House of Delegates advances MARCUS alert bill
By Andrew Ringle Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — The House of Delegates approved a bill Thursday that would create teams of mental health service providers and peer recovery specialists…
The Virginia Senate killed a bill that opened up police officers to civil lawsuits
by Brandon Jarvis The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Wednesday afternoon to take up the bill from Delegate Jeff Bourne (D) that would eliminate the qualified immunity legal construct that…
The Virginia Senate passed a bill that would publicize parole board votes
By Brandon Jarvis The parole board in Virginia has been facing increased scrutiny in recent months as officials have pushed for the early release of eligible offenders during the COVID-19…
Virginia House of Delegates Passes Qualified Immunity Bill
By Brandon Jarvis The House of Delegates passed a Qualified Immunity bill on Tuesday after the bill was previously voted down. The bill’s sponsor Delegate Jeff Bourne (D) has stuck…
Some Colleges Add Free Vending Machines with Masks, Sanitizer
By Brandon Shillingford Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — Students returning to campus this fall will find vending machines stocked full of snacks, sodas, and now personal protective equipment too.…
Update: House of Delegates Committee Revives Qualified Immunity Bill
By Brandon Jarvis On Tuesday morning, Democrats on the Appropriations Committee in the House of Delegates revived a qualified immunity bill that was voted down the day before. The bill,…
A Virginia Senate Committee advanced a bill that would allow decreased punishment for violating executive orders
By Brandon Jarvis The Virginia Senate General Laws and Technology Committee failed to advance or kill legislation from Sen. Creigh Deeds (D) last week that would have given law enforcement…
Activists say bill ending police stops for pot odor is ‘small step’ for marginalized communities
By Andrew Ringle Capital News Service RICHMOND — The state Senate approved a bill Friday that would prohibit search and seizures based solely on the odor of marijuana. Activists say…
COVID-19 dashboards track increases at Virginia universities
By Noah Fleischman Capital News Service RICHMOND — As more universities open, they’re collecting and releasing COVID-19 data and grappling with contingency plans for those who contract the disease. The…
MARCUS alert bill progresses out of House committee
By Andrew Ringle Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. — A bill that could reshape how law enforcement responds when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis reported out of the…