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Calvary Baptist Church
310 North Main Street
Emporia, Virginia
Frances Lucy Grizzard, 83, passed away on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. She was the daughter of the late, Raymond and Ruth Lucy. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Raymond Lucy, Jr., Arthur Lucy, sister, Ellen Jean Lucy Gibson. She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years Robert Hope Grizzard, Jr., nephews, David Gibson, John Gibson, niece Janet Gibson.
Frances was a longtime member of Calvary Baptist Church for 53 years. She also loved to play golf and enjoyed teaching Sunday school to the youth at Calvary.
A funeral service will be held at Calvary Baptist Church on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 3:00 P.M. with Rev. Bob Pipkin officiating. Interment will be held at Greensville Memorial Cemetery. Contributions are to be made to Calvary Baptist Church.
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia localities will soon have a streamlined ability to offer incentives that aid the development of urban green spaces, like city parks or sport fields.
Del. Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, introduced House Bill 1510 to give localities regulatory flexibility. The General Assembly passed the bill with a House vote of 72-27 and a Senate vote of 32-8.
Urban green space is defined as a piece of land covered with grass, trees, shrubs or other vegetation and located around a populated area, according to the bill. The proposed area must help reduce higher temperatures sometimes associated with urban development or aid the mitigation of stormwater in order to qualify for incentives, and can be public or private projects.
The incentives would not be available in rural areas and areas of low population density.
The incentives may include a reduction in project permit fees or a streamlined permit approval process, according to the bill. The type of available permits would be up to localities, but could include permits such as building, Adams stated.
"The process for obtaining permits is both costly and lengthy; ideally, this legislation could help speed up that process for developments incorporating [urban green space]," Adams stated.
The incentives received will depend on how much green space is implemented on a building site.
The bill gives cities the flexibility to opt in, Adams told a House Finance subcommittee.
"The bill does not mandate localities do anything, but rather gives those that currently have resources a tool to incentivize or accelerate urban green space development and there is no fiscal impact for the state," Adams said.
Lee Francis, deputy director for the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, said he sees the bill as an opportunity to serve communities that don't have access to green spaces.
"It gives localities a tool to expand green spaces into underserved communities and kind of even the playing field a little bit," Francis said.
Jeremy Hoffman, chief scientist at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, believes that more green spaces in urban communities, such as Richmond, are beneficial to various aspects of the environment.
"They lower air temperatures, they soak up stormwater that falls on them as rain and they clean the air of harmful pollutants," Hoffman said.
Hoffman describes urban green spaces as "natural air conditioning for cities," while being the "environmental clean up crew."
Building more green spaces can reduce a phenomenon called urban heat island effect. It is when air temperatures rise in a city from man-made infrastructures, such as dark paved roads, compared to rural areas, according to Hoffman.
"Those [paved roads] absorb more of the sun's energy throughout the day and then re-emit it back into the air as heat throughout the afternoon and overnight, basically raising the temperatures in those landscapes," Hoffman said.
Scientists can quickly attain heat island results and use air thermometers or before and after thermal heat photos taken from the ground or by satellite, according to Hoffman.
"We trimmed up some trees, planted some new plants and were able to show between the morning and the afternoon the impact of improving that green space," Hoffman said while talking about Rosemoore Pocket Park in the Scott's Addition neighborhood in Richmond.
Green spaces can lower temperatures by 10 degrees to 20 degrees on hot days, according to Shelly Barrick Parsons, executive director for Capital Trees.
Capital Trees is a Richmond-based nonprofit organization that works to implement green spaces in the community through partnerships with the city, corporations and other nonprofits.
Barrick Parsons sees the potential in the bill and what it could do for urban cities.
"I think it has opportunity to increase the development of green space if municipalities take advantage of the opportunity," Barrick Parsons said.
The incentives can help accelerate a development timeline, but also have financial impacts.
"Permitting fees can be just a few thousand dollars, but that $2,000 can make a lot of difference to a nonprofit," Barrick Parsons said.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin approved the bill on March 23, and the measure will become effective on July 1.
RICHMOND, Va. – There are still some spots remaining in a new academic program that aims to support Virginia public school students after the impact of COVID-19 on education, although a majority have been filled.
The Virginia Department of Education and Graduation Alliance launched "ENGAGE Virginia'' last month.ENGAGE Virginia will help students with learning and attendance issues after the effects of the pandemic, according to a VDOE press release. It will "supplement efforts already underway in schools to meet the needs of students still struggling with academic, attendance and mental health issues," stated Jillian Balow in a press release. Balow was the state superintendent of Public Instruction but recently resigned.
