Governor Northam July 19 announced the creation of an Office of Outdoor Recreation to lead efforts to promote the outdoor recreation industry in Virginia and recruit new outdoor businesses to the Commonwealth.

Heat can be deadly to children and animals, and there can be serious legal consequences for leaving children or animals in hot cars or outside without adequate shelter or water.

Governor Ralph Northam has announced that the Volvo Group will invest nearly $400 million and create 777 new jobs to expand its Volvo Trucks North America New River Valley (NRV) assembly operation in Pulaski County. Northam said the announcement represents one of the largest capital investments in the history of Southwestern Virginia.

Starting Monday, July 1, the commonwealth will enforce new laws that impact the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC), its licensees and applicants for ABC licenses.

A new law passed by the 2019 General Assembly will make it easier for former military personnel with experience driving commercial vehicles in the service to get a Virginia commercial driver’s license (CDL) upon leaving the military. The law goes into effect July 1.

Honey bees are invaluable to the health of the U.S. agricultural economy as they enable the production of at least 90 commercially grown crops in the nation. In Virginia, honeybees are essential pollinators for about one-third of the state’s fruit and vegetable crops. That is why Governor Ralph S. Northam declared June 17-23 as Virginia Pollinator Week. Without adequate pollination, Virginia could experience a significant reduction in its harvest of apples, alfalfa, berries,cucumbers, melons, squash, peaches and pumpkins.”

Route 15 (James Madison Highway) between Route 234 (Sudley Road) and Logmill Road (Route 701) will have overnight mobile lane closures Wednesday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16 so rumble strips can be installed along the shoulders, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

As you sit down to dinner this Agriculture Week, why not lift your glass in a Salute to Stick-To-Itiveness for those farmers who put food on your table day after day and year after year despite the weather, price drops, increased prices for seeds or fuel, labor shortages and changing public tastes.