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Top 5 things you need to know today…
1. China retaliates with tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. goods — China announced tariffs on $60 billion in American goods on Monday, sending the Dow plunging more than 500 points. China’s response comes after President Trump escalated his trade war on Friday by imposing a 25% tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. The now ten-month-long trade war continues to hurt millions of Americans, particularly farmers, including those in Virginia.
2. Danica Roem determined to help other Virginia Democrats — Freshman Del. Danica Roem (D-Prince William) has made a name for herself since becoming America’s first openly transgender state legislator in November 2017. Now, she’s using her platform to help Democrats win control of the General Assembly. From returning unused 2017 funds to the House Democratic Caucus for other candidates to use, to canvassing on behalf of those candidates, Roem is determined to flip the General Assembly blue this fall.
3. Virginia tenants have the deck stacked against them — Virginia cities have some of the highest eviction rates in the United States, and a new Virginia Mercury report explains why, highlighting some of the ways in which Virginia tenants face uphill battles (and for minority tenants, frequent racism) when requesting repairs from their landlords.
4. Four Democratic women running to represent rural Virginia — While some Democrats might write off rural Virginia as being too red to win, four women are trying to disprove that: Annette Hyde, candidate for the 24th Senate district; Jennifer Lewis, candidate for the 20th House of Delegates district; Jennifer Kitchen, who is running for the House’s 25th district; and Christian Worth, seeking the House’s 24th district. All four women are running on increasing broadband internet access in rural Virginia, more education funding and better healthcare. With Democrats just two seats away from gaining control of both houses of the General Assembly every seat counts, and one win in rural Virginia could have enormous consequences.
5. Opioid regulations hurting those with chronic pain — As the opioid epidemic continues to upend lives across the state, the Richmond Times-Dispatch looks at how new regulations enacted by the Virginia Board of Medicine to limit the supply of opioids has prompted some health care providers to cut off patients with severe, chronic pain, leaving these “pain refugees” with no alternative. The board has defended the regulations, saying providers are free to prescribe opioids for pain, as long as they document their reasoning.