The program is state-funded and free to the public, according to ENGAGE Virginia's website. Families who sign up will be assigned an academic success coach, according to its website. The coaches will help students in ways like to focus on their schoolwork, create resumes and refer students to local social-emotional support nonprofits.
The VDOE Office of School Quality is in charge of overseeing ENGAGE Virginia, according to Aurelia Ortiz, director of School Quality. This office "helps schools with school improvement," Ortiz said.
The General Assembly designated $3.5 million for academic assistance to the VDOE during the 2022 session, according to Ortiz. After the pandemic, the VDOE had many concerns around student displacement, Ortiz said.
"After the pandemic we knew that divisions had concerns, which we were aware of, with student engagement, with chronic absenteeism, students that had fallen off the roster, students that they could not locate," Ortiz said. "Students can't be successful if they aren't in school."
Forty-two school divisions reached out to ENGAGE Virginia to sign students up, while 30 school divisions officially partnered with ENGAGE Virginia, according to Ortiz. Over 11,000 program spots have been filled out of the allotted 15,000, Ortiz said.
These spots are "tentatively taken" by the school divisions, which means each division's needs vary depending on its size, Ortiz said. Parents can also reach out to their child's school to ask for academic help.
"As long as there are seats available — which as of right now you can see by the numbers there are seats available — then they [families] would be eligible for the program as well," Ortiz said.
ENGAGE Virginia offers a human resource in schools where those resources are lacking, whether that be through a social worker or school counselor, according to Ortiz.
"A social worker would make a referral for community services, the counselor would offer mental health support, a teacher would provide homework assistance," Ortiz said. "ENGAGE Virginia will do all of those things wrapped into one to meet the needs of the families."
The impact of the program should be multilayered, through mental and academic support and the link to community resources, she said.
COVID-19 created the largest disruption of education systems in history, according to a United Nations policy brief released in August 2020.
Parent Courtney Dean's family had a hard time adjusting to the pandemic, according to Dean.Dean's two children, 11th grader Carter and eighth grader Stella, are enrolled in Chesterfield County Public Schools, according to Dean.
The pandemic was "challenging" for Dean's children, she said. It was tough for them academically, but they also missed out on a lot of "lasts," Dean said. Her two children's fifth and eighth grade school years were cut short by the pandemic, and they missed out on end-of-year events.
"She [Stella] was doing fine as far as learning in the virtual world at first," Dean said. "But she had a really hard time focusing and paying attention to virtual because it's so much more interesting to look around your bedroom and, you know, mess with things ... many times I would find her asleep because she could."
Stella also had issues with her Spanish class once she transferred back to in-person classes, Dean said.
Stella advanced to the next level Spanish class, but is retaking it because she needed a better foundation, Dean said.
"She started that when she was virtual and then it went back to a hybrid thing where the teacher was trying to teach both the kids that were there in person, like my daughter, as well as the kids who were at home," Dean said. "For my daughter, it just didn't work ... to no fault of the teacher; it was brand new for everybody and she was doing her best."
Dean's son, Carter, dealt with more of an "emotional struggle," she said. He worked over 12 hours a day on homework, from 7 a.m. to midnight, once things went virtual, according to Dean.
"He got to the point where he was just so exhausted from it," Dean said.
Dean was not aware of the ENGAGE Virginia relief program, but said it seems like it will be "so helpful" for students who had a hard time adjusting to virtual or hybrid learning environments.
"You can't stop the flow of learning for everybody," Dean said, but some students might need more help outside of the class.
Parents can start the registration process through ENGAGE Virginia, here.
On Thursday, March 2, 2023, Senior Thomas Michael (Tommy) Landsnes signed his official letter of intent to continue his baseball career at Allegheny College in PA. Tommy is the son of Deborah Landsnes of Henrico, VA and David Landsnes of Spotsylvania, VA. Tommy transferred to Brunswick Academy his Junior year and received VCC 2nd Team All Conference and VCC All Tournament for Varsity baseball in 2022. He was also a member of the VCC 2022 Varsity Baseball Championship team.Tommy has played for numerous travel ball teams over his highschool career. Tommy plans to major in Exercise Science at Allegheny.
Brunswick Academy is very proud of Tommy and we can't wait to watch him continue his academic and baseball career at Allegheny College in PA.
Open to All High School Students in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District
Richmond, VA – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) announced the start of the Congressional Art Competition for high school students in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District.
