RICHMOND — After dozens of women rallied at the Capitol on Monday, a legislative committee passed one of their key priorities — a bill to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour in Virginia.
SB 1200 would take effect July 1, initially raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour, then to $13 an hour in 2020 and $15 an hour in 2021. The bill, which passed the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on a 6-4 vote, will advance to the full Senate for a vote.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY – (Press Release) The Community Healthcare Coalition of Greater Prince William (CHCGPW) is inviting community members to discuss public health priorities and help shape strategies for improving the community’s well-being through a series of Community Conversations.
The CHCGPW is collaborating with residents, public and private organizations, local experts and coalitions to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan that aims to create a healthier place to live, learn, work and play.
RICHMOND — Members of the General Assembly from Bristol, Portsmouth and Danville urged their colleagues Monday to approve legislation to allow casino gambling in those cities. They said the plan would create jobs and boost the economy.
Sen. Charles Carrico, R-Bristol, and Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, joined delegates from each locality at a news conference to push for a state law authorizing casinos. They said that in seven years, such gambling operations could generate a total of nearly $100 million in local revenue and create about 16,000 jobs.
STAFFORD — In the effort to improve traffic flow northbound at Interstate 95 and Route 17, officials have two options.
The first design is VDOT’s “base” option which is within the project’s budget, which takes away the northeast ramp for traffic exiting I-95 north and entering Route 17 North. Getting rid of the loop essentially prevents traffic from slowing down as other drivers try to merge get on and off I-95 on the same stretch of road in the existing a collector-distributor lane.
RICHMOND — For Roxanne Gabel and Tabitha Clark, advocating for “hands-free driving” in Virginia is about more than statistics; it’s a family memorial effort.
In November 2017, Gabel’s 21-year-old daughter, Lakin Ashlyn, was killed in a traffic accident when she was using Snapchat on her phone while driving, Clark, the young woman’s cousin, said at a Wednesday press conference held by the group Drive Smart Virginia.
CULPEPER — (Press Release) Virginia State Police Trooper I.R. Ewing is investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash in Culpeper County. The crash occurred Jan. 16, 2019 at 6:10 p.m. on Route 29 at Route 674.
A tow truck pulled into the crossover from Route 674 to make a left turn to head south on Route 29. As it pulled into the median, the rear of the wrecker remained partially in the northbound travel lane and was struck from behind by a northbound 2010 Nissan Maxima. The impact of the crash caused the Nissan to cross through the median and then over both southbound lanes of traffic before coming to rest.
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.
