Virginia
Virginia lawmakers repeal changes to disabled veterans tuition program, will work on new deal
![Virginia lawmakers repeal changes to disabled veterans tuition program, will work on new deal](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/86681d4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1711x898+0+32/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F67%2F3f%2F2cbfbe4d49168a597a661dffbe90%2Fhouse-of-delegates.jpg)
The House of Delegates voted unanimously to repeal changes to a program that provides free tuition to the families of those killed on active duty or who are at least 90% disabled.
Dozens of veterans and family members were in the gallery while the House voted. Delegates to completely repeal the changes. The House then voted to add back $20 million a year that was included in the budget to help public universities off-set the cost of the program, which serves more than over 6,000 veterans and their families.
“I’m a veteran myself. And so making sure that we take care of our veterans is my highest priority,” Speaker of the House Don Scott, D-Portsmouth.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin called a special session of the legislature after public outcry from veterans’ groups when the cuts were passed as part of the state budget in May without a separate public hearing.
Though Youngkin signed the changes as part of the budget, he ended up calling for a complete repeal and created a state task force to look at potential cuts.
“We’ll look at what the governor’s task force says and what changes, if any, are necessary,” Scott said.
Meanwhile, the Senate has wrestled with keeping some of the changes in place.
The cost of the program rose from $12 million in 2019 to $65 million in 2023. The Senate set up its own subcommittee to look at changing the program.
The committee took testimony Friday from veterans and the families of first responders who are disabled or were killed in the of duty, who are also covered under the program.
Ella Hestser, 20, of Virginia Beach told a Senate committee that college may be unaffordable if she and her brother become ineligible for the program. Both of her parents were in the military. Her mother suffers from PTSD.
“I’ll be in massive amounts of debt, as well, as I’m sure all these other families who were promised this benefit,” Hestser said.
The Senate is scheduled to return Monday, July1.
Lawmakers could bring the session to a close if they chose to pass the repeal language approved by the House of Delegates, or vote on their own bill, which would trigger a round of negotiations with leaders in the House.
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Virginia
Comfortable but warm Tuesday in store for Central Virginia
![Comfortable but warm Tuesday in store for Central Virginia](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/414dc67/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1920x1008+0+36/resize/1200x630!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fx-default-stgec.uplynk.com%2Fausw%2Fslices%2Ff8f%2Fab537de11df9456cb23cbc1d7e732de9%2Ff8fd07e6460d47c3a8e473db71df9f4a%2Fposter_e9403f4a415245c3af38ea22df147c99.jpg)
RICHMOND, Va. –Tuesday will be mostly sunny and pleasant, with afternoon highs in the mid 80s. Tonight will be seasonably cool with a low in the lower 60s. The heat and humidity will start to return on Wednesday, with highs in the upper 80s to near 90.
More heat and humidity is expected Thursday (the 4th) into the weekend. Highs will be in the upper 90s Thursday and Friday, and will stay in the 90s Saturday and Sunday. The heat index will be in the triple digits at times and a few scattered storms will be around each afternoon and evening.
🌀Track Hurricane Beryl with CBS 6 Interactive Hurricane Tracker
In the tropics: Hurricane Beryl continues as a major hurricane (category 5) after crossing the Windward Islands and will approach near Jamaica on Wednesday. Beryl will gradually weaken, but could still be a hurricane when it is forecast to move over the Yucatan Peninsula.
Another disturbance is in the eastern Atlantic and will likely develop into a tropical depression over the next few days. The next name on the Atlantic list is Debby. More information can be found in the CBS 6 Hurricane Tracker.
Stay With CBS 6, The Weather Authority.
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Virginia
Virginia Senate whiffs on VMSDEP fix a second time
Senate Democrats in Richmond once again failed to pass a bill to fix issues with a state veterans education benefit program Monday. It was the second special session held to address the issue and dragged into the evening.
