State budget helps 200,000 afford insurance

The long and hard fight over a new state budget is proving its worth by extending a lifeline to 200,000 Virginians who either have lost their health insurance coverage or are struggling to keep it. The budget that took effect last week includes $150 million to help Virginians afford monthly premiums for health insurance they will buy on the state-run marketplace next year to partly offset the loss of federal enhanced subsidies at the beginning of this year.

The State Corporation Commission estimates 100,000 Virginians lost health insurance coverage this year after Congress failed to extend the enhanced federal premium tax credits. The state budget will help those Virginians recover their insurance, as well as others who are walking a fine line with their household expenses.

But it won't happen until Jan. 1, when the next round of health insurance plans on the marketplace will take effect.

STATEWIDE: Fifteen people were killed in fourteen different crashes in Virginia over the Independence Day holiday weekend, according to state police. The crashes occurred between July 2 and July 5.

Crashes occurred in the counties of Alleghany, Appomattox, Brunswick, Fauquier, Frederick, Nottaway, Pulaski, Roanoke, Shenandoah, Smyth, Spotsylvania, Suffolk and the city of Danville.

Over the holiday weekend, through Operation C.A.R.E., troopers cited more than 3,153 drivers for speeding. Another 1,540 were cited for reckless driving. Around 70 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence. Overall, state police worked 892 crashes.