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En 2022, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de EE. UU. public� una solicitud de informaci�n sobre la actualizaci�n de los requisitos de Beneficios de Salud Esenciales. Es la primera vez que se solicitan comentarios desde 2014. (Adobe Stock)

Senador de VA pide actualizaciones de la cobertura de salud de ACA

El senador de Virginia Tim Kaine quiere actualizar la Ley de Atención Médica Asequible, ACA por sus siglas en inglés, vigente hace 14 …

Polls show 71% of voters across party lines oppose book bans and challenges at their local library. From Jan. 2023 to Aug. 2023, 1,915 unique book titles were subject to challenges. (Adobe Stock)

Public libraries take censorship battles to the ballot box

Libraries across Virginia and the nation are fighting back on censorship issues. So far this year, 100 bills are pending at the state and federal …

A 2022 study from the Administration for Community Living found 60% of senior centers are designed to be points of delivery for Older Americans Act programs, like home-delivered or congregate meals, health and wellness programs, caregiver support and adult day care. (Adobe Stock)

VA Senior Center Grows 'Environmental Wellness' Programs

As the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, senior centers in Virginia are welcoming back their participants, and one in particular has shifted some of …

In the early days of the pandemic, people repurposed rags and other household materials to make masks. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Mask-Making Showcases Appalachia's Radical Resourcefulness

At the onset of the pandemic, medical professionals struggled with cracks in communication which caused confusion and worry. Amid the misinformation…

Food insecurity in Virginia rose to 22.5% during the first few months of the pandemic, according to the Northwestern Institute for Policy Research. (Adobe Stock)

New Focus on Collecting Heart-Healthy Food Pantry Items

RICHMOND, Va. - Demand at Virginia food banks has skyrocketed during the pandemic, and a new effort aims to get these community lifelines fully …

Food-distribution programs are eligible for the American Heart Association's Faith-Based Accelerator grants for worship groups on the East Coast. (Adobe stock)

Faith-Based Grants Aim to Close Equity Gaps in At-Risk Communities

FAIRFAX, Va. - More and more people are turning to faith-based groups for help during the pandemic. In Virginia and other East Coast states, one …

The 2019 Greater Washington Heart walk was held in D.C., but this year's effort will be held virtually to maintain social distancing during the pandemic. (American Heart Association)

Virtual D.C. Heart Walk Focuses on Funding for COVID-19 Research

The Greater Washington Heart Walk event is hosted by the American Heart Association. An earlier version incorrectly stated that is was sponsored by …

La legislaci�n actualmente atorada en el Congreso patrocinar�a programas de capacitaci�n para maestros y otras ayudas financieras para futros profesores de color, para ayudar a diversificar la fuerza educativa en la educaci�n. (Adobe Stock)

Grupo Presiona al Congreso para Fondear Programa para la Diversidad en la Enseñanza

RICHMOND, Va. -- Una coalición de educadores y oficiales presiona al Congreso para fondear la iniciatdiva H.R. 4288, en favor de entrenar má…

Some faith leaders believe the Trump administration's family separation policy disrupts the sanctity of families. (Adobe stock)<br /><br />

Virginia Faith Leaders Demand an End to Immigrant Child Detentions

RICHMOND, Va. -- More than 450 faith leaders - from Virginia and across the United States - are urging President Donald Trump to end what they call …

Un estudio reciente dice que desde que comenz� la pandemia, las llamadas de emergencia al 911 solicitando servicios m�dicos en los EE.UU. han bajado 26% en comparaci�n con los dos a�os previos. (Adobe Stock)

Una Campaña de divulgación anima a la gente a vencer su Miedo a los Hospitales

RICHMOND, Va. -- Los nuevos casos de coronavirus van escalando en estados como Virginia, pero aún hay preocupación de que la gente que …

According to the nonprofit group Feeding America, one in six children in Virginia struggles with hunger. (Pixabay)

Feeding America SW Virginia Aims to Decrease Local Food Insecurity

ROANOKE, Va. – People around the country are stepping up to to help fight hunger, including for the nearly 900,000 struggling with food …

Community discussions are scheduled from coast to coast as part of this National Week of Conversation. (Sandy Heierbacher/NCDD)

"National Week of Conversation" Dialogues Come to Charlottesville

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — This week is the first-ever "National Week of Conversation," and the Millennial Action Project is hosting a series of …

Supporters say public funds could be leveraged to bring needed investment in grocery stores for Virginia communities that need them. (Pixabay)

VA Grocery Investment Fund Would Target Neglected Communities

RICHMOND, Va. – Supporters say a state grocery store investment fund to be considered by lawmakers would help Virginia communities without easy …

FCC critics fear that without net neutrality, Internet service providers would be able to pick which websites and services would be available to consumers. (Pixabay)

Protests of FCC Net-Neutrality Moves Planned in VA, D.C,.

