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Del. Cornett appointed to Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission
Delegate Mitchell Cornett
SPorter / Submitted photo
Delegate Mitchell Cornett (R-46) is now expected to help continue the work of the Tobacco Commission following his appointment to the body by Speaker Don Scott.
Formed through the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement, the 28-member Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission focuses on long-term economic development in regions historically impacted by the decline of tobacco, manufacturing, and coal industries. Through targeted investments in workforce development, education, and infrastructure, the Commission works to position these communities for sustained growth and success.
“I’m looking forward to getting to work and making sure our region continues moving in the right direction,” said Cornett. “This is about creating opportunity, supporting our local businesses, strengthening our schools, and investing in the kind of infrastructure that helps rural communities grow and compete. Southwest and Southern Virginia have a strong foundation, and I want to do my part to help build on it.”
Cornett, who represents the 46th House District, emphasized the importance of keeping local perspectives at the center of the Commission’s work.
“The challenges we face in Southwest and Southern Virginia are unique, but so is the strength of our people,” Cornett said. “I’m proud to represent this region, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to play a small role in continuing to build on that foundation and move our communities forward.”
He added that he looks forward to working with Chairman Will Morefield and fellow members of the Commission in the months ahead.
State Sen. Travis Hackworth, who also serves on the Commission and represents Smyth County, as well as portions of Wythe and Pulaski counties alongside Cornett, welcomed his appointment.
“Delegate Cornett understands our region and the people who call it home,” said Hackworth. “He brings a strong voice for Southwest Virginia, and I look forward to working alongside him to continue creating opportunities and supporting the communities we serve.”
Mount Rogers Health District wins Innovate Award
Innovate Award, left to right: Virginia Health Commissioner Dr.
Cameron Webb, Mount Rogers Health District Director Megan Helmick,
and Mount Rogers Health District MRC Unit Coordinator Pat
Meinen.
SPorter / Submitted photo
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) presented four E.P.I.C. (Engage, Partner, Innovate & Champion) Awards to recognize Virginia health districts and partners for their utilization and support of the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) program. One of those awards went to the Mount Rogers Health District.
The MRC is a statewide network of volunteers who partner with local health districts year-round and step in during disasters and emergencies.
In Virginia, more than 22,000 medical and non-medical volunteers are ready to deploy,” said State Volunteer Coordinator Adreania M. Tolliver. “However, the MRC program did not get here alone. We have partners, coordinators, and local health districts who support our volunteers and enable them to do their jobs. Today, we recognize this support with our E.P.I.C. awards.”
Innovate Award
The Innovate Award is given to the health district that had the most unique and creative way to use or train its MRC volunteers.
This year, VDH awarded the Innovate Award to Mount Rogers Health District for supporting its MRC program in the development of an amateur radio team. This team consists of 11 operators, covering more than 180 miles, ready to support when standard forms of communication are not available during an emergency.
Engage Award
The Engage Award is given to the health district that has demonstrated the most frequent and diverse usage of MRC volunteers to augment health district operations, goals and objectives.
This year, VDH awarded the Engage Award to the Chesterfield Health Department for using volunteers to assist in the health department clinics and offices, immunization clinics, and community events. Chesterfield Health District’s MRC team supported 402 events, filling 685 volunteer shifts, and contributing more than 2,400 volunteer hours. The team completed 254 training courses, totaling nearly 600 training hours.
Partner Award
The Partner Award is given to an outside organization that has partnered with a local MRC unit to help bring public health services to the community.
This year, VDH awarded the Partner Award to Fairfax County Public Schools for their ongoing partnership with the Fairfax County Health Department to offer unique deployment opportunities for MRC volunteers. Through this partnership, Fairfax MRC volunteers provided thousands of students with timely vision and hearing screenings.
Champion Award
The Champion Award is given to an individual in VDH that has championed the MRC program.
