Across Virginia
State health officials report 34 new coronavirus cases and 6 new hospitalizations for the Roanoke Valley in the latest 24-hour reporting period. There is just one new COVID-related death among Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt Counties. State health officials report 16 new cases, 2 new hospitalizations, and 1 new death in Roanoke City, 14 new cases, and 1 new hospitalization in Roanoke County, 2 new cases and 2 new hospitalizations in Salem, and 2 new cases and 1 new hospitalization in Botetourt County.
Gov. Ralph Northam
Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is backing Terry McAuliffe in the race to succeed him, handing his predecessor one of the contest’s most coveted endorsements. Northam says McAuliffe’s accomplishments during his previous term in the governor’s mansion show he is the right person for the job. Northam and McAuliffe shared the news with The Associated Press ahead of a formal announcement Thursday. McAuliffe was Virginia governor from 2014 to 2018 and is widely seen as the front-runner in the five-way Democratic primary. He’s previously rolled out an unmatched number of endorsements from key Virginia power brokers.
MGN
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia has become the first Southern state to legalize marijuana. Lawmakers voted Wednesday to approve Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposed changes to a bill to allow adults in Virginia to possess and cultivate small amounts starting in July. Northam sent the bill back to lawmakers substantially changed from the version they sent him in February. The amendments lawmakers agreed to Wednesday would accelerate the timeline of legalization by about three years. It will be years before legal retail sales follow legalized possession.The legislation lays out a complex process of creating a new state agency to oversee the marijuana marketplace, with sales beginning in 2024.
Sen. Amanda Chase Facebook
Former National Security Advisor and retired General Michael Flynn has endorsed GOP State Senator Amanda Chase’s campaign for Virginia Governor. Flynn says Chase is the strongest voice for VA’s small businesses, and champion for 2nd Amendment rights. He adds Chase is a strong advocate for the Pro-Life movement, and for family values.
Read Flynn’s full statement below:
“I fully and wholeheartedly endorse Amanda Chase to be the next Governor of Virginia. She is the strongest voice for VA’s small businesses, she is a leader and champion for our 2nd Amendment, Amanda is a strong advocate for the Pro-Life movement, for family values and she will fight against the socialist agenda denying our Liberty and Constitutional Freedoms.” — LTG Michael T Flynn (Ret.)
State health officials report 41 new coronavirus cases and 3 new hospitalizations for the Roanoke Valley in the latest 24-hour reporting period. There are 6 new COVID-related death among Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt Counties. State health officials report 10 new cases, 1 new hospitalization, and 2 new deaths in Roanoke City, 28 new cases, 2 new hospitalizations, and 4 new deaths in Roanoke County, and 3 new cases in Botetourt County.
State health officials report 27 new coronavirus cases for the Roanoke Valley in the latest 24-hour reporting period. There is just one new COVID-related death among Roanoke, Salem and Roanoke and Botetourt Counties. State health officials report 15 new cases in Roanoke City, 5 new cases in Roanoke County, 4 new cases in Salem, and 3 new cases and 1 new death in Botetourt County.
The Virginia Children’s Theatre is moving forward with it’s upcoming season … WFIR’s Rob Ruthenberg has more information.
Click the link below to see the full schedule.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — The president of the police union in Virginia Beach has warned that the city needs to hire or more officers to prevent more violent incidents.
The coastal city of about 450,000 people experienced three shooting incidents in one night along the oceanfront that left two people dead and several wounded.
WAVY-TV reported Thursday that the Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association president issued his warning in a strongly worded letter to City Council. Brian Luciano also told the station the department is down 100 officers.
“It certainly does not help,” Luciano said.
Police Chief Paul Neudigate has said that it took 103 officers to manage the incidents along the oceanfront early Saturday.
Virginia Beach Mayor Bob Dyer said that altering police staffing is already underway.
“The police chief is going to be bolstering personnel with more police officers at the Oceanfront,” he said. “We are diverting and increase personnel that are going to be there, and we are going to supplement that with the sheriff’s department.”
But the group Black Lives Matter 757 has said they believe the answer isn’t more officers, but positive involvement between police and the community.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring says he wants businesses to help put a stop to sales of fake coronavirus vaccination cards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
WAVY-TV reported Tuesday that the Herring is one of 45 state attorney generals calling on companies such as Twitter and eBay to prevent the spread of the fraudulent cards.
The law enforcement leaders say that companies should keep an eye out for ads or links to sales of blank or counterfeit vaccine cards. Once found, ads and links for the cards should be taken down.
People who’ve gotten a shot receive a CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card. It proves that they’ve been vaccinated and provides a reminder for when to get their second shot.
Herring worries that people who are untruthful about being vaccinated will negatively impact public health.
“Getting vaccinated is one of the most important things a Virginian can do to help us all get back to normal and get the COVID pandemic under control,” Herring said.. “Individuals who purchase fraudulent vaccine cards and go out into our communities pretending to be vaccinated could be detrimental to our efforts to curb the pandemic and put the safety of others at risk.”