Republican Senate Leader Tommy Norment chooses a favorite for LG
Plus more from Virginia politics
Welcome to Monday! The top Republican in the state Senate has decided on the Republican he believes to be the best person to run for Lieutenant Governor. Rasoul also speaks on being the only LG candidate from Southwest Virginia, McAuliffe receives a union endorsement, and more news from Virginia politics.
SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER TOMMY NORMENT ENDORSES TIM HUGO FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Senate Republican Leader Tommy Norment endorsed Del. Tim Hugo as he seeks the Republican nomination to run for Lt. Governor.
“It is imperative Republicans take back the Lieutenant Governor’s office in 2021, and Tim Hugo is the best choice this November,” said Leader Norment. “Having the Lieutenant Governor brings Republicans within one seat of the majority in the Senate, and 2021 sets the stage for our efforts in 2023. I know Tim is building the statewide coalition needed to win and will bring Republicans together to end Democrat’s complete control in Richmond.”
“Leader Norment is a tireless advocate for Virginia’s small businesses, families, and law enforcement, and I am honored to have his support.” said Hugo. “As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll fight alongside Senate Republicans to advance pro-taxpayer, pro-small business, and pro-law enforcement legislation.”
House Education Committee advances bill requiring in person learning options next year
The House Education Committee voted to advance a substitute crafted by Del. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico) and Sen. Siobhan Dunnavant (R-Henrico) that would require school districts to offer in-person learning options next school year.
“This is an imperative for our children,” Dunnavant said. “We disassembled our schools last March and it requires centralized leadership from the state government to reopen. We must do it for our children.”
Rasoul campaigns in Martinsville: 'I'm the only candidate running from the western half of the state' - Martinsville Bulletin
by Bill Wyatt
State Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke) is one of eight candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, but no one is close to the $650,000 he already has raised.
Rasoul officially announced his candidacy on Friday, one of eight Democrats who want the job, and then began his campaign Saturday morning in Martinsville meeting with a small group of leaders in what was dubbed as a listening session.
AFSCME District Council 20 Endorses Terry McAuliffe for Virginia Governor
The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 20 endorsed Terry McAuliffe for Governor Monday. AFSCME District Council 20 represents more than 9,000 public private-sector employees in the D.C. metro area, including transportation specialists, librarians, environmental services workers, social services workers, as well as water, sewer and sanitation workers.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created real challenges for workers and our families, and Virginians need a bold leader who will put workers first and bring our economy out of this pandemic stronger and more equitable than we started. We are proud to endorse Terry McAuliffe for governor because we know he will be that bold leader,” said Robert Hollingsworth, Executive Director of AFSCME District Council 20. “Terry has a strong record of standing up for workers and he has the bold vision to push Virginia forward. He knows this is not a time to tinker around the edges, but a time to go big and be bold. Virginians can count on him to deliver real progress as the next governor.”
Graphs: Twitter, Facebook Followers For All Virginia 2021 Gubernatorial, LG and AG Candidates - Blue Virginia
by Lowell Feld
So back in November, on Twitter, Del. Lee Carter (D) had by far the most followers, at 103,573, with former Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) next at 70,227, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax (D) at 31,472, Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D) at 18,921 and State Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D) at 12,866. Trailing all those Democratic candidates were Republicans State Sen. Amanda Chase (6,950) and Del. Kirk Cox (5,104). Clearly, the Democratic candidates were much more active on Twitter than the Republican candidates. On Facebook, in contrast, it was State Senator Amanda Chase (R) in the lead at 133,580, followed by former Gov. Terry McAuliffe at 100,935…and then a big jump down to Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax at 23,380, Del. Kirk Cox at 10,080, Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy at 8,688, Sen. Jennifer McClellan at 6,936 and Del. Lee Carter at 5,302.
Pandemic highlighted urgency to get Virginians broadband, and the General Assembly is investing - Roanoke Times
by Amy Friedenberger
Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, children did their schoolwork at McDonald’s and workers sat outside of libraries to check their emails. Internet was important before the pandemic, but the past year highlighted how essential it is.
The urgency to get people access to broadband underscored not only how difficult it is to get some households connected, but how expensive reaching the goal of universal broadband is.
Positive coronavirus tests fall back to pre-Christmas levels in Virginia - Virginian-Pilot
by Elisha Sauers
For the first time since mid-December, less than one out of every 10 nasal swab tests in Virginia is coming back positive for the coronavirus.
The rate has dropped to 8%, according to Virginia Department of Health data, showing signs the pandemic is retreating — for now.
Virginia Moves Closer to Ban Plastic Foam Containers
By David Tran
Capital News Service
RICHMOND, Va. — For a second year in a row, a bill that prohibits food vendors from using plastic foam containers is up in the air as the General Assembly hashes out a Senate amendment.
Del. Betsy B. Carr, D-Richmond, introduced House Bill 1902 this year after her bill passed last year with a reenactment clause, which means it must pass two years in a row.
The Senate passed the legislation Friday in a 21-15 vote. The passage came with an amendment proposed by Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, that would not exempt nonprofits, state and local government entities and schools from the ban.
Spaceship leaves Virginia for International Space Station
The 15th cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station successfully launched Saturday at 12:36 p.m. from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport located at Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
The mission is a partnership of the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority, NASA Wallops Flight Facility, and Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman’s unmanned Cygnus spacecraft launched on the company’s Antares rocket, carrying approximately 8,200 pounds of cargo that included scientific investigations, crew supplies, and hardware. A secondary payload of thirty ThinSats, which are small satellites that carry scientific experiments into space and are capable of transmitting data from low earth orbit, was integrated on the second stage of the Antares as part of a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) student outreach program.
The resupply ship is racing to the station for a robotic capture on Monday at 4:40 am ET. NASA will broadcast the arrival beginning at 3 am.
The Cygnus spacecraft has been named in honor of longtime Virginia resident and pioneering Black NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson and in celebration of Black History Month. Northrop Grumman traditionally names each spacecraft after an individual who has played a pivotal role in the legacy of human spaceflight. Johnson’s hand-written calculations were critical to the success of America’s early human spaceflight missions. She was among the group of Black women mathematicians at NASA who were celebrated in the 2016 film ‘Hidden Figures,’ based on the nonfiction book by Margot Lee Shetterly with the same title.
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