Virginia along with Maryland, Massachusetts and Nebraska are the states best prepared to respond to public health emergencies, according to the annual index compiled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the University of Colorado School of Public Health, and the University of Kentucky Center for Business and Economic Research.

All Virginians are encouraged to make some noise for local Farm to School programs today (Tuesday, Oct. 5) by celebrating the fifth annual “Crunch Heard ‘Round the Commonwealth” from 1–1:15 p.m. The social media promotion features Virginians taking a bite out of a Virginia Grown apple and sharing their images and videos. Atif Qarni, Secretary of Education, and Heidi Hertz, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, will lead the crunch today during the annual Virginia Farm to School Conference, which is virtual again this year due to the pandemic.

The U.S. Senate has passed H.R. 2278, bipartisan legislation to designate the “September 11th National Memorial Trail”, a trail route linking the National September 11th Memorial and Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

Here is the information on those eligible for Pfizer booster vaccine next week and a list of locations where to receive your vaccine.

Two Prince William Schools in Woodbridge will be receiving two of the 37 new grants the Virginia Department of Education is awarding to fund 21st Century Community Learning Centers in communities across the commonwealth. The grants range from $50,000 to $200,000 and will allow school divisions, faith-based organizations, and community groups to provide students with tutoring and enrichment activities that complement regular academic programs.

Sen. Mark Warner said, “The LIFT Act will help close the racial wealth gap by allowing qualified home buyers to build equity – and wealth – at twice the rate of a conventional 30-year mortgage.”

Mary G. Porter Traditional School in Prince William County. is one just seven Virginia public schools among the 325 schools nationwide that U.S. Department of Education has named a 2021 National Blue Ribbon School.The Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors high performing schools and schools making exemplary progress toward closing achievement gaps.

Comcast reports that it has instituted new steps to help advance digital equity for more students and families.