*By Christian Smith*
Chris Hurst was a news anchor in Roanoke, Va., in 2015 when his girlfriend, fellow journalist Alison Parker, was shot and killed live on-air. That defining tragedy launched Hurst's career in politics, taking him to the Virginia General Assembly.
"I knew that I needed to leave the television station, but I didn't want to leave southwest Virginia," The Democratic Virginia State Delegate said Friday in an interview on Cheddar. "I had spent 10 years here as a journalist and felt like it was a natural progression to ー instead of just reporting on the problems we see out there every day ー to actually try to come up with some of the solutions as a public servant."
The issue closest to his heart is gun control. But Hurst said he needs to have an "objective, almost journalistic approach" to the issue if he wants to get policy changed.
"It needs to be evidence-based and data driven if you're going to try and get a policy implemented," he said.
Hurst said that philosophy convinced voters to choose him over incumbent Republican Delegate Joseph Yost in Virginia's conservative-leaning 12th District in 2017.
Hurst's path to politics is the focus of NowThis's new documentary "Virginia 12th," which he hopes serves as a thank you to the volunteers who propelled his campaign to victory.
"For me it's really a tribute to all of the people who came out in support of my campaign by knocking on doors and making phone calls, and in particular college students," he said.
"Virginia 12th" is currently available on the NowThis YouTube channel.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/new-documentary-virginia-12th-tells-story-of-chris-hursts-path-to-politics-after-tragedy-struck).
In President Joe Biden's first notable gun control measures, he has announced executive actions aimed at addressing what the White House calls a “gun violence public health epidemic.
Many hope that part of Biden’s latest $2 trillion infrastructure plan would help fund construction for a decades-old proposal for a 200 mph high-speed line that could take passengers from Boston to New York City in 100 minutes.
The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose last week to 744,000, signaling that many employers are still cutting jobs.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called on the world's most powerful nations to pass a global minimum corporate tax of 21 percent to create "a more level playing field."
President Joe Biden is drawing a red line on his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan. He says he is open to compromise on how to pay for the plan but inaction is unacceptable.
Lee Wong, West Chester Township Board of Trustees chairman from Ohio, made waves during an on-camera meeting when he lifted his shirt to display scars he received during his service in the U.S. Army.
Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos is endorsing President Joe Biden’s focus on building up the country’s infrastructure and says the company even supports a corporate tax rate hike to help pay for it.
With more similar services on the market, there are questions if TikTok can remain king especially as it chases after advertiser dollars.
Vineyard Wind CEO Lars Thaaning Pedersen spoke to Cheddar about beginning production of its wind power farm off the coast of Massachusetts.
President Joe Biden is set to announce that he's shaving about two weeks off his May 1 deadline for states to make all adults eligible for coronavirus vaccines.
