COVID-19 has had a negative affect on the opioid epidemic, with non-fatal overdoses up 123% over last year; Senator Tim Kaine questioned health officials about the pandemic in committee; Richmond moves forward with plans to provide childcare to low-income families and frontline workers; and VADOC responds to CDC guidelines to manage COVID-19 outbreaks in dentention centers.

A bill that would have reduced the punishment for assaulting a police officer failed to pass a House panel yesterday; GRTC is offering a shuttle service to the new registrar's office in Richmond; Governor Northam announces plan to restructure the debt of state colleges and universities; Mayor Stoney unveiled a plan to increase affordable housing in the city; and other local news stories.

A planned Black Live Matter mural on Grace Street has been called off following a proposed anti-abortion mural; Virginia remembers Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who passed away last week; Chesterfield County is reducing the number of locations for free meal pickups; Richmond is shortening their virtual school day over screen time concerns; and other local news stories.

The director of VCU's Massey Cancer Center said in a Congressional briefing this week that African Americans have the highest overall death rate in the US; A majority of Virginians think it is unsafe for kids to return to school in person according to a new poll; VUU and VCU celebrate the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of former Governor L. Douglas Wilder; and other local news stories.

Richmond Public Schools has established a new program to help students facing housing insecurity; A bill requiring utilities to offer an extended payment plan passed the Virginia Senate, which also killed a bill that would have required some employers to provide paid quarantine leave; The city of Richmond is planning to provide childcare for low-income and working parents; and other local news stories.

The State Corporation Commission has agreed to Governor Ralph Northam's request to freeze utility disconnections through October 5th; Southwest Virginia continues a spike in COVID-19 cases; Virginia ABC sales continue to rise; Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney joins other mayors across the country to call on President Trump to condemn vigilantism; and other local news stories.

The state Senate has sent a significant police reform bill to the House of Delegates; Henrico gets a new police chief; Chesterfield moves to return students to in-person learning; Virginia localities prepare for November's election; and other local news stories.

Hampton Roads COVID-19 Restrictions Being Lifted; Legal Protections for Police Will Continue After Senate Defeats Proposal; ICE Says COVID-19 is Under Control in Their Facility, Asks to Bring in More Detained People

Democrats Block a GOP Attempt to End Police Unions; Richmond Bans Firearms at Protests; Special Prosecutor Requested to Investigate $1.8M Confederate Monument Removal Contract

Virtual School Reopening Hit Technical Challenges; Richmond Bans Guns at Protests; Update on COVID-19 in Richmond Jails; and more local news

School Resource Officers will be taking on new roles as many schools across the state reopen virtually; Richmond schools have announced plans to make sure students have access to meals during virtual classes; Governor Northam has signed a bill to make it easier to vote early; Disagreements arise over the CDC's ban on evictions; and other local news stories.

Kanye West will not appear on the ballots in the November election in Virginia after at least three voters say his campaign misled them; A proposal to provide two weeks of paid leave for workers exposed COVID-19 is heading to the House of Delegates; Richmond City officials toured one of three new schools opening this fall; and other local news stories.

The CDC has issued a ban on evictions through the end of the year for renters who lost thier jobs due to the pandemic; Kayne West's campaign is facing a lawsuit to remove the rapper from the Virginia ballot; Community activists are criticizing the police reponse to protests outside of the Richmond Jail earlier this week; A bill advanced that would allow for automatic expungement of some crimes after 8 years; and other local news stories.

Governor Ralph Northam is waiting to see for now if any restrictions are needed to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in Virginia; A potential new rapid treatment for COVID-19 is undergoing trials at VCU; Richmond Public Schools voted to allow 5 school buildings in the city to be used to provide emergency childcare; Mayor Levar Stoney officially kicked off his mayoral campaign with some key endorsements; and other local news stories.

The Virginia Crime Commission recommended passage of a bill to expand expungement eligibility; IKEA donates $2 million to Virginia for eviction relief; School funding remains uncertain amid the COVID-19 pandemic; and other local news stories.

