Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 2006, Tim Kaine was inaugurated as governor of Virginia. After his four-year term, the former mayor of Richmond and lieutenant governor was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012. He's now serving his third term.

We're keeping a close eye on our term-limited governor as he proposed a bold agenda for his final year yesterday. Be sure to check out our Top Stories for more on that, and scroll down to Sports to see when the Commanders visit Detroit.

Later today, we'll be sending you a special message about Boxabl's innovative housing technology and their new investment opportunity at $0.80/share. We think you'll find this worth exploring.

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The State of Our Commonwealth

Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered his final State of the Commonwealth address as the legislature reconvened in Richmond on Monday. He declared that there are "winning states and losing states," asserting that the Commonwealth is among the winners.

During his term, the Commonwealth added $90 billion of investment without giving Virginia's tax dollars to companies controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, Youngkin said, and the state invested $7 billion in education.

The governor also asked lawmakers to pass several tax relief measures, including eliminating taxes on tipped wages and slashing the state's car tax.

This is the final year of Youngkin's tenure. The race to replace him is neck-and-neck between former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

Footage Shows Alleged NICU Abuse

Police released surveillance footage that appears to show a former nurse at Henrico Doctors' Hospital abusing a child in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by manipulating the baby's legs and applying weight to the infant. A detective noted in court papers that the baby seemed to be crying and in pain.

Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman has been charged with two felony counts in connection with a November 2024 incident in the hospital's NICU. She is being held without bond and has a hearing scheduled for March 24.

The nurse was also on staff when other babies were injured in the unit, including two others last year and four babies in 2023. No charges have been filed in those cases.

The Henrico County Department of Social Services issued a report last year stating that one child was abused in 2023 "by an employee [of] the Henrico Doctor's Hospital NICU." The father of one of the injured babies noted that all of the abused infants were boys.

Let's Hear It for Virginia Singers

The Commonwealth is known as the birthplace of country music, but our state has also produced musical stars in many genres.

At the top of one list of Virginia musicians is Pharrell Williams. The Virginia Beach native is trying to organize the Something in the Water Festival this spring. Other notable artists include Lucy Dacus, Missy Elliott, and Kali Uchis.

A separate top-10 list of Virginia singers spans multiple genres and features Ella Fitzgerald, Jason Mraz, and Dave Grohl, among others.

Finally, Virginia.org highlights even more noted performers who launched or boosted their careers in the Old Dominion, including Pat Benatar, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Bruce Hornsby.

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➤ Statewide: Virginia Works announced that the statewide unemployment rate in November was 3.0%, up 0.1% from the same month in 2023, but a full percentage point lower than the national average. (More)

➤ Richmond: State Senate Republicans proposed legislation that would make it easier to charge drug dealers with murder if a purchaser dies of a fentanyl overdose. (Details)

➤ Virginia Beach: An autistic 14-year-old who went missing last Wednesday was found safe on Sunday, according to state police. (More)

➤ Henrico: County officials say the Cobbs Creek Reservoir Project, completed last year and costing $280 million, should help prevent future water service disruptions in Central Virginia. (Details)

➤ Winchester: The regional airport unveiled a 16,300-square-foot building that it calls the "airport terminal of the future." (More)

➤ Statewide: The Commonwealth asked for input about how it should develop Mayo River State Park, a new park along the North Carolina border. (Vote)

➤ The Washington Commanders, coming off their first playoff win since 2006, visit the NFC's top-seeded Detroit Lions on Saturday evening. (Preview)

➤ The Washington Capitals are in first place as they host Anaheim tonight, following a weekend victory at Nashville. (Preview)

➤ VCU hosts Saint Louis in men's basketball tonight. The Billikens come to Richmond undefeated in the Atlantic 10. (Preview)

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➤ The average price of gas in Virginia is $2.95/gallon, according to AAA. That is 11 cents lower than the national average but a penny more than a week ago. (Details)

➤ Virginia-based Smithfield Foods announced plans to go public on the Nasdaq this year. The company is spinning off its American and Mexican businesses. (Details)

➤ Carfax has announced it will move its headquarters to a high-rise in Reston. (More)

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➤ The Portsmouth Humane Society said its facility isn't warm enough for the animals it has on-site, so it urged foster families to step up and adopt them as pets. (Details)

➤ Girls on the Run Piedmont said it will host the Wicked Bottom Fun Run Festival on May 3 in Culpeper. It is an extension of the group's usual 5K run. (More)

➤ Many Virginians dislike winter weather—but our pets seem to be enjoying it! (Photos)

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