Simple and Understanding

WEEK 42 of 2020

“Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins.” -‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭CEB‬‬

Greetings My Friends. 

I begin this weeks note with an apology. You may have noticed this weeks newsletter is a tad thin. Yes, my life has intensified, but not more than usual. As a matter of fact, this newsletter was one of the later additions to my packed schedule. So what’s the problem?  I am not able to write, and edit these the way I need to before deadline, so with that I have decided to keep my personal thoughts brief; hoping I can this way minimize the grammatical errors. 

I am an excellent audio, visual content creator; but writing gives me the eebee jeebeez. So why write? It’s simple, I desire to do all I can to insure everyone regardless of your connection level has access to 

“Things they didn’t know, or didn’t think existed for them!!”

This means I write for those who can only, or just prefer to gain access to info this way.  This is an exciting time, filled with matching opportunities, more than one collaboration can contain; so while I am full steam ahead, focused on making certain we as a people have the opportunity to advance ourselves, I also recognize the need to slow down, making sure everyone connecting has a true understanding of what I am putting out.

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InSIDE De NoTHAM tOWER!!

1️⃣ the Commonwealth will use $3 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars to reimburse members of the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (VAFCC) for clinics’ COVID-19 expenses, including personal protective equipment, sanitation measures, telehealth, and hiring new staff.

“Our free clinics are a critical part of our health safety net, providing care for those with no insurance,” saidGovernor Northam. “Thousands of Virginians access health care through free clinics, and I am glad we can help support those clinics’ needs at this time. This global health crisis truly demonstrates how important it is that everyone has access to health care.”

2️⃣ $22 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding will be used to create a statewide program to distribute COVID-19 vaccines when such vaccines are approved for public use. Virginia’s draft vaccination plan was submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this month.  Several companies are working to create COVID-19 vaccines, which are expected to be finalized and approved for distribution in the coming months. A mass vaccination program such as this requires significant advance planning for purchases of equipment, support for local health districts, staff to manage the program, warehousing medical supplies, and communicating with the public.

“We look forward to the day that a safe vaccine for COVID-19 is available for public use, so that we can get closer to living normal lives,” said Governor Northam. “We want to be ready to help Virginians get that vaccine as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible. This funding will support the Virginia Department of Health’s vaccine preparations, so distribution will go more smoothly when a vaccine becomes available. I encourage Virginians to get this vaccine when it is available—that is our best way to end this pandemic.”

3️⃣ the Virginia Coastal Resilience Master Planning Framework, which lays out the core principles of the Commonwealth’s approach to coastal protection and adaptation, and will serve as a blueprint for implementing Virginia’s first project-driven Coastal Resilience Master Plan by the end of 2021. Governor Northam made the announcement against the backdrop of the LaValette Avenue Kayak Launch and Fishing Pier in Norfolk where coastal flooding and seal level rise has led to severe tidal intrusion.

“The pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives, but not the fact that our planet is warming, land is sinking, sea levels are rising, and extreme weather events are more frequent and more severe,” said Governor Northam. “The science is clear: climate change is threatening our way of life, and there is no time to waste. We must act quickly and decisively—and the Coastal Master Planning Framework will be our roadmap to resilience in coastal Virginia. This innovative, science-based approach uses cost-effective, nature-based, and equitable strategies to protect our people, our communities, our infrastructure, and our economy right now and for generations to come.”

4️⃣ New laws and proposed changes to five bills that will support the Commonwealth’s ongoing COVID-19 response and advance criminal justice reform.

“I am proud to sign new laws that strengthen our COVID-19 response efforts and make our criminal system more equitable,” said Governor Northam. “I am grateful to legislators for their hard work this session, and look forward to signing more critically important legislation in the coming days.” -GRN

• House Bill 5041 (Delegate Head) and Senate Bill 5042 (Senator Kiggans) require the Board of Health to establish protocols related to safe nursing home, hospice, and nursing facility visits.

• House Bill 5048 (Delegate Sickles) and Senate Bill 5090 (Senator Dunnavant) provide additional clarity to the Virginia Department of Health regarding publication of disease outbreak data.

• House Bill 5093 (Delegate Watts) and Senate Bill 5117 (Senator Deeds) allow a $500 civil penalty for violations of a Governor’s Executive Order, instead of the Class 1 misdemeanor currently dictated by Virginia Code.

• House Bill 5047 (Delegate Murphy) strengthens Virginia’s anti-price gouging laws during declared states of emergency.

• Senate Bill 5039 (Senator Marsden) establishes a formal program for the purchase and distribution of personal protective equipment during a public health threat.

• House Bill 5087 (Delegate Tran) extends the date by which the Virginia Employment Commission is required to establish and implement a short-time compensation program and removes the program’s sunset clause.

