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In a 2023 pilot program of IRS Direct File in 12 states, some 140,803 taxpayers saved $5.6 million on preparing their tax returns. (Adobe Stock)

VA Gov. Youngkin urged to implement IRS Direct File

Virginia advocates and lawmakers want Gov. Glenn Youngkin to allow a direct income tax filing option. The Internal Revenue Service's Direct File …

Along with extreme temperatures and public health-related states of emergency, a new Virginia law prevents utility shutoffs on Fridays, weekends and the day before or during state holidays. (Adobe Stock)

VA law prevents utility shutoffs in extreme circumstances

A new Virginia law protects residents from utility shutoffs in extreme weather. The law prevents utility company shutoffs when temperatures are at …

Los habitantes de Virginia de entre 35 y 49 a�os son los que m�s deuda de pr�stamos estudiantiles tienen en el estado, con $16.7 billones de d�lares en pr�stamos pendientes. (Adobe Stock)

Estudiantes endeudados se ven afectados por suspension del programa SAVE en VA

Los estudiantes con préstamos estudiantiles de Virginia sentirán el impacto de los tribunales federales bloqueando más condonaciones…

Before the pandemic, evictions in Virginia peaked at almost 16,000 statewide. (Adobe Stock)

VA housing advocates upset with vetoes of tenant protection bills

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed several bills intended to do more to address the rights of renters in the Commonwealth. Along with …

Unpaid family caregivers provided more than 920 million hours of care to senior family members. (Adobe Stock)

Event cites VA family caregivers’ work, reviews supports

For Older Americans Month, AARP Virginia is hosting an event today about family caregivers. Virginia caregivers provided $14 billion of unpaid care …

Between October 2022 and November 2023, there were 136,295 eviction filings in Virginia, about 466 eviction filings on an average day. (Adobe Stock)

Eviction Defense Center helps VA renters fight eviction

As Virginia evictions rise, one group is helping low-income renters fight back. Before the pandemic, evictions peaked at 16,000 in January 2020…

According to research from Virginia Commonwealth University, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative created 2,115 local jobs in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA General Assembly considers RGGI budget amendments

Virginia's General Assembly will consider budget amendments to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, known as RGGI. Gov. Glenn Youngkin …

AARP data shows the prices for the top 25 Medicare Part D drugs tripled since they were introduced. (Adobe Stock)

VA advocates upset about prescription drug affordability veto

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed legislation making prescription drugs more affordable. The bill would have created an independent body to evaluate …

Up to 50% of eligible residents in Virginia's counties were enrolled in a dual-eligible special needs plan in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

VA seniors can benefit from dual-eligible special-needs plans

Virginia seniors can see daily health and well-being benefits from certain health-care plans. Dual-eligible special-needs plans offer Medicare and …

Advocates urge VA governor to sign prescription-drug affordability bill

With the approval of the Virginia General Assembly, a bill reducing prescription drug prices is sitting on Gov. Glenn Youngkin's desk. The bill …

A Bankrate/YouGov poll finds 32% of U.S. adults estimate they would need more than $1 million to retire comfortably. However, 45% of workers say it's unlikely they'll be able to save that much. (Adobe Stock)

AARP event prepares Virginians for life after 50

The goal of an AARP Virginia event this weekend is to help people prepare for their 50s and beyond. The "Life at 50-Plus Academy" is a half-day …

A recent analysis found PJM Interconnection's processing time of 37 months is the fastest for grid operators in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA grid manager needs better interconnection process

Virginia's electrical grid manager ranked poorly in a new energy scorecard. Advanced Energy United's Generator Interconnection Scorecard gave PJM …

Gas power plants are vulnerable to adverse weather. A report showed during Winter Storm Elliott in late December, gas-fired power plants were responsible for around 70% of unplanned outages. (Adobe Stock)

VA residents oppose proposed Dominion Energy power plant

A proposed power plant in Chesterfield County is meeting with the ire of local residents. Dominion Energy's Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center …

A 2021 Christopher Newport University poll finds 68% of Virginians strongly support letting public employees unionize and bargain collectively. (Adobe Stock)

City of Richmond workers ratify first union contract

City of Richmond workers have ratified their first union contract. It includes a cumulative 10.5% raise over the life of the contract. There is also …

A Pew Research analysis finds before the Fairness in Lending Act, many Virginians couldn't afford loans, since short-term balloon payments consumed 20% of a borrower's paycheck, leading to repeated borrowing. (Adobe Stock)

Legal advocates look to defend VA Fairness in Lending Act

Virginia legal advocates are on the lookout for attempts to subvert the state's Fairness in Lending Act. The 2020 law establishes a fair regulatory …

In December, Virginia was awarded $600,000 in federal funding to develop infrastructure to improve road safety with the hope of lowering wildlife-vehicle collisions. (Adobe Stock)

