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RICHMOND, VA - As temperatures fall and food sources become less abundant, many bears in Virginia will enter a winter den. Denning allows a bear to conserve energy when food resources are limited. Movements and denning behavior vary greatly across regions of the state depending on weather and available foods. With the lack of white oak acorns this fall, many bears likely went to a den earlier this winter as compared to the winter of 2023.
Black bears in Virginia will den in a variety of places including brush piles, trees (cavities within tree), rock outcroppings, ground nests, debris piles, and occasionally under porches or unsecured crawl spaces. Not all black bears den for the full winter season. Often, black bears that enter a winter den are females who will birth their cubs in the den or females with yearlings. Male black bears may den, but generally do not stay in a den for the entire winter due to the lack of extreme cold weather and snow across much of Virginia.
While many of us also slow down for the winter, there are still ample opportunities that take us afield in bear country. Whether enjoying a hike, cutting firewood, clearing brush, small game hunting, or doing other activities, you may inadvertently stumble upon a black bear den. A female black bear, particularly one who has cubs, will likely remain at the den unless they feel pressured to leave. Here are a few tips to avoid disturbing a bear den and what to do should a female leave her den.
TIPS TO AVOID A DEN
Avoid hiking in dense brushy thickets or young cutover timber stands. If you must work in these areas, be mindful of brush piles, gullies with debris piles, or storm damage areas with thickets of limbs/root balls.
Always maintain your dog on a leash to avoid a dog-bear encounter at a den site.
When burning a brush or debris pile on your property, look around the entire pile for signs of digging (fresh dirt, holes) or entry routes into the pile.
If you notice large, excavated holes or fresh trails into debris or brush piles listen closely for the sound of cubs from a distance of at least 30ft away. They often emit a high-pitched cry or "squall".
To prevent a bear from denning under an occupied dwelling, ensure that crawl spaces, mobile home underpinnings, and porches are closed and secured prior to December 1st each year.
TIPS IF YOU FIND A DEN
If you find a den on your property or while recreating, do not disturb it or approach the area. Leave the area, and if on public property, alert an employee of the location.
If you inadvertently flush a female bear from a den, DO NOT approach the den. Take a GPS point of the location (or mark a nearby area with flagging) and leave the area immediately. If you have a dog with you, leash it and keep it maintained on a leash as you leave the area. Contact the Wildlife Helpline (1-855-571-9003) to report the den location.
Most often when left alone the female will return to the den, although they may not return until night. Do not go back to the den area as additional disturbance may cause the bear to leave again and not return.
Delegate's third effort to stabilize state's rent problem continued to next year
By Thailon Wilson, Capital News Service
RICHMOND, Va. -- State lawmakers did not advance legislation this session that aimed to slow rising rent prices, although affordable housing remains a big concern for constituents.
Two proposed bills would have allowed localities to adopt anti-rent gouging provisions, prevent landlords from increasing rent without at least two-month notice, and set an annual allowance between 7-15% for rent increases.
Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, introduced Senate Bill 366, which is dead after it was defeated in committee.
Del. Nadarius Clark, D-Suffolk, introduced House Bill 721, which was continued to 2025. Committee members raised concerns over potential problems and wanted to see some research, possibly from the Virginia Housing Commission. One member suggested a possible pilot program.
This was the third year that Clark attempted to pass some type of rent stabilization bill. The others were tabled or passed by indefinitely. The fact that the bill was not struck down shows growing support, Clark said.
"It does show that the General Assembly is ready to have conversations," Clark said. "I'm happy that the chair of that committee and the members of that committee is willing to work with me throughout this year to bring stakeholders together, to bring work groups together."
Clark represents constituents in the Hampton Roads area where 53.5% of residents spend 30% or more of their income on rent, according to a Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies report. In the Richmond and Charlottesville areas, 52% of renters spend 30% of their income on rent.
That is on par with, and in some cases greater, than major metropolitan areas around the country, according to the report.
