Northam Aims to Refill Coffers

SPORTS: VT basketball optimistic as practice begins. B1

A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 79 • 56 FORECAST, A2 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 | Waynesboro, Virginia | NewsVirginian.com ‘Patience is wearing thin’ towards unvaxxed

vaccinated, and the data show people than just you.” “By choosing not to get vacci- Gov. Northam issues that vaccinations have few se- COVID case numbers in Vir- nated,you are absolutely hurting strong warning to the rious side effects, Northam said ginia have dropped in the past other people,” he said. “Unvac- at a Monday news conference. few days but are still way too cinated COVID patients are the unvaccinated Choosing not to get a vaccine high, Northam said. people ﬁlling up our hospitals could mean death, he reminded “Ask any exhausted nurse in right now, making it difficult for PATRICK WILSON the public. any hospital in Virginia,” he said. everyone else to get the hospital Richmond Times-Dispatch “If you know that and you still “Today we reported 1,997 new care that they need, and you are As frustration continues over don’t want the shot then I hope cases. That’s better than a cou- costing everyone a lot of money.” people who refuse to get the free you give some thought to how ple weeks ago, but it’s a whole lot Northam acknowledged there COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Ralph your family will remember you,” more than the start of the sum- was probably little he could do Northam issued strong words he said. “Give some thought to mer when at one point we had to convince people who still ha- on Monday and suggested that what they’ll do without you. fewer than 100 cases in a day.” ven’t gotten the vaccine. But he BOB BROWN, TIMES-DISPATCH such people think about their Think about how you want your “Patience is wearing thin” reminded the public that a year Gov. Ralph Northam spoke about obituaries. obituary to read because you’re among those who chose to get after contracting the disease vaccines on Monday, warning those that Nearly all new COVID-19 taking a foolish, dangerous vaccinated and want normal life do not want the shot to think about their cases are of those who were not chance and it affects many more back, he said. Please see VACCINE, Page A6 obituaries. McAuliffe leans into vax mandates

KARINA ELWOOD, The Washington Post As the November general elec- tion draws closer and the coronavirus pandemic continues its surge in Virginia, Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe is hoping his approval of vaccine mandates — and Republican op- ponent Glenn Youngkin’s oppo- sition to them — will be enough to put him over the edge in a tight race for Virginia governor. This month, McAuliffe launched a campaign, “Virginia is for Vaccine Lovers,” outlining a plan to get every Virginian vaccinated against the coronavirus and criticizing Youngkin’s op- position to mandates. During the first debate earlier this month, MANUEL BALCE CENETA, ASSOCIATED PRESS the former governor tied Youn- President Joe Biden talks to students at Brookland Middle School in Washington on Sept. 10 as first lady Jill Biden talks with Brookland Middle gkin to “anti-vaccine rhetoric,” School science teacher Michelle Taylor, right rear. and has dedicated airtime to po- sitioning Youngkin with other Republican pandemic response in states like Florida. Youngkin, who is vaccinated A historic investment? himself, has repeatedly voiced support for vaccines and encour- aged others to get vaccinated, Biden plan seeks to but remains firm on the stance of personal freedom and outspoken expand education, against any kind of mandate. The two candidates are wager- from pre-K to college ing on their respective positions as a key to winning in November. COLLIN BINKLEY AND LISA MASCARO AWashingtonPost-ScharSchool Associated Press poll this month found that vac- WASHINGTON — As Demo- cine mandates are popular with crats push ahead with President Virginia voters — although that Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion rebuild- support is sharply divided by ing plan, they’re promising his- party, with Democrats heavily toric investments across the arc favoring them for schools and of an education — from early businesses, followed by a smaller childhood to college and beyond majority of independents, who — in what advocates describe as are being heavily wooed by both the most comprehensive package sides. A majority of Republicans of its kind in decades. oppose such mandates. The education provisions in A Monmouth University poll Biden’s “Build Back Better” pro- released Monday showed McAu- posal would serve as a bedrock liffe has maintained a slim lead for schooling opportunities for over Youngkin. While there’s countless Americans and test the been little change in the race nation’s willingness to expand federal programs in far-reach- Please see MANDATE, Page A6 ing ways. Equity is a focus, as it seeks MIRANDA CYR, ASSOCIATED PRESS to remove barriers to education that for decades have resulted Kindergarten students at Booker T. Washington Community Elementary School in Las Cruces, N.M., lining up Obituaries, A6 in wage and learning disparities on their way to lunch. They put their arms straight out to help keep social distance between the person in front of them. based on race and income. And Martha Christian (Mitchell) by expanding early education Kennedy and child care programs, it aims lege students. health care and taxes to the cli- example, has been slashed from Garland Diehl to bring back workers, especially “We haven’t done anything mate and housing, largely paid Biden’s earlier plans. As lawmak- women, who left jobs during the like that in my memory,” said for by raising taxes on corpora- ers eye other possible cost-sav- COVID-19 pandemic to look af- Jessica Thompson, associate tions and the wealthy. ing moves, money to repair aging COMICS A4 ter children whose schools were vice president of the Institute The price tag will likely drop school buildings could lose out. EDITORIAL A5 closed. for College Access and Success, and ambitions scaled back to At a recent House committee ENTERTAINMENT A6 All told, Americans would an education nonprofit.“It’s the appease more centrist lawmak- hearing, Rep. Frederica Wilson, LOTTERY A5 be entitled to two years of free dream.” ers wary of big spending. But the D-Fla., argued that any more NATION & WORLD A3 preschool plus two years of free But Democrats must first over- cuts are drawing concerns from cuts could jeopardize the success SPORTS B1 community college. Millions of come divisions within their own progressives and others who say of its education programs. families would be eligible for ranks over the scope of the plan. they have already compromised “Even with the robust invest- expanded child care subsidies. Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending enough. ments proposed here, we are still And there would be more federal proposal reaches nearly every Funding for historically Black financial aid for low-income col- aspect of American life, from colleges and universities, for Please see EDUCATION, Page A6