• Senate Bill 5083 (Senator McClellan) requires Virginia school boards to publicly post their plans and strategies for mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

• Senate Bill 5017 (Senator Boysko) grants the Commonwealth the ability to establish and enforce health standards at local correctional facilities used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other federal agencies.

Governor Northam signed the following laws to reform criminal justice and policing:

• House Bill 5098 (Delegate Askew) increases the penalty for falsely summoning or giving false reports to law enforcement officers due to an individual’s race, religious conviction, gender, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, color, or national origin.

• House Bill 5072 (Delegate Lopez) and Senate Bill 5024 (Senator Lucas) allow the Attorney General to open investigations related to a suspected “pattern or practice” of misconduct among law enforcement officers.

• House Bill 5062 (Delegate Mullin) and Senate Bill 5033 (Senator Surovell) restore the practice of requiring judges to dismiss charges when both parties (prosecution and defense) agree.

Governor Northam proposed changes to the following bills:

• House Bill 5046 (Delegate D. Adams) and Senate Bill 5080 (Senator Barker) expand Medicaid coverage of telemedicine care. Governor Northam added an emergency clause to make this legislation effective immediately upon passage.

• House Bill 5115 (Delegate Price) expands eviction protections for Virginians who experienced a loss of wages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Northam added an emergency clause to make this legislation effective immediately upon passage.

• House Bill 5058 (Delegate Hope) and Senate Bill 5029 (Senator Lucas) prohibit law enforcement from initiating traffic stops in certain instances. Governor Northam amended this legislation to ensure law enforcement can initiate a traffic stop when an individual is driving at night without the use of both headlights and/or without the use of both brake lights.

5️⃣ $65.8 million in new funding to increase access to child care and support child care providers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This new investment is supported by $58.3 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars as well as a reallocation of $7.5 million in Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) funding through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. First Lady Northam made the announcement during a virtual meeting of the Children’s Cabinet.

“Our ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery depends upon having a child care system that is both accessible and operational,” said Governor Northam. “Early childhood educators have been on the frontlines since COVID-19 pandemic started, going above and beyond to keep their doors open, ensure children are safe, and even fill in the gaps with remote learning as schools have reopened. This new funding will help them continue to support working families and enable more programs to safely provide in-person child care.”

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Many of you know, I am fascinated by music most importantly the lyrics of same. In thinking of this, I came across this song while streaming on Spotify. The lyrics spoke to me so that I had to share it with you. It is by Mandisa Lynn Hundley, known professionally as Mandisa, an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist.

Her career began as a contestant in the fifth season of American Idol, in which she finished in ninth place. She is the fifth American Idol alumna to win a Grammy Award for her album Overcomer in the Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. Her song is one I hope we’ll meditate over this coming week, its called BLEED THE SAME

We all bleed the same, We're more beautiful when we come together, We all bleed the same, So tell me why, tell me why, We're divided

Woke up today, Another headline, Another innocent life is taken, In the name of hatred, So hard to take (hey!), And if we think that it's all good, Then we're mistaken
'Cause my heart is breaking (tell it, 'Dis)

Are you left? Are you right? Pointing fingers, taking sides When are we gonna realize?

We all bleed the same, We're more beautiful when we come together, We all bleed the same, So tell me why, tell me why, We're divided, If we're gonna fight, Let's fight for each other, If we're gonna shout, Let love be the cry, We all bleed the same, So tell me why, tell me why, We're divided

Tell me, who are we, To judge someone, By the kind of clothes they're wearing, Or the color of their skin? Are you black? (black) Are you white? (white), Aren't we all the same inside? (the same inside), Father, open our eyes to see!

We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same), We're more beautiful when we come together, We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same), So tell me why, tell me why
We're divided

If we're gonna fight, Let's fight for each other (fight for each other!), If we're gonna shout, Let love be the cry (be the cry!), We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same)
So tell me why, tell me why, We're divided

Only love can drive out all the darkness, What are we fighting for? We were made to carry one another, We were made for more, said, Only love can drive out all the darkness, What are we fighting for? yeah, We were made to carry one another
We were made for more!

We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same), We're more beautiful when we come together (let's stand united!), We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same) So tell me why, tell me why, We're divided, If we're gonna fight, Let's fight for each other (fight for each other!)

If we're gonna shout, Let love be the cry (be the cry!), We all bleed the same(we all bleed the same) (bleed the same), Let's stand united (let's stand united)
Let's stand united!

So Father God, I pray, That our families will come together right now, And seek Your face, You will forgive our sins, And You will heal our incredible land, In the name of the only Savior, Jesus Christ —Amen

As I prepare to leave you, I do so hoping and praying, you are focused both on how you have been created for awesomesauce things, but more importantly, How we can together make this world, our world gifted from our loving creator better. Until the next time we can chat, FROM ME AND MINE, TO YOU AND YOURS!!

LATTERZ - ❤️EDB