"This year, we're focused on rent gouging because we see throughout our commonwealth that rent has been going up in certain places 20, 30, 40, 50% and even higher in some places," Clark said. "We see that these are predatory tactics that some developers and landowners and leasing people are using."
Clark's bill advanced from the Counties, Cities and Towns committee on a bipartisan vote. It was then referred to the Courts of Justice Civil subcommittee.
There was testimony in support of and against the bill, which boiled down to renters versus property owners and managers. Virginia constituents have shared stories of how their rent jumped 33% and even higher in certain cases, according to Gustavo Espinosa with the Legal Aid Justice Center.
Espinosa translated for several speakers who offered testimony. One South Richmond renter asked lawmakers for help and to limit rent increases because "our salaries aren't going up so much."
"The rent increase has been too much," said María Lopez, another renter. "We have families and our salary is not enough to pay for everything."
The rent-gouging protections need to pass and Lopez said it is unjust that landlords can raise rent so much.
People in opposition to the bill testified that it was well intentioned, but would ultimately be ineffective. The state already has a housing supply issue and the bill would exacerbate it, speakers said.
Marla Posey, a member of the Virginia Apartment Management Association, has worked in states with rent control and said the bill could decrease housing supply and quality. She thinks the legislation would harm people instead of help them.
"Here in Virginia, we need policy to support adding new housing opportunities ... to be able to house more Virignians, not enacting policy that will halt housing development," Posey said.
Rent-control also stymies other business development in locations, such as grocery stores, she said.
The bill is not a rent-control measure, Clark said. Allowed rent increases would be evaluated annually. A locality could create a board to also hear arguments for higher increases.
New properties would be exempt from this ordinance for the first 15 years of ownership, Clark said. The original proposal set the exemption at 10 years, but was amended.
If the current system was working, the state would not be short 200,000 affordable units and Richmond rents would not top New York City, Clark said.
"We clearly have a problem and the formula that we're using now doesn't work," Clark said. "This will give localities the power and the option ... to enact this ordinance ... to help people improve their lives."
"Real estate" or "construction" groups held the No. 3 spot for campaign donations, when ranked by industry, according to a Virginia Public Access Project analysis. Donations from organizations that fall under that industry totaled $31.6 million from 2022-2023.
Affordable housing was among the top three issues Democratic voters want to see the governor and lawmakers tackle, according to a recent survey from The Wason Center.
There are a number of other housing reform bills in the General Assembly, several with a focus on tenant rights.
Updates Focus on Providing Access to Capital and Entrepreneurial Support Services, Creating Economic Opportunities, and Advancing our National Economy
WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden's Cabinet for America's more than 33 million small businesses and startups, announced the SBA's updated 2023 Equity Action Plan outlining actionable steps the agency will take to advance the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to investing in equity, including expanding access to capital and revenue growth opportunities; tailoring business counseling, training, and other services; and increasing access to disaster assistance for underserved communities.
"Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the face of entrepreneurship is changing as Americans from traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities start businesses at record rates," said Administrator Guzman. "The SBA's updated Equity Action Plan recognizes the tremendous value that diverse entrepreneurs bring to our economy in terms of job creation, innovation, and domestic and international competition. As America continues to enjoy an unprecedented Small Business Boom, the SBA remains determined in its efforts to boost entrepreneurship among people of color, women, veterans, and those from rural communities, and this updated Equity Action Plan is a testament to that commitment."
This Equity Action Plan aligns with the Executive Order that President Biden signed on his first day in office, requiring every federal agency to conduct comprehensive assessments of their programs, policies, and practices to ensure that they equitably serve all communities and individuals – especially those historically underserved.
The SBA identifies underserved communities as those populations and geographic communities systematically denied the opportunity to participate fully in aspects of economic, social, and civic life. Some SBA programs utilize a specific definition for underserved communities and/or disadvantaged small businesses as outlined in program statutes and regulations.