Hosted by the Congressional Institute, the annual competition seeks to cultivate artistic talent by challenging participants to create their own original piece of art. The winning artist will have their work displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year and will be invited to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congresswoman McClellan and attend the annual award ceremony.
"I am excited to kick off my congressional district programs with the Congressional Art Competition," said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. "This competition is a fantastic opportunity for young artists to express themselves and showcase their artistic capabilities. I have every confidence that high school students in Virginia's Fourth will produce incredible work, and I look forward to seeing their submissions."
The competition is open to any high school student (grades 9-12) who lives in Virginia's Fourth Congressional District. Artwork must be original, two-dimensional, and created solely by the participating student. Congresswoman McClellan will convene a panel of local judges to help determine the 2023 winner.
The deadline to submit to the Office of Congresswoman McClellan is May 1st, 2023 by 4:30 PM. Read the full rules and eligibility requirements for the 2023 competition on the U.S. House website. For detailed submission guidelines and other information, please visit Congresswoman McClellan's website.
Legislation Needed to Narrow the Wage Gap for Women and Minorities
RICHMOND, VA – On Monday, March 13, Senator Jennifer Boysko and Delegate Michelle Maldonado participated in a White House Convening on Equal Pay held in advance of Equal Pay Day, March 14 - the day that women have to work through the new year to earn as much as men did in the prior year. What does that really mean? Women and minorities fall further behind financially each year due to the wage gap.
The legislation they carried in the 2023 legislative session would have added a new section to Virginia's Labor and Employment code, joining 19 other states that have passed bipartisan legislation prohibiting an employer from seeking salary history from a prospective employee. The Democratically-controlled Senate passed Senator Boysko's bill which was then killed, as was Delegate Maldonado's bill, in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates.
The Department of Labor's Women's Bureau shared a salary history issue brief explaining why eliminating salary history has been effective in narrowing the wage gap, "Research shows that salary history bans can narrow the gender wage gap, largely by increasing women's earnings. . . . Relying on previous salaries to set current pay can perpetuate the systemic undervaluing of women's work, especially for women of color who have faced historic discrimination and occupational segregation that has led to many inequities in the labor market, including lower wages."
The wage gap is present in every racial group, and is higher for minorities.1
Women in Virginia typically make 80 cents for every dollar paid to men.
Black women in Virginia typically make 60 cents for every dollar paid to white men.
Latina women in Virginia typically make 54 cents for every dollar paid to white men.
Citing data from the national partnership for women and families, Senator Boysko who has carried this legislation for the past seven years explains, "On average, women employed full time in the United States lose a combined total of nearly $930 billion every year due to the wage gap. These lost wages mean women and their families have less money to support themselves, save and invest for the future, and spend on goods and services. Women, their families, businesses and the economy suffer as a result."2
Delegate Maldonado shared the impact of passing legislation to narrow the wage gap. "Closing the gender wage gap would reduce poverty in families with a working woman by half. Mothers are breadwinners in 40 percent of families with children under 18 each year and about 70 percent will be the primary earner at some point in their first 18 years of motherhood."3
Data shows that banning the salary history requirement has helped to close the gender wage gaps.
Participants from the Biden-Harris Administration included:
Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council
Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
Latifa Lyles, Special Assistant to the President for Gender Policy
Wendy Chun-Hoon, Director of the Department of Labor Women's Bureau
Morgan Mohr, Senior Advisor, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs & GPC
Diana Boesch, Policy Advisor, Gender Policy Council
Amy Dalrymple, Policy Analyst, Department of Labor Women's Bureau
RICHMOND, VA- Citizens of the Commonwealth who would like to participate in a one-of-a-kind outdoors experience are encouraged to take part in the 7th Annual Old Dominion One Shot Turkey Hunt scheduled for April 21-22. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV) are coordinating this annual event, which provides the opportunity to hunt some of the most exclusive properties with experienced guides.
"The Old Dominion One Shot Turkey Hunt is a wonderful event providing a first-class experience for hunters, guides and landowners, while benefiting wildlife and outdoor recreational opportunities across the Commonwealth," said Ryan Brown, Executive Director of DWR.
This annual, organized event brings together people from all over the country, not just throughout Virginia. Collectively, the partnering organizations are working together to promote the hunting heritage through increased access and youth programming. Proceeds from the 2023 Old Dominion One Shot Turkey Hunt will be used to promote hunting and outdoor wildlife opportunities across the Commonwealth and to support the DWR/WFV Virginia Wildlife Grant Program. The Grant Program provides a funding source to non-profits, schools and government agencies with a focus on connecting youth to the outdoors. In 2023, 110 grant applications were received by the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program; it will be a top priority to promote hunting heritage in Virginia.Results of the 2023 grant season will be announced in early April.See more details here.
