In-person visits to prisons; Virginia Redistribution Commission; Good weather week

RICHMOND, Virginia (WWBT) – Here’s a look at our top stories this Monday morning!

Better weather this week!

Drier weather returns for the work week with temperatures gradually warming up.

Today it will be partly sunny. Lows in the lower 60s, highs in the upper 70s.

In-person prison visits

The Virginia Department of Corrections will be resumption of in-person family visits between October 11 and November 8.

Prisons will gradually open for family visits.

All visitors aged 12 and over must test negative for COVID-19 and only fully vaccinated inmates will be eligible for in-person visits.

Video tours will continue to be available to unvaccinated inmates. For a complete list of the reopening process, click here.

Redistribution commission

The Virginia Redistricting Commission’s first-ever attempt to draw fair political maps collapsed dramatically on Friday when frustrated Democrats walked out of a meeting after Republicans pushed back on their suggestions for reaching a compromise.

The commission, which has been meeting regularly for over a month, never failed to come to an agreement on the final cards of the General Assembly.

Partisanship dominated the process from the start, with the commission hiring two teams of openly partisan consultants and repeatedly failing to agree on how to merge two sets of cards.

The process now appears to be headed for the Virginia Supreme Court, unless the three Democratic walkouts change their minds and agree to meet again. But that seems unlikely given the end of Friday’s meeting.

City council meeting

Mayor Stoney prepares to present the final version to the municipal council of how Richmond plans to use the $ 155 million in US bailout funds.

Right now, that plan includes $ 32 million for affordable housing and $ 78 million for parks and community centers.

The plan also includes bonuses of $ 3,000 for public safety officials like police and firefighters.

City leaders will vote on the final plan on October 25.

COVID-19 pill

Drug manufacturer Merck on Monday asked US regulators to authorize its COVID-19 pill in what would add an entirely new and easy-to-use weapon to the global arsenal against the pandemic.

If cleared by the Food and Drug Administration – a decision that could come in a few weeks – it would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19. All other FDA-backed treatments for the disease require an intravenous or injection.

An antiviral pill that people could take at home to reduce symptoms and speed recovery could prove revolutionary, ease the overwhelming workload on U.S. hospitals, and help curb epidemics in poorer countries with health systems. weak health.

It would also strengthen the two-pronged approach to the pandemic: treatment, through drugs, and prevention, mainly through vaccination.

Mass vaccination site

The COVID-19 mass vaccination sites are back in Virginia, the Richmond Raceway site is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, October 12 and will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

This comeback is the result of what the state expects to see in the coming weeks due to the FDA’s conversations about these vaccines.

All three types of COVID-19 vaccines and Pfizer boosters will be available.

For more information, click on here.

Scam alert! ⚠️

The DWR says that over the past few years they have noticed several websites claiming to sell DWR fishing and hunting licenses, and rip people off.

DWR adds that they will continue to take action against these companies and recommend that people only check official DWR websites.

The sites below are not affiliated with the department:

If you are interested in purchasing a license, click here.

Final thought

You are not rich until you have a rich heart – Roy T. Bennett

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