Here are some of the top headlines from other news outlets around Southwest and Southside:
Covid:
Gov. Glenn Youngkin visits hospital in Abingdon to talk vaccines, staffing issues. — WJHL-TV.
Virginia Tech lifts student vaccination requirement, following opinion from Attorney General Jason Miyares. — The Roanoke Times and WSLS-TV and WSET-TV.
Radford University does the same. — WDBJ-TV.
Covid cases rising again among students in Dan River region. — Danville Register & Bee.
Virus infections mount in Halifax County schools. — Halifax Gazette-Virginian.
Ballad’s covid patient count reaches another high. — Kingsport Times-News.
Covid cases declining in Martinsville area. — Martinsville Bulletin.
Politics and government:
House Republicans spike proposal to make portion of earned income tax credit refundable to low-income families; Del. Kathy Byron, R-Campbell County, figures in debate. — Richmond Times-Dispatch.
General Assembly kills proposals to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms; state Sen. Mark Peake, R-Lynchburg, figures in debate. — Virginia Mercury.
General Assembly agrees: Gas cars in electric charging spots should be ticketed; state Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, figures in debate. — Virginia Mercury.
Del. Jim Edmunds, R-Halifax County, “never more upset” than when House committee killed school funding bill. — South Boston News and Record.
House subcommittee kills VMI bill on sexual assaults. — WDBJ-TV.
New ag commissioner Joe Guthrie reflects on his time in Pulaski County. — Southwest Times.
Blacksburg set to add more parking. — The Roanoke Times.
Affordable housing project prompts debate in Blacksburg. — The Roanoke Times.
Abingdon town manager resigns. — Bristol Herald Courier and WJHL-TV.
John Kilgore Jr., father of state legislator Terry Kilgore and former attorney Jerry Kilgore, passes away. — WJHL-TV.
Other:
South Boston Speedway lands spot on CBS prime time series in one of biggest events in track’s history. — Halifax Gazette-Virginian
“The Real Dirty Dancing,” a reality show filmed in Giles County, premieres on Fox this week. — The Roanoke Times.