Online tool creates wildlife-vehicle collision database

An online tool is connecting Virginians with information on wildlife-vehicle collisions. The Habitat Connectivity Hub is the brainchild of Wild …

Between 2012 and 2021, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found almost 2,000 people nationally were killed in crashes involving deer, including 35 in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA undertakes pilot program to reduce wildlife collisions

A Virginia pilot program aims to reduce wildlife collisions with cars. The program stems from a $350 million federal Wildlife Crossings Pilot …

Entre 2012 y 2021, el Instituto de Seguros para la Seguridad en las Carreteras (IIHS, por sus siglas en ingl�s) descubri� que casi 2,000 personas murieron a nivel nacional en accidentes con ciervos, 35 de ellas en Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA emprende programa piloto para reducir colisiones con la vida silvestre

Un programa piloto de Virginia pretende reducir las colisiones de animales salvajes con automóviles. El programa surge de un programa piloto …

Some environmental effects of pipeline projects are loss of water and air filtration capability from forests, risk of severe erosion in mountainous areas, and increased air pollution from leaking methane gas. (Adobe Stock)

Despite opposition, VA pipeline expansion moves ahead

Despite extensive opposition, the Virginia Reliability Project is moving forward. This month, the state's Marine Resources Commission issued a …

Between 2020 and 2022, 16.1% to 18.5% of Virginia adults engaged in excessive drinking. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Chronic conditions on the rise in Virginia

Virginia lost ground in a national health report. The state ranked 19th in this year's America's Health Rankings report, down from 14th in 2022…

As August ended, there had been 27 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease associated with Virginia's outbreak, including five deaths. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Faces Meningococcal Disease Outbreak

The Virginia Department of Health has reported a statewide outbreak of meningococcal disease. It initially began as a regional outbreak in the …

Energy prices across the United States increased 5% between 2021 and 2022, according to the Energy Information Administration. Coupled with 8% inflation, ratepayers saw a total 13% increase, the largest growth in electric bills since 1984. (Adobe Stock)

Energy-Efficiency Programs Aid Virginians with High Utility Costs

Growing energy prices have Virginians seeking relief to high utility bills. Earlier this year, Appalachian Power announced its customers will see a $2…

The American Lung Association reported emissions from natural gas and biomass power plants could result in cancer and other health issues, releasing pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide into the air. (Adobe Stock)

VA Environmental Groups Wary of Proposed Gas Power Plant

A proposed Dominion Energy power plant has Virginia environmental groups in an uproar. The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center would be a gas-…

In an AARP survey, Virginia voters said they would support the idea of importing prescription drugs from wholesalers and licensed pharmacies and/or joining a buying pool offering prescription drug discounts. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Virginia Needs Lower Prescription Drug Prices

Despite partisan divides on many issues, a new survey shows Virginia voters are like-minded about the need to do something about rising prescription …

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare found Virginia Social Security beneficiaries received $2,336,507,000 in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Virginia Hosts Town Hall on Social Security's Importance, Future

AARP Virginia is sponsoring a town hall at 5:30 p.m. at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia in Richmond about Social Security…

A 2018 study from The Electricity Journal found the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative had created a $4.7 billion net benefit for consumers and created over 40,000 jobs. (Adobe Stock)

VA Bails on Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board has voted to leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. RGGI is a cooperative effort among multiple …

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 …

According to a report from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, Virginians lost $172,767,012 in online scams in 2021, among 11,785 victims. (Adobe Stock)

AARP VA Hosts 6th Annual Scam Jam

In the hopes of warning seniors about the dangers of online scams, AARP Virginia is hosting its annual Scam Jam April 29. Members of law enforcement …

According to the World Health Organization's Sodium Scorecard, a quarter of the world's population lives in countries with mandatory policies in place to reduce sodium intake. (Adobe Stock)

New Reports Outline Need for Healthier Eating Habits

Two recent reports take aim at improving health across the United States and the world. A report from the World Health Organization found that the …

A report by the Virginia Coalition for Open Government finds some reasons state agency websites weren't in compliance with Virginia's Freedom of Information Law is they didn't say what kind of records they maintained, didn't say what records the agency withholds, and there was no link to FOIA on the agency's homepage. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA State Agencies, Public Colleges Not Complying with FOIA

A new report finds Virginia's state agencies are failing to post key Freedom of Information Act links. The report from the Virginia Coalition for …

Currently, six states have prescription drug affordability boards, while states like Massachusetts and New York have similar arrangements. Other states, including Connecticut, are considering legislation. (Adobe Stock)

Nursing Homes, Prescription Prices Top Concerns for AARP Virginia

Nursing home staff shortages and rising prescription drug prices are two of the big legislative priorities this year for AARP Virginia. The group …

Virginia law says all state agencies and institutions need to take

VA Bill Would Ban Withholding Student Transcripts for Debt Collection

As the Virginia General Assembly begins its new legislative session, one bill will be returning - with the goal of alleviating some student-debt …

According to an annual report from United Healthcare, Virginia's strengths included low economic hardship index scores, low percentage of household food insecurity and high adult flu vaccination rate. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Ranks High in Annual Health Report

Virginia ranked 14th in United Healthcare's annual America's Health Rankings report. The state saw a 14% decline in the number of uninsured adults …

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, net farm income is expected to increase by $7.3 billion. This comes when farmers are faced with a bevy of changes in their business.

