friday that would prohibit search and seizures based solely on the odor of marijuana.

Virginia Senator Tests Positive For COVID-19 During Special Session On That Virus

In a statement, Sen. Bryce Reeves said he took a test Monday “out of an abundance of caution” after experiencing mild cold symptoms.

Former Washington NFL Team Employees Say Women Were ‘Marginalized,’ FEMA Approves Va. Unemployment Benefits, ‘Marcus Alert’ In Trouble; More

A former employee of the Washington NFL team says he was told to make a video featuring “lewd outtakes” from a cheerleader photo shoot.

VA Patch Local Business Information Center: A Community Resource

Patch has partnered with scores of local businesses to keep you informed about their services during the pandemic and beyond.

Richmond Lee Statue Trial Set For October, Hampton Roads Nursing Homes Ease Restrictions, Brighter Metro Stations; More

Jerry Falwell Jr. is characterizing his resignation from Liberty University as a relief.

Day Of Tumult At Liberty Ends With Falwell Resignation, Universities Struggle To Contain COVID-19 Cases, Long-Lost Watermelons; More

Falwell Jr.'s resignation became final as more reports emerged about his sexual escapades.

Virginia Must Fight Trump’s Corrupt Motives For Restricting Mail Ballots

Most national leaders, Trump foremost, have thoroughly botched a health emergency that’s killed more than 170,000 Americans.

Hurst Bill Aims To Block Pipeline Worker Surge In Southwest Virginia

HB 5102 would also require such an employer to participate in one of Virginia’s Voluntary Protection Programs.

Faculty Question Student Coronavirus Testing At Three Virginia Public Universities

George Mason, William And Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University all contracted with Kallaco.

Free Speech Is Not Free Of Consequence; Never Has Been, Never Will Be

In the dangerous Age of the Internet, you speak at your own peril.

Virginia Has $1.1B In Unused Reserve Funds; Some Say The Rainy Day Is Here.

As legislators began the special session, Northam detailed the ways the state has tried to help Virginia families weather the COVID crisis.

Fare Or No Fare? Transit Agencies Face Tough Choices Amid Covid-19 Budget Crunch

Instead, GRTC’s first-ever local route in Chesterfield opened during an unprecedented pandemic.

Former Lt. Gov. Hager Dies, A Long Pattern Of ‘Stiff Resistance’ To Black Leaders In Portsmouth, Redlining And Heat; More

Former Lt. Gov. John Hager died Sunday at 83, drawing bipartisan condolences from Virginia political figures.

As Appalachian Power Seeks A Rate Hike, Does A New Consumer Protection Law Apply?

The legislation restored the State Corporation Commission’s power to set the schedule for utilities to recover remaining costs.

Virginia Applying To Participate In Trump’s $300-A-Week Unemployment Supplement

But officials cautioned many questions remain about the program, including uncertainty about how long the additional funds will last.

Senate Committee Advances Bill To Limit Emergency Decisions By Virginia Health Commissioner

Five of the Senate Education and Health Committee’s nine Democratic members voted with Republicans to advance legislation for a 30-day limit

Virginia Heroes: Help Patch Recognize Those Making A Difference

The helpers are the people who make life better. Nominate your Local Heroes to give them the recognition they deserve, presented by Ring.

Appalachian Power Seeks Rate Bump Decried By The Attorney General’s Office As ‘Unconscionable’

The company, whose territory covers most of Southwestern Virginia, argues that its rates have been flat for roughly a decade.

Truth, Trust And Transparency’: What Black Americans Want From Policing

The surveys provide insights into the way Black motorists and pedestrians approach encounters with police "usually with dread."

Northam To Lead Chesapeake Executive Council As It Outlines New Diversity, Equity Goals

The annual meeting of the council includes the governors of several states.

Cheat Sheet: Where Virginia Democrats Agree On Criminal Justice Reform And Where They Diverge

Democrats, who have full control over the legislative process in Virginia, are in broad agreement on a range of criminal justice reforms.

Could Antigen Tests Solve Virginia’s Testing Problems? Experts Say It’s Not So Simple.

The potential purchasing agreement is still preliminary, but a total of 10 states are now involved.

Northam Wants Absentee Ballot Drop-Off Boxes In Virginia: Here’s How They’d Work

Gov. Northam’s proposal — included in his budget — would require drop-off sites at locations where in-person voting already takes place.

Portsmouth Police Chief Said To Have Conflict Of Interest In Statue Investigation; Moratorium Vote Delayed; Committee Rejects Bill; More

Portsmouth City Manager Lydia Pettis Patton said she expected police to drop their investigation into the Confederate statue incident.

Northam Says VA's Budget Isn’t In Terrible Shape, But Legislators Should Stay Cautious

“We feared worse,” Northam told lawmakers in a virtual budget briefing before the start of the special session.

SCC: Dominion Under-Earned Last Year, But Excess Profits Have Topped Half A Billion Since 2017

The numbers appeared in a report the body, which oversees electric utilities, is required to submit to lawmakers every year.

Virginia House Will Legislate The Special Session Remotely After Contentious Rule Changes

The House of Delegates will be meeting remotely as it decides the future of legislation on state spending.

At Today's Special Session Legal Action Against Trump Is Mulled, UVA’s Memorial To Enslaved Laborers; More

The General Assembly returns to Richmond today for a special session, with COVID-19 relief and police reform as big items.

‘Let’s Just Feed Our Kids’: Advocates Press To Extend Federal Aid For School Meals

“One of our primary needs at this point is to try to maintain the summer food service,” director Larry Wade Sr., said.

Don’t Let Water Quality Become Another COVID Casualty

You often smell them before you see them. Harmful algal blooms are an annual summer curse in Virginia’s waterways.

Virginia House Democrats Want To Make It Easier For Localities To Take Down Confederate Statues

Democrats in the House of Delegates want to revisit the law that empowers local governments to remove Confederate statues.

Legislative Priorities, New And Deferred, Face Cold Reality Of A Wrecked State Budget

Northam, enjoying a verdant fiscal environment for the state since he took office in January 2018, now faces a colossal deficit.

Portsmouth Police Charge State Sen., With Felonies, Riggleman Mulls Gubernatorial Run, Uncertainty About Danville Casino; More

The move to charge Democratic senator, NAACP leaders is called "disturbing and suspiciously timed."

Do Not Miss This Chance To Fix Redistricting

In November, Virginians have a unique opportunity to fundamentally improve the structure of democracy.

Why Access To Records Must Be Part Of The General Assembly’s Criminal Justice Reform

These issues will be debated and hashed out in the General Assembly’s special session, Aug. 18, and into the 2021 regular session.