Across Virginia
Andrew Wheeler
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Andrew Wheeler, the former Trump administration Environmental Protection Agency administrator, will serve as a senior adviser to Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration after Senate Democrats rejected his appointment to a Cabinet role.
Wheeler had been nominated to oversee environmental and other policy issues as secretary of natural and historic resources. Travis Voyles, previously the deputy secretary of natural and historic resources, will serve as acting secretary while Wheeler takes on the advisory role, Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said.
She didn’t immediately respond to questions about the scope of Wheeler’s new position or how long he intends to stay on.
In Virginia, the governor’s cabinet nominees are subject to confirmation by the part-time and currently divided General Assembly, though lawmakers rarely reject nominees. This year, Democrats who narrowly control the state Senate united against Wheeler as he faced criticism from environmental groups and some ex-EPA employees for an EPA tenure criticized as overly deferential to corporate interests. In February, the Senate voted along party lines to reject his appointment.
Youngkin repeatedly said he hoped Democrats would reconsider. But earlier this month, legislators gave final approval to all Cabinet members but Wheeler.
Lawmakers adjourned their regular session Saturday but are expected to return to Richmond soon for a special session to deal with unfinished business, including the state budget.
While legislators were meeting, the partisan fight over Wheeler’s nomination spiraled into a broader back-and-forth over other appointments and confirmations. The GOP-controlled House effectively removed a nominee of former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam from the power State Corporation Commission by letting her appointment expire and booted 11 other Northam nominees from other boards and commissions.
The Senate then retaliated by removing four Youngkin parole board members.
Lawmakers left town before any resolution was reached on those or other vacancies, including two spots on the Supreme Court of Virginia. It was not immediately clear how soon the governor would call lawmakers back for the special session or how the sparring over the appointments would end.
Voyles, the acting secretary, most recently served as oversight counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works under Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia.
“In this role, he served as the lead coordinator of the Committee’s efforts for environmental, energy, economic development, and infrastructure issues, including primary oversight over a wide range of federal agencies programs and funding,” according to a biography provided by the governor’s office.
Voyles, who holds a law degree, also served in multiple appointed roles at the EPA, the biography said.
The last time a governor’s cabinet appointee was rejected, in 2006, then-Gov. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, took the same approach as Youngkin. He appointed Daniel LeBlanc, a former president of the state AFL-CIO, to serve as a senior workforce adviser.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – A police officer in Virginia has been sentenced to one year in prison for fatally shooting his then-fiance dog with a 12-gauge shotgun. WRIC reports that Richard Chinappi III was sentenced Friday in Powhatan County Circuit Court. The Richmond police officer had pleaded guilty to a felony charge of torturing or maiming a dog or cat and making a false report to police. Prosecutors said that Chinappi initially claimed a bear had attacked the dog. He then allegedly changed his story to say he had shot the bear and killed the dog in the process. Richmond police said in a statement that Chinappi remains on leave without pay. But the department also said that it’s very close to concluding an internal investigation.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia General Assembly approved legislation Saturday to toughen the penalty for stealing catalytic converters.
The emission control devices have become popular targets for thieves to cut out of a vehicle’s exhaust system. Thefts have increased across the country over the last two years as prices for the precious metals they contain have skyrocketed.
Thieves can expect to get anywhere from $50 to $1,000 or more if they sell the converters to scrap yards, which then sell them to recycling facilities to reclaim the precious metals inside, including platinum, palladium and rhodium.
The legislation makes tampering with or stealing a catalytic converter a Class 6 felony, which is punishable by up to five years in prison. Stealing a converter is currently a misdemeanor. The legislation also requires people who sell catalytic converters to show identification, which the purchaser must record.
“We need to more seriously criminalize people who are damaging vehicles,” said Republican Sen. Frank Ruff Jr., the lead sponsor of the Senate bill.
Both the House and Senate approved the legislation on Saturday. It now goes to Gov. Glenn Youngkin for his consideration.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s divided part-time Legislature, unable to reach an agreement on a budget, opted to adjourn Saturday and reconvene later at the call of the governor to finish the year’s work.
Both chambers agreed to a resolution Saturday that allows the budget bills and a wide range of other measures that were still being negotiated to be carried over to a special session.
“We’re going to let everybody take a take a day or two and put our heads together on Monday or Tuesday and get back with everybody next week on a specific schedule,” Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin told reporters. “But we’re going to keep things moving. We’ve made good progress.”
The Democrat-controlled Senate and Republican-controlled House passed their respective spending plans in February, and a conference committee has been meeting to negotiate a compromise to send to Youngkin.
The House and Senate budget bills for fiscal years 2022-2024 contained some similarities, including raises for state and state-funded employees and hefty deposits to the state’s reserves and retirement system. But they were about $3 billion apart on tax policy, which also resulted in differing allocations to certain government services.
Del. Barry Knight, the House Appropriations Committee chairman, said Saturday that negotiations had been cordial so far and progress had been made toward a compromise.
He said a key sticking point was what to do with the standard income tax deduction — Youngkin and House Republicans want to double it, Senate Democrats and at least one Senate Republican want to study the implications of doing so.