Young outdoor enthusiasts (aged 7-17) who are interested in participating are encouraged to enter an essay contest to be considered to hunt with an experienced mentor. There are five slots for those scholarships (more may be added with additional sponsorships). More than 25 youth submitted essays for the 6th Annual Old Dominion One Shot Turkey Hunt in 2022. The theme for this year's contest is "The Hunt: Describe your experience, how it made you feel and the impact on your future."Youth essay contest participants emerged as the winners of the 2018 and 2019 One Shot Hunts. Essay submission is open from March 15th - April 6th with the awards being announced April 12th. Information on how to submit an essay can be found at www.vaoneshot.com.
The event will kick off Friday, April 21 at Bass Pro Shops in Ashland, VA, with hunters and guides pairing up and planning their hunting strategy. Hunters and guides will hunt until noon on Saturday in spectacular locations throughout Virginia donated for the day by generous landowners, hoping to walk away with an award-winning gobbler. Festivities will conclude Saturday night with a celebration at Bass Pro Shops. The deadline for hunters to register is April 12.
"The One Shot is an opportunity for a broad cross section of Virginians to unite in their passion for hunting turkeys as well as for the outdoors itself. Those involved with the One Shot, whether they are participating as hunters, guides, landowners, or the supporting staff, come together in a unique manner to express their appreciation for Virginia's wildlife resources. In addition, the efforts of these conservationists are directly contributing to funding that will perpetuate the abundance of wildlife and the expansion of outdoor opportunities in the Commonwealth," said Jenny West, Executive Director of WFV.
For more information, event details, sponsorships, or how to attend the evening celebration at Bass Pro Shops, visit www.vaoneshot.com.
Senator Mark R. Warner will host his annual Academy Day on Saturday, April 29th, from 10 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA.
The event will include a seated program that will provide a comprehensive overview of the United States service academies and their admission processes. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions during the interactive service academy panel. Information will also be shared regarding application procedures for congressional nominations, medical requirements for the Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board (DoDMERB), and ROTC options that exist at higher education institutions in the Commonwealth.
Following the program, attendees will be able to meet with officials from all five academies as well as representatives from DoDMERB, Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Richmond, ROTC programs at Randolph-Macon College and the University of Virginia, the United States Marine Corps, the Virginia Military Institute, the Virginia Women's Institute for Leadership at Mary Baldwin University, and the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets at their resource tables. Staff from Virginia congressional offices will also be available to answer questions.
As the event concludes, Randolph-Macon College will be offering campus tours. To participate, please meet in the bricked courtyard area in front of the Center for the Performing Arts at 1pm.
RICHMOND – Even though it feels like spring sprung a couple of weeks ago, St. Patrick's Day is often looked at as the unofficial start of spring and a time to celebrate with friends at pubs, parties and festivals. Unfortunately, these celebrations have resulted in St. Patrick's Day becoming one of the year's most dangerous times to be on the road. During the week of St. Patrick's Day in 2022, five traffic fatalities and 72 individuals were injured in alcohol-related crashes on Virginia roadways.*
"With St. Patrick's Day falling on a Friday this year, there will be even more opportunities for Virginians to celebrate the beginning of the warmer seasons," said Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent. "Don't let your first celebration of the season be your last. St. Patrick's Day can be a fun time to have a pint with a pal but, remember, getting behind the wheel when intoxicated is no way to celebrate. Driving drunk is a choice - a choice with deadly consequences for you, your passengers and every other motorist sharing the road with you. Never drive drunk or under the influence of drugs."
Safety isn't about luck. If you're going to party, party with a plan:
Ensure you have a designated sober driver, a plan to use public transportation or a ride share service BEFORE any drinking begins.
Buzzed driving is drunk driving. Be honest with yourself and know that even if you only plan on having one drink, you should plan on having a designated driver.
Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly. Being under the influence can cause a lack of attention to surroundings and put pedestrians at risk of being hit by a vehicle.
If you see a drunk driver on the road, pull over safely and dial #77 on a cell phone or call 911.
If you know someone who has been drinking and is about to drive, take the keys and make arrangements to get them home safely.
If you are driving, keep an eye out for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users on the roadways.