Farmers Adapting to Industry Changes

Farmers are adapting to numerous shifts in their industry, ranging from price hikes to the effects of climate change. A big change for agribusiness …

It's estimated that during World War II, some 20 million Americans planted

Can Municipal Canneries Make a Comeback?

It's that time of year when kitchens are bubbling over as home gardeners preserve their bounty. But there was a time when homegrown produce could be …

Experts say the gap between Social Security benefits and the cost of living leaves many older Americans struggling to pay the bills. (Andrii Iemelianenko/Adobe Stock)

Many Older VA Residents Struggle, Even as Government Benefits Go Unused

Many older, low-income adults in Virginia struggle to pay for medicine, food, and rent, and they may be unaware of the many programs available to …

Media consolidation hit rural America harder during the pandemic, as there are now fewer news outlets to cover big stories like the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Media Coverage of COVID Underserves Rural Communities

COVID has been in and out of the news cycle for over two years now, but that news cycle is driven by the experience in major cities. Coverage of the …

The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that 18 other states and Washington, D.C., have implemented similar Medicaid expansions, which require the approval of the federal government. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid Expansion Aims to Help Virginia Mothers, Newborns

CORRECTION: The website where Virginians can register for Medicaid has been corrected. (8:45 p.m. MST, July 11, 2022) New Virginia mothers now are …

According to the Environmental Defense Fund, roughly 2.2 million Americans currently work in the clean-energy sector. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Elected Officials Call on U.S. Senate to Pass Climate Actions

A coalition of elected officials from Virginia has joined a group of more than 565 elected leaders asking the federal government to accelerate the nat…

Dominion Energy has cited the Russian invasion of Ukraine and global inflation as factors contributing to the rising cost of energy. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Customers Could See Dominion Energy Rate Hikes

Dominion Energy is proposing a rate hike, which would push up utility costs for Virginia's homes and businesses. The company has submitted several …

In January, pharmaceutical companies increased the prices on more than 800 drugs by about 5%. (Adobe Stock)

Virginians Call on Congress to Regulate Prescription-Drug Costs

Virginia residents have signed nearly 104,000 petitions urging Congress to lower prescription drug prices. The petitions were delivered to Virginia …

Groups in Virginia want laws that guarantee quarterly training for nursing-home staff on issues such as infection-prevention protocols. (PXHere)

Virginia Groups Want Action on Nursing-Home Safety, Drug Affordability

Virginia's 2022 General Assembly session begins tomorrow, and groups supporting older Americans are pushing lawmakers to pass legislation making …

More than 80% of Virginia voters say nursing homes should be required to provide infection-control training for staff, according to a new AARP survey. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Virginia Voters Demand Nursing-Home Reforms

RICHMOND, Va. - With COVID revealing deep-seated problems in the nation's long-term care system, a new report shows most Virginia voters support …

Four Southeastern states and the District of Columbia reported more than half of their gas stations were out of fuel this week due to the cyberattack that targeted Colonial Pipeline. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

To Some, VA Gas Shortage Spotlights Need for Electric Vehicles

RICHMOND, Va. - As gas stations in Virginia wait for refueling after the Colonial Pipeline shutdown, advocates of electric vehicles say the gas …

Availability of electric vehicles at new-car dealerships were up-to 54% lower in Virginia cities than in neighboring Maryland, according to a new report. (Adobe stock)

Report Urges Virginia to Boost Electric-Car Use to Meet Climate Goals

RICHMOND, Va. -- After passing the Clean Economy Act this year, Virginia is in the vanguard of states moving toward 100% clean electricity. But a new …

A new survey of workforce-training classes aims to help state lawmakers allocate funding for career training. (Adobe stock)

Community College Data Collection Aims to Boost Employment

RICHMOND, Va. -- With unemployment at record highs during the pandemic, community colleges are supplying data to help folks get new skills for …

The College of William and Mary's business school is establishing a new veterans center as part of an initiative to help ex-military folks transition into the workforce. (Adobe stock)

Virginia Program Helps Veterans Transition to Civilian Jobs

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- With so many people out of work because of pandemic-related layoffs, a new Virginia college program will provide support and …

Nearly 75% of Americans in the latest AARP survey are worried that Social Security will run out of money by the time they retire. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Social Security More Crucial Than Ever During Pandemic

RICHMOND, Va. -- As the Trump administration threatens to reduce the payroll tax that's a primary funding source for Social Security, a new report …

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