Virginia’s colleges and universities brace for major accreditation overhaul

Virginia’s colleges and universities may soon face heightened competition and political scrutiny, educators and related groups say, as the U.S. Department of Education advanced...

Abigail Spanberger vetoes cannabis bill, stalling legal sales again

Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have created Virginia’s long-delayed adult-use cannabis retail market, halting an effort lawmakers spent months negotiating...

Fairfax County Master Gardeners Observe 50th Anniversary of Local Horticulture Programs

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Fairfax County Master Gardeners have reached the milestone of fifty years of activity centered on horticulture, education, and efforts related to hunger. The group...

Virginia House Bill 50 Proposes Study on Cricket as Sanctioned High School Sport

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In the 2026 session of the Virginia House of Delegates, a bill was introduced that would encourage the Virginia High School League to conduct...

Special Education Issues at Stonebridge High School Prompt Community Discussion in Loudoun County

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Special education students in Loudoun County have been described as facing an alarming state of affairs within the public school system. Parents from Stonebridge...

Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee Declines to Oppose Three Proposed Constitutional Amendments

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RICHMOND, Va. — The Republican Party of Virginia’s State Central Committee has voted to take no official position on three constitutional amendments that will...
A view outside the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus Academic Building One in Alexandria. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

Governor Abigail Spanberger fires Virginia Tech Rector Rocovich, appoints Dominion Energy’s Edward Baine as...

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Gov. Abigail Spanberger has removed Rector John Rocovich from Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors, citing misconduct in a letter sent Wednesday. On Thursday, she announced...
If state leaders don’t finalize the budget by July 1, Virginia school leaders say there will be insufficient funding for special education, at-risk students, educator compensation and student services. (Photo by Getty Images)

Virginia budget impasse threatens school funding, poses potential staffing challenges

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If state leaders don’t finalize the budget by July 1, Virginia school leaders say there will be insufficient funding for special education, at-risk students,...
The Virginia House chamber during a special session at the Capitol in Richmond last month. Lawmakers adjourned without reaching agreement on the state's biennial budget, leaving negotiations unresolved ahead of a planned June return to Richmond. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

Virginia lawmakers are set to return to Richmond as budget deadline nears

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Virginia lawmakers are set to return to Richmond this month for another attempt to reach a budget deal, with just days until the start...

Jason Miyares Addresses Fairfax County Immigration Enforcement Issues

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Jason Miyares has spoken regarding Fairfax County sanctuary policies and their connection to crimes involving an illegal alien. The discussion focused on events in...

Virginia House Advances Legislation Updating Historical Horse Racing Revenue Distribution

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In the 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly, the House of Delegates approved House Bill 49, a piece of legislation that modifies the...

Virginia House Advances Bill Expanding Uses of Passenger Vehicle Fees for Local Emergency Medical...

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Virginia lawmakers have moved forward with a proposal to update how local communities can spend money collected from fees on certain types of vehicles....

Fairfax County School Board Reviews O-Days Policy on Assessments

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Fairfax County School Board members engaged in a debate regarding O-Days and their role within the school calendar. The session addressed questions about whether...

Questions Raised on Fairfax County ICE Notification Practices

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Stacey Kincaid and Steve Descano have addressed their practices concerning notifications to ICE in Fairfax County. The officials have maintained that certain legal considerations...

Testimony Raises Concerns Over Special Education at Stonebridge High School

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A parent associated with Stonebridge High School provided public comments at a Loudoun County School Board meeting. The remarks centered on the status of...
Dominion Energy offices in Richmond, Va. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury)

Is Dominion’s plan to merge with NextEra good or bad for Virginians?

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Man, even the Pope doesn’t like data centers. In his new encyclical on artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV laid out the dangers of the mad...

Legislation to Incorporate Inflation in Virginia Real Property Tax Assessments

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In the ongoing efforts to refine local government financing in Virginia, Delegate Joseph McNamara has introduced House Bill 68 during the 2026 Regular Session...

Traffic Detour Plans Set for PWC Parkway and Minnieville Road Intersection

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A major traffic adjustment is scheduled to begin at the intersection of PWC Parkway and Minnieville Road in July. This shift will introduce new...

