RICHMOND — Two bills are headed to the governor’s desk requiring Dominion Energy to clean up millions of tons of coal ash at four Virginia power plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
SB 1355, introduced by Republican Sen. Frank Wagner of Virginia Beach, was approved by the House 93-2 on Friday. The bill’s passage comes a day after the Senate approved an identical bill, HB 2786, 38-2.
RICHMOND — A Democratic bill to repeal a Jim Crow era-law that legalized wage discrimination against many African-Americans is headed to the governor’s desk after being approved by the House of Delegates.
The bill, SB 1079 , rescinds the law that allows employers to pay less than minimum wage to “newsboys, shoe-shine boys, ushers, doormen, concession attendants, and theater cashiers” — jobs to which many African-Americans were relegated decades ago.
RICHMOND — Virginia has joined a coalition of 15 other states to challenge President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency and to block the diversion of congressional funding to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.
“Concocting a fake emergency to build a needless wall goes against the Constitution and the values America was built on,” Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said in a statement. “President Trump’s ill-advised plan could divert critical funds from actual national security priorities, including military construction projects at bases and facilities throughout Virginia. We must stand up to this administration when it violates the law and attacks our values.”
(Pince William police press release) Residential Burglary – On February 18 at 1:47 p.m., officers responded to a residence located in the 14000 block of Felty Pl. in Woodbridge (22193) to investigate the report of a domestic with weapons.
The investigation revealed the accused, an acquaintance, entered the residence without permission while holding a blunt object. Officers responded and detained the accused without incident.
RICHMOND — Raising concerns from immigrant advocacy groups, two bills that would increase cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities are advancing through the Virginia General Assembly.
HB 2270, sponsored by Republican Del. Charles Poindexter of Franklin County, would require local law enforcement officials to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the release date of an immigrant “alien,” or noncitizen, as soon as it is known. The bill cleared the Senate Courts of Justice Committee on Wednesday after being passed by the House last week.
DUMFRIES – (Press Release) The 2019 Polar Plunge Festival will be held on February 23 at Tim’s Rivershore Restaurant & Crabhouse in Dumfries. All proceeds will go to Special Olympics Virginia.
The festival has a $100,000 goal. Interested participants can register right up until start time on event day. For more details and a schedule of events, check out our event website, polarplunge.com/tims-rivershore. Please note all event times are subject to change based on weather and water conditions.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — (Press Release) Loudoun County Supervisor Geary Higgins is announcing his candidacy for Virginia’s 13th Senate Seat, being vacated by Senator Dick Black.
“Almost every important issue facing residents in Loudoun and Prince William Counties deals with quality of life – high quality schools, less traffic, low crime, low taxes and protection of our liberties,” said Higgins.
The American Red Cross needs volunteers to help them install smoke alarms and distribute home fire prevention information on Saturday February 23rd in Woodbridge. They are working in the Village Gate community with 300 homes and would greatly appreciate your help. The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please use their online registration site at volunteerconnection.redcross.org/?nd=vms_public_form&form_id=5847. Or contact Carol at: mailto: [email protected] for more info.
Youth for Tomorrow needs volunteers to share their hobby or talent with at-risk teens on the weekends. Do you like golf, sewing, dancing, cooking baking writing poetry crocheting, writing songs or other fun thing them you’re the perfect person to share your talent with a kid. Please register online at: youthfortomorrow.org.
RICHMOND — Legislation to protect Virginia students who use cannabidiol oil is still making its way through the House after being unanimously passed by the Senate.
SB 1632, sponsored by Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Richmond, requires local school boards to implement policies that keep students from being suspended or expelled if they have “valid written certification” to use CBD and THC-A oil. While both oils are derived from the cannabis plant, neither have an intoxicating effect on those who use it to manage pain and other ailments.
STAFFORD – (Press Release) Four suspects were arrested on Friday night by units with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office after attempting to break into a residence using an ax.
On February 8, 2019, units responded to a reported domestic with a weapon at a residence located on the 500 block of Eskimo Hill Road. The caller told the Sheriff’s Office that she had been assaulted and several individuals were outside attempting to break into the house with an ax. The caller also said they had threatened to burn the house down.
