Virginia’s Department of Forestry is fed-up with an invasive tree that keeps native species from growing, so it’s hosting a tree exchange this weekend – hoping people will cut down Callery pears and plant trees favored by native wildlife.

This Sunday, supporters of a free medical clinic in Fredericksburg will hold a rally to generate new support after a falling out with the local health system that had provided a number of free services. The Moss Clinic is one of 68 in the state providing healthcare at no charge to those who have no insurance and cannot afford to pay out of pocket.

Budget standoffs are nothing new in Virginia politics, and recent years have seen a number of disagreements that extend all the way to, and sometimes even past, the deadline of the new fiscal year – beginning on July 1st.

“We need to make sure we put our universities on solid footing, a solid foundation. I think this is really going to help,” Del. Terry Kilgore said.

Lawmakers were unable to overturn a veto from the governor on a bill that might have helped school construction.

Earlier this month, the Virginia Department of Corrections used a specially trained dog to try and stop prisoners who were attacking another inmate. Those prisoners allegedly killed the dog, and the state organized an elaborate memorial service for him. Now, Virginia’s largest animal rights group is calling on the Department of Corrections and on police departments statewide to stop using dogs in dangerous situations.

Governor Glenn Youngkin is now facing a decision about what happens with slot-machine style machines in convenience stores and truck stops.

“We may have different ways we thought we’d get there, but now we’re going to work towards something that will keep the temperature down a bit,” Sen. Louise Lucas said Wednesday.

Governor Youngkin has proposed more than 200 amendments to the state budget, and one of them would delay the implementation of a ban on single-use plastics. As Sandy Hausman reports, plastic and foam containers are already causing harm to wildlife and may also threaten human health.

The move marks a change in course from what had been expected as recently as Tuesday and was made in an effort to reduce the tension surrounding the budget negotiations, top leaders said