To further prevent traffic deaths and injuries during St. Patrick's Day, as well as during the traditional Spring Break season, the Virginia State Police will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E., the Crash Awareness and Reduction Effort. The state-sponsored, national program incorporates a nine-day statistical counting period that begins at 12:01 a.m., March 11, 2023, and concludes at midnight on March 19, 2023.
All Virginians are reminded to keep safety first anytime you are behind the wheel. Always buckle up, avoid distractions, put your phone down, share the road and drive drug and alcohol free.
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia firefighters will be required to complete a training program starting next year, about the risk of electric vehicle fires.
Del. Israel O'Quinn, R-Washington, proposed House Bill 2451 to require the executive director of the Virginia Department of Fire Programs to develop a training program for electric vehicle fires. The program must be developed and available by July, 1 2024, according to the bill. All firefighters, including volunteer firefighters, must complete the training by Dec. 1, 2025.
The bill unanimously passed committees and both chambers. Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, asked for one clarification in the Senate General Laws and Technology committee, about whether the program would be offered both in-person and virtual.
"I heard from some of my fire folks, and they were concerned that this is more time away," Reeves said.
A lot of the annual firefighter training is done online, according to Reeves.
Spencer Willett, government affairs manager for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, assured the Senate committee the training would be offered in multiple modalities.
"The agency's plan would be to offer an online version for departments and then also offer an in-person version for those that would be willing to want to take that training," Willett said.
The number of electric vehicles on Virginia's roadways is set to increase with the soon-to-be implemented Clean Car law. The law states 35% of all new cars and trucks sold in Virginia with a 2026 model year must be electric. Then 100% of new models on the market must be electric by 2035, according to the law, which is based on California's final regulation order.
Del. Mike Cherry, R-Colonial Heights, a co-patron of the bill, said it is important to implement mandated training statewide, even for areas like Southwest Virginia where electric vehicles aren't prominent.
"Anytime a fire department deals with something new and unique, they will then figure out a protocol to deal with it again in the future," Cherry said.
There is currently no mandated electric vehicle training for Virginia firefighters, according to William Boger, District 5 vice president and communications director for the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters.
However, departments can currently seek out training from car manufacturers like Tesla or Toyota, he said.
The future training program will greatly help firefighters better understand electric vehicle fires and the best ways to extinguish them, according to Boger.
Firefighters use approximately 50 gallons to 100 gallons of water to extinguish a regular internal combustion engine, or gasoline, vehicle fire while electric vehicles require about 10,000 gallons of water, according to Boger.
"They are very stubborn and very difficult to extinguish," he said.
Most electric vehicles carry large lithium-ion battery packs underneath the vehicle, where they are not very accessible. These batteries can overheat, which leads to a reaction called thermal runaway and requires thousands of gallons of water, according to Boger.
Firefighters also need to be aware that the battery is not necessarily finished burning just because the fire is finally put out, according to Boger.
"The problem with these cars is you have to put the fire out, then you have to continuously cool the battery," Boger said.
Some electric vehicle batteries will reignite on the way to a junkyard if the battery is not properly cooled down and observed after the fire is put out, according to Boger.
Some batteries can even catch fire two to three days later, according to Doug Reynolds, battalion chief of the Henrico County Division of Fire.
"You may have to have several tankers bringing you water, so it's not the easy, you know, fire that it used to be," Reynolds said.
Dry chemicals and fire blankets have been used, but are not considered as effective as water, according to Boger.
Andrew Klock, senior manager of education and development with the National Fire Protection Association, said the best recommendation is still water.
"It's the most effective to date and if it's placed in the proper location, it can put out the fire and drain the heat from the battery pack," Klock said.
Electric vehicle fires are not more threatening than gasoline vehicle fires, which occur every three minutes, Klock said.
"But I do think that the risk and the inherent problem is that firefighters have had a 100 years to figure out and perfect how to put out an internal combustion engine vehicle [fire]," Klock said. "But it's not so with this new technology or newer technology of hybrid and electric vehicles."
Reynolds' department looks forward to seeing the curriculum and learning everything they can about this unique type of vehicle fire, he said.
"It affects every firefighter, you know from paid to volunteer, big departments, small departments, you know, the car fires are out there every day," Reynolds said. "So it's just better to protect us to learn how to fight those fires because it's important."
The Virginia Department of Fire Programs will develop the training program, utilizing fire experts and industry representatives, according to Will Merritt, VDFP marketing and communications manager.
