Virginia

Three interesting bills: declawing cats, sewage regulations and on-duty physicians • Virginia Mercury

Published

2 years ago

March 8, 2024

Three interesting bills: declawing cats, sewage regulations and on-duty physicians • Virginia Mercury

Hundreds of bills are filed for General Assembly consideration each year. In this weekly series, the Mercury takes a look at a few of lawmakers’ 2024 proposals that might not otherwise make headlines during the whirlwind legislative session.

House Bill 1354: Prohibiting declawing cats

This bill from Del. Marty Martinez, D-Loudoun, would prohibit veterinarians from declawing cats unless necessary for therapeutic purposes.

Martinez told the House Agriculture Subcommittee in January that his bill would let the state Board of Veterinarians strip those vets who perform the procedure of their license if they determine it’s warranted.

Daphna Nachminovitch with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said declawing goes beyond the removal of the nail to actually amputate the first digit of every paw. As a result, she said it can cause behavioral issues and leave cats defenseless if they manage to escape outside.

“When I worked at an animal shelter, a lot of the cats declawed were brought to us as biters because they felt very defensive not being able to use their claws,” she said.

Susan Seward with the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association also noted there are an increasing number of veterinarians who no longer perform the procedure unless there has been an injury to the animal.

Exemptions to the prohibition, said Martinez, could be made if the cat has a condition that requires the removal of claws. Cats could also be declawed in cases where the owner has a condition such as hemophilia or HIV and a physician recommends the procedure.

However, Del. Buddy Fowler, R-Hanover, said the bill is problematic for people who want to declaw their cats to stop them from scratching.

“I’m concerned about a lot of people who may no longer want to have cats as pets if they cannot do that,” he said.

Martinez said he and his wife made the “biggest mistake” when they decided to declaw their first cat, who was “never the same” after the procedure.

“I felt I could never do that again to any animal,” he continued. “I’m an animal lover, and anything we can do to prevent any kind of cruelty to animals is something I support.”

The bill passed both chambers, with a handful of Republicans joining Democrats in support. It is now being reviewed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

House Bill 870: Creating sewage sludge regulations

HB 870 from Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, would require the Virginia State Water Control Board to adopt regulations to address situations when sewers’ normal storage capacity is exceeded due to adverse weather conditions.

Bulova told the House last month these sewage overflow events are expected to occur more frequently because of the increased frequency, intensity and duration of storm events being driven by climate change.

“I think we all agree that this bill deals with a smelly subject,” he said.

The bill would require the Department of Environmental Quality to form a regulatory advisory panel to assist with developing regulations. The new rules would have to include procedures for creating additional on-site and alternative storage requirements, as well as stating the amount of time in which the sewage is expected to flow into state waters.

The issue started gaining attention in 2018, when Virginia had its highest level of precipitation since 1895, according to data from the National Centers for Environmental Information.

During a 2022 House hearing, Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Westmoreland, said 2 billion gallons of raw sewage were dumped into the James River in 2021 due to sewage overflow. Richmond, along with Alexandria and Lynchburg, are particularly affected because they have combined sewer overflow systems, which funnel both stormwater and sewage through the same pipes and can lead to overflows during heavy rainfall.

From December 2019 to November 2022, state regulators cited the town Christianburg for nearly 100 sewer overflows, with each event releasing hundreds to millions of gallons of sewage.

The legislation passed the House and Senate unanimously.

Senate Bill 392 and House Bill 353: Requiring emergency departments to have at least one physician on duty

This pair of identical bills from Del. Patrick Hope, D-Arlington, and Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax, would require hospitals to have at least one physician on duty and physically present at all times. Current law requires hospitals to have physicians on call and not necessarily physically present on the premises at all times.

Pekarsky told the House Health and Human Services Committee last month that Virginia’s code is outdated and the bills are intended to reflect current standards and best practices, as well as “matching our citizens’ expectations.”

