Health and Medicine
Claims by Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller that THC makes marijuana addictive don’t hold water, according to Virginia’s head of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – or NORML. WFIR’s Ian Price has more:
Beginning July 1, possession of marijuana for recreational use is legal in Virginia – but users cannot purchase it anywhere. They have to grow their own – and only 4 plants per household. The problem says Debbie Custer with The Hemp Mill in Vinton – you can’t buy seeds anywhere legally at this point in Virginia. Custer was live in studio this morning going over some of the guidelines for growing marijuana plants as of July 1 – your neighbors must not be able to see those plants for example. Hear the complete conversation on the link below; watch it on Facebook.
G Marrano photos
Carilion Clinic’s $400 million, 500,000 square foot addition that includes a new tower at Roanoke Memorial – with more patient beds, an expanded emergency department and a cardio-vascular institute – has gained momentum with a 240-foot tall crane now assembled and ready to go. WFIR’s Gene Marrano with an update on a project launched in 2019:
The second tallest man made structure in Roanoke besides the Wells Fargo Tower isn’t another downtown building – its the 240 foot tall crane that was going up today at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where work on a new hospital tower is getting underway in earnest after a delay last year due to the pandemic. Besides a new Cardiovascular Institute, the $400 million dollar, 500,000 square foot project includes an expanded emergency department and more hospital beds. January 2025 is the targeted completion date. Marty Misicko is Carilion’s Vice President for Facilities and Construction:
Virginia’s Department of Corrections says it released more than 2,000 “responsible inmates” for coronavirus-related considerations since April of last year, but that will come to an end when its authority to do so ends July 1. Officials say the DOC focused on inmates with less than one year remaining on their sentences who were deemed most vulnerable to COVID from existing medical conditions.
NEWS RELEASE: RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Corrections’ authority to release state inmates early due to the coronavirus pandemic will terminate at midnight on July 1. Thus far, 2,114 state responsible inmates have been released early due to the pandemic.
On April 22, 2020, the Virginia General Assembly approved a proposed budget amendment from Governor Ralph Northam giving the director of the Department of Corrections authority to release offenders early during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Just as the pandemic presented unprecedented challenges, this authority for the director to release inmates early was unprecedented.
The Department continues to review individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for early release, with a focus on those inmates deemed most vulnerable due to an underlying medical condition or other circumstances that warrant an expedited review; however, the Department’s authority to release individuals early will terminate at midnight on July 1, 2021, as specified in the budget amendment.
The state prison population has decreased significantly during the pandemic. The average daily inmate population at the end of April was 23,897. Per the budget amendment, the director of the Department of Corrections is authorized to consider early release for individuals with less than one year left to serve while the COVID-19 emergency declaration is in effect. Inmates convicted of a Class 1 felony or a sexually violent offense are not eligible for consideration. Criteria for early release are available on the Department’s website, as they have been throughout the pandemic: https://vadoc.virginia.gov/media/1506/vadoc-covid19-early-release-plan.pdf and https://vadoc.virginia.gov/media/1512/vadoc-covid19-early-release-plan-local.pdf.
“We thank family members and community organizations for stepping up to offer services and support to this population as we safely released inmates early during the pandemic,” said Brian Moran, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. “The early release plan was an innovative way to ensure the safety and security of our incarcerated population as well as the public.”
The VADOC considers multiple factors as they review offenders who are eligible for early release, including the offense type and history, medical conditions, a documented and approved home plan, good time earning level, recidivism risk, and active detainers. State probation and parole offices have worked to ensure they were ready to receive the additional inmates as they were released onto probation.
“Our inmate management staff worked overtime to identify individuals eligible for early release, including securing suitable home plans, while continuing all regular releases during the pandemic,” said Department of Corrections Director Harold Clarke. “As our authority to release inmates early comes to a close, we have about 70% of our inmate population vaccinated, and no current cases of COVID-19 amongst the inmate population.”
Of the 2,114 state responsible inmates have been released early, 1,326 have been released from DOC facilities and 788 from local jails.
With vaccination rates rising and COVID cases falling, the Department of Corrections will soon be able to allow visitors back into its facilities. VADOC is planning a phased-in opening to visitors, continuing to follow CDC guidance for congregate settings.
VADOC continues to vaccinate all staff and inmates who want to be vaccinated, and to test staff and inmates for COVID-19. Inmate vaccination percentages are affected as inmates are discharged from correctional facilities and no longer counted amongst the vaccinated inmate population and new inmates enter the system. Face masks continue to be required in congregate settings, including correctional facilities.
