RICHMOND – Virginia legislators are seeking to mitigate the personal and economic consequences of their constituents’ student loan debt by creating a state-level ombudsman to troubleshoot problems and educate borrowers regarding college loans.
In 2017, more than 1 million Virginians owed more than $30 billion in student loan debt, state officials say. Nationally, student loan debt is more than $1.3 trillion and climbing.
The fifth week of session brought a furious pace to legislating including some of the most contentious bills of the session as we approached “crossover” – the day the Senate and House are required to complete action on legislation originating in each chamber. It was mostly a successful week for me. Twenty-one of my bills are now set to pass the Senate to be considered by the House of Delegates.
First, Governor Northam announced an agreement to raise Virginia’s threshold between misdemeanors and felonies from $200 to $500. Once enacted, Virginia’s threshold will still be the second lowest in the United States. I have introduced this legislation every year for nine sessions I was pleased it is finally going to be enacted into law.
From the Stafford County press release:
Stafford County announces the appointment of Rysheda M. McClendon to the position of County Attorney. Rysheda McClendon has served as Deputy County Attorney for Stafford County since 2015 and worked in the County Attorney office for seven years. She will replace retiring County Attorney Charles L. Shumate on March 1, 2018.
Police in Washington, D.C. today released the incident report written after a man did a “Superman dive” under an OmniRide bus on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018.
The report obtained by Potomac Local details the police report and identifies the victim.
From the Manassas Symphony Orchestra press release on Carlos Ibay:
Internationally-acclaimed piano soloist, Carlos Ibay, to perform with the Manassas Symphony
Form the VDOT press release:
VDOT ENHANCING SAFETY ON BUTLER ROAD NEAR FALMOUTH INTERCHANGE IN STAFFORD
A National Guard unit returning from a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan will be making a pit stop at Brew Republic Bierwerks in Woodbridge. Here’s what the general manager has to say:
My name is Scott Melice, I am the general manager here at Brew Republic Bierwerks in Woodbridge, VA. We were forwarded the following article that was recently written about the MD National Guard Unit, https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-national-guard-special-ops-returning-20180125-story.html. We were contacted by the spouse of one of those brave soldiers and asked us if we would be able to host the unit on their way back from deployment. Being a veteran owned business and having one of our private investors also close with those soldiers, we of course were more than happy to accommodate their group.
From the Stafford County Sheriff’s department:
Disturbance at Local Hotel Leads to Drug Arrest
RICHMOND — Virginia distillers ?may soon be toasting the General Assembly after the Senate passed a bill to let liquor manufacturers keep more of the money from selling their spirits in tasting rooms.
Currently, distilleries must sell their bottles to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, then buy them back at full retail price before pouring samples inside their tasting rooms. The markup averages 69 percent and can be as high as 93 percent, according to ABC.
Hear from some talented youth this Sunday at Hylton Performing Arts Center. Here’s more from the press release:
Youth Orchestras of Prince William’s (YOPW) Music Director and Youth Symphony Orchestra interim Conductor, Mr. John Murton, will present the orchestra’s winter concert Air on Sunday, February 18 at 3 pm. Air is the second performance of the season and features all of the YOPW ensembles.
