Several state Democrats say marijuana reform is likely now that Democrats control both chambers of the General Assembly for the first time in more than two decades. State Senator Louise Lucas (D), Delegate Cliff Hayes (D) and Delegate Don Scott (D) answered questions on the subject for well over an hour Thursday night at Portsmouth Sheriff’s Training Station on Green Street.
If there’s one thing uniting all three political newcomers in a wide-open House of Delegates race in Portsmouth, it’s tolls. All three candidates running this year in District 80 agree a contract creating tolls to cross the midtown and downtown tunnels was a raw deal for Portsmouth, and that getting answers from the government about questions can take forever.
A scheduled party caucus to pick a Democratic candidate for the 80th House District has been canceled after a local attorney became the only person to file for candidacy in the area representing Portsmouth. Don Scott, a former officer in the Navy, is running to replace Del. Matthew James, a Democrat who stepped down earlier this month
...During a ceremony Wednesday, Gov. Northam signed HB2020 into law. The bill, introduced by outgoing Del. Matthew James, allows the Virginia Community College System to hire someone to help link up the business community with students to help the students find apprenticeships and jobs. "If one doesn't have a skill in today's age, they really have a disadvantage. We really want to make sure people are trained," Gov. Northam said.
Democratic legislator Matthew James will stop representing the Portsmouth area in the state House of Delegates and take a high-level job in the executive branch. Gov. Ralph Northam announced Friday he appointed James to his economic development team.
State Del. Matthew James pleaded guilty Monday morning to driving while intoxicated. Under the plea agreement, he will not serve any time behind bars if he stays out of trouble for the next year.
State Del. Matthew James was arrested over the weekend and charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless driving, court records show. The 63-year-old had a blood alcohol content of 0.18 when he gave police a breath test following his arrest Saturday night in Portsmouth, according to a certificate of analysis filed in court.
Henrico Delegate Lamont Bagby will lead the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus in the 2018 General Assembly session....He was elected chairman last week at a pre-session meeting of the 20-member caucus, the largest number ever for the all-Democratic group whose mission is to improve conditions for African-Americans and other underrepresented groups in the state.
A group of Virginia lawmakers says there is bipartisan support for reforming the state's mental health care system and the way inmates receive treatment. Several lawmakers held a news conference Wednesday to discuss reform measures put forward this session. They were joined by family members of Jamycheal Mitchell, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and died in a Portsmouth jail after his arrest for stealing $5 worth of junk food.
One of several legislative attempts to ease the burden of coming tolls on the Elizabeth River tunnels failed to advance from a House of Delegates subcommittee Wednesday. Del. Matthew James' bill (HB347) would have allowed a 50 percent income tax deduction for tolls paid in certain localities. The measure was tailored to apply in Norfolk and Portsmouth, where tolls will be imposed Feb. 1 on the Midtown and Downtown tunnels.