A workgroup will create the curriculum in concert with VDFP staff, Merritt stated via email. The curriculum is then "piloted, finalized and posted for registration in VDFP's learning management system, Cornerstone OnDemand," he stated.
"As electric vehicles become more popular, it is important that Virginia's fire service be adequately trained to fight electric-vehicle fires," Merritt stated.
McClellan Will Use Positions to Deliver Results for Virginia
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) announced she was named to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee for the 118th Congress.
The House Armed Services Committee has jurisdiction over the United States' defense policy, ongoing military operations, the organization and reform of the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, counter-drug programs, acquisition and industrial base policy, technology transfer and export controls, nonproliferation programs, and more.
"I am thrilled to be named to the House Armed Services Committee," said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. "This is a critical committee assignment given the Commonwealth's large active-duty and veteran populations and the prevalence of strategic military installations in Virginia's Fourth and across the Commonwealth. I look forward to advocating for our servicemembers and their families, maintaining America's national security, and ensuring our Commonwealth has the funding it needs to continue its role in supporting our national defense strategy."
"I am proud to welcome Representative Jennifer McClellan to the House Armed Services Committee. Virginia plays a critical role in our country's National Defense Strategy thanks to the high number of active duty servicemembers and military installations, as well as numerous military veterans that call the state home. McClellan's insight as an experienced legislator who served 18 sessions in the Virginia General Assembly and as the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress will provide a valuable addition to the Armed Services Committee," said Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee.
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee has jurisdiction over all energy research and development, all federally owned or operated non-military energy laboratories, astronautical research and development, civil aviation research and development, environmental research and development, marine research, commercial application of energy technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Weather Service (NWS), and more.
"The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee plays an integral role in driving research and innovation to maintain America's competitiveness on the international stage," said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. "I am excited to get to work on this committee to help expand opportunities in STEM for our next generation, including supporting university-research partnerships, increasing diversity, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration."
"I'm excited to welcome Congresswoman McClellan to the Science Committee. As the first Black woman to represent Virginia, Representative McClellan is a history-making new Member of Congress. The Science Committee is the Committee of the future. I know Representative McClellan is dedicated to building a brighter future for all and I look forward to working with her to find solutions to our most pressing challenges with science at the forefront," said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).
Hundreds of Small Firms in Economically Disadvantaged Areas May Now Qualify for HUBZone Certification
WASHINGTON- Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the launch of a new Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) preview map, which shows that hundreds of firms in newly released designated underserved areas will become eligible to apply for HUBZone certification, enabling them to compete for billions of dollars in federal contracts set aside for HUBZone-certified firms, to create jobs, and to improve the economy in their communities.
"By channeling a record $14 billion in federal purchases to HUBZone-certified small firms last year, the Biden-Harris Administration gave a critical financial boost to hundreds of entrepreneurs in economically disadvantaged rural and urban areas,” said Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “The HUBZone Program is an essential component of President Biden’s commitment to expanding federal contracting opportunities for small businesses across the country.”
The HUBZone preview map shows changes that are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2023, reflecting updates from the 2020 U.S. Census. HUBZones are designated based on economic and population data from the Census Bureau and other federal agencies, using a formula established by Congress. The map update highlights growth opportunities for small businesses in more than 20,000 HUBZone areas across the United States and Territories, including 3,732 newly qualified communities.
“For small businesses in new HUBZone areas, SBA’s certification provides a gateway to billions of dollars in federal contracting opportunities, contributing to the economic growth and strengthening of underserved communities while also ensuring that employment opportunities benefit the people living in communities that most need positive economic impact,” said Lori Gillen, Director of the Office of the HUBZone Program.
At the same time, according to the new map, many currently HUBZone-designated areas will no longer qualify for participation in the program because they have outgrown their disadvantaged status thanks to increased employment, increased average incomes, or other signs of positive economic development. To provide a sufficient off-ramp for communities losing this designation, the expiration of their HUBZone status is being extended until
July 1, 2026, providing firms and communities additional time to transition.
In addition, HUBZone-certified firms with principal offices in areas that have been in “Redesignated” status since 2018, and whose communities have had time to transition out of the program will officially lose their HUBZone eligibility after July 1, 2023, unless they relocate their principal offices to qualifying areas.
Before the upcoming changes, HUBZone-certified firms should verify that they will meet the 35 percent HUBZone employee residency and principal office requirements on their annual recertification anniversary date following July 1, 2023. Firms eligible at the time of offer for a HUBZone contract are generally considered to be HUBZone firms through the life of that contract, meaning current HUBZone contracts will not be disrupted by the map update.