This year’s winner is Alyce Finch, a member of the Rappahannock Area Health District. Finch champions the MRC volunteers by encompassing them within her Newcomer Health Program, a program that provides compassionate care to the newcomers in their community.
New algorithm can better manage Type 2 Diabetes, study finds
A University of Virginia Center for Diabetes Technology-developed algorithm – paired with a continuous glucose monitor – can help users better manage their type 2 diabetes by recommending insulin-dose adjustments, a new study found.
In a clinical trial, 30 participants were randomly assigned to make insulin adjustments for 16 weeks based either on weekly recommendations from the algorithm and glucose monitor or by self-monitoring their blood-sugar levels. Participants who used the algorithm saw their average time spent in a safe blood-sugar range increase from 54.1% to 75.3%. Participants who self-monitored their blood sugar saw their average time spent in a safe blood-sugar range increase only from 50.2% to 55.3%.
“These results clearly show that diabetes technology and advanced algorithms can be leveraged to great effects, well beyond the classical paradigm of automated insulin delivery,” said Marc D. Breton, PhD, the study’s lead author and associate director of research at the UVA Center for Diabetes Technology. “As continuous glucose monitoring and connected medical devices become ubiquitous, we have the opportunity to provide highly personalized advice and monitoring to people with diabetes and guide their use of insulin and medications. Showing the impact of these technologies in early insulin therapy (only one dose a day) opens the door to helping the vast majority of people using insulin, well beyond what we were able to achieve with automated insulin delivery.”
An Ideal Insulin Dose
Many patients begin their treatment for type 2 diabetes with medications designed to lower their blood sugar, but the effectiveness of those drugs tends to decrease over time, leading to the need for insulin. The process of adjusting insulin doses by self-monitoring blood-sugar levels, known as insulin titration, can be time-consuming and challenging for both patients and healthcare providers, and there is no standard titration process.
This led Anas El Fathi, PhD, a UVA Health researcher, to develop the algorithm with the goal of streamlining and improving the titration process. The algorithm analyzes the previous two weeks of data from the continuous glucose monitor to generate a weekly recommendation on how users should adjust their insulin dose.
"From a medical point of view, it was fascinating to see that the algorithm was not only better than the standardized insulin titration recommendations, but also how well the technology was accepted by the participants with type 2 diabetes,” said Ralf Nass, MD, a UVA Health researcher and study co-author. “This type of technology has the potential to help physicians enable their patients to achieve better glycemic control faster by using a personalized approach."
While longer clinical trials with more participants will be needed to confirm the effectiveness of the algorithm, the researchers are encouraged by the initial findings.
“It is only the very beginning of these efforts,” Breton said. “With early demonstration behind us, we can focus on robust approaches that will be effective with more varied populations. Integrating recently developed data-driven methodologies, especially digital twins, to further improve our capacity to tailor diabetes managements to individuals is likely to once more revolutionize diabetes care.”
Findings Published
The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. The article is open access, meaning it is free to read. The research team consisted of El Fathi, Nass, Carol J. Levy, Camilla Levister, Grenye O’Malley, Nirali A. Shah, Shaziah Hassan, Cheryl Quainoo, Chaitanya L.K. Koravi, Taylor N. Nguyen, Giulio Matteo Santini, Emma Emory, Carlene Alix, Dillon K. Flanagan, David Fulkerson, Mary Clancy Oliveri, Christian Laugesen, Jonas K. Lineolov, Peter W. Hansen and Breton. A full list of the researchers’ disclosures can be found in the paper.
The clinical trial was supported by a grant from Novo Nordisk.
To keep up with the latest medical discoveries from the School of Medicine and the Manning Institute, bookmark the Making of Medicine blog at https://makingofmedicine.virginia.edu.
Tickets on sale for rock ‘n’ roll musical ‘Grease’ live on stage at the Paramount Center for the Arts
SPorter
Theatre Bristol has announced the hit rock ‘n’ roll musical “Grease” will be live on stage at the Paramount Center for the Arts June 19-28, featuring a regional cast. Tickets are on sale now at ParamountBristol.org/Grease.
