Virginia News & Current Events | Public News Service

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency wetlands cover 5.5% of the 48 contiguous states, with one million acres of wetland in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

SCOTUS Ruling Creates New Definition for Wetlands

Virginia environmental advocates are not happy with the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision on the Clean Water Act. The ruling in Sackett versus E-P-…

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 …

An Annie E. Casey Foundation report finds the number of kids entering foster care because of neglect increased from 29% in 2006 to 48% in 2021. But, the report finds fewer kids entered foster care because of behavioral issues during the same period. (Adobe Stock)

Report: More Support Needed for VA Foster Kids

A recent report finds foster kids in Virginia and the U.S. need better support to transition out of the foster-care system. The Annie E. Casey …

According to Virginia's opioid cost calculator, which tracks monetary impacts like lost labor, health care, crime, household costs, and state and federal costs, the state is facing a price tag of around $3.5 billion. (Adobe Stock)

VA Group Works to Address Opioid Crisis

As the opioid epidemic continues to take its toll, a Virginia group is working to keep people safe. The Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition in Roanoke …

Virginia ranked 48th in Mental Health America's 2023 State of Mental Health report for youth mental health, which indicated higher rates of mental illness among the state's youth and little access to care. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Parents Worried About Student Mental Health

A recent survey from the National PTA found student mental health is a top-of-mind issue for parents across the U.S. The survey showed 72% of …

According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2.8% (14,400) high school students smoke in Virginia. The percentage of high schoolers who use e-cigarettes is 14.3%, slightly higher than the percentage of adults who smoke, 12.4%. (Adobe Stock)

VA Groups Aim to Reduce Youth Tobacco Use

Virginia groups are using different methods to warn young people about the dangers of smoking. Along with tobacco-free parks, the state has taken …

Due to sea level rise, 263,500 jobs and more than $11 billion in wage income across the Chesapeake Bay region will be at risk of 100-year flooding by 2050, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Rising Sea Levels to Impact Chesapeake Bay Region’s Economy

A new report finds rising sea levels in Chesapeake Bay will cost the surrounding regions jobs. The Resources for the Future report finds, in …

According to a 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation study, 57% of schools reported having insufficient access to licensed mental health professionals. (Adobe Stock)

VA Works to Improve Residents' Mental Health

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Virginia is working to improve the mental health of its residents. In Mental Health America's 2023 State …

Outside of risk factors, like an unhealthy diet, certain mental health conditions can lead to harmful heart health. These include irregular heart rate and rhythm, increased blood pressure, inflammation and reduced blood flow to the heart. (Adobe Stock)

VCU to Study Effects of Stress on Heart Health

Virginia Commonwealth University will be researching chronic psychosocial stress' effects on heart health as part of an American Heart Association gra…

According to Virginia's Community College System, more than 146,700 students enrolled in community college in fall 2022, a 1.7% increase from the year before when only 144,215 students enrolled. (Virginia's Community College System)

VA Rural Community Colleges Make Comeback After Pandemic

Community colleges across Virginia are rebounding from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Virginia Community College System, the fall 2022 …

According to a Gallup poll, only 14% of Republicans have confidence in public schools following the COVID-19 pandemic. This is down from 34% in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Congressional Hearing Re-Examines AFT COVID-19 Pandemic Plan

GOP lawmakers are questioning teacher's unions about school closure policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 26, Randi Weingarten, president …

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 National Association of Community Healthcare Centers, Virginia is one of over 30 states with a medically disenfranchised population over 1 million, meaning there are not enough primary care medical services to meet their local needs. (Adobe Stock)

VA Group Leads Rural Healthcare Workforce Program

A Virginia group is working to bolster the state's health care workforce. The Virginia Rural Health Association's Workforce Initiative is a …

According to an America's Health Rankings report, excessive drinking can be linked to a variety of chronic illnesses, diseases and health problems, including hypertension, heart disease, liver disease, certain cancers, and memory and learning problems. (Adobe Stock)

VA Group Voices Concerns about Underage Drinking

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and Virginia groups are doing their part to educate people about alcohol abuse. The state ranked 22nd for …