A new bill introduced by Delegate Sam Rasoul seeks to change how body cam footage is dealt with after shooting incidents; the state Senate is seeking to extend a moratorium on evictions; Dozens of inmates at Richmond City Jail are being monitored after testing positive for COVID-19; The Virginia Supreme Court clears the way for the removal of Richmond's last standing Confederate monument; and other local news stories.

The Valentine Museum is in talks to acquire the Jefferson Davis monument toppled by protestors earlier this year; a federal appeals court once again rules in favor of Gavin Grimm, a transgender man who sued his high school for the right to use the boys restroom; Chesterfield County is looking to add two satellite voting locations; and other local news stories.

Judge W. Reilly Marchant dismissed two plaintiffs for lack of standing in a lawsuit preventing the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument, but the case will still go to trial in October with the remaining plaintiffs; Attorney General Herring has defended state restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in fifteen legal cases so far, even as one state senator tests positive for the virus; Requests for absentee ballots are skyrocketing according to the Virginia Department of Elections; Chesterfield is discussing how to spend $50 million in Federal Cares Act Funding; Woodland Cemetery is undergoing changes after changing ownership; and other local news stories.

Henrico County has hired its first African American police chief after a summer of national protests; President Trump trails Joe Biden by double digits among Virginia voters; Over 70 cases of COVID-19 have been reported at VCU; J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College tests a new way to teach math; and other local news stories.

RRHA is preparing it's annual plan, although the files disappeared from the public this week; Dominion Energy overcharged customers by $500 million from 2017 to 2019; Former Governor Terry McAuliffe filed paperwork to raise money for a gubernatorial bid; the Virginia Senate approves civilian review boards; and other local news stories.

Former Governor Terry McAuliffe says he'll wait until after the election to decide if he'll run for Governor again; Nursing and medical care headlined the special session on Tuesday; Mayoral candidate Kim Gray is calling for an investigation into the contractor in charge of removing Confederate statues in Richmond; and other local news stories.

The special session of the General Assembly began with a focus on the state budget, the COVID-19 pandemic, and police reform; Governor Ralph Northam weighs in on state spending; Ballot dropboxes may come to Virginia; Protestors gather for the special session; and other local news stories.

The special session of the General Assembly focused on police reform and COVID-19 response; A Richmond judge will rule on the current lawsuit blocking the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument; Richmond will get a Black Live Matter mural near the capitol; Mayor Levar Stoney announced that Richmond's 2020 budget will end with a $4.5 million surplus; and other local news stories.

Virginia Democrats have laid out their priorities ahead of next week's special session of the General Assembly; Northern Virginia will conduct a pediatric COVID-19 study; Private schools must submit their reopening plans to the Virginia Council for Private Education; VSU is giving students a $500 stipend towards computer purchases; Two Italian-American organizations are offering to take a toppled statue of Christopher Columbus; and the chief curator for VCU's Institute for Contemporary Art is stepping down.

As schools prepare to start virtually, a new study finds one in five Virginia students has no access to a computer or the internet; Chesterfield County introduced a new color-coded system to gauge reopening conditions; Four people were arrested for rioting in Richmond after vandalizing buildings Tuesday night; RRHA prepares to submit its annual plan to HUD; 2nd St. Festival goes virtual; and concerns over mail-in voting.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has proposed a ban on firearms at all public events in the city; Richmond's public safety task force held its first meeting; Stoney calls for the legalization of marijuana; The General Assembly prepares to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic at next week's special session; CDC personnel arrive in Farmville amid a coronavirus outbreak at the immigration detention center there; and over 25% of live events employees were unemployed in mid-June.

Housing organizations in Virginia will no have access to nearly $9 million in federal funding; Small businesses in Richmond damaged during protests will have access to cith grants for repairs; and other local news stories.

