Roem has focused on legislation related to data centers, emphasizing the need for stringent approval processes. One of her proposed bills states that any local government land use application required for the siting of a data center must adhere to specific notice and noise abatement provisions. These provisions include notifying residents within a half-mile radius, scheduling and attending neighborhood meetings, and conducting sound studies to determine baseline and post-construction noise levels.
“I’m isolating at home in Manassas (albeit with my kitties, so not entirely alone). I plan to participate in committee and floor session remotely Monday,” Roem posted to X, formerly Twitter. “If I test negative Tuesday, I’ll mask up and return.”
In addition to her focus on data centers, Roem has filed bills addressing the availability of school meals to students at no cost. The proposed legislation requires each public elementary and secondary school to participate in federal meal programs, making lunch and breakfast available to any student who requests it, regardless of their ability to pay. The Department of Education would reimburse schools for meals served, with a maximum of one breakfast and one lunch per student per school day.
Roem’s bills also touch on the Community Eligibility Provision, aiming to maximize access to federal funds for school breakfast and lunch programs. Schools with a minimum identified student percentage may apply to participate in CEP, ensuring greater federal funding for meals served.
Roem is currently in her inaugural four-year term as a Virginia State Senator. Before her current role, she secured a significant victory in 2017 when she was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
During that election year, notable changes occurred as the seats for Prince William County’s General Assembly delegation shifted from a majority of Republicans to Democrats, marking a transformative moment in the county’s political landscape.
Sentara will no longer force most employees, patients, and visitors to wear facemasks.
The healthcare provider says the coronavirus and flu cases are falling after a spike during Fall 2022. Starting today, March 21, 2023, only those who think they have the coronavirus or flu or those treating coronavirus and flu patients should continue to wear a mask.
Sentara operates the largest medical facility in eastern Prince William County, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge. The medical provider also operates a series of health clinics throughout the region.
More in a press release:
The Sentara COVID-19 Task Force has closely monitored COVID-19 activity for the past three years across our communities, using scientific data and the highest safety standards to guide our decisions throughout the pandemic.
Currently, health systems across the country are seeing a steady decrease in COVID-19, RSV, and flu patients – the three respiratory viruses that triggered a surge in emergency department visits and hospitalizations last fall.
After much consideration, we believe it is safe and appropriate to relax masking requirements across our healthcare facilities.
Effective tomorrow March 21, 2023, patients, visitors, and team members will no longer be required to wear a mask at all times within our healthcare facilities. Exceptions include:
- Patients who are seeking treatment for a viral illness such as COVID-19 or the flu should continue to wear a mask to prevent spreading the virus to others.
- Healthcare workers treating patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 must still wear the appropriate level of personal protective equipment (PPE) required.
All healthcare professionals will continue to follow infection prevention protocols. Health systems will continue to monitor respiratory illness activity within our communities.
While we continue to evolve our COVID-19 policies, our priority remains the safety of our team members, patients, and community. Masks will continue to be an important tool, along with vaccinations, to keep people healthy and safe. Masks will still be available to patients and visitors who enter our facilities. Additionally, our healthcare colleagues can still wear a mask if they choose to do so.
We are grateful to our healthcare colleagues, patients, and visitors for their cooperation in following important public health measures during the pandemic to protect one another.
A wave of coronavirus that impacted senior homes across the state seems to be subsiding.
According to information from AARP, the virus caused a rise in deaths at nursing homes.
More in a press release:
According to AARP’s Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard, rates of COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents nationwide increased 23% in the four weeks ending Jan. 22 compared to the previous Dashboard period ending Dec.18. The increase represents the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes nationwide since the first Omicron wave last winter.
In Virginia, resident deaths increased by 160% in the four weeks ending Jan. 22, compared to the previous four weeks, with resident cases up 82% and staff cases up by 45% during the same period. However, more recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that deaths and cases in the two weeks since Jan. 22 declined by about one-third from the rates during the Dashboard period.