“We have a bill that will solve everyone’s problems. But instead, we’re not going to vote on it because of a procedural objection,” said Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, chastising Republicans for failing to cross party lines and approve a sped-up vote on the majority’s suggested changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program, or VMSDEP.
The program was reined in by the legislature and Governor Glenn Youngkin during the recent budget cycle after costs were projected to skyrocket in the coming years. The families of injured vets complained and an effort to roll back the changes while maintaining the program’s sustainability has been a challenge ever since.
Last Friday the House of Delegates passed a so-called “clean repeal” 92-0. It included directions for a state watchdog to study the program and bring findings and suggestions for changes before the 2025 session. That study is still expected by early September.
But Senator Louise Lucas, that chamber’s leading Democrat, refused to hear the House bill Monday and instead pitched her own fix: one that rolled back much of the changes, and included millions of dollars in funding over the next two years.
Surovell said there were also constitutional issues with the House’s measure, but Republican Senator Mark Peake challenged that assessment and argued enough Senate Democrats were in support to pass it.
“We’re here, it’s our second time here, the House has done their job. We should have voted on this bill,” Peake said from the chamber floor Monday.
The Senate will now have to return at a to be determined date to approve their new effort without Republican support. The House would also then have to return to approve the bill. A spokesperson for House Speaker Don Scott had no comment as of Monday evening.
In a statement sent after Monday’s session, Governor Youngkin condemned the Senate’s fruitless, second return to Richmond and asked both chambers to return again as early as next week.
“If they can’t agree on coming back together to fix this, I will call them back to do exactly that,” he said.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
Virginia
United Way of Southwest Virginia announces return of annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ fundraiser
![United Way of Southwest Virginia announces return of annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ fundraiser](https://res.cloudinary.com/graham-media-group/image/upload/f_auto/q_auto/c_thumb,w_700/v1/media/gmg/AWUQAFRLVFGAHHMB2754QG6TZ4.jpg?_a=ATAPphC0)
United Way of Southwest Virginia has announced the return of its annual “Stuff the Bus” fundraiser, aimed to provide essential school supplies to students across Southwest Virginia.
The event takes place throughout the month of July in all 21 localities within its service area, impacting over 150 schools and over 73,000 students.
The organization said this fundraiser comes at a particularly crucial time, as families are facing rising school supply costs — expected to exceed $890 per family and an average of $597 per child.
“We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed,” said Megan Parks, Executive Director of United Way of Southwest Virginia. “Our community has always been incredibly supportive, and we are confident that together, we can make a significant impact in the lives of our students.”
School supplies can be donated at designated collection points throughout the region.
Here’s a list of donation locations across our viewing area:
School Division | Business Name | Address | City |
---|---|---|---|
Bland County | Bland County Public Library | 697 Main St. | Bland |
Carroll County | First Community Bank | 148 N. Main St. | Hillsville |
City of Radford | First Community Bank | 1400 Tyler Ave. | Radford |
Floyd County | Carter Bank & Trust | 213 North Locust St. | Floyd |
Giles County | First National Bank of Peterstown | 110 Old Virginia Ave. | Narrows |
Grayson County | Carter Bank & Trust | 449 E. Main St. | Independence |
Montgomery County | Revivicor | 1700 Kraft Dr., Suite 2400 | Blacksburg |
Montgomery County | Blacksburg Boxing & Fitness | 115 S Hill Dr. | Blacksburg |
Montgomery County | Coldwell Banker | 220 Professional Park Dr. | Blacksburg |
Montgomery County | First Community Bank | 1900 South Main St. | Blacksburg |
Montgomery County | First Community Bank | 109 Roanoke St. | Christiansburg |
Pulaski County | First Community Bank | 1001 Bob White Blvd. | Pulaski |
Wythe County | First Community Bank | 145 Ivanhoe Rd. | Fort Chiswell |
Wythe County | First Community Bank | 210 E. Main St. | Wytheville |
To learn more about the fundraiser, click here.
Copyright 2024 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
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