advocates
- Public hearings for the NextEra-Dominion merger have begun. Here’s what you need to know.
Dominion Energy offices in Richmond, Va. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury) Public hearings in the case to decide the fate of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and Florida-based NextEra Energy begin this week at the State Corporation Commission.
- Virginians protect gay marriage, voting rights and abortion rights in state Constitution
Virginians For Reproductive Freedom campaign director Han Jones gives a victory speech and cheers on supporters after Virginia voter opted to enshrine reproductive rights into the state Constitution on Nov. 3, 2026.
- Advocate Presses Loudoun Board to Keep Dominion Trail Community Intact
Former PTA president Bob Scheidler urges adoption of Plan 533 at an elementary attendance zone hearing to preserve bonds at the Ashburn school.
- What victims and prosecutors told the Parole Board before August's grants
Minutes of the Virginia Parole Board's Aug. 27 meeting record victim statements, prosecutor positions and each member's reasons in the 14 cases it granted.
- Loudoun County Official Advocates for Enhanced Transparency in Infrastructure Planning
Loudoun County Supervisor Julie Briskman spoke during a board session about infrastructure planning procedures.
- Study provides a remedy for coal dust in Newport News. Good luck getting terminal operators to pay.
This coal transfer terminal in Newport News sits close to many homes in the majority Black East End neighborhood.
- Virginia Committee Hears Push to Reform Failure-to-Appear Laws
Justice Forward Virginia urges lawmakers to limit felony charges for missing court dates linked to economic hardship.
- The simple affordability fix Virginia just can’t seem to make
Townhomes under construction in Richmond, Va. on May 15, 2026.
- Virginia Advocates Discuss Extension of Eviction Notice Periods
A public hearing in Virginia featured testimony on a bill that would extend the notice period for certain eviction proceedings from five days to fourteen days.
- Juvenile criteria, age and health: how September's parole cases were decided
The board weighed a new juvenile-offender procedure and geriatric eligibility in September, granting one juvenile case and denying another, and granting seven of 85 cases overall.
- Federal Judge Effectively Blocks New State Law Limiting Virginia's Cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Virginia from enforcing most provisions of a new law restricting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, allowing existing partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement to continue while the legal challenge plays out.
- As student well-being concerns grow, Va. advocates push for stricter school tech guidelines
Virginia parents and educators are urging leaders, including the Board of Education, to reduce excessive classroom screen time by considering a draft policy that prioritizes distraction-free learning, physical books, writing, and face-to-face interaction.
- Inside Virginia’s city halls, concerns, confusion rise with Flock surveillance protests
A Williamsburg resident in March asked the police department at the College of William & Mary how data collected by the school’s Flock Safety surveillance system is shared.