Dogwood Daily: Chesapeake to launch after school program for children traumatized by gun violence

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. 

But First…

If you’re a Richmond resident, chances are you’ve heard about the proposal to build a new arena complex downtown. The project, which also includes more than 2,000 apartments, a hotel and dozens of new restaurants, is not without its detractors, though. For more on the issue, we highly recommend checking out the Virginia Mercury’s deep dive on the proposal.

5 Things you need to know today

1. Rep. Gerry Connolly calls for an impeachment inquiry into Trump – Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-11) became the third Virginia Democrat to call for the House of Representatives to open an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Connolly cited Trump’s obstruction of justice and defiance of congressional investigations and subpoenas, while also highlighting Trump’s continued conflicts of interest and divisive rhetoric. – The Dogwood
   
   
2. Democratic candidate Shelly Simonds focusing on drug costs in her campaign – Shelly Simonds, who is running to represent Newport News in the House of Delegates, is focusing her bid on lowering drug costs. Simonds is advancing an idea that found success in Maryland, which was to set up a state review board to help lead to caps on prescription drug price increases. Simonds said she has heard a lot of worries about drug costs during her campaign, which prompted her to really focus on the issue. – The Daily Press
   
   
3. Chesapeake plans to launch after school program for children traumatized by gun violence – After 10 people were shot and one was killed during a block party in Holly Cove, the event’s organizers noticed that many local children were traumatized. One of those organizers decided to lobby the City Council to do something to help the children, and now, Chesapeake Mayor Rick West says he’s creating a task force to develop an after-school program for children at Holly Cove. – The Virginian-Pilot
   
   
4. Del. Nick Freitas formally announces his write-in campaign – Virginia Del. Nick Freitas (R-Culpeper) officially announced he will mount a write-in campaign to retain his seat after the Board of Elections ruled that he did not qualify for the ballot due to late paperwork. His announcement came a day after Freitas’ former aide got into a heated Facebook argument with House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah). – The Roanoke Times
   
   
5. Advanced energy jobs grow at a rapid pace in Northern Virginia – Northern Virginia localities have among the most advanced energy jobs in the state, according to data from Advanced Energy Economy, a national energy industry business group. Fairfax County has the most advanced energy jobs, with 20,722, while Loudoun, Arlington and Prince William counties also clock in among the top seven localities for advanced energy jobs in Virginia. “Advanced energy” includes a wide range of energy technologies and services, such as solar, wind, hydro and nuclear power, electric and hybrid vehicles, and energy storage. – The Virginia Mercury

From the Gram