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia General Assembly did not pass legislation this session to ensure paid sick days for employees, despite strong public support.
A 2021 study by Christopher Newport University found almost 90% of people surveyed support paid sick leave. Both House and Senate versions of the bill updated the current law that state employers only have to provide paid sick leave to certain home health workers.
Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, introduced Senate Bill 886, with chief co-patron Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath. Del. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William, introduced the similar House Bill 2087.
The bills also would have removed current regulations that require grocery store employees and health care providers to work at least 20 hours each week or 90 hours per month to be eligible for paid sick days. The Department of Labor and Industry would also have developed guidelines for grocery store employers to provide sick leave by Dec. 1.
The employees can accrue a minimum of one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, according to the bills. The earned paid sick leave can be carried over to the following year, but an employee cannot accrue or use more than 40 hours of paid sick leave in a year, unless the employer chooses a higher limit.
The Senate bill passed on a 22-18 party-line vote. Once the bill went to the House, it was killed in the Commerce and Energy subcommittee. The House bill failed to advance from the same committee.
Del. Elizabeth Guzman, D-Prince William, served as co-patron of Mundon King's bill. Guzman also sponsored HB 1988, to allow all employees of private employers and state and local governments to accrue paid sick leave. The bill allowed an employee to transfer accrued sick leave to the following year. An employee could also donate accrued sick leave to another employee, with certain restrictions, according to the bill. The bill died in the same House committee as the others.
Guzman has advocated for paid sick leave since 2018. The General Assembly passed an amended version of Guzman's legislation in 2021 that mandated paid sick leave for some in-home health care workers. The legislative attempts this session expanded on that work.
"The reason why we couldn't, you know, leave COVID behind us is because people need to pay their bills and they continue to go back to work being sick," Guzman said.
The bill failed to pass the House because it lacked Republican support, Guzman said.
Virginia law does not require employers to provide paid sick leave to all employees. The employer can determine how much sick leave an employee receives, according to Guzman.
The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy advocated for Guzman's bill in 2021. The bill provided five paid sick days per year for 30,000 home health care workers in Virginia, according to the VICPP website.
VICPP conducted a study in 2015 that reported 1.2 million workers in Virginia have no paid sick leave, according to Jase Hatcher, VICPP economic justice program manager. This totals to 41% of private sector workers in Virginia, according to Hatcher. Taking just 3.5 unpaid sick days can result in an average family losing a month's worth of groceries, Hatcher said.
"That means that workers are choosing between taking care of themselves and their family member, or paying their bills," Hatcher said. "That is not how we should do that."
The VICPP study stated that 83% of registered Virginia voters supported a paid sick day standard, according to the VICPP website. Home health care providers need paid sick leave to tend to their health and also to help prevent further outbreaks of illness, VICPP stated.A 2020 study by Health Affairs found that paid sick leave reduced the spread of the coronavirus.
The VICPP believed the bill failed due to the "issues around its impact" on small businesses, Hatcher said. The Senate version of the bill added that a grocery store worker did not include any employee of a business that employs fewer than 25 employees.
"What it comes down to is there are a lot of folks who just don't believe that there should be mandates or any mandates on paper, but as the data shows, without that mandate, 1.2 million workers go without," Hatcher said.
The VICPP will continue to advocate for a paid sick leave bill during the next session, because it is one of the most important issues for workers, according to Hatcher.
"The U.S. is one of the very, very few countries in the world which does not have a national paid sick leave policy," Hatcher said. "So making sure that we're filling the gaps at the local and state level is really essential before we can get that nationally."
RICHMOND — Virginia’s annual Statewide Tornado Drill will occur on Tues., March 7 at 9:45 a.m. If widespread severe weather threatens the Commonwealth on that date, the drill will be rescheduled for Thursday, March 9, at 9:45 a.m. The Statewide Tornado Drill is an opportunity to prepare Virginians for tornado threats and to test public warning systems. The drill will start at approximately 9:45 a.m. with a test tornado warning sent in the form of a Required Monthly Test by the National Weather Service to National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radios and local broadcasters. Since this year's drill will utilize the Required Monthly Test, most NOAA weather radios will NOT automatically sound an alert tone. For those participating in the drill, including schools and businesses, it is suggested to turn on your NOAA Weather Radio by 9:40 am, listening to the voice broadcast. Those with their NOAA Weather Radio on and listening to the broadcast will hear the audible test alert broadcast at 9:45 am. Local radio stations, TV stations and cable outlets will also broadcast the test message via the Emergency Alert System (EAS). Information and resources are available at: https://www.weather.gov/akq/SevereWeatherAwareness.
