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Candidates for lieutenant governor, AG speak at Nelson Democrat forum
Five of the six Democratic candidates vying to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor and the party’s two contenders running for attorney general addressed Nelson County voters at a May 12 forum in Lovingston. Babur Lateef, Victor Salgado, Ghazala Hashmi, Alex Bastani and Levar Stoney, all running for lieutenant governor, each spoke during the Nelson Democratic Forum at the Nelson Center. Candidate Aaron Rouse did not attend.
Spanberger: Time to crack down on insurer practices that keep drug costs up
Democratic candidate for governor Abigail Spanberger wants to crack down on a range of insurer practices she says are keeping drug costs up, and hitting Virginians with abusive billing practices and scam coverage. Stopping Wednesday at a community pharmacy in Mechanicsville, Spanberger said holding down the cost of medication is a priority but she stopped short of backing the a prescription drug board to cap drug prices. Democratic legislators have pushed the concept for two years and Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed the measures.
After Black lawmaker is targeted by racial slur, Democratic leaders want more than condemnation
Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, was recently targeted with a racial slur by an anonymous social media account. Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears publicly condemned the post, but House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, and Mundon King are calling for more than statements. They say Republican leaders must follow their words with action. “So original!” Mundon King said in response to the slur directed at her. “This is what Black elected officials have to face for simply doing our jobs. I will wait for Gov. Glenn Youngkin to condemn this…” Youngkin posted later in the day, condemning the attack.
No personnel relocation decisions yet for Fort Eustis’ Army training headquarters move
The Army’s chief of staff testified to a House subcommittee earlier this month that the Army Training and Doctrine Command headquarters at Fort Eustis is set to relocate to Austin, Texas. What that means for the thousands of men and women stationed at Fort Eustis has yet to be determined, Army officials said this week. But it’s raised questions for congressional leaders representing Hampton Roads, who say they will be closely scrutinizing the plans.
In Virginia, a military stronghold becomes a haven for Afghan refugees
Kat Renfroe was at Mass when she saw a volunteer opportunity in the bulletin. Her Catholic parish was looking for tutors for Afghan youth, newly arrived in the United States. There was a personal connection for Renfroe. Her husband, now retired from the Marine Corps, had deployed to Afghanistan four times. “He just never talked about any other region the way he did about the people there,” she said. She signed up to volunteer. “It changed my life,” she said. That was seven years ago. ... She now supervises the Fredericksburg migration and refugee services office, part of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington. That faith-based work is now in peril.
Arlington Officials Offer Sobering Economic Outlook Amid Federal Cuts; Del. Says Va. Doesn’t Have Funds to Help
Arlington County officials have asked state legislators for financial assistance in the face of federal workforce reductions and funding cuts, but Virginia leaders say the state doesn’t have the funds to give. During a May 19 briefing with members of the Virginia General Assembly, county leaders reported that Arlington is already feeling the effects of slashed federal funding, rising unemployment and a reduction in tourism dollars. One in five adult Arlington residents is employed by the federal government, Ryan Touhill, director of Arlington Economic Development (AED), noted during the briefing, and the federal government leases 12% of the county’s office space. Officials are now bracing for potential fallout from continued job losses and declining tax revenue.
Virginians Are Restoring a Forest Economy Built on Herbs and Tradition
The forest behind Ryan Huish’s home doesn’t look like a traditional farm, but beneath the bright green canopy in southwest Virginia, he’s nurturing a thriving garden of medicinal herbs. On a warm afternoon in April, Dr. Huish, a biology professor at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, led a troop of students along a footpath that wove through part of his family’s 60-acre property near Duffield. He encouraged students to pick edible plants like ramps (hints of garlic, they reported), pluck the leaves of trout lilies (sort of like kiwi) and dig up roots like Appalachian wasabi (yes, spicy). For centuries, these forest plants have been a part of Appalachian cultural heritage, used by local people for food, traditional medicine and extra income. But the market has long been poorly regulated, which has led to low prices and overharvesting.
Richmond’s interim chief administrative officer initially said erroneous real estate tax bills were sent on purpose
As confused Richmond residents received real estate tax bills last week that the city usually sends to mortgage lenders who handle the payments, Interim Chief Administrative Officer Sabrina Joy-Hogg initially told the City Council it was a deliberate move to promote transparency. “Finance has provided real estate tax bills to all residents, which adds transparency to taxes being paid,” Joy-Hogg told the council in a text message Friday night. “These bills are not wrong.” Joy-Hogg — who served in a top City Hall finance position before becoming interim CAO early this year — then indicated the bills had been sent to both mortgage companies and homeowners.
Access to mental health, addiction recovery services at risk if Congress reduces Medicaid funding
Robyn Hantelman, director of treatment and recovery at Encompass Community Supports in Culpepper, gets a lump in her throat whenever she thinks about the possible cuts to Medicaid that have been floated at the federal level. “Ten years ago, when I first started thinking about getting into recovery and getting sober and trying to change my life, I would have had to travel 45 minutes to an hour — maybe even an hour and a half — to get medication for substance use,” Hantelman said. Today, however, many clinics have opened and other services expanded, with Medicaid being partially responsible for the improvements, especially in more remote areas. Medicaid can even help with transportation when patients need to travel further for better care, Hantelman explained.
Virginia poll shows public against tariffs, DOGE cuts
A business-sponsored poll of likely Virginia voters shows majorities opposed to President Donald Trump‘s tariffs on imports from foreign countries and the Department of Government Efficiency‘s unilateral cuts to federal government jobs and spending. The Virginia FREE poll, surveying 1,000 likely voters between May 9 and May 13, showed 61% opposed to Trump’s tariff policies on imports from China and other U.S. trading partners, with opposition highest among women and Black voters. Smaller majorities of men and white voters said they oppose the president’s tariffs.