A 2022 report from the National Fair Housing Association found private fair housing organizations across the U.S. processed 2.6 times the number of fair housing complaints processed by local, state and federal agencies. (Adobe Stock)

VA Fair Housing Law Needs Better Enforcement

As Fair Housing Month gets underway, a Virginia group feels more can be done to enforce fair housing laws. Along with the federal Fair Housing Act…

According to research from the Council on Community Justice Task Force on Long Sentences, people serving long sentences make up more than half of the U.S. incarcerated population. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Making Longer Prison Sentences 'More Effective'

A new report outlines ways that states like Virginia could rethink long prison sentences and how to use them more sparingly. The Council on …

A report from Generation Hope about child care access for student parents finds 74% of respondents provide over 30 hours of care for their child while attending school. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Student Parents Need Better Access to Child Care

A new report highlights the need for better access to child care for college level student parents. The report, from Generation Hope, finds 92% of …

While more than 3,500 people have been awarded the Medal of Honor since it was created by President Abraham Lincoln, only 65 of them are alive today. (The White House)

Plans Advance for Medal of Honor Museum, Monument

While National Medal of Honor Month is ending, plans to develop a museum and monument for the award are continuing. Numerous Medal of Honor …

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 …

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has identified several locations across the state as having forever chemicals at their sites. Some are Fentress Air Base, Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, DuPont Spruance Manufacturing in Richmond. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Issues New Guidance on ‘Forever Chemicals’

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is implementing new rules on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as forever chemicals. The new …

In recent years, Norfolk Southern has kept accidents on a downward trend, according to Federal Railroad Authority data. Since the derailment of freight cars carrying hazardous materials in East Palestine, Ohio, the company has been under a great deal of scrutiny. (Adobe Stock)

VA Environmentalists Disagree with DEQ’s Norfolk Southern Fine

Virginia environmentalists are frustrated by the state Department of Environmental Quality's $27,000 fine of Norfolk Southern for a 2020 train derailm…

According to real estate consulting firm CBRE, Northern Virginia's total data center load in 2021 was 1,688 megawatts, which is equivalent needed to power 1.6 million homes. (Adobe Stock)<br />

VA Carbon Emissions Drop Despite Data Center Growth

By Elizabeth McGowan for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for Virginia News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

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 …

According to a report from AARP, Virginia family caregivers provided over 920 million hours of unpaid care to family members in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA Family Caregivers Provide Swaths of Unpaid Help

A new report shows just how much unpaid care Virginia family caregivers provide to loved ones. As part of AARP's Valuing the Invaluable series…

According to a study from the Commonwealth Institute, Virginia's local public employees make about 30% less than people in the private sector with similar levels of education, age and hours worked. It is considered to be one of the largest pay penalties in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Richmond City Employees File to Vote on Union Contract

City of Richmond employees have filed to vote on their first union contract, and while they are still in the early stages of establishing a union in …

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States has sustained a total of 341 climate disasters where the damage was more than $1 billion since 1980. In those four decades, the cost of these events exceeds $2.475 trillion. (Adobe Stock)

UN Preparing Fund to Aid Poorer Nations Facing Climate-Change Impacts

The United Nations is reviewing details for a loss and damage fund to aid poorer countries for the harm they will suffer from climate change's effects…

According to the Food Research and Action Center, with SNAP emergency allotments ending, some people will see their SNAP benefits drop from $281 a month to $23. (Adobe Stock)

Ending Emergency SNAP Benefits Impacts VA Families

Starting this week, emergency allotments for SNAP benefits will end as pandemic programs conclude. All SNAP households received an extra $95 a …

The National Human Trafficking Hotline says it received 583

Report Outlines Ways Virginia Can Reduce Human Trafficking

Virginia could be doing more to prevent human trafficking and help survivors, according to the latest report from a state commission tasked with …

According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 48% of schools surveyed felt inadequate funding was one reason they couldn't effectively provide mental-health services to students. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation Aims to Improve VA School Mental-Health Services

Virginia's General Assembly is reviewing legislation to improve mental health services in schools. Currently, Virginia ranks 48th among states for …

According to federal research, 72% of kids that will lose their Medicaid converge will remain eligible. It also finds Black and Latino families are at greater risk of losing coverage. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA Kids Could Lose Health-Care Coverage