Knight also said no agreement had been reached yet on how to handle reducing the grocery tax. The House budget called for its full elimination, while the Senate version rolled back only part.
Democrat Janet Howell, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee chairwoman, said in a statement that budget negotiators from her chamber “will work to maintain the original Senate budget funding to invest in the futures of Virginia’s students; provide health resources, particularly behavioral care, for everyone in the Commonwealth; and assure economic strength for every family.”
Youngkin has said the Senate budget doesn’t include nearly enough tax relief for Virginia families struggling with inflation and surging gas prices, a message he reiterated Saturday.
“Gas prices are up, grocery prices are up, cost of living is up all over. And it’s been that way for a long time. … We’ve got to get taxes down,” he said.
Saturday had been scheduled to be the final day of the year’s regular session, and it didn’t become clear until late in the afternoon how lawmakers were going to proceed.
Besides the budget, several other high-profile items remained unfinished at adjournment. Lawmakers will be able to take them back up when they reconvene in Richmond.
The two chambers, which sparred throughout the session that began in January over various appointments, did not fill two spots on the Supreme Court of Virginia. And a number of bills, including a measure intended to lure the NFL’s Washington Commanders to Virginia, did not cross the finish line.
House Speaker Todd Gilbert said his caucus would have preferred to stay until the work was finished.
“We hope that that they are willing to come back to the table very shortly and that we can get closer to an agreement,” he said.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia General Assembly members put in long hours this week as they worked through hundreds of bills, with the year’s regular session drawing to a close.
Throughout the day Friday, members hustled back and forth between their respective chambers as they met in the Capitol corridors to hash out compromise versions of bills. There was no movement, however, on several high-profile matters, including the state budget or the selection of two judges for the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Lawmakers were scheduled to reconvene Saturday for what was scheduled to be their last day. But with dozens of bills outstanding and the budget up in the air, it didn’t seem likely they would finish on time.
Lawmakers could agree to extend the regular session, or Gov. Glenn Youngkin could call a special session at a later date.
Here is a look at some of the legislation that did reach a resolution at the Capitol this week:
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
House Republicans resisted efforts by Democrats to revive measures that would have let voters decide whether to strip legally outdated language prohibiting gay marriage from the state Constitution and automatically restore the voting rights of felons who have served their terms.
VOTING RIGHTS
Justice Thomas slams cancel culture, ‘packing’ Supreme Court
Agenda languishing, Democrats press Biden to go it alone
Lawmakers rush as General Assembly session draws to a close
Rally marks anniversary of ’65 voting march
The legislation that would have enabled voter referendums on the proposed constitutional amendments was defeated in a subcommittee earlier in this year’s legislative session. But Democrats made a last-minute push to change House rules and bring the measures to the narrowly divided floor for a vote. Republicans defeated that effort as well.
The defeat of the two proposals ends a two-year legislative process and restarts the clock. Proposed constitutional amendments must pass the General Assembly in two consecutive years before they can go to voters.
Advocates of the voting rights measure were particularly hopeful that it would secure passage this year after a Republican delegate sponsored one version of the legislation.
MARIJUANA, REDEFINED
Virginia lawmakers passed a complicated measure that redefines marijuana in a way its sponsor said was intended to rein in the sales of products containing delta-8 THC, which is a psychoactive chemical cousin of pot’s main intoxicating ingredient.
Delta-8 has recently exploded in popularity. In many places across the country, including in Virginia, products containing the substance are being marketed as being legal, even in some places where recreational marijuana is not.
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The measure from Republican Sen. Emmett Hanger went through a wide range of changes. It initially started out as a way to regulate marijuana products in shapes that might appeal to children. But it was rewritten to broaden the definition of marijuana to include any substance containing a total tetrahydrocannabinol concentration that exceeds .3% or a certain per-serving or per-package amount.
Hanger said it was intended to clarify that a license would be required to sell any such substance. Virginia has a medical marijuana program and decriminalized the drug last year but hasn’t established a framework for recreational sales yet.
Advocates called Hanger’s bill a consumer safety measure, saying delta-8 products — including edibles — lack accurate labeling and have sickened children who obtained them. It faced opposition from certain cannabis industry players who argued it was overly restrictive.
Dylan Bishop, a lobbyist for the Cannabis Business Association of Virginia, said the sale of certain CBD products, including salves or balms not intended for consumption, could be impacted.
“It would be very difficult to find products that would meet these definitions,” he said.
The measure also directs state regulators to develop rules prohibiting marijuana products in the shape of a human, animal, vehicle, or fruit.
MARCUS ALERT
A 2020 law that called for the establishment of statewide teams of behavioral health workers to respond to people experiencing mental health crises was amended to allow small localities to opt out of the program.
The “Marcus Alert” law was named after Marcus-David Peters, a 24-year-old teacher who was fatally shot by a Richmond police officer after he ran onto a highway, naked, and later charged at the officer while experiencing a mental health crisis.
The legislation was aimed at increasing the participation of mental health professionals and minimizing the role of police in responding to people in crisis.