With a hip-shaking rock ’n’ roll score featuring hits like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together,” Grease celebrates Rydell High’s class of 1959 in all their duck-tailed, bobby-soxed, gum-snapping glory. Add in “You’re the One that I Want,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Grease,” from the classic movie, and see why a run on Broadway and two subsequent revivals place the award-winning “Grease” among the world’s most popular musicals.
It’s senior year and head “greaser” Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their “Summer Nights.”
Theatre Bristol opens "Grease" on June 19, and runs performances for two weekends through June 28 at the Paramount Bristol, 518 State Street, Bristol, Virginia, Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 (with fees $21.50), and for students and seniors $12 (with fees $17.50). Reservations may be made at ParamountBristol.org/GREASE.
The “Grease” book, music and lyrics are by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. “Grease” is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals (concordtheatricals.com).
Grease is part of Theatre Bristol’s 2026 Season of comedies, dramas, and musicals based in the USA in celebration of 250 years, including American Tall Tales with River’s Way; Charlotte’s Web; Red, White and Tuna; The Mockingbird Sings; Deathtrap; and It’s A Wonderful Life - The Musical; and the Cathy DeCaterina School of Theatre Arts classes; The Spongebob Musical: Youth Edition; PLAYtime in the ARTspace; The StART of Adventure summer camp; and audition and stagecraft workshops.
For more information, visit the Theatre Bristol’s website or Facebook page, contact Theatre Bristol at 423-212-3625, or email info@theatrebristol.org.
News
PAIN AT FUEL PUMP
Virginia Republicans propose a gas tax holiday. Democrats blame Trump. (copy) (copy)
ANNA BRYSON
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Spanberger
Virginia Republicans proposed a temporary elimination of the tax on gas and diesel that drivers pay at the pump, but Democrats — who control the majority in the statehouse — said they aren’t interested.
House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, said at a news conference Friday morning that eliminating the gas tax is one way to save Virginians money at the gas pump, as fuel prices locally are nearing $4 per gallon. Democrats immediately pointed to the war in Iran that has helped drive the increase in fuel prices.
Kilgore, while acknowledging the war in Iran and voicing support for trying to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, said the legislature can’t stop what’s going on across the world, but it can help lower gas prices.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she’s working on long-term affordability solutions and pointed blame at the president.
“Let’s be 100% clear about why gas prices are skyrocketing: it’s because President Trump unilaterally launched a war with no thought to the direct impact on families in Virginia and across the country,” said Gov. Abigail Spanberger. “Right now, Virginians are feeling the brunt of the president’s actions at the pump and the grocery store. As gas and diesel prices soar, I am working to create long-term solutions to address rising costs in energy, housing and health care.”
Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks to reports on March 20. “Let’s be
100% clear about why gas prices are skyrocketing: it’s because
President Trump unilaterally launched a war with no thought to the
direct impact on families in Virginia and across the country,”
Spanberger said.
ALLYSE PULLIAM, TIMES-DISPATCH
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, similarly pivoted to the president.
“The Virginians I talk to are asking us to stand up to Trump, his power grabs, and to end the constant damage to our state and economy caused by his lawless behavior instead of trying to help pay for his bad decisions,” Surovell said Friday afternoon.
Republicans say they could get the tax break done when the legislature convenes for a special session next month. But for now, Democrats don’t seem interested.
“If Democrats are willing to save the people money — and this would be something that we could do right away — we're here in the House to deliver 36 votes to make it happen,” Kilgore said. “We've got to act quick … and we hope all parties are in Richmond spending time negotiating a budget so we can get this passed to provide real relief, real affordability to taxpayers in Virginia.”
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A1 Minute! March 28, 2025: Week in Virginia | A1 Minute