Improve Access to Loan Capital by enrolling new lenders with a capacity to reach underserved markets, using SBA's simplified lending rules to increase existing lenders' participation, and proposing a new policy that encourages more lending to justice-involved entrepreneurs.
Improve Access to Federal Government Procurement and Contracting Opportunities by leveraging resources to support Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDBs) and working with federal agencies to advocate for and identify more contracting opportunities for SDBs.
Improve Access to Disaster Assistance by modernizing technology, streamlining the application process, and increasing support for underserved disaster survivors navigating the application process.
Improve Access to Business Counseling, Training, and Services by tailoring outreach, training, and educational resources to the specific needs of underserved communities.
Improve Access to Investment Capital by implementing new rules for the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program that increase diversity among participating fund managers, which can lead to more investment capital deployed to underserved entrepreneurs.
The SBA's regular engagement with the small business community and its stakeholders helped inform the Equity Action Plan. Through its nationwide network of field and program offices, the SBA communicates directly with entrepreneurs via activities such as training events, small business coaching sessions, office hour calls, and the regulation and policy notification process. SBA also gains insights from Resource Partners, small business trade associations, chambers of commerce, and other entities similarly focused on aiding small business growth.
In addition to this plan, the SBA also highlighted the updates and accomplishments of the first Equity Action Plan, which included:
Creating a new type of Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) called Community Advantage Small Business Lending Companies (CA SBLCs), which provided for the conversion of Community Advantage Pilot lenders to fully licensed CA SBLCs with permanent 7(a) lending authority.
From FY22 to FY23, Community Advantage lending to underserved borrowers increased by 11% by total loan count and 23% by total loan dollars.
Opening a new window for new applications for SBLC licenses until July 31, 2023. The new SBLCs will help target critical market gaps in SBA lending to underserved small businesses.
Creating the SBIC Growth and Diversification Rule, which encouraged expanded participation by a more diverse range of fund managers across the nation by establishing a new fund-of-funds license, aligning terms to fit with patient and growth strategies, enabling smaller-sized funds to receive support, and simplifying and streamlining licensing rules.
In FY22, SBA's efforts led to SBIC financing to women-owned, minority-owned, and veteran-owned small businesses increasing by 29%.
Dollars earned by SDBs increased from $62.4 billion in FY21 to a record $69.9 billion in FY22.
The number of federal government procurement and contracting opportunities reserved for small businesses increased from $89.5 billion in FY21 to $99.5 billion in FY22.
Launching the 8(a) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) Pool, in partnership with the General Services Administration (GSA), to increase 8(a) Program participants' opportunities within the GSA's MAS Program.
Rolling out new electronic tools to identify qualified businesses and measure the health of the industrial base with the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP), including the Small Business Data HUB and GSA's Resources and Tools to Advance Equity in Procurement.
Enrolling more SDBs into SBA's business development and contracting programs.
The number of SDBs that received a government contract increased to 23,260 in FY22.
Completing the Disaster Loan Program Modifications Rule to increase the maximum allowable disaster loan amount to ensure the amount of disaster assistance is sufficient to help disaster victims complete a full recovery.
Leveraging the new "Whole-of-SBA Approach" to foster an extensive network of partnerships to conduct deliberate customer service campaigns earlier in the disaster response cycle and optimize recovery resource delivery.
Creating the SBA's new Portable Loan Outreach Center (PLOC) initiative to provide support to underserved disaster survivors who might not otherwise have access to SBA assistance.
In FY23, several rural areas were served by PLOCs. For example, in Mississippi, 352 business contacts had 72 successful loan applications; in Florida, 248 contacts led to 132 accepted applications.
Allocating nearly $45 million (32%) of funding to Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) is now associated with investments at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
Selecting five new Women Business Centers (WBCs) in 2022 to be operated at established MSIs, while 60% of WBCs are located in rural communities.
Hosting outreach events with various federal agencies, including the new Path to Prosperity series, that served over 3,300 attendees from mostly rural areas.
