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Governor signs school opening bill without emergency clause Empty desks in a classroom (FILE) (Source: WHSV) By Joe Dashiell | April 1, 2021 at 8:23 PM EDT - Updated April 1 at 9:28 PM RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - Governor Ralph Northam has signed legislation that will move more schools toward in-person instruction, but it wonât take effect immediately. Senate Bill 1303 was a bipartisan effort to get students back in the classroom. It calls for in-person instruction five days a week, and includes protections for teachers and families. It doesnât include the emergency clause that some lawmakers had encouraged the Governor to add. âIt needs to go into effect now. Enough is enough,â said Delegate John Avoli (R-Staunton). âFollow the CDC guidelines with three-foot distancing, and letâs get our kids back to school.â ....
Groups that oppose legalizing marijuana speak out Marijuana bud (FILE) (Source: MIke Fussell, WAVE 3 News) By Joe Dashiell | January 19, 2021 at 10:10 PM EST - Updated January 19 at 10:22 PM RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - A General Assembly subcommittee began work on marijuana legislation Tuesday, as a coalition of opponents spoke out against legalization. Members of the Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services - Subcommittee on Marijuana heard from the public, but most of their discussion centered on how the state should regulate the industry. “I don’t see how this fits in ABC,” Sen. Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) said of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority. “I think it has to be a separate entity.” ....
General Assembly committee votes to censure Sen. Amanda Chase Sen. Amanda Chase (Source: Amanda Chase - Facebook) By Joe Dashiell | January 19, 2021 at 10:06 PM EST - Updated January 19 at 10:06 PM RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) - A committee in the Virginia Senate has voted to censure Sen. Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield). A Republican candidate for Governor, Chase spoke at a rally in Washington DC on January 6th before the attack on the U.S. Capitol. “I believe as elected officials and Virginia state senators, our words matter,” said Sen. John Bell (D-Loudon) as he explained why he believed the senate should sanction Chase. “And we must be held responsible if we spread falsehoods that incite violence and promote sedition.” ....
Bob Goodâs district director, 5th District GOP Committee chairman in Capitol attendance Protesters outside the Capitol building on January 6. (Source: WDBJ7) By Michael Alachnowicz | January 15, 2021 at 8:47 PM EST - Updated January 15 at 10:06 PM LYNCHBURG, Va. (WDBJ) - The district director of Rep. Bob Good (VA-5) was at the Capitol complex during last weekâs riot in Washington D.C. Good hired Sandy Adams to be his district director after serving as a financial assistant during his congressional campaign. Sandy Adams and her husband, 5th Congressional District Republican Committee chairman Melvin Adams, were at the Capitol scene last Wednesday. Melvin Adams told WDBJ7 they were there for a peaceful protest near the White House. ....