Dogwood Daily: The NRA and the 90-minute special session

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…

Start your Monday afternoon off right by checking out the latest edition of our Dogwood Dog of the Week, featuring not one, but TWO adorable dogs named Raven and Khloe.

5 Things you need to know today

1. NRA exerts its influence in Virginia – When Virginia Republicans ended last week’s special session after just 90 minutes, many were quick to accuse the NRA of pulling the strings behind the scenes. A new Washington Post report supports that theory, as it reveals that the NRA knew about the decision to end the session before some Republican lawmakers. But while the NRA frequently sets the gun legislation agenda in Virginia, it’s not because of the organization’s financial influence. Rather, the group organizes its members and consistently provides votes at election time. – The Washington Post
    
2. Pregnant woman shot near the state Capitol less than two hours after special session ends – A pregnant woman was shot in Richmond last Tuesday, less than two hours after Republican lawmakers ended a special session without holding a single vote on Virginia’s gun laws. The woman survived, but the shooting marked just the latest incident of gun violence in a state where someone is shot to death every nine hours. – The Washington Post
    
3. Remote Area Medical Clinic to leave Wise County next year – Remote Area Medical, which has provided free medical, dental, vision and veterinary care to people at an annual clinic in Wise County, is withdrawing from the area to serve “other communities in need across the United States.” The announcement comes just a month after the RAM clinic treated more than 1,000 people at this year’s clinic. – Virginia Mercury
    
4. Incarceration rate decreasing, but not in Henrico County – While jails in Richmond, Prince George County, and other localities have seen incarceration rates decrease, Henrico County has seen the daily population of its jails increase over the last three years. Now, leaders want to know why the incarceration rate has increased and what can be done about it. – Richmond Times-Dispatch
    
5. Arlington residents fed up with storm drain system – Arlington residents are fed up with the county government’s handling of its storm drain system. Their frustrations are boiling over after last week’s severe floods, which caused $4 million in damages to local residences and businesses. County officials say repairing the system is expensive and difficult and insist they’re not slow-walking the renovations, but that explanation did not appease homeowners, who have spent tens of thousands of dollars in recent years on flood-related repairs. – The Washington Post

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