Virginia
Former West Virginia health official pleads guilty in COVID-19 payment investigation
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former West Virginia state health official pleaded guilty Monday to lying about whether or not he verified vendor invoices from a company claiming to have conducted COVID-19 tests for the state.
In federal court Monday, Timothy Priddy admitted making a false statement to investigators in a case that had been set to go to trial Tuesday.
An indictment filed in October charged Priddy with lying to federal agents in August 2022 when he said he verified a vendor’s invoices for performing COVID-19 tests as part of a back-to-school program before approving them. Priddy knew his statements were false because he made no such verification efforts, according to prosecutors.
Priddy faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing was set for May 9.
Priddy, who held various managerial positions with the state Bureau for Public Health’s Center for Threat Preparedness, left his job the day the indictment was announced.
Prosecutors said federal investigators were trying to determine whether one or more vendors providing COVID-19 tests and mitigation services to the state overbilled or otherwise received federal payments they shouldn’t have through the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
Prosecutors said the vendor involved in Priddy’s case reported the results of about 49,000 COVID-19 tests between October 2020 and March 2022 but submitted invoices reflecting the cost of about 518,000 test kits. The indictment did not name the vendor, but said the company was from out of state and provided test kits, laboratory analysis and held community testing events throughout West Virginia.
Vendors were required to report test results so officials would have accurate information about the number of COVID-19 infections and any geographical hot spots, the indictment said.
The West Virginia health department has said a contract with the company ended in October 2022 and that the agency cooperated fully with federal investigators.
Virginia
Virginia General Assembly approves budget days before potential partial government shutdown – WTOP News
Virginia lawmakers approved a two-year spending plan Monday, ending months of negotiations as the deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown approached.
Virginia lawmakers approved a two-year spending plan Monday, ending months of negotiations as the deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown approached.
The Senate approved the plan with a 23-16 vote, and the House of Delegates passed it 71-22. Now it heads to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk.
The votes end a saga that included name-calling and finger-pointing, as senators hoped to end a sales tax exemption for data centers. The House and Spanberger expressed concerns about the potential consequence of taking that step, hoping to keep existing agreements in tact.
The compromise, detailed late last week, keeps the sales tax exemption in place but calls for a new data center electricity consumption tax. The $0.011 fee per kilowatt-hour of electricity used is expected to generate $600 million in revenue each of the next two years.
“This conference report took longer than most, but the senate conferees and I spent a lot of time trying to find the right balance between compromising with the House and the governor and having something that made the data centers pay their fair share,” Sen. Louise Lucas said. “This budget achieves that right balance, and the Senate and House and the governor’s office all had input into this final project.”
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Virginia
Virginia man arrested after reported larceny in Elizabeth City
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — A Virginia man is facing multiple charges after a reported larceny in Elizabeth City on Friday evening.
According to the Elizabeth City Police Department, officers responded to a reported larceny in the 1100 block of Ehringhaus Street around 5:11 p.m. on June 19.
While officers were en route, dispatchers received information that the suspect had fled on foot and that a concerned citizen was following him.
Officers located the suspect and joined the foot pursuit. The suspect was taken into custody near the intersection of Walker Avenue and Renaissance Circle.
Police identified the suspect as Lamar Jones, 39, of Portsmouth, Virginia.
Jones was charged with felony larceny from a person, felony assault on an individual with a disability, felony possession of stolen goods, and resisting a public officer.
After being processed, Jones was transported before a magistrate and later booked into the Albemarle District Jail under a $100,000 secured bond.
He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday, June 22, at 9:30 a.m. in Pasquotank County District Court.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Elizabeth City Police Department at (252) 335-4321, the Crime Line at (252) 335-5555, or submit a tip through FUSUS Text-a-Tip at (252) 390-8477.
Virginia
Five new Virginia laws starting July 1: What you need to know
Several new Virginia laws take effect July 1, touching nearly every corner of daily life — from gun sales and criminal records to job applications, speeding and even takeout containers.
Here’s a look at five changes Virginia residents may want to know about.
New restrictions on semi-automatic firearms, high-capacity magazines
Virginia will limit the future sale, manufacture and transfer of certain semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines beginning July 1.
Current owners may keep firearms they already legally own, but the new restrictions are already sparking debate over gun rights and public safety.
Clean Slate Act seals criminal records
The Clean Slate Act allows eligible misdemeanors and some low-level felonies to be automatically sealed, making it easier for Virginians to find jobs and housing.
Supporters estimate more than 100,000 criminal records to be sealed belonging to people who were convicted but have not reoffended in the past seven years.
While the Clean Slate Act expands access to record sealing, eligible Virginians will still need to apply through the courts in many cases to have their records sealed.
Wage transparency, salary history ban
Many Virginia employers will now be required to disclose salary ranges in job postings, giving applicants more information and bargaining power before they apply.
A companion salary history ban also takes effect July 1, prohibiting employers from requesting a candidate’s past salary or wage history.
Speed-limiting devices for reckless drivers
Judges will have the authority to require certain speeding offenders to install speed-governing technology in their vehicles. The measure targets repeat reckless drivers and high-speed offenders.
Supporters say it’s aimed at preventing dangerous repeat behaviors and reducing deadly crashes on Virginia roads.
Styrofoam ban expands statewide
More food vendors across Virginia will be required to stop using foam takeout containers starting July 1 as part of the state’s ongoing, phased environmental initiative.
The ban enters phase two on July 1, expanding from large chain restaurants to all remaining food vendors statewide.
While all five laws officially take effect July 1, some elements of enforcement may roll out gradually over time.
Copyright 2026 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
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