Dogwood Daily: Virginia outlines strategy to eliminate racial disparity in maternal mortality

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’re a fan, please forward to three friends who need to know what’s going on in the Commonwealth and tell them to subscribe here. 

*Programming note: We’ll be taking a break from the Dogwood Daily on Thursday and Friday due to the Fourth of July holiday, but we will resume on Monday, July 8.

But First…

Check out the new edition of our Virginian of the Week series, featuring Richmond-based illustrator Clara Cline. We spoke to Clara about her art, her business and how she integrates her surroundings into her work, and are really excited to share her story.

5 Things you need to know today

1. Virginia Medicaid agency outlines strategy to eliminate racial disparity in maternal mortality by 2025 – Virginia’s Medicaid agency has outlined its strategy to end the racial disparity in maternal mortality by 2025. Among the efforts will be the implementation of new technology to ensure qualified low-income women don’t experience interruptions in health insurance coverage, streamlining Medicaid enrollment, and launching an outreach campaign to reach pregnant women. Currently, black women in Virginia are three times more likely than white women to suffer a pregnancy-related death.
   
   
2. Richmond City Council passes symbolic gun ban in city-owned buildings and public parks – The Richmond City Council approved an ordinance from Mayor Levar Stoney to prohibit residents from bringing firearms into city-owned buildings and public parks. The vote is purely symbolic for the time being and would only go into effect if the General Assembly uses its upcoming special session to change state laws to allow localities to prohibit guns in municipal buildings.
   
   
3. Charlottesville City Council sets strong carbon emission standards – The Charlottesville City Council adopted a new goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They are targeting a 45% reduction in emissions by 2030 and a complete elimination of emissions by 2050. The goal is tied to the Compact of Mayors, a global alliance of mayors and city officials fighting to curb climate change. Though the targets are set, the city still needs to develop a plan for how to meet them.
   
   
4. Dominion starts construction on Virginia’s first offshore wind energy project – Dominion Energy has begun construction on Virginia’s first offshore wind energy project. The power company plans to bring the two turbines, anchored 27-miles off the Atlantic Coast, online by the end of next year. Dominion hopes the $300 million project will demonstrate the potential for larger-scale offshore wind energy projects, but alternative energy advocates have criticized the project for being too small and too slow.
   
   
5. Republican Del. Chris Peace bows out of race in 97th House District – It’s the end of an era. The nasty nomination battle in Virginia’s 97th House of Delegates District has finally come to an end. Outgoing Del. Chris Peace (R-Hanover) announced on Monday night that he will abandon his bid for re-election after losing to Hanover County Supervisor Scott Wyatt.

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