Prince William County Lowers Real Estate Tax Rate, But Average Homeowner Bill Still Rises

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The Prince William County Board of County Supervisors approved its Fiscal Year 2026 budget on April 22, 2025, including a reduction in the real...

Virginia Legislature Advances Offshore Wind Workforce Training Initiative

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The Virginia General Assembly has approved a new law intended to equip the state's workforce with the skills necessary for the offshore wind industry....

Legislative Remarks on Judicial Balance in Virginia

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William Stanley spoke about the influence of politics on the scales of justice during a public address. He described situations in which fairness in...

Virginia Senator Ryan McDougle Discusses Concerns Over Ballot Language and Policy Costs

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Senator Ryan McDougle delivered comments in the Virginia Senate regarding aspects of the legislative process that he characterized as involving trickery. His remarks centered...
A rendering of the proposed Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center. (Photo courtesy Dominion Energy)

SELC appeals to state supreme court over SCC approval of Dominion’s Chesterfield gas plant

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The Southern Environmental Law Center, representing the Chesterfield County branch of the NAACP, Appalachian Voices, and Mothers Out Front, on Wednesday filed an appeal...

Hakeem Jeffries Signals Democratic Push to Reinstate Virginia’s Rejected Congressional Map for 2028

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has indicated that Democrats plan to pursue restoration of a congressional redistricting plan in Virginia that was struck...

Thousands of Virginians will regain the right to vote next month

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Virginia resident Tati King, a former felon who helped lead a major lawsuit to win back his and others' voting rights, stands outside of...

Prince William County Public Schools Advances $2.9 Billion Budget Following Board Deliberations

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In the public meeting, a board member addressed the assembly, noting that the schools employ more individuals than any other entity in Prince William...

Fairfax Case Involving Hiram Baca Daniel Rodriguez Raises Questions on Plea Deal Outcomes

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The case of Hiram Baca Daniel Rodriguez, a repeat offender in Fairfax County, has drawn attention to prosecutorial practices in the office of Commonwealth...

Spanberger weighs legislation to allow class action lawsuits in Virginia courts

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(Photo by Getty Images) Gov. Abigail Spanberger is weighing whether to sign or veto legislation that would, for the first time, allow Virginians to file...
Red Onion State Prison in Wise County. (Photo courtesy of Virginia Department of Corrections)

Bill to bar out-of-state transfers to Red Onion vetoed, lawsuit on living conditions set...

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Red Onion State Prison, a Southwest Virginia correctional facility, has come under scrutiny in recent years for inmates’ allegations of racism, retaliation and abuse,...
Blue crabs from the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach in May 2025. (Photo by Katherine Hafner/WHRO)

Chesapeake Bay sees increase in juvenile blue crabs, drop in adult females

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For the last five years, populations of juvenile blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay had struggled to thrive. From 2010 to 2023, the population...

Fairfax County Steve Descano and Stacey Kincaid Under Scrutiny Following Fatal Stabbing of Stephanie...

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Hybla Valley, Va. — The February 23, 2026, stabbing death of 41-year-old Stephanie Minter at a Northern Virginia bus stop has intensified national debate...

FOIA Lawsuit Reveals Fairfax County School Board’s Closed-Door Approval of Staff Compensation Increases

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The Fairfax County School Board comprises Chair Sandy Anderson, Karl Frisch (Providence District), Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill District), Rachna Sizemore Heizer (Braddock District), Mateo...
Activists rally outside Richmond City Hall last August, holding signs and calling for an end to what they describe as aggressive immigration enforcement tactics in Virginia. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury)

Spanberger’s ICE actions deepen divide with Virginia Democrats

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Gov. Abigail Spanberger within just 24 hours vetoed two legislative packages aimed at limiting federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in Virginia while simultaneously...

10th-Grade Student Testifies at Fairfax School Board on Risks of Early Smartphone Use

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According to the student's remarks, attachments to stuffed animals develop gradually over years, but smartphones forge similar yet more intense dependencies almost immediately due...

Time for New Leadership: Loudoun’s Bloated FY 2027 Budget

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Loudoun County has released its proposed FY 2027 budget, and it sends a clear message: business as usual continues. The County Administrator is proposing a 5%...
A sign outside of a Dominion Energy office building in downtown Richmond. (Photo by Ned Oliver/ Virginia Mercury)

Dominion just can’t kick its fossil fuel addiction

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Flush with success after the SCC ignored legal deficiencies and approved the company’s plan for a large gas peaker plant in Chesterfield, Dominion Energy...
A sign showing opposition to the Valley Link transmission project May 2026. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)

Preservation, environmental groups say Valley Link transmission line risks Virginia’s natural resources

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Ten historic preservation and environmental groups are cautioning against the potential impacts of the proposed high-powered Valley Link transmission line that will span 115-miles...

Justice High School Rowing Team Addresses Cost Barriers and Equity Issues in Fairfax County

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Rowing functions as a club sport adhering to Virginia High School League standards within Fairfax County Public Schools, relying on participant fees, boosters, and...

Supervisor Pat Harrity Highlights Support Needs for Autistic Adults in Workforce

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Supervisor Pat Harrity of Fairfax County has spoken about the significance of Autism Acceptance Month in drawing attention to support services for autistic adults....
The Virginia General Assembly Building in Richmond. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury)

Virginia revenues surge despite job losses amid budget standoff

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Virginia’s economy is showing increasing signs of strain from slower job growth, rising inflation and weakening consumer confidence, even as state revenues continue exceeding...

Loudoun County Examines Pay for Substitute School Bus Drivers

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Substitute bus drivers serving Loudoun County Public Schools perform duties that include extra safety procedures and routine pre-trip inspections, setting their work apart from...

Abigail Spanberger signs rideshare safety bills tightening driver-checks, in-app protections

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(Photo courtesy of Uber) Gov. Abigail Spanberger has signed legislation aimed at tightening safety standards for rideshare services in Virginia, accelerating new requirements for driver...

Loudoun County Teams Advance to World Championships in Odyssey of the Mind and Robotics

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Students from Loudoun County schools have qualified for the World Championships in Odyssey of the Mind and Robotics. The teams earned their spots through...
The Commonwealth Transportation Board met in the city of Alexandria on May 19-20, 2026. (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)

$193M shortfall with construction funds Virginia transportation board

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The Commonwealth Transportation Board voted to transfer funds from construction projects and other areas to address a $193 million budget shortfall caused by increased...

Tensions Escalate at Fairfax County School Board Over Transparency in Tech Contract Discussion

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The Fairfax County School Board comprises 12 members: Sandy Anderson, Chair, Springfield District; Karl Frisch, Providence District; Melanie Meren, Hunter Mill District; Robyn Lady,...

Loudoun Education Foundation Highlights Collaborative Efforts with Loudoun County Public Schools to Enhance Student...

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These initiatives span categories including programs for students, support for educators, key events, and collaborations with various organizations. The foundation, which engages the community...

Franklin City Speaker Addresses Community Role in School Funding Discussions

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During a session held in the City of Franklin Virginia municipal chamber, a speaker outlined approaches for residents to become more active in matters...

Fairfax County Data Shows Releases of Deportable Individuals Despite Detainers

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Available reports detail that Fairfax County holds a national ranking of third when it comes to the release of deportable individuals even when Immigration...

Norfolk Police Officers Allege Retaliation After Raising Concerns Over Transgender-Identified Male Recruit in Women’s...

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NORFOLK, Va. — Female officers at the Norfolk Police Department say they faced suspensions and career threats after objecting to a transgender-identified male recruit’s...

Survey Data Highlights Concerns Over Fairfax County Schools’ Early Release Days and Absenteeism Trends

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The discussion centered on Fairfax County School Board matters, with the board comprising Chair Sandy Anderson of Springfield District, Ricardy Anderson of Mason District,...

Virginia governor signs Dominion-backed bills. All eyes on regulators now.

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RICHMOND, Va.—Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed legislation that directs regulators to assign electricity costs to data centers and allows Dominion Energy to spend...

New state law mandates review of Dominion’s load forecasting, as data centers raise concerns

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Virginia State Corporation Commission members hear testimony concerning Dominion Energy's proposed rate increase and plan to create a new rate class for data centers...