RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — After weeks of disagreement, Virginia lawmakers have reached a deal to repeal new restrictions on a program that offers free college tuition at state schools for families of military veterans who were killed or seriously disabled while on active duty.
Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas and House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian announced late Tuesday that they plan to introduce identical legislation to repeal changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program in the two-year budget that took effect on Monday. Members of the Senate and the House of Delegates will return to Richmond on July 18 to vote on the agreement.
The new legislation will propose an additional $90 million in taxpayer funds to pay for the program, in addition to the $40 million already included in the budget. The program’s costs have risen from $12 million to $65 million in five years. Previously, state colleges and universities have covered the costs with state funds and tuition from other students.
Lucas said the new proposal would set aside $65 million each year for the program, while the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission studies it, along with a task force appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and a Senate work group.
“This study and the allocation of what now will be $65 million per year for the program provides me with the comfort that we will not place the burden of the escalating cost of the program on other students through their tuition charges,” Lucas said in a statement.
To rein in the program's rising costs, the budget deal passed by the General Assembly in May restricted eligibility to associate and undergraduate degrees, required participants to apply for other forms of financial aid and tightened residency requirements.
After vehement protests from military families, the House of Delegates voted last week to repeal the new restrictions, but the Senate took no action after meeting twice in two weeks to work on the issue.
Youngkin praised the agreement.
“A full, clean repeal with additional financial support for the VMSDEP program, unencumbered by any other provisions, is great news for our military heroes, first responders, and their families,” Youngkin posted on the social platform X.
FILE - Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, left, speaks before signing the budget bill that was passed by both chambers, May 13, 2024, at the state Capitol in Richmond, Va. After weeks of disagreement, Virginia lawmakers have reached a deal to repeal new restrictions on a program that offers free college tuition at state schools for families of veterans who were killed or seriously disabled while on active duty. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
FILE - Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore, Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, recognizes a visitor in the gallery as she presides over the Senate, Jan 27, 2020, at the state Capitol in Richmond, Va. Lucas and House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian announced late Tuesday, July 2, 2024, that they plan to introduce identical legislation to repeal changes to the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program in the two-year budget that took effect on Monday, July 1. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
SEATTLE (AP) — Luis Castillo limited Toronto to two hits over a dominant 6 2/3 innings, Luke Raley had a two-run double in the third and the Seattle Mariners beat the Blue Jays 2-1 on Friday night.
Castillo (7-9) was nearly untouchable in his 200th career start, retiring each of the first nine Blue Jays hitters, and not allowing a hit until Kevin Kiermaier hit a solo home run with one out in the sixth.
Castillo’s only blemish before Kiermaier’s homer was a leadoff walk to Toronto first baseman Spencer Horwitz in the fourth inning.
After Kiermaier made it one-run game with a 379-foot shot to right field, Horwitz quickly hit a single back up the middle for Toronto’s final hit of the night. But Castillo escaped trouble, with Bo Bichette hitting into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
Castillo departed to a standing ovation after walking Daulton Varsho in the seventh, having allowed one run on two hits, with eight strikeouts.
A big reason for Castillo's success was a new grip for his slider, which made his already tough pitch come in a few miles per hour slower than usual and threw Toronto's hitters off-balance.
“It helps a lot, the fastball coming in around 96, 97, and that changeup coming in around 85," Castillo said. "But then this new slider that I've got coming in even slower, it gives me three different varieties of speed to play with. It just keeps them on their toes.”
Austin Voth and Ryne Stanek combined for 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, and Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth for his 14th save.
“These guys pitch,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “They're up there with the best arms in the league. There weren't many opportunities."
The Mariners struck first when Raley clubbed the double off Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman (6-8) in the third.
Cal Raleigh drew a two-out walk, and Julio Rodríguez reached base on an infield single. Rodríguez was originally called out on a throw from third baseman Ernie Clement, but the call was overturned on replay.
Manager Scott Servais credited replay coordinator Andy Bissell for seeing that Horwitz had come off the bag, which put Rodríguez aboard and kick-started the rally.
“It turned out to be a huge call in the game tonight,” Servais said. “Hats off to (Bissell). That is a tough job. It happens super fast and he’s on top of it and helped us win a game tonight,”
One batter later, Raley hit a fastball to the left-center field gap to put the Mariners up 2-0.
“It’s important for us to start getting some guys in and scoring some runs for our pitchers,” Raley said. “Even two runs, we still need to keep putting up more runs, but it’s nice the last two days to see us break through and get a couple of those big hits.”
Gausman finished with two earned runs allowed on six hits over six innings, with 10 strikeouts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette was back in the lineup Friday after being scratched Thursday with a right forearm contusion … RHP Yimi Garcia (elbow) will make a rehab start on Saturday in Triple-A Buffalo.
Mariners: RHP Bryan Woo (hamstring) will make a rehab start in Single-A Everett on Saturday, while RHP Gregory Santos will make an Everett rehab appearance in relief.
ROSTER MOVE
Toronto recalled RHP Ryan Burr from Triple-A Buffalo, and optioned RHP Jose Cuas.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP Yariel Rodríguez (0-3, 4.63 ERA) will start Friday against RHP Emerson Hancock (3-3, 4.79 ERA).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo throws against the Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen, left, hands starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) the ball as they have a conference on the mound with pitching coach Pete Walker, seocnd from left, during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier, right, is congratulated by third base coach Carlos Febles, left, after hitting a solo home run on a pitch from Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo during a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Toronto Blue Jays' Spencer Horwitz (48) is forced out at second as Seattle Mariners second baseman Dylan Moore, top, throws to first to complete a double play against Blue Jays' Bo Bichette during the sixth inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo is greeted in the dugout after leaving during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodriguez celebrates in the dugout after scoring against the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners' Luke Raley, right, hits a two-RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the third inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo, denter, smiles at manager Scott Servais (9) who asks for the ball to replace him during the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the second inning in a baseball game, Friday, July 5, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
