Highlights this Week:

1. Panic buying at the pump is making gas difficult to find in various VA localities

2. Virginia has started COVID vaccinations for adolescents 12-15 years old

3. VAGOP finishes counting ballots for LG & selects its nominees for statewide races: Youngkins, Sears, and Miyares

COVID-19

KEY MEASURES: Virginia Department of Health

Dashboard updated 5/13/2021. Case counts reflect what has been reported to VDH by healthcare providers and laboratories.

Visit the VDH Dashboard

Richmond & Henrico: ALL clinics now open to walk-ins

“This marks a major turnaround from last month when demand outpaced available supply, making it a slim possibility for the health districts to feasibly do so outside of smaller events.”

VA reports lowest number of new cases, hospitalizations in a year

“On Monday, the state reported a single-day increase of 336 infections, marking the second day in a row where fewer than 500 cases were added to Virginia’s total.“

Legislation & Policy

Northam, assembly set priorities for federal aid as Va. budget revenues soar

KEY TAKEAWAYS: Governor Northam & Democrat leaders in the General Assembly announce joint funding priorities for new federal aid, which will be allocated during another special session in late July or early August. Their proposals for spending will be concentrated on “helping” in five areas: public health, small businesses, workers, public schools, and broadband deployment.

Conditions appear ripe for a revival of Virginia’s economy, with state budget revenues soaring and Gov. Ralph Northam making plans with General Assembly leaders for $4.3 billion in emergency federal aid to help small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, replenish the state’s unemployment trust fund and make long-term investments in broadband, public schools and public health.

Statewide Races

What to know about the 2021 Virginia governor’s race

This year’s race for Virginia governor is more crowded than any other in modern history, perhaps ever, with 13 declared candidates in the running: seven Republicans, five Democrats and one independent. The race is notable for another novelty: a former governor, Terry McAuliffe (D), is seeking a comeback. Since the Civil War, only one person has twice occupied the Executive Mansion: Mills Godwin, who served from 1966 to 1970 as a Democrat and from 1974 to 1978 as a Republican.

The candidates span the political spectrum, from a self-described socialist to a flamboyant Donald Trump ally who has marched through Richmond with an assault rifle. They are vying to replace Gov. Ralph Northam (D), who is prohibited by the state constitution from serving back-to-back terms.

View coverage in The Washington Post »

Elections 2021

Convention loss marks end of Kirk Cox’s 32-year career in House of Delegates

Former House Speaker Kirk Cox, in his bid for the GOP’s gubernatorial nomination, set himself apart early on as the only candidate who would say President Joe Biden was duly elected.

When a glossy mailer went out attacking eventual nominee Glenn Youngkin — designed to look like Cox paid for it — he asked all of the Republican candidates to denounce negative attack spending by fly-by-night political groups.

Federal

Efforts to End Child Poverty Intensify Locally, Nationally

President Joe Biden proposed a $1.8 trillion dollar spending package last month, which could dramatically reduce the child poverty rate nationwide. It would support a broader Democratic push to eradicate the condition.

One way it could do this is by continuing an expansion made by the American Rescue Plan Act, signed into law in March, to one of the nation’s largest tax breaks: the Child Tax Credit. While the American Families Plan would cut taxes for childless workers as well, the White House focus has been on helping children, with Chief of Staff Ron Klain calling ending child poverty “an important objective.”

According to an analysis by the Center for Poverty and Social Problems at Columbia University, The American Families Plan could lift over 5 million U.S. children out of poverty, cutting the child poverty rate by nearly half.

Full story in VPM »

Business, Economy, & Labor News

‘Don’t Panic’ : State, Federal Officials Make Changes to Fix Gas Shortages

AXTON – The problem is the panic. That message echoed across Virginia on Tuesday, as state and national officials responded to the impact of the Colonial Pipeline shutdown. As of Tuesday night, 7.7% of the Commonwealth reported gas shortages, according to the gas station monitoring site GasBuddy. Thanks to decisions made over the last three days, that number isn’t expected to climb higher than 8%, unless the panic buys keep happening.

FULL STORY IN THE VIRGINIA DOGWOOD

Virginia’s $3.7B rail expansion starts land buys. This is how the costs break down across N. Va.

BizJournal »

Virginia Railway Express brings back full service June 1

WTOP News »

Atlantic Broadband announces $7.2 million partnership

Virginia Business »

2021 Virginia General Election

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

RECAP: Virginia This Week (May 14, 2021)