Across Virginia

State health officials report 21 new coronavirus cases but 4 new deaths for the Roanoke Valley in the latest 24-hour reporting period. There are no new COVID-related hospitalizations among Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt Counties. State health officials report 7 new cases and 2 new deaths in both Roanoke City, and Roanoke County, 5 new cases in Salem, and 2 new cases in Botetourt County.

Gov. Ralph Northam

Governor Northam has endorsed Prince William County Democratic Delegate Hala Ayala for Lieutenant Governor. In a statement to the Richmond Times Dispatch, the Governor says he has seen firsthand how Ayala’s leadership in the House Democratic majority has brought people together to make progress. Ayala has also received endorsements from House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn and House Majority Leader Charniele Herring

UPDATE: The Republican State Committee last night approved an amendment allowing Orthodox Jews to vote on Friday May 7th, the day before the party’s convention, from 3-6 PM at a specified location. The approval comes after the committee last week,voted against granting an exemption to those of the Jewish faith who cannot travel due to Shabbat – the sabatth – to participate in the convention.

 

 

State GOP officials will not allow Jews who cannot travel due to Shabbat to participate in the convention in two weeks. WFIR’s Clark Palmer explains WFIR’s Clark Palmer explains

 

State health officials report 28 new coronavirus cases but 2 new hospitalizations for the Roanoke Valley in the latest 24-hour reporting period. There are no new COVID-related deaths among Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt Counties. State health officials report 10 new cases and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke City, 12 new cases and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke County, 5 new cases in Salem, and 1 new case in Botetourt County.

State health officials report 25 new coronavirus cases and 3 new hospitalizations for the Roanoke Valley in the latest 24-hour reporting period. There is also 1 new COVID-related death among Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt Counties. State health officials report 6 new cases and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke City, 13 new cases in Roanoke County, 4 new cases, 1 new hospitalization, and 1 new death in Salem, and 2 new cases and 1 new hospitalization in Botetourt County.

From the Wason Center at Christopher Newport University: With just over 6 weeks until Virginia Democrats’ June 8 gubernatorial primary, former governor Terry McAuliffe holds a commanding lead. McAuliffe has the support of 47% of Democratic voters, followed by Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (8%), Richmond Sen. Jennifer McClellan (6%), former Prince William Del. Jennifer Carrol Foy (5%) and Manassas Del. Lee Carter (1%). More than a quarter of voters remain undecided (27%). WFIR’s Evan Jones has more on this poll:

Del. Sam Rasoul

Almost two out of three Democratic voters (64%) say they are undecided in the crowded contest for the party’s lieutenant governor bid, but Del. Sam Rasoul has emerged as the front runner with 12% support. Del. Elizabeth Guzman led the rest with the support of 4% of Democratic voters, but she withdrew from the race while the survey was in the field. None of the remaining candidates received more than 2% support. WFIR’s Evan Jones reports on this poll:

Seeking his party’s nomination for a third term as attorney general, incumbent Mark Herring (42%) has a solid lead over Norfolk Del. Jerrauld “Jay” Jones (18%), with 34% of Democratic voters undecided.

Click here to read full poll results

Gov. Ralph Northam

Governor Northam has issued an executive order allowing people to sit at the bar of a restaurant for service, if you can be spaced out effective immediately. However, the alcohol curfew remains at midnight. Northam said that more restrictions will be lifted as more Virginians get COVID vaccinated.

Click here to read the full executive order.

 

 

Governor Northam says Virginia’s new marijuana law will help many residents avoid facing lifetime roadblocks over a marijuana possession conviction. But critics say as written, the measure creates new problems. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:

(Associated Press) — The legislation would allow adults 21 and up to legally possess up to one ounce (28.3 grams) of cannabis without the intent to distribute beginning July 1. It also would allow the home cultivation of up to four plants per household beginning July 1. Public use of the drug will be prohibited.

“This is not going to generate some ganjafest at Jiffy Lube pavilion out in the parking lot, because that is smoking in public. Just like you can’t drink in public, you can’t smoke in public under this,” Democratic Sen. Scott Surovell said.

It will be years before legal retail sales follow legalized possession. The bill lays out the complex process of creating a new state agency to oversee the marijuana marketplace, with sales beginning and regulations taking effect on Jan. 1, 2024.

Republicans, who overwhelmingly opposed the bill when it initially went through the General Assembly, railed against the latest version, citing several reasons.

GOP Del. Chris Head called the bill “a train wreck.”

“The hard-fought compromise that barely made it out of this chamber and over to the Senate has just been discarded. And why is that? It’s because some activists want marijuana legalized and they want it legalized now, consequences be damned,” he said.

Some Republicans took issue with labor provisions in the new version of the bill, in particular a change that says the government can revoke or suspend licenses issued under the new law in cases where an employer has refused to “remain neutral regarding any union organizing efforts by employees.”

During the legislative session, the Senate sought to legalize simple possession beginning in July, but House Democrats argued that legalization without a legal market for marijuana could promote the growth of the black market. The bill as passed in February would not have legalized simple possession until 2024.

Herring said Wednesday that home cultivation would give Virginians a way to legally acquire cannabis while the retail market is being put in place.

Gov. Ralph Northam

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today released the following statement after the jury in the Derek Chauvin trial returned a guilty verdict on all three counts.

“The life of George Floyd matters. He should still be alive today, and no courtroom decision can bring him back. But this decision is an important step. It is a step towards accountability for police. It is a step towards justice—for George Floyd, for his family, for his community, and for our entire country.

“I pray that today brings some small comfort to the family of George Floyd and all who loved him. May we honor his legacy by continuing on this march towards justice and meaningful change. We have a lot of work ahead.”

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Jobless workers collecting unemployment benefits will be required to report looking for work beginning in early June, the Virginia Employment Commission announced Tuesday.

The work search requirement, part of state and federal law, was suspended during the pandemic. The commission announced earlier this month that it would be reinstated, and on Tuesday gave the effective date: the week ending June 5.

“Claimants must search and report two job searches per week,” commission spokeswoman Joyce Fogg wrote in an email.

The requirement will also apply to people who get Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Virginia Employment Commissioner Ellen Marie Hess said earlier this month that the requirement is coming back as demand for workers rises and as vaccines become more widely available.