Richmond Police purchased over 1,000 units of chemical agents during recent protests according to a request for information by VPM; Virginia Senate Democrats unveiled their proposals for police reform ahead of a special session this month; Republicans call for the resignation of the entire Virginia Parole Board following an investigation into allegations of impropriety; and other local news stories.

The Henrico jail reports that all of the COVID-19 cases from the outbreak in July have recovered; COVID-19 cases in Richmond have stabilized; Virginia rolled out a new voluntary app for contact tracing; Republican Congressional candidate Nick Freitas comes under fire for a mask sold by his campaign; Teacher of the Year Rodney Robinson is set to head a new program to support male teachers of color; and other local news stories.

Regulators are set to vote today on a plan to manage menhaden populations in Chesapeake Bay; President Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act which will being new jobs to Virginia; New changes to absentee voting will allow voters to track their ballots; Schools and businesses continue to address the COVID-19 pandemic; and health districts look for solutions to the disproportionate spread of the coronavirus among the Latinx community.

A Richmond judge dismissed a lawsuit filed to prevent the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument, but one filed by residents of Monument Avenue remains; Richmond City Council votes to permanently remove the monuments already taken down in the city; Petersburg is offering grants to small businesses affected by the pandemic; Virginia Department of Health is rolling out a voluntary contact tracing app for COVID-19; the closure of the John Marshall Courthouse has been extended; Former Speaker of the House Kirk Cox is considering a run for Governor; and vandals deface Maggie Walker's grave in Evergreen Cemetery.

Despite closing down for criminal and traffic cases, evictions continue at Richmond's General District Court; Two people were charged with assaulting RPD officers at the Lee Monument, VCU's SGA criticizes President Michael Rao's response to recent protests; RPD Chief Gerald Smith sayd the department lacks training with non-lethal measures; Chesterfield extends the personal property tax grace period; Richmond will forgive small business relief loans; and part three of a series focused on nursing homes amid the pandemic.

The Virginia House of Delegates looked at police reform options during a committee meeting ahead of the August 18th special session; 7th District Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger introduced a bipartisan bill to study and improve telehealth; Virginia Senator Mark Warner says President Trump can't remove funding from schools that don't physcially reopen; and part two of an investigative series looking at how nursing homes have handled the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Northam reimposed Phase 2 restrictions for Hampton Roads as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the area; the John Marshall Courthouse is closing for at least a week in response to coronavirus concerns; the family of George Floyd debuted a memorial hologram display in Richmond; a new initiative seeks to memorialize African American history in Shockoe Bottom; Richmond City Council delayed a vote over use of non-lethal deterrents; Chesterfield is conducting an internal audit over potential bullying over school reopening plans; and a look at how Virginia nursing homes are faring amidst the pandemic.

An investigation into the amount and types of arrests happening in schools in Richmond, more than 20 people were arrested during weekend protests; new limits proposed for executive orders; and other local news stories.

After hearing testimony on Thursday, the injunction against removing the monument to Confederate General Robert E. Lee remains in place pending a ruling from Judge W. Reilly Marchant; a Richmond City Council committee approved an ordinance to create a task force that would establish a civilian review board for police conduct; Governor Ralph Northam ceremonially signed the Virginia Values Act to prevent discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community; a new state law adds hairstyles to guidelines against racial discrimination; Chesterfield Superintendent Merv Daugherty outlined plans for reopening Chesterfield schools; and the State Fair has been cancelled for the first time since World War II.

A hearing takes place this afternoon in the ongoing legal battle to remove the Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond; Senator Tim Kaine introduced a bill to rename military bases named after Confederate soldiers; the Virginia House of Delegates held its first meeting on criminal justice reform; Richmond announced a small uptick in COVID-19 cases; a remembrance of Oliver Hill, Jr., who passed away this month; and other local news stories.

Richmond has spent $1.8 million to remove Confederate monuments around the city; City Council is considering a name change for Jefferson Davis Highway; Charlottesville limits military gear for police, Virginia Democrats want to downgrade assaulting a police officer from a felony to a misdemeanor; and other local news stories.

