RICHMOND — Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation that would provide Virginia workers up to three months of paid family and medical leave every year.
The bills would create a paid leave program, effective Jan. 1, 2022, for workers who are new parents, family of active duty military personnel, have serious medical conditions, or care for family members with serious medical conditions.
RICHMOND — Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring expressed disappointment Monday after a legislative committee rejected a bill to expand Virginia’s definition of hate crime to include gender, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity.
“The General Assembly has sent a clear message to those who feel vulnerable to hate and mistreatment that they will not take the measures needed to protect them,” Herring stated after the Senate Courts of Justice Committee defeated the bill with a vote 8-6 along party lines, with Democrats supporting the measure and Republicans opposing it.
The usually fast-growing Prince William school division caught a break in 2018: County schools logged the smallest number of new students since 1984.
RICHMOND — Immigrant rights groups were outraged after a Senate committee advanced a bill to prohibit localities from restricting federal enforcement of immigration laws.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted 8-6 Monday for SB 1156, which states,“No locality shall adopt any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
RICHMOND — As other states have relaxed their laws against marijuana, citizens across Virginia gathered here Saturday to discuss how to persuade the General Assembly to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in the commonwealth.
About 150 people, including health care providers and attorneys, attended the Virginia 2019 Cannabis Conference, held by the Virginia chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
STAFFORD — (Press Release) An intoxicated suspect was taken into custody on after neighbors complained he was shooting rounds off outside of his residence on Beech Drive, January 13 at 7:39 p.m. David Ray Walker, 55, of Stafford was charged with brandishing a firearm and reckless handling of a firearm. He was incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail.
In other news, an auto accident on Onville Road and Evans Lane resulted in a DUI arrest on January 13 at 1:50 a.m. Chapman Lawrence Good, 35, of Stafford, was taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence and refusal of test. He was incarcerated at Rappahannock Regional Jail.
RICHMOND — A legislative subcommittee has killed a bill intended to shield older children from the effects of secondhand smoke.
Subcommittee No. 1 of the House Courts of Justice Committee voted 5-3 to indefinitely postpone consideration of HB 2091, which sought to outlaw smoking in a motor vehicle containing minors under age 16. Currently, it’s illegal to smoke in a car if there are passengers under 8.
MANASSAS — (Press Release) The internationally-acclaimed hit theater show The Simon & Garfunkel Story will stop by Hylton Theater on February 1 during the 35 U.S. tour.
The immersive concert-style theater show chronicles the amazing journey shared by the folk-rock duo, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. It tells the story from their humble beginnings as Tom & Jerry to their incredible success as one of the best-selling music groups of the ‘60s to their dramatic split in 1970. It culminates with the famous “The Concert in Central Park” reunion in 1981 with more than half a million fans in attendance.
RICHMOND — Virginians are divided on whether they would support legislation to train schoolteachers and administrators to be armed on school grounds, according to a poll conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University.
“It was almost split right down the middle,” said Robyn McDougle, director for the Center for Public Policy in VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, which conducted the study.
If you are looking for other opportunities, please don’t forget to call my wonderful team at Volunteer Prince William. Jan can help you with the Retired and Senior Volunteer (RSVP) opportunities at (703) 369-5292 ext. 1, Shelley can help with any individual or group projects and send you weekly updates if you’d like. Shelley is at (703) 369-5292 ext. 2, and Bonnie can help you with opportunities available in Disaster Preparedness at (703) 369-5292 ext. 3. Please visit our website at volunteerprincewilliam.org. Thanks so much for all you do in our community.
