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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Adults could buy weed legally by September, if bill continues to get support in the Virginia General Assembly
Reported by VPM News’ Ben Paviour
Adults in Virginia will be able to buy cannabis in September under legislation passed by the state Senate yesterday. Three companies currently control Virginia’s medical marijuana market. They’ll be able to sell to all adults beginning September 15th under a bill from Democratic Senator Adam Ebbin. Up to ten industrial hemp processors will also be able to begin sales then too. The bill still needs to make it through the House of Delegates, where Republican-controlled committees have so far avoided taking up the issue.
Gov. Youngkin amends bill that allows parents to opt-out students from mask mandates
Reported by VPM News’ Sara McCloskey
Gov. Glenn Youngkin has made a few changes to a bill that would allow parents to opt their children out of wearing facemasks at school.Youngkin plans to require school districts to get rid of mask mandates by March 1, 2022. His changes to the bill also clarify a governor’s authority to act during a public health emergency. While this legislation has already passed both the state Senate and House of Delegates, a majority of lawmakers still need to approve Youngkin’s changes before it becomes law.
Citizen pollution control boards could lose authority under new legislation
Reported by VPM News' Patrick Larsen
The House of Delegates and state Senate have both accepted bills that would change how state pollution control boards operate. If passed, the citizen boards would lose final say on permits for projects and facilities that pollute air and water. Republican Senator Richard Stuart sponsored one of the bills, which has been heavily edited to maintain public input on controversial permits. It would also hand permitting power over to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the agency responsible for drafting permits with businesses.
In Other News:
Residents link cancer-causing emissions to health problems in Radford - VPM
Update: Teachers say RPS is planning to eliminate most of its online program - VPM
Proposed license plate honoring crusading African American paper clears Senate – Virginia Mercury
Chickahominy Pipeline developer pauses development plans after federal ruling – Richmond Times-Dispatch
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