The amended bill allows localities with populations of 40,000 or less to opt out of the program. Supporters of the amendment said smaller localities can’t find enough behavioral health workers and can’t afford the costs of the program.
Several Democratic lawmakers opposed allowing smaller localities to opt out. Sen. Jeremy McPike said he voted in favor of the legislation despite the opt-out provision because lawmakers have pledged to work together to get additional funding for smaller localities to participate in the program.
SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL
The General Assembly approved a measure that’s intended to crack down on unsolicited sexually explicit pictures and videos.
The measure sponsored by Sen. Jennifer McClellan would make any adult who knowingly transmits an “intimate image” electronically to another adult without their consent subject to financial damages. Under the bill, a court may also restrain the sender from sharing such pictures or video again.
‘CAROLINA SQUAT’ BAN
Squatted trucks will be banned in Virginia under a bill approved by lawmakers following a crash that left a 27-year-old man dead.
The legislation prohibits the operation of any pickup or panel trucks, or cars, on public roads if the suspension, frame or chassis has been modified to make the height of the front bumper four or more inches higher than the height of the rear bumper. Critics of the modification — sometimes called the “Carolina Squat” — say drivers may not be able to clearly see ahead of them due to the upward tilt of the front end of the vehicle.
The family of a man killed in a crash last month in Mecklenburg County pushed for the legislation. BJ Upton died on Feb. 16 after his truck was struck by another motorist driving a squatted truck.
Virginia State Police have said they are investigating whether the truck modifications were a contributing factor in the crash.
A similar ban went into effect in North Carolina last year.
From Virginia Tech University: On March 10, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the COVID-19 community levels on which masking recommendations are based.
Montgomery County has moved from “high” to “medium,” the same level as Roanoke City. Richmond and Northern Virginia counties remain at “low” levels.
As President Tim Sands noted in his message last week, the CDC community level, which reflects stress on local hospitals, is one of the primary considerations in determining Virginia Tech’s COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Based on the updated assessment, masks are no longer required in public indoor settings on Virginia Tech campuses, except for health care settings and on public transit. Masks are recommended in indoor instructional settings.
As we continue to monitor CDC community levels, future updates will be posted as a campus notice, and shared on the Virginia Tech Ready site.
UPDATED ROANOKE POLICE NEWS RELEASE: Roanoke Police have identified the victim of this homicide as Jonathan Robert Wooddall-Gainey, 31 of Roanoke. There are no further updates available at this time.
PREVIOUS: On March 8, 2022 at approximately 4:47 p.m., the City of Roanoke E-911 Center advised Roanoke Police Officers of a gunshot wound in the 3800 block of Panorama Ave NW. upon arrival, responding officers located an adult male with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The male was unresponsive when officers arrived. Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The victim’s identity will be released after next-of-kin is properly notified. No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made regarding this investigation. Further details on this investigation are limited at this time. This remains an ongoing homicide investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous
On March 9, 2022 at approximately 5:25 p.m., Roanoke Police were notified by the City of Roanoke E-911 Center of a person with a gunshot wound in the 2400 block of Williamson Rd NE. Responding officers located one adult male with what appeared to be a non-life threatening gunshot wound.
Roanoke Fire-EMS transported the man to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Details of this incident are limited at this time.
No suspects were located on scene and no arrests have been made at this time. This remains an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call (540)344-8500 and share what you know. You can also text us at 274637; please begin the text with “RoanokePD” to ensure it’s properly sent. Both calls and texts can remain anonymous.
(Va. ABC photo)
RICHMOND – Several products from the highly collectible Van Winkle line will be available for the opportunity to purchase through the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority’s (ABC) online lottery in March. The bourbon whiskey, often dubbed the hardest to find spirit due to its low production, is offered by lottery in an effort to create an equitable distribution.
Virginia ABC customers will have the opportunity to enter online to win the chance to purchase Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 Year, 20 Year and 15 Year, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year and Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year bourbons.
Each online lottery entry form will be available for five days. Winners will be selected at random in a drawing from all valid entries received during the lottery entry period. All entries received during each five-day entry period will have an equal opportunity to win. The lottery is open both to individual residents 21 and older and establishments with mixed beverage licenses. At the time of purchase, winners must present a valid Virginia photo ID. The name and address on the photo ID must both match the name and address on the winner’s entry.
Since licensee sales typically make up 20% of ABC’s business, a proportional number of bottles is set aside for licensees. Separate drawings are held for retail customers and licensee customers.
The dates for each online lottery, number of bottles available and product prices are as follows:
March 9-13:
Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23 Year ($329.99) – five bottles available (four retail, one licensee)
Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year ($229.99) – 180 bottles available (144 retail, 36 licensee)
Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year ($139.99) – 62 bottles available (50 retail, 12 licensee)
March 23-27:
Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year ($89.99) – 1,207 bottles available (966 retail, 241 licensee)
Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year ($79.99) – 361 bottles available (289 retail, 72 licensee)
All lottery entries must include the store number and address where the bottle should be delivered for customer purchase and pick up. Lottery entrants are encouraged to determine this location before submitting their entry.