Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. We’ve got a round-up of all of today’s Virginia news coming right up, and if you like what you see, make sure to tell your friends to subscribe here.
But First…
Have you ever wondered how much you pay in taxes compared to President Trump? We tried to answer that question, though it’s difficult when the President refuses to release his tax returns. Either way, it’s very possible that you pay more.
It’s also possible that Virginia teachers pay more, despite being among the lowest paid in the nation. Our own Davis Burroughs did a deep dive on the state of teacher pay and the possibility of a teacher’s strike in Virginia.
Top 5 things you need to know today…
- Virginia Republican wants to completely ban abortion – Yesterday was a no-good, very bad day for women’s reproductive healthcare. We found out Virginia Del. Bob Thomas (R-Stafford) wants to completely ban abortion, a federal judge backtracked on a ruling that pro-choice advocates claim restricts abortion access in Virginia, and Alabama enacted a near total abortion ban. Pro-choice groups continue to fight, however, and it’s worth remembering that 72% of Virginians support legal access to abortion.
- Healthcare CEOs make $2.6 billion in 2018 while drug costs soar – While every day Virginians continue to pay more for their prescription drugs, the chief executives of 177 healthcare companies collectively earned more than $2.6 billion in 2018, according to a report from Axios. The report shows that the median pay of a healthcare CEO in 2018 was $7.7 million, while fourteen CEOs made more than $46 million and one CEO, Leonard Schleifer of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals earned a whopping $118 million.
- Trump administration sends $62 million meant for farmers to company owned by Brazilian criminals – While President Trump’s trade war devastates farmers, including those in Virginia, he has tried to cushion the blow by giving farmers $12 billion via a taxpayer-funded bailout program. Except, a New York Daily News report reveals that $62 million of that taxpayer money has been diverted to a JBS SA, a meatpacking company that is owned by two brothers who spent time in jail for bribing hundreds of Brazilian officials. If that wasn’t bad enough, JBS is also under investigation by the Department of Justice. Meanwhile, farmers continue to pay the price, bleeding money as Trump escalates his trade war.
- Virginia tenants starting to get some help in eviction battles – Virginia’s cities have some of the highest eviction rates in the nation, but tenants facing eviction are finally starting to get some help, according to a new report from the Virginia Mercury. As legal aid groups start to get more money — thanks to a mix of donations, grants and state funding — they are hiring more attorneys to take on housing cases on behalf of tenants.
- Accusations of nepotism in Richmond – Richmond city officials are facing questions after hiring the daughter of the city’s Chief Administrative Officer for a job that was never publicly listed. Alexis K. Glenn, the daughter of Richmond Chief Administrative Officer Selena Cuffee-Glenn, was hired in March and is paid $26.44 per hour, more than nearly all employees who have the same title and have been in their jobs longer. City officials rejected accusations of nepotism and a spokesman for Mayor Levar Stoney said Cuffee-Glenn played no role in her daughter’s hire.