RICHMOND, Va. – Protesters are gathering in hundreds of cities and towns across the nation beginning Thursday to show support for a free and …

Fans of pollinators warn that Monarch butterfly numbers have fallen by 90 percent. (Pixabay)

Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Coming to a Yard Near You

RICHMOND, Va. — Backers of a program to greatly expand pollinators' range say it's about two-thirds of the way to its goal of establishing 1 …

Get Your Questions Answered with #WW2K

RICHMOND, Va. – The hashtag for We Want To Know – WW2K – may be Virginians' key to getting candidates for public office to answer …

In 1993, the Great Mass Mooning of the KKK helped mark the last Klan rally at the Texas State Capitol. (Hank Sinatra/ACTV/Youtube)

Historic 1993 Protest Got Cheeky with The Klan

RICHMOND, Va. — Most Americans will be gazing up at the sky today for a view of the total solar eclipse - when the moon slips between the Earth …

Organizers have held or are planning almost 1,000 Stand With Charlottesville events nationally, including one in front of the White House. (Ted Eytan/Wikipedia)

Charlottesville Folks See Outpouring of Support at Nearly 1,000 Events Nationally

RICHMOND, Va. – People around the country have held or are planning nearly 1,000 Stand With Charlottesville events - and folks in town know it…

Pastors in Charlottesville say they've been working to avoid the kind of violence the city saw over the weekend. (ACLU of Virginia/Twitter)

The Faith Community’s Role in Charlottesville

RICHMOND, Va. -- Even before this weekend's violent clashes, members of the faith community in Charlottesville say they have been trying to, "stand …

The American Heart Association is ramping up its health outreach to the LGBTQ community, which included a booth at the Hampton Roads Pride event. (MeShall Hills/American Heart Assn.)

Heart Assn. Staffer "Knows Why LGBTQ Outreach is Important"

RICHMOND, Va. -- The American Heart Association is beginning health outreach to members of the LGBTQ community, a group with higher rates of stress …

Organizers say a Virginia Beach protest against offshore drilling represents the will of the people and businesses of that community. (Chris Bergand/Andrew Tuchman/Oceana)

Protest Against Offshore Drilling in Virginia Beach

RICHMOND, Va. -- More than 150 people took to the sand in Virginia Beach on Saturday to protest plans to expand offshore drilling. The Trump …

The James Madison Landmark Forest is only about 200 acres in size, and contains some trees that are more than 200 years old. (American Forest Foundation)

Virginia Forests Join National "Network" to Protect Them

RICHMOND, Va. – A conservation group wants to designate an old-growth forest in every county in the United States that has forestland - and …

Volunteers led by AARP are pitching in to help thousands of Flint residents get their water pipes replaced. (Dan Heyman)

Volunteers Canvass to Help Flint Get Safe Water

RICHMOND, Va. – It's been three years since a Virginia Tech team helped expose the water-quality crisis in Flint, Michigan. Thousands of homes …

Resettlement groups such as the West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministries are considering what to do in light of President Trump's travel ban. (WV IRM)

Travel Ban Sparks Protests, Confusion

RICHMOND, Va. -- President Trump's executive order barring travelers from certain countries is sparking protests and confusion in Virginia and around …

A new report says the best gifts - ones that inspire the most feelings of well-being - are actually not material things. (Pixabay)

Best Gifts Might Not Fit Under Tree

RICHMOND, Va. – People feel more grateful for what they have done than for what they have, according to new research, and that feeling of …

Carolyn Powell says CPR saved her life, and gave her the chance to go to American Heart Association events with her family. (Carolyn Powell)

‘Call 9-1-1 and Push Hard and Fast in the Center of the Chest’

RICHMOND, Va. - CPR is simple, just call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest. And CPR saves lives like Carolyn Powell's…

An audit commissioned by Reynolds American identifies instances of minors working in unsafe conditions on contracted tobacco farms in Virginia. (Marcus Bleasdale for Human Rights Watch)

Report: Children Working in VA Tobacco Fields

RICHMOND, Va. - Children are working in Virginia's tobacco fields and some in hazardous conditions. That's one of the findings of an audit …

A new report describes what it calls the devastating impact on Virginia children when a parent is incarcerated. (NC DPS)

103,000 Virginia Children Will Have a Parent in Prison

RICHMOND, Va. - About six percent of Virginia children have to grow up with a parent behind bars at some point. According to a new report from the …

New numbers from the CDC show autism affects about 1 in 68 U.S. children, and that rate is steady. But doctors say more testing is needed. (Wikipedia)

Autism Rate Stable, But Docs Say Testing Needed

RICHMOND, Va. - April is National Autism Awareness Month and the numbers are holding steady in the U.S., according to the latest snapshot of autism …

Student Hackathon: Creating Solutions for Family Caregivers

RICHMOND, Va. - University students staying up all night isn't unusual unless they're "hacking" solutions for folks who struggle to care for family …

Organizers say National Walking Day. Apr. 6, is a good time to add a little exercise to your life. (American Heart Association)

National Walking Day – “Walking Saved My Life, and Could Yours”

RICHMOND, Va. - Elisa Douglas says National Walking Day could be a matter of life and death for Virginians. She says walking certainly saved her…

No Roof Left Behind is a group of roofing contractors who collaborate to make some deserving homeowners dry, warm and very happy. (No Roof Left Behind)

Roofers' Charity Works in VA to Ensure “No Roof Left Behind”

