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Virginia Health Department: Increased levels of ‘forever chemicals’ found in Chickahominy fish
The Virginia Department of Health on Friday issued a fish consumption advisory for the Chickahominy watershed because of elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate detected in certain fish species. The affected species include largemouth bass, sunfish, chain pickerel and creek chubsucker. State health officials tested samples taken from the Chickahominy River and White Oak Swamp in Eastern Henrico and Hanover counties between 2021 and 2023, according to a news release from the VDH. The presence of PFOS in the samples exceeded the amount considered safe for long-term human consumption.
Youngkin signs bill into law creating grants for large animal veterinarians
Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law creating a grant program for large animal veterinarians. Youngkin said on Friday that he signed House Bill 2303 and Senate Bill 921 into law, establishing the Virginia Large Animal Veterinary Grant Program. “[It is] an important step to address critical shortages in large animal veterinary care in communities across the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said in a post on X.
Dems criticize Youngkin for removing child care program from state budget
Democrats are criticizing Governor Glenn Youngkin for axing an item in the state budget that they say would have helped more Virginia families afford child care. “Families don’t have the luxury of waiting for political perfection. This was needed yesterday,” Delegate Adele McClure (D-Arlington) told 8News. Youngkin used his line-item veto power to remove a $25 million child care pilot program.
Youngkin ripped over voting restoration process for felons
Since his release from prison in 2023, George Hawkins has integrated himself into his community in nearly every way. He runs a bread vendor business, pays taxes and coaches youth basketball. "I impact my community," Hawkins said on the steps of the Fourth Circuit courthouse. "I'm a productive member of my society." Yet despite two applications, Hawkins — convicted of attempted murder and aggravated malicious wounding in 2010 — remains ineligible to vote. On Friday, he argued to a three-judge panel that Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's system, or lack thereof, for restoring felons' voting rights is arbitrary.
Youngkin Vetoes Clean Energy Bills That Garnered Support From Dominion, Environmental Groups
Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed two bills for the development of small solar projects and energy storage that had won bipartisan votes and support from Dominion Energy, environmental groups and farm and forestry representatives. The bills would have encouraged private homes and companies to initiate solar projects and bolstered the existing utility’s efforts to capture electricity from renewable sources for later use. Dominion said in April, in an application to purchase electricity from third-party suppliers, that enhanced solar production and its own plans to store electricity would result in billions of dollars of fuel savings through 2035.