State and National Government
Amid a reported increase of Anti-Asian hate and violence, Virginia’s Democratic Attorney General is putting more resources towards addressing this problem. WFIR’s Clark Palmer has this In-Depth Report.
The General Assembly has approved $250,000 to fund an investigation connected to the Virginia Parole Board, but the two parties sharply differ on its scope and intent. The budget amendment authorizes elected Democratic party leaders to choose a law firm to investigate allegations of wrongdoing at the parole board that were not included in a state watchdog report last year. Republicans say what it does not do is look into many other allegations of wrongdoing at the parole board itself; Democrats say Republicans are playing politics. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story:
A bill signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam increases eligibility for state child-care subsidies to help with COVID recovery. WFIR’s Ian Price reports that now, a family of two making less than $60,000 a year can qualify for assistance.
People can apply online at commonhelp.virginia.gov or call 1-866-KIDS-TLC.
Rep. Ben Cline. Ian Price photo
Congress is back in session next week. Meanwhile this morning live in-studio on WFIR 6th District Republican representative says President Biden’s American Jobs Plan infrastructure bill they will start debating soon will NOT get his vote in its current form. Cline said he could vote for a “skinny” plan that focuses solely on more traditional infrastructure. Hear this morning’s complete conversation below; watch it on Facebook.
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Governor Northam has signed into law a measure that supporters say provides protections against voter suppression, discrimination, and intimidation in the commonwealth. It’s called the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, the first state law of its kind in the country, and among other things, it requires election officials in the state to get prior approval from the attorney general’s office before making changes to voting rules. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Photo: Virginia House GOP
(Associated Press) — The chair of the Virginia Parole Board has filed a defamation lawsuit against a Richmond TV station and one of its reporters over some of the station’s coverage of an ongoing controversy involving the board. Court records show board chair Tonya Chapman filed the $7 million lawsuit Friday against WTVR-TV and Jon Burkett. The stories that prompted the lawsuit dealt with a 13-page draft report produced by the Office of the State Inspector General, which has been investigating the parole board. The specific report dealt with the board’s decision to release inmate Vincent Martin, who had served 40 years in a police officer’s killing. WTVR was the first news organization to report on the document, which contained substantial differences from the final report made public last year, including a critical finding about Chapman.
(WFIR NEWS) — Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the differences in the two documents, including Delegate and candidate for governor Kirk Cox. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
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Republican candidates for governor are spending unprecedented amounts on radio and TV ads ahead of the party’s nominating convention in May: $2 million and counting. And more of them are invoking former President Trump in their ads in hopes of gaining party support, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports:
It was one year ago that Virginia, the country and world were starting to adjust to the growing health threat from COVID-19. New restrictions were altering our lives in almost every way, and that was before the numbers started to explode. WFIR’s Evan Jones takes us back one year as he reports in depth:
Rep. Bob Good
It was one year ago this week that federal and state governments implemented widespread restrictions in response to what was then a little-understood COVID-19. 5th District Congressman Bob Good is among the many critics, mainly Republicans, who say governments have done far more harm than good since then in response. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones: