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

But First…

The coronavirus pandemic forced nearly all Virginia universities to close their campuses and to continue the remainder of the 2020 spring semester virtually. As summer approaches, it’s still unclear whether many will reopen in the fall. We’ve rounded up what universities are saying when it comes to their plans for the upcoming semester. — Dogwood

Five Things You Need to Know Today

1. Virginia Coronavirus Cases Surpass 25,000- With an increase of 730 cases since Monday, Virginia currently has 25,800 reported cases of coronavirus in the commonwealth. There are currently 3,395 people hospitalized and 891 people have died from the virus. So far, 171,239 people have been tested for COVID-19. — Dogwood
   
   
2. Northam Officially Delays NOVA Reopening to May 29- Gov. Ralph Northam announced that northern Virginia’s reopening is officially delayed until May 29, two weeks until the rest of the state is expected to reopen. Northam said he signed an executive order extending the closure and restrictions of businesses in the area. About 70% of Virginia’s cases are from northern Virginia, according to the governor’s office. — Dogwood
   
   
3. There are 7 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 in a Virginia Ramen Factory- Maruchan Inc. has confirmed that several employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The facility, located in Chesterfield, has reported that seven people are quarantined in their homes. The company said that they’ve reported all their cases to the Chesterfield County Health Department. — WRIC
   
   
4. Richmond City Council Approves Budget, Major Cuts to be Expected- The Richmond City Council, on a 5-4 vote, has approved the budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year. However, routine revisions are going to be required due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic began, Mayor Levar Stoney already cut $38.5 million from the budget proposed in March. — Richmond Times-Dispatch
   
   
5. Virginia Unemployment Claims the Lowest They’ve Been Since March- Virginia’s unemployment insurance claims have dropped to the lowest they’ve been since March, the Virginia Employment Commission reported last week. And with some Virginia businesses getting ready to reopen as the state approaches May 15, those numbers could drop further. But the VEC cautioned it would be a long road until the number of claims returned to pre-pandemic levels. — Dogwood