Radford University has joined the list of colleges requiring students to receive COVID-19 vaccines before returning to campus for the fall semester. At the same time, Radford says it will return to normal operations in almost every aspect of campus life.
FROM RU: In recent weeks, Radford University has closely monitored local, state, and federal developments regarding the COVID-19 global health pandemic. As a result of these developments, relaxed restrictions and reduced regulations at the state and federal levels have occurred in both business practices and everyday life. In accordance with these actions, the University is announcing revised operational plans, as well as a vaccine requirement for students. With a strong focus on vaccines, the University will be returning to normal operations in nearly all aspects of our overall efforts and daily engagements.
SUMMER 2021 UPDATES
Following the March 15, 2021 distribution of the Summer 2021 Operational Plan, the below updates are being implemented on the main campus for remaining Summer 2021 activities and operations effective June 15, 2021.
- Physical distancing requirement (to be phased in for specific configurations and locations based on planned events and institutional priorities for campus-wide completion by August 13, 2021)
- REMOVE AND RETURN TO NORMAL
- Revised room capacities (as determined due to COVID-19 related physical distancing)
- REMOVE AND RETURN TO NORMAL
- Dedicated entrances and exits
- REMOVE AND RETURN TO NORMAL
- Two-person limit in all elevators
- REMOVE AND RETURN TO NORMAL
- Enhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols
- RETURN TO NORMAL
- Daily symptom tracker requirement
- REVISE
- Continued requirement for partially vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals
- No requirement for fully vaccinated individuals
- Visitor pre-registration process
- CONTINUE
FALL 2021 SEMESTER UPDATES
Following the April 2, 2021 distribution of the Fall 2021 Semester Operational Plan, the aforementioned changes for Summer 2021 will remain in place for Fall 2021. Also, the below updates will be implemented on the main campus, effective August 15, 2021, for the start of a new academic year.
- Daily symptom tracker requirement
- CONTINUE AT REVISED LEVEL
- Required for partially vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals
- Not required for fully vaccinated individuals
- Visitor pre-registration process
- REMOVE AND RETURN TO NORMAL
VACCINE REQUIREMENT FOR STUDENTS
In addition to the operational updates, which represent both a systematic and thoughtful phased return to normal operations, Radford University is implementing a vaccine requirement for students attending in-person classes and/or activities. This vaccine requirement is effective with the Fall 2021 semester and must be met prior to students arriving on campus or in the area for the start of the semester as any delayed compliance could pose a significant risk to the immediate campus.
Students enrolled in a fully online program with no in-person engagement or physical presence on campus are not subject to the vaccine requirement as they pose a limited health and safety risk to the immediate campus. Additionally, an exemption process for either a medical or religious reason is available.
For students, both new and returning, taking Fall 2021 classes, all vaccine related documentation, either demonstrated compliance or requested exemption, is required by August 2, 2021. Electronic submissions can be uploaded via a secure Medicat website at https://radford.medicatconnect.com. As an alternative submission process, a paper form can be downloaded, completed, and returned to the University. All submissions must be received by the August 2, 2021 deadline.
Questions regarding the overall process and/or an individual situation can be submitted via e-mail to vaccine@radford.edu. Additionally, the Dean of Students Office can be contacted at (540) 831-6297 for those needing assistance by phone.
As Radford University faculty and staff model responsible behavior for all Highlanders, especially students, every employee is strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated as it represents our best individual and collective defense to the pandemic. Please note that unvaccinated members of the campus community may be subject to required surveillance testing on a reoccurring basis. The University looks forward to its continued efforts to provide engaging and safe experiences in the weeks and months to come!
With Highlander Pride
President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D.
For the second summer in a row, freshman orientation at Virginia Tech that begins today will be on-line only, but the university is preparing to resume full on-campus operations come move-in day. It may seem like a long time away, but those same freshman students begin arriving on campus two months and two days from today. The university is using that time to prepare the transition back to a normal campus life, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports:
Local practitioners, providers, healers, and vendors will be on-site to showcase their offerings for the public. WFIR’s Rob Ruthenberg has this report
CLICK HERE for full details
Dr Robert Trestman- Carilion photo
For those in the City of Roanoke not sure where to turn for help with mental health, substance abuse and basic support services, a new “Mental Health Navigator Line” can help fill in the gaps. More on a new Carilion Clinic initiative from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Navigation phone number: 540-985-6999