Hurricane
- Virginia health committee considers mandating licensed nurses in every school
A newly proposed legislative measure would require all school districts in Virginia to employ a licensed nurse in every school.
- Virginia Panel Advances Plan for a Licensed Nurse in Every School by 2028
School Health Services Committee backs a nurse-per-building or per-325-students rule with two-year hiring waivers; November 18 vote would send the proposal to the 2027 General Assembly.
- Joshua Cole House Bill 34 Sexual Offense Response Program for State Military Clears Assembly
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia General Assembly has given final approval to legislation aimed at bolstering support for victims of sexual offenses within the state’s military forces.
- Spanberger signs executive order to boost Virginia’s emergency preparedness
Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Executive Order 19 Tuesday afternoon, which is designed to strengthen Virginia’s preparedness for natural disasters and other emergencies and streamline the state’s response to crises. The announcement comes ahead of hurricane season for states along the country’s southeastern coast. But the order extended beyond natural catastrophes, with the governor saying Virg
- Hampton leaders cool to limited Army Corps flood solutions
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draft feasibility study proposing scaled-down protection without structural elements like floodwalls for vulnerable portions of Hampton and Poquoson got a frosty reception from Hampton’s city manager during a recent presentation to City Council. The $4.2 billion Coastal Storm Risk Management plan, now open to public comment, calls for elevating […]
- Late on rent? New Virginia law gives tenants more time and protection from eviction
Tamiaka Bryant has rebuilt her life from scratch before. She doesn’t want to have to do it again. Originally from North Carolina, Bryant saw her hometown of New Bern pummeled by Hurricane Florence in 2018. Flooding and heavy winds caused an estimated $100 million in commercial and residential damage, prompting the city to spend the […]
- Virginia shoppers set to save as sales tax holiday returns this weekend
Virginia’s sales tax holiday begins on Friday and runs through Sunday, offering deals on qualifying school supplies, clothing and footwear sales tax. Certain emergency preparedness items also qualify. The sales tax holiday starts Aug. 7 at 12:01 a.m. and ends Aug. 9 at 11:59 p.m., and could save consumers 5.3% to 7% on total costs. […]
- Virginia officials urge hurricane preparedness as 2026 storm season begins
With the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season underway, Virginia officials are urging residents to prepare now for severe weather that can bring flooding, damaging winds, tornadoes and prolonged power outages across the commonwealth. State leaders gathered Wednesday at the Virginia Emergency Operations Center in Richmond for hurricane preparedness briefings and tabletop simulations meant to test coordi
- $193M shortfall with construction funds Virginia transportation board
The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted to transfer funds from construction projects and other areas to address a $193 million budget shortfall caused by increased spending on storm response and employee bonuses on during Wednesday’s business meeting. The Virginia Department of Transportation reported that emergency responses — including snowstorms, hurricanes, and flooding — cost the agency [
- Virginia Farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene may apply for farm recovery grants
Flooding in Damascus, Virginia on September 27, 2024, after Hurricane Helene. (Photo courtesy of Virginia Department of Emergency Management) Next week, the Virginia Farm Recovery Block Grant Program will reopen, allowing local farmers and timber producers to apply for financial assistance to recover from Hurricane Helene, which battered Southwest Virginia in 2024. The application portal […]
- Virginia’s Energy Gamble: Higher Risk, Higher Costs, Less Reliability
Snowstorms and the Anxiety They Bring Snowstorms in Virginia are always a source of anxiety. When will roads get cleared so we can get back to work? What do we do with the kids until they go back to school when we still have to go to work? How do we feed and maintain the livestock? This […]
- The Political Pendulum Swung Left
The political pendulum swings back and forth and Tuesday it swung hard infavor of the Democrat party. Democrats swept all three top spots inVirginia, aligning with a historical pattern dating back to 1976, where theCommonwealth votes for the opposition party to the party in the White House.This year was no exception but we take comfort […]
- Hurricane Helene reshaped parts of Southwest Virginia’s landscape. New adaptations are underway.
On September 27th, 2024, floodwaters from Hurricane Helene that had already devastated North Carolina rushed through the hills and hollers of Southwest Virginia, uprooting timber, agriculture land, homes and businesses. The impact on the region’s natural resources can still be seen today.
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Pre-Proposal and Application Dates for Food Access Grant Program
Grants support new and existing food retailers to improve food security in urban and rural food deserts RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced the pre-proposal and application dates for the next round of Virginia Food Access Investment Fund (VFAIF) program grants.
- Youngkin urges Hurricane Helene survivors to contact officials, shares storm recovery update
Virginia and federal officials are trying to contact Southwest Virginia residents impacted by Hurricane Helene and urging them to complete their applications for recovery funds dedicated to the region, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a press briefing Thursday afternoon. The governor provided an update on the state’s continued recovery from the storm, which hit Virginia […]
- Blue Ridge Parkway to Reopen
RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that the National Park Service will reopen the Blue Ridge Parkway on Friday, October 11, 2024. This follows a previous announcement that the Blue Ridge Parkway would be closed indefinitely to clear debris caused by Hurricane Helene. Visitors are invited to come experience fall in Virginia. “Virginia is excited […]
- Federal Emergency Declaration Has Been Approved to Aid Recovery Efforts in Southwest Virginia
Governor Glenn Youngkin assesses storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Grayson, Virginia on September 29, 2024. Official Photo by Christian Martinez, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin. RICHMOND, VA — Governor Youngkin announced today that the Commonwealth’s request for a federal emergency declaration for Public Assistance, Emergency Protective Measures and Direct Federal Assistance is approve
- Storm Damage Caused by Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Youngkin visited Damascus in Southwest Virginia today alongside U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith, State Senator Todd Pillion, and Delegate Israel O’Quinn to assess the storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene and emphasized the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting the affected communities in their recovery efforts. “We are heartbroken for all Virginians and Americans […]