An emergency room physician working at Southside Medical Center and Southern Virginia Medical Center told lawmakers that when the law requiring an emergency room physician to be on call passed, the volume and complexity of patients were a fraction of what they are now.

Emergency rooms “are now de facto intensive care units, boarding patients for hours or even days waiting for a bed at a receiving facility,” she told the committee.

While choking back tears, Sen. Wren Williams, R-Patrick, told the Senate it needs to think about the unintended consequences the bills could have on rural health care and hospitals. His district’s only hospital shut down in 2017, he said, and the area only has one practicing physician in his late 60s. While Williams said he’s still working to reopen the hospital, he contended requiring an additional doctor on staff would make it harder.

“I really need you guys to think about unintended consequences when it comes to rural health care because this might save lives in other regions, but it’s going to hurt and it’s going to have a real impact on places like mine,” he said.

The bills passed the Senate unanimously and faced some Republican opposition in the House.

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Virginia

Flu cases climb across Virginia, state reaches highest totals in years

Published

1 hour ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Flu cases climb across Virginia, state reaches highest totals in years

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – Flu cases are climbing across Virginia, reaching some of the highest levels the commonwealth has seen in years.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, over 21% of all emergency department visits in the northwest region this flu season were for respiratory illnesses. Rachel Dumene, spokesperson for the Central Shenandoah Health District, said while viruses can mutate and cause symptoms that are more severe, she said the challenge this year is how fast the flu is spreading.

“Sometimes they can mutate to create new symptoms or become more severe. However, that’s not what we’re seeing this year,” Dumene said. “This is a pretty average flu. However, the thing that’s different about it is that it’s spreading at a more rapid pace.“

That faster spread is leading to more infections overall, and more people experiencing serious symptoms. Children make up the largest share of flu-related emergency room visits in the region, which is why Dumene said vaccination remains one of the best tools to keep people out of the hospital.

“Even though this flu virus seems to be spreading at a higher rate than previous years, the flu vaccine still helps prevent against severe illness,” she said. “It is possible that people who get vaccinated can still get the flu. However, this can keep them from experiencing very negative consequences or having to go to the emergency room.”

It’s still not too late to get vaccinated, Dumene said. Protection develops about two weeks after the shot, and peak flu season often doesn’t arrive until February. She also recommended washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick to slow the spread.

What hospitals are seeing

Augusta Health Public Relations Manager Kristen Printy said regional hospitals and emergency medical services are working together to manage a seasonal increase in patients to make sure people across the region receive the care they need.

Flu problems(WHSV)

“This season has brought an increase in patients, and it’s important that hospitals and EMS agencies continue to work closely together,” said Crystal Farmer, MBA, MSN, RN, FACHE, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Augusta Health. “By coordinating our efforts, we can help ensure patients get the right care, in the right place, at the right time, even when demand is higher.”

Robert Garwood, VP, Chief Medical Officer Sentara RMH Medical Center said increased ER volume secondary of the flu has translated into increased hospital admissions of these patients.

“The current flu vaccine does not cover the strain that’s circulating throughout our area really well, which has resulted in patients with some significant illness. This is again translated to increase hospital patient censuses and less bed availability, which also impacts our ED,” Garwood said.

Augusta Health added that people should always seek emergency care for serious or life-threatening conditions. For less urgent needs, people are encouraged to consider primary care, urgent care, or telehealth options when appropriate.

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The Good, Bad and Ugly From Virginia’s Dominant Win Over California

Published

13 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

The Virginia Cavaliers clinched yet another conference win last night, this time against California. Overall, this has been a remarkable season for the Cavaliers thus far, with few hiccups along the way. Their latest victory came with a stunning 84-60 finish, but as the story goes, there are still areas that need attention. With that, let’s take a look at the good, the bad and the ugly of last night’s meeting.

