Newsradio 1140 WRVA

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

Governor Still Anticipates Friday Phase One

Richmond, VA _ Virginia Governor Ralph Northam says he still anticipates a Phase One reopening for Friday in the Commonwealth, but says he will make the final determination ahead of Wednesday's briefing. The exception to the Phase One reopening will be Northern Virginia, after five counties asked to be allowed to maintain tougher restrictions.Northern Virginia has been a hotspot for positive Covid-19 cases. Governor's Chief of Staff Clark Mercer says the five jurisdictions that sent the Governor a letter requesting more time under the tougher restrictions include Fairfax County, Prince William County, Loudoun County, Arlington, and Alexandria, and says that a number of cities and towns within those jurisdictions that sent follow-up letters. He says those five jurisdictions accounted for 719 new positive tests in Virginia Sunday while the rest of Virginia accounted for just 270 cases. There has been no determination of how long Northern Virginia might take to enter Phase One.Janice Underwood, the Governor's Chief Diversity Officer, says coronavirus is still disproportionately impacting people of color. She says in order to mitigate the impact, they have made 20,000 masks and 20,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to distribute in the city of Richmond, with a goal of expanding that distribution to other underserved communities across the state. Governor Northam says the state is developing a plan to work with certain retailers across the Commonwealth to offer drive through and walk up testing, and that he will announce details of that plan during Wednesday's briefing. As to why numbers from John Hopkins place Virginia at the bottom of all of the states in testing, Dr. Karen Remley, who is heading up the testing initiative, says that is because Virginia is strategically testing to ensure communities know where the hotspots are in their areas, and specifically targeting underserved areas. Remley says that allows the state to make better, more informed, decisions about how to tackle the outbreak. She adds, however, that testing is continuously increasing.Governor Northam also announced that DMV offices will remain closed through at least this week, although he says online services will remain available.

May 11, 2020

Governor Unveils Phase One Guidelines

Richmond, VA _ Under guidelines laid out by Gov. Ralph Northam on Friday for Phase One of reopening Virginia, the 10 person limit on gatherings will remain through phase 1 which may start could start May 15 if current trends remain unchanged. Northam says some businesses that deemed non-essential would be able to reopen, however, with limited capacity, but entertainment and fitness facilities would remain closed.Under Phase One all employees would be required to wear masks, additionally:Non-essential retail will open with 50-percent capacity.Restaurants can reopen with outdoor seating at 50 percent capacity.Day cares will remain open for working families.Churches can continue drive-in services and do inside services at 50 percent capacity and social distancing.Entertainment and amusement venues will remain closed.Barbers and hair salons can open and operate by appointment only, with masks required for both employees and customers.Gyms will be allowed to hold outdoor fitness classes limited to 10 people or less with at least 10 feet between them.Beaches to remain open to only exercise and fishing.Private campgrounds can open. State parks will phases overnight stays back in. Northam reiterated that some localities could choose to keep the current order, or more stringent restrictions, in place if needed, particularly in hotspots like Northern Virginia and the Eastern shore. He adds that Phase One of the state's reopening could last two weeks or more.

May 08, 2020

Governor Promises Phase One Guidelines

Richmond, VA _ As protestors gathered at and drove around the state capitol, Governor Ralph Northam, in his Wednesday afternoon briefing, promised to provide detailed guidelines and restrictions for phase one of a plan to reopen Virginia.On Monday, Northam extended his order banning gatherings of more than 10 people and closing businesses deemed non-essential until May 14th. He says if the health data continues to trend in a positive direction, he hopes to begin implementing those phase one plans, which he calls "the floor", on May 15th. Under phase one businesses like gyms, restaurants and salons could reopen, but with certain safety restrictions. Northam added, however, that localities could retain or increase restrictions is needed.Northam says the criteria for beginning to lift safety restrictions, including a two-week decline in cases, adequate hospital capacity, and adequate PPE, are being met so far.Another technical error, meanwhile, prevented the Virginia Department of Health from releasing its daily tally of covid-19 cases, the number of deaths, the number of patients who had been discharged, and the number of those who had been tested.Ahead of the phase one reopening, Northam said Virginia, which came in 48th in testing for covid-19, would be ramping up testing and contact tracing.

May 06, 2020