Dogwood Daily: Feds overseeing Mountain Valley Pipeline reopen review

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…

Del. Ibraheem Samirah of Fairfax has garnered attention for his outspoken approach to legislating, most recently he protested President Trump’s speech in Jamestown with a sign calling to end deportation. In an interview with the Virginia Mercury, Samirah explained his motivations and what he hopes to achieve.

5 things you need to know today

1. Federal agency overseeing construction of Mountain Valley Pipeline reopens review—The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said it is reconsidering its earlier findings that the Mountain Valley Pipeline’s construction wouldn’t harm endangered species in its path. FERC cited new information on the pipeline’s environmental impact and the addition of a new endangered species in the area as reasons for the review. While the move does not stop construction on the pipeline, the Sierra Club called for a complete work stoppage until the permit is re-issued. -The Roanoke Times
   
2. Governor: Virginia to gain 102 new manufacturing jobs— Governor Ralph Northam announced that Virginia beat out two other states and a Canadian province to bring new jobs to the state. Howell Metal will invest $8 million in a new project based in Virginia and is expected to hire 102 employees. Virginia will grant Howell Metal $400,000 from the commonwealth’s opportunity fund to expand production in the state, and the company will be eligible for additional state subsidies as well. -The Northern Virginia Daily
   
3. Virginia Attorney General says Oklahoma ruling on opioids a good sign— A judge in Oklahoma ruled that Johnson & Johnson is partially responsible for the state’s opioid epidemic and ordered them to pay $572 million. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring says the ruling bodes well for Virginia’s own lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, another drug manufacturer. “Courts are realizing the role that these pharmaceutical companies played in creating and prolonging opioid epidemic, and they need to be held accountable,” Herring told Virginia Public Radio in an interview Tuesday. Virginia is also part of a multi-state team investigating other companies for other possible litigation. -Virginia Public Radio
   
4. UVA community members advocate for criminal charges against white supremacist marchers— More than two years after white supremacists marched on UVa’s campus, some faculty and staff are calling for the government to file criminal charges against the participants. They say protesters violated a Virginia statute making it illegal to burn an object in a public place with the intent to intimidate or to make someone fear for their safety. “More could have been done to prosecute these people who marched on UVA,” law professor Anne Coughlin said to The Daily Progress. “There is no doubt in my mind that they were there to intimidate and harm.” -The Daily Progress
   
5. Commuter Connections attempting to reduce congestion by offering financial incentives— Commuter Connections, a government program focused on minimizing congestion, has launched a new app aimed at changing people’s commuting habits in the Washington region. The app, called incenTrip, awards points based on what type of transportation commuters use, awarding more points to users who bike, walk or take the Metrorail rather than drive. Users can then redeem the points for checks or gift cards with the potential to earn up to as much as $600 a year. -WAMU 88.5
   

From the Gram