Across Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia’s tourism industry generated $26 billion in visitor spending across all communities in 2018, a 4.4% increase over 2017.Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday that the tourism industry also provided $1.8 billion in state and local revenue in 2018. That’s an increase of 2.9% compared to the previous year.The slogan “Virginia is for Lovers” was developed in 1969 by Richmond-based advertising firm Martin & Woltz, now the Martin Agency. It is the longest-running state tourism slogan in the country.Destinations around the state are participating in the commemoration of “50 Years of LOVE” and celebrating the impact tourism has on Virginia’s economy and communities.The travel industry is the fifth-largest employer in Virginia.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — The family of a victim of last week’s shooting in Virginia Beach is asking the city to release all records about the suspect and start an external investigation, a newspaper reported Friday.
Attorney Kevin Martingayle emailed a letter to city officials and council members Monday on behalf of the family of Kate Nixon, the public utilities engineer who was one of 12 people shot and killed by a gunman at the Municipal Center last Friday, The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reports
“This was an extraordinary tragedy. It was unprecedented,” Martingayle said. “That calls for an extraordinary and unprecedented response.”
Martingayle said the family wants an investigation conducted by people outside the city, similar to what Charlottesville officials asked for after riots in 2017. He said Councilman John Moss responded that he did not feel the time was right for such actions. Moss did not respond immediately to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment Friday.
“My opinion is, it’s exactly the time,” Martingayle said. “We need to shine a spotlight on this entire incident and see what we can do to learn from it.”
They are also asking the city to release the full employment and personnel records related to the gunman as well as city records and communications in the past two years expressing concerns or addressing complaints about him, including any past threatening behavior.
In an email, city officials called the requests “premature” because a criminal investigation is underway. But they said they could consider it after the investigation’s findings are released.
The shooter, DeWayne Craddock, was a nine-year engineer with the public utilities department. City Manager Dave Hansen has disputed a story in The New York Times that said Craddock had recently begun acting strangely and got into physical “scuffles” with other city workers, including a “violent altercation on city grounds” in the week leading to the shooting. Hansen said the gunman’s job performance was “satisfactory” and that he was not facing any ongoing disciplinary action or forced to resign.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s governor has set a July 9 start date for a special legislative session on gun-related legislation after last week’s deadly shooting rampage in Virginia Beach. Gov. Ralph Northam announced the date Friday. The Democratic governor says the best way to respond to the May 31 mass shooting at a municipal building is with “votes and laws, not thoughts and prayers.” He wants the Republican-led General Assembly to consider gun-control measures including universal background checks and a ban on silencers . Police say the gunman who fatally shot 12 people used a silencer. Northam can call the session but can’t dictate how it’s conducted. Republican leaders have given little indication they plan to follow his agenda. Instead, they’ve said they’ll propose tougher penalties for those who use guns to commit crimes.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has announced a new goal to lower the maternal mortality rate for black women. Northam said Wednesday that he’s set a goal of eliminating the racial disparity of in mortality rates by 2025. The governor said the maternal mortality rate for black women is more than twice as high as it is for white women. Northam said he’s directing state agencies to expedite enrollment of eligible pregnant women in Medicaid. Northam pledged to focus on addressing Virginia’s longstanding history of racial inequity after a blackface scandal nearly forced him from office in February.
Governor Northam travels to Salem Friday for a ceremonial signing of the legislation providing a permanent funding stream for long-sought improvements to Interstate 81. The funding package approved this year includes an increase in gas taxes in cities and counties along the Interstate 81 corridor, an increase goes into effect July 1. The Commonwealth Transportation Board has identified more than $2 billion in safety and traffic flow improvements most needed along the highway’s length from Bristol to Winchester. It is the longest interstate highway within Virginia.
CHANTILLY, Va. (AP) — Health officials in northern Virginia are warning the public about potential exposure to measles after a child in the region contracted the illness. They’re especially warning those who were at Dulles International Airport’s Terminal A and baggage claim from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. June 2 that they might have been exposed. Other possible exposure sites are Novant Health UVA Health System Haymarket Medical Center and Inova Fair Oaks Hospital on June 2 through June 4. Health officials say people who never received the measles vaccine should see a doctor if they might have been exposed. Those who have received the standard two doses of the vaccine don’t need to do anything. People who received just one dose are likely protected but advised to see a doctor out of an abundance of caution.RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Gov. Ralph Northam has formed a new commission tasked with finding discriminatory language in state laws and regulations. Northam signed an executive order Tuesday establishing the commission and tasking it issue findings by November.The order came same day as the governor held a ceremonial bill signing ceremony that struck Jim Crow-era exceptions from the state’s minimum wage law. Previously, state law said certain jobs traditionally held by African Americans, including ushers and doormen, were exempt from paying minimum wage. Northam said he wants the commission to find other examples of “vestiges of inequity and inequality” on Virginia’s books.The governor pledged to focus on addressing Virginia’s longstanding history of racial inequity after a blackface scandal nearly forced him from office in February.
Gov. Ralph Northam
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will recall lawmakers to the state Capitol in coming weeks to take up a package of gun-control legislation he said is urgently needed to prevent killings like Friday’s mass shooting in Virginia Beach. Northam , a Democrat, told The Associated Press ahead of his Tuesday announcement that he plans to convene a special legislative session later this summer. He said in an interview that he wants the Republican-controlled General Assembly to hear from the public about the need for “common-sense” law related to guns and accessories. Republicans have previously rejected Northam’s gun control bills out of hand, but a top GOP lawmaker signaled Monday that he’s open to a legislative debate.