Medicaid's continuous renewal policy will conclude as the COVID-19 pandemic relief program comes to an end in the spring. Instead, states will have …

According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey from the CDC, one in three (30%) of teen girls considering attempting suicide in 2021, a 60% increase over the last decade. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Teen Girls Face Record High Levels of Sadness, Violence

The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds teen girls are experiencing record high levels of sadness and violence…

When the Equal Rights Amendment was first approved by Congress, 35 states adopted it within the seven-year time limit. Since then, three more have approved it, to reach the necessary 38: Nevada (2017), Illinois (2018), and Virginia (2020). (Adobe Stock)

VA Senator Wants to Remove Time Restraint on ERA

A growing group of U.S. Senators are supporting legislation to remove the time limit placed on ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. When originally …

According to the American Heart Association, men having a heart attack might experience nausea or vomiting and shortness of breath, along with chest pain or pressure. Women might experience fainting, indigestion and extreme fatigue with chest pain or pressure. (Adobe Stock)

Heart Month: Learn Difference Between Cardiac Arrest, Heart Attack

February is National Heart Month, and doctors want Virginians to understand heart health a bit better - specifically, heart attacks and cardiac …

A 2022 report from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission shows the Virginia Employment Commission is facing a backlog of 97,814 unemployment insurance appeals cases. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Hope to Aid VA Employment Commission in Reducing Backlog

Advocates and stakeholders have solutions for the Virginia Employment Commission to get through its backlog of unemployment appeal cases. According …

According to a 2022 report from Generation 180, about 8,400 schools in the United States use solar power. They generate more than 1,600 megawatts of electricity. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Bill Helps Schools Become Climate Friendly

Proposed legislation would help schools throughout Virginia adopt renewable energy. The bill would direct the Virginia Department of Energy and the …

So far, calculations show that C3 members have stopped emitting the equivalent of 4,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which translates to removing about 1,000 cars from roadways for a year. (Adobe Stock)

Climate Collaborative Helps Local Businesses Reduce Energy Costs

By Elizabeth McGowan for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Virginia News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism N…

Eviction Lab, 838 evictions were filed in Virginia during the first week of 2023. (Adobe Stock)">

Grant Funding Aims to Alleviate Virginia Eviction Crisis

About $3-million has been awarded to Virginia groups helping people facing evictions. The Virginia Eviction Reduction Pilot Program is designed to …

The top five states for green building in 2022 were Massachusetts, Illinois, New York, California and Maryland. Each state had more than 2 million square feet of green building space become LEED certified. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Ranks Among Top 10 States for Green Building

Virginia ranked eighth on a list of the top 10 states for green building. The report by the U.S. Green Building Council finds Virginia had 95 …

While the 2022 State of the Bay ranks at a 32 or a D+, it's the highest score since the report's inception. When the report first came about in 1998, the bay's health was at a 27. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Chesapeake Bay Needs Further Cleanup

A biennial report found the health of Chesapeake Bay is in poor condition. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's 2022 State of the Bay report gives the …

One recommendation made to improve the Virginia Parole Board is to have parole officers take a more active role in discharge procedures. (Adobe Stock)

New Report Reviews VA Parole Board Duties, Issues

The Virginia Parole Board has issued a report that outlines its past problems and the steps it could take to rebuild public trust. The work began in 2…

According to Mental Health America's 2023 state rankings, Virginia ranks 34th for access to care and 38th overall. For adult mental health care the state ranked 14th, but youth mental health was ranked 48th. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Plan Better Funds VA Mental-Health Programs

A recently proposed plan has been devised to better fund Virginia's mental-health programs. The new Right Help, Right Now plan calls for $230 …

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 …

At the United Nations, the United States was one of several nations to vote against a recent global moratorium on using the death penalty. The vote had 125 nations in favor, 37 opposed and 22 abstaining. (Adobe Stock)

Death Penalty Opponents Seek End to Federal Executions

Virginia is the only Southern state to have abolished the death penalty, and there's a new push in the new year to end it nationally as well…

According to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, there were 255,037 workers in the solar industry across the U.S. in 2021, which represents a 9.2% increase from 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia Nonprofit Offers Training for Solar Jobs