“Severe Weather Awareness Week is an important time for us to share with the residents of the commonwealth that Virginia experiences all types of weather events throughout the year including lightning, flooding and tornadoes,” said Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) State Coordinator Shawn Talmadge. “The Statewide Tornado Drill provides an opportunity to practice your preparedness skills to keep you safe in the event of a real tornado.”
“Tornadoes can occur any month of the year. In 2019, 19 confirmed tornadoes touched down throughout the Commonwealth impacting 21 different jurisdictions,” said Jeff Orrock of the National Weather Service in Wakefield. "Looking back over the past 2 decades, tornadoes occurred in every year, though there were active and quiet tornado years. 2011, 2016 and 2018 were the deadliest years for tornadoes while 2004 was by far the most active year with over 80 tornadoes reported that year. 2007 was the quietest with only 2 tornadoes recorded". Tornadoes have occurred in every month of the year, but are most active from April through September.
Have a plan, know your location and surroundings and have a way to receive Watches and Warnings from the National Weather Service. Check to see if your smartphone is set to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts. When a tornado watch is issued for your area, review your plan and know where to seek safe shelter when a tornado warning is issued.”
The tornado drill is just one event in Virginia Severe Weather Awareness Week activities that will be occurring from March 6th – 10th. Virginia Severe Weather Awareness week will focus on a different severe weather topic each weekday. Each day during the week will address a different topic, including Tornadoes, Severe Thunderstorms, Flash Flooding and Lightning. For more information on the Severe Weather Awareness Week, please see the VA Severe Weather Awareness page or contact your local National Weather Service office.
RICHMOND, VA — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is happy to announce that the popular Richmond Falcon Cam is now live for the 2023 season and available for viewing at dwr.virginia.gov/falcon-cam/. The Falcon Cam is a live streaming camera which follows the activities of a peregrine falcon pair that nests in downtown Richmond, Virginia, atop the 21st floor of the Riverfront Plaza building.
Biologists monitoring the stream have observed the previous year's pair on a regular basis throughout the past month. "Falcon fans will be happy to hear that our familiar female (95/AK) and male (59/BM) have once again shown an interest in utilizing the Riverfront building as a nest site," said Meagan Thomas, Watchable Wildlife Biologist for DWR. "This pair has done an absolutely phenomenal job raising their chicks in the past two years, so I'm thrilled to see both birds on camera again."
As long as no new birds show up and displace one of the current pair, the first egg will likely be laid around late-March. Until then, viewers can expect to see the falcons maintaining their nest, otherwise known as a "scrape," and continue to engage in courtship behaviors, such as sharing prey items and repeatedly bowing to one another.
Comcast Business provides the Internet connection that allows thousands of wildlife lovers to follow the falcons via the live video feed of the nest. This is the seventh year that DWR has partnered with Comcast Business to facilitate the livestream.
"We are excited to continue our longstanding partnership with DWR on an initiative that has delighted so many wildlife fans in Richmond and beyond over the years," said Dan Carr, Vice President of Comcast Business for Comcast's Beltway Region. "We look forward to continuing to provide fast, reliable and secure internet service so viewers can track these amazing falcons in real-time."
Peregrine falcons are listed as state-threatened in Virginia with roughly thirty pairs, including the Richmond birds, nesting across the Commonwealth each spring. The camera gives viewers around the globe the opportunity to tune in and follow along with the pair as they nest and raise their offspring. And, like any TV nature show, past years have documented quite a bit of drama — including territorial disputes over the highly sought-after nesting site, chicks taking their first nail-biting flights off the building's ledge or even the failure of the nest altogether. It is impossible to predict exactly what 2023 has in store for the birds but regardless, there is no doubt that falcon fans across the country will be tuning in every step of the way and rooting for their success.
Assuming the birds go on to nest in the box atop the Riverfront tower, the Richmond Falcon Cam will remain active through egg laying, incubation, hatching, and development — ultimately following the growth of the chicks until they fledge (take their first flight) in the summer.
Rachel Hudson, a resident of Blackstone, is the recipient of the K. George Verghese Memorial Academic Merit Award, recognizing her academic achievements in the Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) program at Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC).
Dr. Verghese was a long time faculty member at SVCC and was instrumental in the establishment of the ADN and Practical Nursing (PN) programs at the college.
Rachel is pictured with Leigh Moore, Associate Professor of Nursing.
