Republican Virginia Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin and outgoing Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam are pledging a smooth transition of power.

Calling them heroes, the First Lady of Virginia talks pay raises for teachers during a school tour.

State leaders are encouraging Virginians to take part in a new childcare program.

Now that students across the Commonwealth have been back in the classroom for about a month, some of the state’s top educators are getting a look at how reopening plans are going.

ROANOKE, Va – A new group is working to make child care more accessible in Virginia. On Friday, members of the Back to Work Virginia task force announced the Virginia Promise Partnership, which will work to make child care in the commonwealth affordable to anyone who may need it. “We know our early childhood system has been hit harder than most, that’s why the governor and the General Assembly acted quickly with our Office of Early Childhood to direct over $150 million in federal emergency funding to keep thousands of programs, open,” First Lady of Virginia Pam Northam said. The coalition has a goal of providing quality and affordable childcare by the year 2030.

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia’s governor said he has developed mild symptoms of the coronavirus a little less than two weeks after he and the state’s first lady tested positive. Ralph Northam said Monday that he had “a little bit of cold-like symptoms over the weekend” and had lost his sense of taste and smell, The Washington Post reported. Northam, 61, said he learned on Sept. 25 that he and first lady Pam Northam had tested positive for COVID-19. Northam is a former military doctor who served on the staff at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He noted that Trump “has access to the best medical care, medications, treatments other people don’t have access to.”

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia’s First Lady Pamela Northam kicked off her third annual back-to-school tour on Monday in Blacksburg. The goal of the tour is to highlight the importance of school readiness and the need to expand access to quality early learning. Northam also said it’s important to thank educators and caregivers, who she calls the unsung heroes of this health crisis. They provided care, especially for essential workers and families when they needed it the most. The First Lady’s tour across the commonwealth continues Tuesday in Wise County.

ROANOKE, Va.- - Governor Ralph Northam and first lady Pam Northam say early childhood education should be a priority. An Executive Leadership Team on School Readiness put together by the governor held a listening session at Salem High School Thursday. They heard from stakeholders on ways to ensure all at-risk 3 and 4-year-olds in virginia have access to low cost or free care and education. "We know if kids enter school ready, they are more likely to be successful in school, in life and beyond," said Jenna Conway, Chief School Readiness Officer. The leadership team will submit a report on their findings to the governor in September.