Gene Marrano

MGN

(from Governor’s office) RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced he has signed the Reproductive Health Protection Act, which repeals medically-unnecessary restrictions on women’s healthcare. Two bills  sponsored by Senator Jennifer McClellan and House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, respectively, repeal Virginia’s mandatory ultrasound law and 24-hour waiting period prior to abortion. The legislation also rolls back politically motivated “TRAP” restrictions on women’s health centers, which are designed to force their closure and make it more difficult for Virginians to get access to the healthcare services.

“No more will legislators in Richmond—most of whom are men—be telling women what they should and should not be doing with their bodies,” said Governor Northam. “The Reproductive Health Protection Act will make women and families safer, and I’m proud to sign it into law.” “This is about protecting Virginians’ health, rights, and basic dignity,” said Senator Jennifer McClellan. “Today, we have finally put an end to these medically unnecessary barriers to women’s reproductive health care. Politicians should not interfere in women’s personal medical decisions, period.”

After assessing all scenarios, the Ironman Group now says inaugural Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia’s Blue Ridge triathlon that was originally scheduled for June 7 this year has been rescheduled to June 6, 2021.  Coronavirus concerns and the stay at home order forced this years postponement. All registered athletes for the 2020 IRONMAN swim-bike-run event will receive an email with further information.

The Grandin Theatre has launched a Virtual-On-Demand platform allowing you to see new movies at home. Patrons can click on the Grandin Theatre homepage and scroll down to see this week’s offerings. Executive Director of the Grandin Theatre Foundation Ian Fortier says it won’t be blockbusters like the new James Bond. There’s currently five films available on Grandin Theatre VOD, including two foreign titles. The on-demand movies are 12 dollars a piece and a portion of ticket sales helps support the Grandin Theatre – which is dark these days due to COVID-19.

The news that Carilion Children’s is closing its NICU to all visitors as of yesterday – coupled with a directive from Ronald McDonald House Charities a few weeks ago – means the local Ronald McDonald House is no longer offering shelter to families in town while their child is receiving medical treatment. Anna Semonco is the Roanoke shelter’s executive director – its normally a busy place on a daily basis.  Semonco says they are still welcoming donations online; they will be used in part to assemble “care packets” of snacks for the families still at the hospital even if the NICU is now off limits to them due to COVID-19 precautions: