Newsradio 1140 WRVA

Governor Announces New Covid Restrictions

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - With rising cases both nationally and here in the Commonwealth, Governor Ralph Northam has announced new Covid-19 restrictions. The restrictions go into effect at Midnight on Sunday.The restrictions include: Reduction in public and private gatherings: All public and private in-person gatherings must be limited to 25 individuals, down from the current cap of 250 people. This includes outdoor and indoor settings. Expansion of mask mandate: All Virginians aged five and over are required to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces. This expands the current mask mandate, which has been in place in Virginia since May 29 and requires all individuals aged 10 and over to wear face coverings in indoor public settings. Strengthened enforcement within essential retail businesses: All essential retail businesses, including grocery stores and pharmacies, must adhere to statewide guidelines for physical distancing, wearing face coverings, and enhanced cleaning. While certain essential retail businesses have been required to adhere to these regulations as a best practice, violations will now be enforceable through the Virginia Department of Health as a Class One misdemeanor. On-site alcohol curfew: The on-site sale, consumption, and possession of alcohol is prohibited after 10:00 p.m. in any restaurant, dining establishment, food court, brewery, microbrewery, distillery, winery, or tasting room. All restaurants, dining establishments, food courts, breweries, microbreweries, distilleries, wineries, and tasting rooms must close by midnight. Virginia law does not distinguish between restaurants and bars, however, under current restrictions, individuals that choose to consume alcohol prior to 10:00 p.m. must be served as in a restaurant and remain seated at tables six feet apart. The Governor, in a Youtube video announcing the restrictions, did say Virginians have done a good job, comparatively, in fighting the virus. But he says the positivity rate is going up, as are hospitilzations and deaths. Former House Speaker, Delegate Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), released the following statement on the new COVID-19 restrictions announced by Governor Ralph Northam via video late Friday afternoon. "The Governor made this announcement just days after telling the public he would not impose any new restrictions in Virginia. And he did it late on a Friday afternoon without holding a press conference or answering any questions. At the time of his announcement, a copy of his new executive order was not even available for the public to review. "This is exactly the kind of ham-handed announcement we've come to expect from this administration. Governor Northam seems to change his mind more than a kid in the candy aisle. It is yet another serious failure to lead at a time when Virginia desperately needs steady guidance."

November 13, 2020

Chesterfield To Hold Reopening Meetings

Chesterfield, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - The Chesterfield County School Board will host a series of virtual community meetings regarding potential options for reopening schools in Fall 2020. Meetings will be live streamed on the school division’s website, school division’s YouTube channel and school division’s Facebook page; a link to the live stream also will be made available via the school division’s Twitter account. Comments and questions will be accepted in advance and via live stream chat functions.Community and staff members are invited to attend the 90-minute meeting in the magisterial district in which they live or work. Each district has three scheduled meetings, which are provided in the morning, afternoon and evening. The schedule is as follows below:Tuesday, June 30 :9-10:30 a.m.: Matoaca and Midlothian districts Noon-1:30 p.m.: Dale District 7-8:30 p.m.: Bermuda and Clover Hill districts Wednesday, July 1 •9-10:30 a.m.: Dale District •Noon-1:30 p.m: Bermuda and Clover Hill districts7-8:30 p.m.: Matoaca and Midlothian districts Thursday, July 29-10:30 a.m.: Bermuda and Clover Hill districtsNoon-1:30 p.m.: Matoaca and Midlothian districts7-8:30 p.m.: Dale District Based on feedback from parent/staff surveys and community input after the work session, a modification to one of the options proposed June 23 will be introduced as well. The newest option includes a rotating schedule that allows cohorts of students to be in schools for in-person instruction on Mondays/Tuesdays and Thursdays/Fridays (working virtually at home on days when they are not in school). Wednesdays would be designated for cleaning, small group instruction and teacher planning. This newest proposal addresses parent concerns about cleaning between the transition of student groups, allows teachers the opportunity to target small-group instruction for students who need additional support, and provides teachers with the opportunity to have more planning time needed during these unique circumstances.

June 29, 2020

LISTEN: Will the Coronavirus Revive in the Fall?

Infectious Disease Specialist and Executive Director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council Patty Olinger joins John Reid on Richmond's Morning News to explain that on Monday, Bloomberg reported that Chinese Scientist warned that COVID-19 will likely never go away but return in waves due to the prevalence of Asymptomatic carriers.

May 29, 2020

Watch Now: First-Ever Virtual Politics & Pints

Newsradio WRVA wants you to check the first-ever, VIRTUAL Politics & Pints above!This was recorded on Monday, May 18th with a limited audience. Now it is available to you!Listen and see Newsradio WRVA's John Reid and Jeff Katz, along with former United States Ambassador to Belgium under the Obama adminstration, Howard Gutman. The panel discussed the COVID 19 pandemic, the state of Virginia’s response and reopening RVA.The guys brought the politics, you bring the pints!

May 21, 2020

Chincoteague Church Loses Second Injunction Request

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - A Chincoteague Church, for the second time in federal court, has lost its request for an injunction to hold larger services than allowed under the Governor's Coronavirus orders. Lighthouse Fellowship Church's pastor was charged after he held a larger-than-allowed service on Palm Sunday.The church received a letter of support from the Trump Administration Justice Department. The Northam Administration has won numerous challenges to the executive orders, only losing to a Lynchburg Gun Range which was allowed to reopen.Accomack County, where Chincoteague is located, is currently still closed at the county's request because of a large number of positive cases, tied to its chicken processing plants.

May 21, 2020

City To Help Isolate Some With Coronavirus

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney says the city will be using some of its coronavirus funds to help those who cannot, due to space or money, isolate themselves if they come down with the virus. The Mayor says the money will be used to out those people in city hotel rooms, and provide for their basic needs, pointing out there are places in the city where people are living six or seven people in a two bedroom apartment.Stoney stresses this is only for people who have a demonstrated need. He says isolating cases is going to be key to slowing the spread.Stoney also is heavily encouraging people to wear masks in public to limit coronavirus spread.

May 21, 2020

Gym Owner Loses Supreme Court Appeal

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Supreme Court of Virginia has rejected an injunction request from a gym owner who is challenging the executive order that has closed his business. Merrill Hall, who owns a chain of Gold’s Gym franchises and other gyms, sued the governor in Culpeper County.His lawyer, Republican state Senator Bill Stanley, said Democratic Governor Ralph Northam exceeded his authority by ordering fitness centers and other businesses closed to combat the coronavirus pandemic.On Tuesday the state supreme court rejected the request for an injunction. Hall can still proceed with his lawsuit, but the governor’s order will remain in place while the issue is litigated. The justices ruled the could not find any abuse of discretion that would allow for a review.

May 19, 2020

You Can Thank Levar Stoney And Ralph Northam For This

While Ralph Northam and Levar Stoney insist that Richmond is not ready to open yet, local businesses continue to suffer. And another one just closed it doors for good.After 17 years in Richmond, Morton's Steakhouse in Shockhoe Slip is closing permanently, according to the restaurant's Facebook page.The Morton's website only lists its Virginia locations in Arlington and Reston.Morton's joins other restaurants such as Brio Tuscan Grille at Stony Point, Billy Jack’s Shack in Shockoe Slip and Tijuana Flats at Willow Lawn, to name a few, that have shut down for good as a result of the economic turmoil brought on by COVID-19.

May 19, 2020

Mayor Stoney Says Too Soon To Determine Re-Opening

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Mayor Levar Stoney says it is "premature" to say if Richmond will enter Phase 1 on May 29th, the day its delay in reopening is supposed to end. Stoney says any decision to reopen will be made based on data.Stoney says he understands small businesses and restaurants are hurting. He's encouraging them to seek out small business loans, including from the city. Stoney also says the federal government should be providing more small business aid.Stoney also says more richmonders should be wearing masks, and he is encouraging folks to do so.

May 19, 2020

Partial Reopening Starts Friday

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Governor Ralph Northam has announced that for all of Virginia except Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth will be entering phase one of reopening on Friday. Phase one includes religious services at 50% capacity, retail at 50%, and outdoor seating only at resturants. Northern Virginia will be delayed another two weeeks.Northam says Northern Virginia was the only region that asked for a delay. Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney reportedly had been contemplating it. Northam says testing and other metrics across much of Virginia are at a level where reopening can start.The Legislative Black Caucus has sent Northam a letter opposing the move, citing among other things, the virus' disproportionate impact on people of color.

May 13, 2020