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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Tuesday, March 30, 2021:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced an extension of the federal eviction moratorium yesterday, preventing the evictions of some tenants who can’t pay rent during the pandemic. The moratorium was scheduled to expire on March 31 but is now slated to end on June 30. Not everyone can take advantage of this protection, and renters having trouble paying their rent still have to apply and qualify. At the state level, $160 million in federal money has gone to Virginia’s rent relief program which provides financial help to eligible families whose rent is past due.
Three Richmond-based advocacy groups detailed local policy proposals to address the city’s housing and eviction crisis yesterday. The coalition says tenants need protection from evictions sooner than the state or federal government can provide it.
According toAARP, nearly 2 in 100 Virginia nursing home residents died from COVID-19 between mid-January and mid-February. While that number has decreased, Virginia had the second highest rate of nursing home deaths over that period. AARP says Virginia nursing homes continue to struggle: 1 in 6 reported staffing shortages, and 1 in 10 said they needed more personal protective equipment. TheCOVID Tracking Project reports over 3,700 Virginians living in long-term care facilities have died from the coronavirus.
A new report found Virginia colleges and universities have fared pretty well overall throughout the pandemic, but a closer look at the data shows some schools have done better than others at retaining students.
The ribbon was cut yesterday on anewly rebuilt school in Chesterfield County. Crestwood Elementary is set to open its doors on April 13, but only 36% of students are expected to take part in face-to-face instruction.
In Chesterfield County’s proposed budget, there’s a line item for more than $1 million to purchase print and electronic books. VPM reporter Ian Stewart dug into what’s driving the cost of library books.
Chesterfield residents who need transportation to get their COVID-19 vaccine are now eligible for free rides to appointments. Chesterfield County and GRTC’s “Access on Demand” program will cover the $6 transportation fee to appointments anywhere in its service area which includes Virginia State University and Richmond International Raceway Community Vaccination Centers. Residents who would like to sign up for a free ride can call Chesterfield Mobility Services at least one day ahead of their scheduled appointment at (804) 706-2796.
- Richmond has narrowed down the list of proposed resort casinos to three proposals: one near Scott’s Addition and two south of the James River. The casino could bring a windfall, not just for the operator but for the city, too.
