Governor Approves Conditional Budget for Medicaid Expansion
Vote-swapping operation traded transportation votes for Medicaid money.
Half a million uninsured Virginians may be eligible for Medicaid under an agreement now being worked out in Richmond — a deal in which Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell agreed to include Medicaid expansion as part of the budget if Senate Democrats supported a transportation package.
Arlington County to Reconsider Financial Commitment to Artisphere
A new sphere of influence at the government-owned arts center.
The future of Artisphere will be either a masterpiece or a dud — opening up the Rosslyn space to an uncertain future.
Alexandria Police Shield Information on Officer-Involved Shooting
Law-enforcement officials use exemption to withhold incident report.
Why did Alexandria police officers kill Taft Sellars?
Development Money At Issue As Arlington Prepares For Fiscal Year 2014
Residents say the county is too willing to accept density at their expense.
Hold your wallets. It’s that time of year again.
Column: Good News on Medicaid and Redistricting
While I unfortunately usually alert you about troubling developments, I am happy to share some good news from the last week. Two promising developments— redistricting and the Medicaid expansion — give me optimism about the prospects for the remainder of the legislative session.
Expanding the First Aid Battlefield Toward Mental Health
Legislators to consider $2 million for Mental Health First Aid.
The idea of first aid dates back to Order of St. John, a medieval society of knights that offered training in how to treat common battlefield injuries.
Huntington Residents Remain Unprotected in the Face of Flooding
$30 million floodwall is at least two years away.
Fairfax County voters may have approved a $30 million floodwall for Huntington, but neighbors in this working-class neighborhood don’t seem particularly satisfied.
Column: Medicaid Expansion, Transportation and Uranium
This week’s General Assembly session included “Crossover” on Tuesday — after which the House and Senate may only work on bills approved by the other body.
Residents Voice Neighborhood Concerns
Tejada hears comments on overcrowding, job opportunities.
Residents from all over Arlington asked questions and voiced their concerns about affordable housing and other issues at a town hall-style meeting in Drew Community Center on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
Bipartisan Team Seeks Compensation for Victims of Forced Sterilization
Effort would give $50,000 to survivors; estimated cost would be $73 million.
Nobody knows how many people are survivors of Virginia’s forced sterilization program, which targeted people with mental illness, mental retardation or epilepsy.
Coming for the Guns: Confiscating Firearms During Mental Health Evaluations
Alexandria delegate wants to expand police powers to confiscate guns of the detained.
Imagine the scenario: Sheriff’s deputies arrive at a home to issue a temporary detention order against an individual.
Four Northern Virginia Senators Targeted
Redistricting effort puts Fairfax County seats in the spotlight.
Four Northern Virginia state Senators are targets of a Republican-led effort to draw new districts — Sen. George Barker (D-39), Sen. Dave Marsden (D-37), Sen. Toddy Puller (D-36) and Sen. Chap Petersen (D-34). Democrats say the redistricting effort is a cynical attempt to take advantage of the absence of Sen. Henry Marsh (D-16), a prominent civil rights veteran, who was in Washington, D.C. for the inauguration on Monday. But state Sen. John Watkins (R-10) of Powhatan defended the effort as a way to create a sixth majority black Senate district in Southside. It passed the Senate on a 20-to-19 vote.
Building at Williamsburg Middle Site
New elementary school to address crowding.
The Arlington County School Board and County Board met Thursday, Jan. 17, for a work session about the construction a new elementary school at the site of Williamsburg Middle School.
Health Advisory Committee to Consider Policy of Withholding Recess as Punishment
Should the last-resort punishment be scuttled?
Should students be punished by having their recess time revoked?
Editorial: More Fodder for Comedy?
2013 session of the Virginia General Assembly will tackle serious issues.
The 2013 30-day session of the Virginia General Assembly begins on Wednesday, Jan. 9. We can only hope that the various legislative proposals do not provide as much fodder for comedy as last session. The Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate of Virginia will offer live streaming video of the 2013 Legislative Sessions, and it is well worth tuning in once or twice.