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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Wednesday, January 5, 2022:
Last night, transportation and safety officials in Virginia were still working to clear abandoned vehicles from a stretch of I-95 after hundreds of cars came to a standstill following a major chain reaction pileup Monday. VPM's Megan Pauly reports.
After a slow start, Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin has named several key positions in his cabinet. As Ben Paviour reports, the Republican is getting help in those decisions from a major consulting firm.
State Senator Amanda Chase has abandoned her bid for the 7th District after new voting maps were approved last month. Chase previously planned to run against the district’s current representative, Democrat Abigail Spanberger. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Chase will continue serving in the state senate, and says she will not run against Representative Rob Wittman, a Republican, whose 1st District now encompasses Western Chesterfield. Chase has promised to hold a fundraiser for Whittman this spring following the upcoming General Assembly session.
Educators are calling on the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority to halt evictions of families with school-age children. Meg Schiffres has more.
Two new COVID-19 testing events are being held this week in Richmond and Henrico due to the rise of the Omicron variant. Today, people can get tested at the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center on Laburnum Ave. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Southside Plaza WIC Office in Richmond will be open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday. The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are also distributing at-home test kits at these clinics. To learn more about testing and vaccination sites, head to RCHD.com or call 804-205-3501.
The Petersburg City Council is reviewing bids for a city owned property it’s trying to sell. The old Salvation Army building on Commerce Street used to be the site of a homeless shelter. There are currently five proposals for the property, according to the Progress-Index. Some of these proposals include plans for a Habitat for Humanity store, a market-rate apartment building, and a co-working space for agricultural businesses. The city council is expected to hold public meetings on the proposals later this month.