Northam’s expected announcement comes less than a week after Virginia Beach city employee DeWayne Craddock used two semi-automatic handguns, a silencer and extended ammunition magazines to kill 12 people, all but one them colleagues he had worked with for years, and injure several others. Craddock was then killed in an intense gunbattle with police during which a bullet hit one officer in a bulletproof vest. Northam’s package of bills includes legislation that directly relates to Friday’s shooting __ including a ban on silencers and high capacity ammunition magazines as well as broadening the ability of local governments to limit guns in city buildings. But Northam said other recent shootings, including the death last month of a 9-year-old girl who as shot at a community cookout in Richmond, are also driving his call for a special session. “It’s an emergency here in Virginia, and it’s time to take action,” Northam said. “Every one of these pieces of legislation will save lives.”
Other proposals Northam said he wants lawmakers to vote on include mandating universal background checks before gun purchases, limiting purchases to one handgun per month and a so-called red flag bill that would allow authorities to temporarily seize someone’s guns if they are a shown to be threat to themselves or others. The governor has long advocated for stricter gun control. He made the issue a top priority of his 2017 gubernatorial campaign, drawing from his experience as a pediatrician and Army doctor who has treated children and soldiers wounded by firearms. Most of the legislation already proposed by Northam and other Democrats has failed at the General Assembly, including this year. Republicans hold slim majorities in the House and Senate and Virginia is in the middle of a closely watched election year when all 140 legislative seats are up for grabs.
Under Virginia law, the governor can call a special session but has no say in how it’s conducted. But GOP Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment indicated Monday that there’s some willingness to debate whether to ban large-capacity magazines, according to the Virginia Gazette. A group of gun-control supporters gathered Monday outside Norment’s office to press him on his pro-gun voting record. Norment told protesters that “nothing would have helped us in Virginia Beach.”
Craddock appeared to have had no felony record, making him eligible to purchase guns. Government investigators identified two .45-caliber pistols used in the attack and all indications are that he purchased them legally in 2016 and 2018, said Ashan Benedict, the regional special agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Friday’s shooting has been Northam’s first major test since a scandal over a racist photo in his medical school yearbook nearly drove him from office four months ago. The governor has been active in helping coordinate the state’s response and comforting victims, while also pressing the case for stricter gun control.
Northam hinted Saturday in news interviews that he may be considering some kind of executive action related to gun control efforts that would bypass the legislature, but his office declined to say what specific actions he may take.
Republicans did not immediately comment on Northam’s plans for a special session, but some of Northam’s opponents have said the governor is trying to use Friday’s shooting to deflect attention from his own troubles. The governor flatly denied that accusation.
“I’m not playing politics. … I’m bringing people to the special session to save lives,” Northam said.
Image: Virginia DMV
The Department of Motor Vehicles is preparing to send out letters to Virginians whose driving licenses have been suspended for failure to pay court fines and other costs. Effective July 1st, those licenses can no longer be suspended for non-DUI offenses. Any reinstatement fees will be waived as well.
From Governor Northam’s Office: -Governor Ralph Northam today announced that the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is preparing to send letters to Virginians whose driving privileges are suspended for failure to pay court fines and costs to advise them of any specific requirements for obtaining their driver’s licenses. Governor Northam’s budget includes a provision that prohibits courts from suspending driving privileges solely for failure to pay court fines and costs, effective July 1, 2019. Also beginning July 1, any Virginian whose driver’s license has been suspended for that single reason will have his or her driving privileges restored, and the associated reinstatement fee waived.
“Earlier this year, I was proud to sign legislation to ending the counterproductive practice of suspending driving privileges for failure to pay court fines and costs,” said Governor Northam. “I appreciate the hard work taking place at the DMV now to ensure that starting July 1, hundreds of thousands of impacted Virginians will be able to move their lives forward.”
The change only affects a person’s ability to get his or her driver’s license. It does not eliminate the requirement to pay the underlying court costs and fines. Additionally, Virginians whose driving privileges are suspended or revoked for other reasons, in addition to failure to pay court fines and costs, will need to meet any other court or DMV requirements to include payment of reinstatement fees to regain their driving privileges.
“DMV is sending letters to more than half a million Virginians whose lives could be transformed by giving them access to jobs, education, healthcare, and opportunity–once again,” said Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine.
“It is long overdue that Virginia end its inequitable practice of suspending driving privileges for failure to pay court fines and costs,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran. “This is a significant step in the right direction toward getting Virginians back to work and enabling them to support their families.”
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) —Hundreds of city employees streamed into the Virginia Beach Convention Center this morning for a somber gathering three days after a gunman opened fire in a municipal building, killing 12 people. The private gathering Monday was for employees only. Two city fire trucks are parked outside the convention center. One has a huge American flag hanging from a ladder. Michelle Walz is a supervisor in the city’s Parks Department. He says City Manager David Hansen spoke to employees and told them that they will stick together and work through the tragedy as a “family.” The city is making a large number of counselors available for employees.
City officials say DeWayne Craddock opened fire on his co-workers Friday, hours after he sent his supervisor a resignation email. Craddock was an engineer in the city’s utilities department and was killed during a gunbattle with police. Officials say the resignation email was brief and didn’t give any hint of the coming violence.