“While it is good news that the early winter wave of COVID-19 appears to have peaked nationwide, this new report shows that our loved ones in nursing homes are still highly vulnerable to the virus,” said AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau. “Vaccinations are the best defense against COVID-19, and we must remain vigilant about protecting this population.”
Prince William County will end a program that allowed residents to get free coronavirus test kits at area libraries.
The final day to get a free test kit is Saturday, January 14, 2023.
Prince William County government will end its free COVID-19 Test Kit Distribution program on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, while quantities last. Individuals may visit any @PrinceWmLibrary to pick up the free test kits. pic.twitter.com/2ZS6VofOt0
— Prince William County (@pwcgov) December 14, 2022
According to a press release, the Virginia ABC and Gourmeltz have agreed to resolve all issues associated with the serving of alcohol products without the requisite license to do so at the restaurant. Effective December 23, 2022, the mixed beverage, wine, and beer licenses of Gourmeltz will be reinstated.
On December 2, 2022, ABC agents came to Gourmeltz on Route 1, seized $10,000 of liquor, and downloaded data from the restaurant’s computers. It was the latest move in a chess game between the state and restaurant owner Matt Strickland, going on since January 2021, when the health department ordered Gourmeltz to close for not adhering to former Gov. Ralph Northam’s executive order requiring restaurants to limit the number of patrons inside their restaurants due to coronavirus fears.
Strickland, now a conservative candidate for state senate, took his case to court in March 2021 and won. Spotsylvania County Circuit Court Judge Richard Rigual denied the Virginia State Board of Health and the State Health Commissioner a temporary injunction that would have required Gourmeltz to close.
Despite the ruling, his liquor license was still suspended in the state’s eyes. So, in August 2021, Strickland stood before the ABC Board of Directors to appeal to restore the permit, but they denied his appeal.
“It is understood and agreed by the Parties that the Consent Agreement and related obligations are neither an admission nor denial of liability or wrongdoing on the part of any of the parties,” a press release states.
Strickland took to Twitter to celebrate the announcement. “WE won! Summary: we’re getting our product and license back, and we aren’t paying a dime. When Patriots stand together & fight, we win. Every time,” he wrote.
Strictland has received national media attention since the raid, which he live-streamed on Facebook as it happened. On Tuesday, December 6, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed an executive order requiring state agencies to stop calling on businesses to collect fines issued during the coronavirus lockdown. He also ordered state officials to formulate a plan to refund businesses that paid coronavirus-related fines.
In addition to mandatory facemasks wearing, the state also limited the number of people who could occupy a restaurant and prohibited people from sitting at bars during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Gourmeltz never adhered to the orders signed by then-Gov. Ralph Northam.
Strickland, who is seeking the Republican nomination in District 27 in Fredericksburg, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, was critical of fell Republicans Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares, saying the executive order didn’t go far enough and provided little assurances that businesses that were negatively affected by the state’s overreach would be made whole.
Virginia ABC said about $4,000 of the alcohol it seized wouldn’t be returned because it’s “unsaleable” and unsafe for consumption. Strickland told PLN he wouldn’t be reimbursed for the loss.
“It is understood and agreed by the Parties that the Consent Agreement and related obligations are neither an admission nor denial of liability or wrongdoing on the part of any of the parties,” states ABC in a press release.
Gourmeltz, which specializes in grilled cheese sandwiches, may begin selling liquor again on December 23, 2022, at 8 a.m.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed an executive order today that halts state agencies from collecting fines imposed onto businesses that violated guidelines laid out by his predecessor, Ralph Northam (D) during the pandemic shutdown.
Youngkin directed enforcement agencies, boards, and commissions to report all fines, fees, suspensions related to the shutdown violations. He also directed agencies to halt further collection and enforcement action in his upcoming budget to be delivered on December 15. The budget will also direct the state government to develop a reimbursement process for individuals and businesses who paid "unjust" COVID-19 fines and fees.
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By Tyler Arnold
(The Center Square) – The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority raided a Fredericksburg restaurant in relation to COVID-19 rule violations, but the owner who is running for a state Senate office is using the raid as a fundraising opportunity.
“I’ve seen first-hand what it means to lay it all on the line – first in the United States Army and now as a small business owner fighting off self-serving bureaucrats who love strangling small businesses and punishing entrepreneurs,” read a fundraising email sent out by Gourmeltz owner and 27th Senate District candidate Matt Strickland.
“Please join my campaign by making your immediate and generous contribution…,” the email read. “I’m giving my all in the fight to save our Commonwealth, and I hope you’ll join me.”
On Nov. 15, ABC served Gourmeltz an order that suspended the restaurant’s beer and wine license and mixed beverage license for 90 days. The revocation came after a lengthy court battle in relation to the restaurant openly defying several COVID-19 rules imposed by former Gov. Ralph Northam in 2020 and 2021. The Circuit Court of Spotsylvania County ruled in favor of ABC and against Gourmeltz in all respects.
After being served the suspension, ABC alleges Gourmeltz continued to serve alcoholic beverages. On Friday, ABC raided the restaurant to execute a search warrant for records and information related to the possession and sale of alcoholic beverages without a license.
“Despite administrative proceedings and the final order of the Circuit Court of Spotsylvania County affirming Virginia ABC’s decision to suspend Gourmeltz’s wine/beer on and off premises and mixed beverage licenses, the establishment failed to comply with ABC’s Board Order and continued to serve beer, wine and mixed beverages to customers,” a news release from ABC stated.
A video posted by Strickland’s campaign appears to show Virginia State Police removing alcohol from the premises. In the video, Strickland confronted the officers and questioned their actions. When the officers said they were doing their job, the candidate said they were part of the problem.
In defiance of the 2021 COVID-19 regulations, Gourmeltz allowed patrons to sit at the bar, he did not require employees or customers to wear face coverings and he refused to enforce social distancing regulations, which all violated Northam’s orders at the time. Strickland claimed the rules were unconstitutional and ineffective.
The Center Square reached out to Strickland for comment, but did not receive a response.
Strickland is facing Del. Tara Durant, R-Fredericksburg, in the primary to represent the Republican Party in the Senate election. The 27th Senate District is a Republican-leaning district, according to the Virginia Public Access Project.
The Virginia ABC Authority, backed by Virginia State Police troopers, raided a Spotsylvania County restaurant that defied orders to close in the face of government-ordered coronavirus restrictions in 2021.
Agents came to Gourmeltz on Route 1, seized $10,000 of liquor, and downloaded data from the restaurant's computers. It was the latest move in a chess game between the state and restaurant owner Matt Strickland, going on since January 2021, when the health department ordered Gourmeltz to close for not adhering to former Gov. Ralph Northam's executive order requiring restaurants to limit the number of patrons inside their restaurants due to coronavirus fears.
- Sign in here if you're already a member, and Thank You!
- If you rely on us for local news and haven’t already, please support us by becoming a member!
- Join our Locals Only Membership Today! In a world filled with everyday heroes and extraordinary tales, Potomac Local is your trusted source for news and stories that matter in our community.
The health district includes Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford counties, and Fredericksburg.
Residents will only receive a message if records indicate they are eligible for but have not yet received a bivalent booster.
The message will read: “VA Dept of Health records indicate you are eligible for a COVID-19 bivalent booster. Schedule an appt at vase.vdh.virginia.gov or (877) 829-4682.”
Contact information from the resident’s immunization record will determine whether they receive a text message (for mobile numbers) or a phone call (for landlines).
Individuals do not need to wait for this notification to get a bivalent booster.
If you have questions about your eligibility to receive a bivalent booster, or believe you have been contacted in error, please contact the VDH call center for a review of your record. Call 877-VAX-IN-VA (877-829-4682, TTY users call 7-1-1). Assistance is available in English, Spanish, and more than 100 other languages.
