Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. Our round-up of today’s Virginia news is coming right up, and if you like what you see, make sure to tell your friends to subscribe here.

But First…

We are sad to report that internet phenomenon Grumpy the cat (@realgrumpycat) passed away this week. We at The Dogwood will pour one out for Grumpy and ask that you do the same.

Top 5 things you need to know today…

1. Monday is the deadline to register to vote in the June 11 primaries — It may feel like you just voted in the 2018 elections, but that was six whole months ago. Virginia’s General Assembly primaries are coming up on June 11 and the deadline to register to vote is this Monday, May 20. You can find details on how to register here, check if you’re already registered to vote here, and find a guide on which districts have primaries here.
2. Warren targets Trump administration corruption in first Virginia stop — 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren reprimanded the Trump administration’s ties to lobbyists and government contractors during her first campaign stop in Virginia. Appearing in Fairfax, Warren denounced the “revolving door” between contractors and Trump’s Department of Defense, using her critiques to underscore her broader fight against special interests in Washington.
3. Richmond City Council votes to restrict lobbying by former city employees — Speaking of the “revolving door,” the Richmond City Council unanimously voted to ban former city employees from lobbying the city for one year after leaving local government. Under the ordinance, former city administration officials and former city council members cannot make money off of lobbying for or against potential legislation, city contracts or building permits. The ban will go into effect on July 1.
4. Virginia caretakers can apply for $400 in reimbursement for respite costs — Virginia families who take care of loved ones with disabilities or chronic illnesses can apply for up to $400 in reimbursement for respite care costs under a temporary voucher program. Respite care, which temporarily allows for the institutional care of sick or disabled people and provides relief for their usual caregiver, is often too costly for individuals to take advantage of. Funding is limited to $400 per family through July 31, 2021, or until the funds are exhausted, and priority will be given to those caring for people with dementia, children under 18 or people between the ages of 19 and 59 with a severe disability.
5. Black Virginians disproportionately charged with disorderly conduct — Only 19.8% of Virginia’s population is black, but a Daily Press analysis of court records found that more than half of the 2,550 disorderly conduct charges brought in 2018 in Virginia were filed against African Americans. The court data reveals significant variation from city to city in how frequently people are accused of disorderly conduct and suggests prosecutors are less inclined to drop charges against blacks than whites.