Commonwealth's Attorney Collette McEachin has cleared RPD officers of wrongdoing in five complaints during recent protests after an investigation; a judge declined to block COVID-19 restrictions for weddings set by Governor Ralph Northam; Chesterfield votes to open 100% virtually this fall, as Henrico Public Schools prepare to vote later this week; and other local news stories.

Richmond City Council's finance committee approves two pieces of police reform legislation that now go to the full council for a vote, a Richmond man who was pepper sprayed inside his own home during protests is suing the city and the police, a group of Monument Avenue residents once again withdraws their lawsuit attempting to block the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument, and other local news stories.

The Richmond Police Department spent nearly $2 million during the 36 days of protests, Mayor Levar Stoney clarified comments he made in a leaked video about an officer who drove their vehicle into protesters, state lawmakers continue to focus on keeping residents in their homes amid a flood of evictions, Chesterfield County businesses find some relief using government Back In Business grants, Virginia adopts stronger worker safety protections, and other local news stories.

As COVID-19 cases being to rise in Eastern Virginia, Governor Ralph Northam announced that more inspections will take place to confirm businesses are enforcing indoor mask requirements, Commonwealth's Attorneys calling themselves "Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice" are urging for criminal justice reforms in the upcoming special session, a look at a program that sends military equipment to local law enforcement agencies, and other local news stories.

New Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith expressed support for a citizen's review board for the police department that would include subpoena power to compel witnesses, Henrico County launched a rental assistance program to prevent homelessness, Central Virginia counties worked together to create a "Know Your Rights" website to provide information on discrimination laws, Norfolk Delegate Jay Jones announces his run for Attorney General, and other local news stories.

Governor Ralph Northam is facing mounting pressure from advocates and lawmakers to do more to address the disproportionate impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on the state’s Latino residents, a new report shows the state's budget shortfall isn't as bad as feared, a judge issued an injunction against any further monument removals by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a look at the legacy of Dr. Oliver Hill, Jr, who passed away this week and other local news stories.

Virginia has completed testing of all rape kits in its backlog, and pledges to test all kits within 60 days going forward. The Soldiers and Sailors monument on Libby Hill was removed. Virginia's Republican lawmakers urge Governor Northam to fully reopen schools in the fall, and other local news stories.

The State Board of Elections granted a filing extension to eight candidates that missed the deadline, the statue of Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart was removed from Monument Avenue, Evictions resume in Virginia despite the moratorium under the Federal CARES Act, and other local news stories.

Dominion Energy and Duke Energy have decided to cancel the Atlantic Coast Pipeline after numerous setbacks. Virginia Colleges submit their plans for reopening in the fall. Firearms have been banned from city-owned buildings in Richmond under a new law that went into effect this month, and other local stories.

A federal investigation into Richmond police corruption took place in a department the new chief of staff oversaw. Mayor Levar Stoney continued removing Confederate monuments yesterday with a statue to naval captain Matthew Maury. A federal report says Virginia isn't providing enough oversight on special education and other local stories.

The monument to Stonewall Jackson was removed from Monument Avenue yesterday, reopening was scaled back for Virginia bars and restaurants, Terry McAuliffe may be running for Governor again and other local news stories.

New state laws passed in the General Assembly this year go into effect today, Virginia enters Phase 3 of reopening amid the pandemic, an ACLU request to stop police from using tear gas on protestors is denied, and other local stories.

Governor Northam seeks to provide rent relief amid the COVID-19 pandemic, UVA researchers may have a method to predict the severity of a COVID-19 infection, calls for removal of Northside's statue of A.P. Hill and other local news stories.

A look at the process for removing Confederate monuments in Richmond, Governor Ralph Northam extends the freeze on evictions in certain parts of the state, updates on how Virginia is address the COVID-19 pandemic and other local news stories.

Chesterfield County weighs its options on how to reopen schools in the fall, plus the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus releases a list of recommendations to address police reform, and other local news stories.