The Good

Jan 7, 2026; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers forward Thijs de Ridder (28) passes the ball around California Golden Bears forward John Camden (2) during the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

The Cavaliers are undoubtedly more consistent on offense — they’ve encountered quite a few challenges defensively. However, last night appeared to be a bit of a turning point, said cautiously. The Golden Bears’ efforts with the ball were met with great resistance from UVA. Malik Thomas, in particular, has made strides on both sides of the ball, but his defensive improvements have been noteworthy. As head coach Ryan Odom stated during his postgame press conference:

“… I thought our guys did a nice job. The discipline was there for the majority of the night. They did get us on occasion, not on occasion, probably too many times at the end of drives with shot fakes, but for the most part, in that first 10 minutes of the second half, we were able to stop them in and around the rim and stay down. And they were kind of left with some really hard shots there, which allowed us to get out in transition. I thought our press was pretty good. Even though we didn’t get a lot of turnovers or anything like that, I thought our press, you know, was effective.”

The Bad

Jan 7, 2026; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Chance Mallory (2) dribbles the ball as California Golden Bears guard Dai Dai Ames (7) defends during the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Although Virginia wrapped up the matchup with a 24-point lead, there were moments throughout the night in which leads were swapped between programs in the first quarter. Once the second half rolled around, the Golden Bears were unable to catch up. However, the brief moments that they did control the scoreboard could have cost UVA the game, and ultimately, another loss in the ACC.

“I’m not worried about the margin,” said Odom. “It’s more about how we’re playing. And I thought our guys played well tonight, you know, defensively, we’re trying to make strides. We’re trying to get better. The guys are focused on that. Offensively, we can’t lose that, you know, ability to really share the ball and put pressure on our opponents. And I think we’re improving.”

The Ugly

Jan 7, 2026; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Chance Mallory (2) dribbles the ball around California Golden Bears guard Dai Dai Ames (7) during the second half at John Paul Jones Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Much of the back-and-forth lead during the first quarter was due to Cal’s pressure. Their defense stayed on top of UVA, which ruffled some of the Cavaliers’ feathers on the court, forcing some turnovers along the way.

Odom described this situation by stating, “Cal was really bothering us with their defense, their aggressiveness, and stepping out and pick and roll, even though we didn’t have a ton of turnovers in that first half. We had five. There were still some bobbled balls. The ball was loose and a little bit too loose for us. And their pressure had a lot to do with that. The end of the half was really important for us, the execution on defense and offense to give us a little bit of a cushion there going into halftime.”

Virginia certainly encountered some difficulty last night, but it wasn’t anything they couldn’t successfully navigate. Now, the Cavaliers are gearing up for their upcoming matchup against Stanford on Jan. 10 at John Paul Jones Arena. Will UVA capitalize on its opportunity to extend its ACC record to 3-1?

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Stanford gets win over Virginia Tech, freshman Ebuka Okorie calls game

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Stanford gets win over Virginia Tech, freshman Ebuka Okorie calls game

Freshman guard Ebuka Okorie lifted Stanford over Virginia Tech with a game-winning, step-back 3-pointer with 2.8 seconds left to give the Cardinal a 69-68 win at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Jan. 7.

Okorie sized up his defender, Virginia Tech freshman Neoklis Avdalas of Greece, before getting into his sweet spot and rising up.

Okorie scored 31 points, going 11-for-18 from the floor with four 3-pointers, including the go-ahead bucket. His four made from long-distance tied a collegiate career-high. He added six assists and had only one turnover.

Virginia Tech led 31-24 at the end of the first half. However, Stanford came out of the second half and switched gears. The Hokies were outscored in the second half 45-37.

Virginia Tech was led by Avdalas with 21 points. Hokies sophomore guard Ben Hammond scored 14 points off the bench.

Chisom Okpara had an off night for Stanford, scoring just four points on 1-of-11 shooting, but still the Cardinal would get some help in the scoring department from Donavin Young and Oskar Giltay, who chipped in with 11 and eight points, respectively.

Stanford continues its road trip with a visit to No. 23 Virginia on Saturday, Jan. 10. Virginia Tech has a home game Saturday against California.