Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood. We’ve got a roundup of Virginia news coming right up.

But First…

They’re baaaaaaaaaaack. Cicadas are expected to return to Virginia this month after spending 17 years in hiding. The noisy bugs will emerge in the commonwealth, as well as North Carolina and West Virginia, in late May and June, after being underground since 2003. — Dogwood

Five Things You Need to Know Today

1. Virginia’s Coronavirus Cases Rise to Over 22,000- With 772 new cases, there are currently 22,342 reported cases of coronavirus in Virginia, an increase of 4% since Thursday. Currently, there are 3,059 people hospitalized and 812 people have died due to the virus. So far, 143,220 people have been tested for COVID-19 statewide. — Dogwood
2. Gov. Northam Announces Phase One of Virginia Reopening Will Happen Next Week –Gov. Ralph Northam has announced that the state’s Phase One will begin reopening a week from today. Some of the big things changes include allowing restaurants to serve customers in outdoor facilities at 50% capacity, and gyms can hold outdoor fitness classes with restrictions. Northam said the 10 person limit for gatherings will be in effect. — Dogwood
3. New Factory Expected to Bring 200 Jobs to Virginia County- Staunton River Plastics LLC announced they’re building a 250,000 square-foot plant, which is expected to bring about 200 new jobs to Pittsylvania County. The factory will supply plastic pieces for the beauty and healthcare industry. “Staunton River Plastics is excited to join the Southern Virginia Region business community,” said future plant manager Greg Wood. — WSLS
4. Virginia Beach Public Schools Will Not Be Grading Students- Students attending Virginia Beach Public Schools will not be graded on their academic performance for the final quarter of the year. However, the school’s superintendent, Dr. Aaron Spence, stated this isn’t an excuse for students to slack off. In order for students to move onto the next grade level, they must continue to turn assignments and participate in lectures. — Dogwood
5. Virginia Memorial Day Commencement Scheduled to be Live-streamed Amid Pandemic- Virginia’s 2020 Commonwealth Memorial Day commencement ceremony is set to be live-streamed instead of taking place at the Virginia War Memorial or the state veterans’ ceremonies. The ceremony is supposed to take place on May 25 and will begin at 10 a.m. “The ceremony will feature a combination of live and recorded content from the Virginia War Memorial and the state veterans cemeteries,” a release said.– NBC 12