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Bill aims to fix unemployment issues laid bare by pandemic

By The Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A bill that recently passed the Democrat-controlled General Assembly aims to fix several issues with Virginia’s unemployment system that were laid bare by the pandemic.

The measure would essentially codify an executive directive Gov. Ralph Northam made in December that said if someone is determined initially eligible for benefits, they won’t have those benefits cut off before they have a chance to have their case decided.

Over the past year, many people found themselves inexplicably waiting months for adjudication hearings.

The measure would also provide an estimated $18 million in forgiveness for benefit overpayments that were not the fault of the recipient.

Rosenwald Schools taught a generation of early civil rights leaders across the South, including Va. and Md.

By Luke Lukert
Throughout February, WTOP is celebrating Black History Month. Join us on-air and online as we bring you the stories, people and places that make up our diverse community. At the turn of the 20th century, Black children were barred from public schools, and many Southern states would not allocate funding to educate them. A revolutionary education program called the Rosenwald Schools built new schoolhouses all across the Southeast for Black children, and the remnants of these schools can still be seen in Northern Virginia and Maryland.
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