RICHMOND, Va. - What might best be described as a "roofers' charity" is now taking nominations in Virginia for folks who may need a new roof at no …

The Consumer Health Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based group that aims to help poor and minority communities, has won a prestigious Impact Award from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy. (CHF)

Impact Award for Area Consumer Health Foundation

RICHMOND, Va. - A health-care policy foundation aiming to help poor and minority communities in the region has won a prestigious Impact Award…

A new analysis suggests Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act are not straining the federal budget. (CBPP)

Analysis: Medicaid Not Straining Federal Budget

RICHMOND, Va. - Critics of expanding Virginia's Medicaid charge the health program for the poor is unsustainably expensive. A new analysis suggests …

Nurse practitioners say Virginia's General Assembly is missing a chance to improve medical care in under-served parts of the state. (Virginia General Assembly)

Virginia GA “Missing Opportunity" to Improve Rural Health Care

RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia General Assembly is missing an opportunity to bring care to medically under-served parts of the state, nurse …

A provision proposed for the state budget aims to help bring healthy groceries to Virginia's food deserts. (American Heart Association)

Fund in State Budget Would Aim to Make Food Deserts Bloom

RICHMOND, Va. - A provision proposed for the state budget could help finance healthy groceries for food deserts. More than 1.5 million Virginians…

A bill before the General Assembly would require the cooling of corpses to 40 degrees or lower before burial, but supporters of home funerals say it's unnecessary. (Mogens Engelund/Wikipedia)

Virginia's Body Storage Bill Called "Unnecessary"

RICHMOND, Va. - Legislation that would require the cooling of human corpses to 40 degrees or lower before burial or cremation is being described as …

A new study suggest states that close the coverage gap have a healthier workforce. (The Commonwealth Institute)

Study: Medicaid Expansion Means Healthier Workforce

RICHMOND, Va. - A comparison between states shows those that have expanded Medicaid are likely to have a healthier workforce. The Virginia General …

Coastal flooding is one of the issues moving a coalition of 50 separate Virginia groups to press for climate action. (NOAA)

Broad VA Coalition Pushing Climate Action

RICHMOND, Va. - A broad coalition is pushing Gov. Terry McAuliffe to speed the state's transition away from fossil fuels and interestingly, it's not …

School lunches could change if a bipartisan bill expected to come up for a vote in the U.S. Senate ultimately becomes law. (Coalition Against Hunger)

Legislation May Mean Better School Lunches

RICHMOND, Va. - Members of the U.S. Senate are working on a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize child nutrition programs, including the national …

A resident of Virginia has returned to the country with the Zika virus, but since the virus is carried by mosquitoes, health officials are very confident it won't spread. (Joaquim Alves Gaspar/Wikipedia)

One Virginian with Zika, But Transmission "Impossible"

RICHMOND, Va. - One person returning to Virginia from overseas has tested positive for the Zika virus, but health officials are confident …

As Virginia digs out of this weekend's snowfall, health officials warn plenty of cold-weather dangers remain. (Dan Heyman)

Virginia Health Officials: Storm has Passed, But Threats Remain

RICHMOND, Va. - As Virginia digs out from winter storm Jonah, health officials are warning of some cold-weather hazards to watch out for. "Snowzilla" …

Save to Win, a program at credit unions, offers a chance to win without throwing money away.(Wikimedia)

Best Way Not to Lose Powerball? Save the Money Instead

RICHMOND, Va. - The massive Powerball jackpot has people rushing to buy tickets and dreaming of life on Easy Street, but many in Virginia still …

A third of those who would get health coverage if Virginia expanded Medicaid are parents, and most of them work. (Georgetown University Health Policy Institute�s Center for Children and Families)

Study: Medicaid Coverage For Virginia Parents Would Help Children

RICHMOND, Va. - By not expanding Medicaid to cover working poor adults, Virginia also is shortchanging thousands of children, according to a new …

A petcoke ship docked on Chicago's southeast side. (Natural Resources Defense Council)

Oil Refining Waste Heads to Virginia, Kentucky

RICHMOND, Va. - Tons of oil-refining waste known as petcoke is on the move to Virginia from Indiana. The Natural Resources Defense Council worked …

The U.S. Postal Service receives, and helps answer, millions of letters to Santa each year. (USPS)

Yes, Virginia, There Is an "Operation Santa"

RICHMOND, Va. - At a time when "goodwill toward men" may seem to be in short supply, many kids across Virginia and the nation will have their …

Supporters say new limits on the mercury and other toxins coal and oil power plants can emit will save thousands of lives. (Earthjustice)

Air Pollution Regs Will Limit Mercury, Toxics

RICHMOND, Va. - After a 20-year court fight, the EPA is set to put power plant pollution rules in place that supporters say will save thousands of …

Congress is looking at prescription monitoring for Medicare because studies are showing a large number of the program's patients are taking dangerous levels of opiods. Graphic: The Pew Charitable Trusts

Prescription Monitoring Considered for Medicare

RICHMOND, Va. - Congress is considering giving Medicare the power to monitor for excess use of pain medicines. Currently Medicare part D …

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VA: Community Issues and Volunteering