Signing Strategic Alliance Memorandums (SAM) with the American Jewish Committee to combat antisemitism. SAMs were also signed with the National Pan Hellenic Council to promote SBA programs and services to Black entrepreneurs and with Operation HOPE to provide financial literacy and resources for their efforts to create one million Black businesses.
RICHMOND, Va. -- State lawmakers have advanced bills that would allow public sector employees to use medical cannabis without losing their job.
House Bill 149, introduced by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, extends to state public employees rights that already exist in the private sector. The bill passed with bipartisan support on a 78-20 vote.
Helmer sponsored HB 1862 three years ago, to protect patients approved for medical cannabis use. That bill "unintentionally did not protect public sector employees," Helmer said.
"The key was we left our brave first responders out of this," Helmer said. "That was never our intent and so this bill is meant to fix that."
A cannabis product is anything from CBD up to 10 milligrams of THC per dose, the current state cap, as long as the product is produced, sold and tested through the medical cannabis program.
Public sector employees such as firefighters, police officers and teachers are among the groups that would be protected under Helmer's bill if they are approved to use cannabis products to treat conditions or diseases.
Senate Bill 391, introduced by Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax, also offers protection to public sector employees, with the exception of law enforcement officers. The bill passed the Senate with a 30-10 vote.
Peksarsky's bill uses language that extends protection for use of cannabis oil.
Helmer's bill was amended from "cannabis oil" to "cannabis products," which he said is meant to "refer to a slew of medically recommended products that have cannabis as the basis."
Any increase in inquiries or modifications to existing policies would be absorbed within existing resources by the Department of Labor and Industry or Department of Human Resource Management, respectively, according to the bill's impact statement.
Joe Mirabile, a representative of Virginia's Professional Firefighters, testified in support of Helmer's bill during its committee hearing.
"My members have reported that they're relying on alcohol far less, they're sleeping more at home and they're seeing other positive effects, such as reduction of joint and muscle pain without having to use opioid prescriptions," Mirabile said.
The only legal way that a person can purchase cannabis in the state is through the medical cannabis program. Approved state practitioners can issue a certification after an initial consultation.
Dawn Adams, a nurse practitioner and former state delegate who represented the Richmond area, operates a medical cannabis practitioner clinic. Cannabis products are often used to help with PTSD, anxiety and sleep problems that are associated with the employee's role, according to Adams.
Over-the-counter and prescription drugs, along with alcohol, can sometimes have lingering effects compared to an appropriate dose of short-acting cannabis medication, Adams said. But that has been the only option for many workers.
"Many of these people have had to jump through a thousand hoops to even be considered to use medical cannabis," Adams said. "When in fact, it would be a pretty decent alternative to many of the health determinants that are associated with their life."
Employers would still be able to prohibit use of cannabis on the job and take action against any employee whose work is impaired because of cannabis use. The proposed bill does not make any changes to the current law in regards to federal workers.
There is no widely available rapid test to nail down the window of cannabis use to determine if an employee was impaired at work. Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University are working on a THC breathalyzer to help law enforcement detect cannabis impairment, and distinguish between THC and CBD use.
Chelsea Higgs Wise is the executive director of the advocacy group Marijuana Justice, which is focused on helping the state create an equitable recreational cannabis marketplace.
"State employees should be allowed to access cannabis in their off-work time," Higgs Wise said.
The group supports Helmer's bill.
"We understand the nuances that public employees are navigating and are excited to offer our support for this extension of wellness to our employees of the Commonwealth," Higgs Wise stated in the organization's letter of support to Helmer.
There are approximately 1,000 approved medical cannabis practitioners in Virginia. A total of 98,396 patients used their written certification in 2023 to receive medical cannabis through the state program, according to the managing agency Cannabis Control Authority.
Both bills now advance to the other chamber.
Capital News Service is a program of Virginia Commonwealth University's Robertson School of Media and Culture. Students in the program provide state government coverage for a variety of media outlets in Virginia.
