Liberty University Students Returning to Campus

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.

But first…

Richmond’s Ironclad Coffee delivered over six gallons of vacuum pressed, cold brew to Virginia Commonwealth University doctors, nurses and staff. The company said they’d keep dropping off the much-needed caffeine as long as they can. –WTVR

Five things you need to know today …

1. Liberty University Students Expected to Return to Class- Approximately 5,000 Liberty University students are expected to return back to campus, despite other Virginia universities closing in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. While most of the classes have been moved online, up to 5,000 students are expected to live in dorms. Hundreds of professors and instructors without valid health exemptions will still hold office hours on campus. –Dogwood and WRIC
   
2. 40 New Cases of Coronavirus, Total of 299 Cases- There are now nearly 300 cases of the COVID 19 coronavirus in Virginia, increasing from 259 on Monday. These cases are “presumptively positive,” meaning they are pending confirmation from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. As of Monday, the Virginia Department of Health reports 3,697 people have been tested. –WSLS
   
3. Stoney Halts Evictions- Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said in a release on Tuesday that “no evictions” will be executed in the city during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the statement, Richmond Sheriff Antionette Irving has notified landlords of the eviction freeze. Stoney states that, “no one should lose their home in the middle of a pandemic.” –WRIC
   
4. No Kid Hungry Texting Line Created for Families in Need- No Kid Hungry Virginia encourages families affected by the mass closings of public schools to text FOOD or COMIDA to 877-877 to find free food distribution sites. Virginia’s public schools will be closed for the rest of the school year due to the coronavirus, meaning 1.3 million students will be home. Of that group over 450,000 rely on free or reduced meals at school.  No Kid Hungry organizers say the program aims to help vulnerable kids who’re “losing the meals they depend on.” –WSLS
   
5. Virginia Works to Ensure High School Seniors Still Graduate- The Virginia Department of Education created guidelines to allow high school students to still graduate this spring. The guidelines would waive eight graduation requirements, including the mandate that each student must complete a course that requires a standard or verified credit. High school seniors, however, will not be participating in a traditional commencement ceremony. –Richmond Times-Dispatch