Debate
- Warner seeks a final term as Mizusawa makes his case for change
Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (left) faces Republican challenger Bert Mizusawa in his bid for a fourth term in the Senate.
- Mizusawa Accepts October Debates While Warner Remains Uncommitted
Bert Mizusawa, the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Virginia, announced that his campaign has accepted three debate invitations for October.
- Virginia Senate Reviews SB 707 on Dog Debocalization Limits
A Senate subcommittee examines legislation to restrict surgical debocalization of dogs to medically necessary cases only.
- Loudoun County School Board Approves LGBTQ+ History Month Proclamation
Loudoun County Public Schools adopted a proclamation designating October 2026 as LGBTQ+ History Month.
- After statewide tour, Virginia Lt. Gov. Hashmi officially opposes Dominion-NextEra merger
Lt. Gov. Hashmi is joined by two lawmakers in Richmond, VA on Oct. 6 2026 for a press conference announcing she is opposing the merger of Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy.
- Virginia Schools Face Funding Strain from Excused Student Absences
Superintendents Association representative Tom Smith details how excused absences reduce attendance-based funding for Virginia public schools during a K-12 Subcommittee discussion.
- Chesterfield Again Delays Vote on Using Data-Center Taxes to Cut the Car Tax
Supervisors pushed an ordinance that could drop the rate by at least $1 to Nov. 18, citing timing doubts as Google campuses await power.
- When Virginia’s congressional candidates don’t debate, voters get sound bites instead of substance
Basic civic literacy, which debates and candidate forums promote, is not even an afterthought for many political candidates in Virginia and other states, columnist Jim Spencer writes.
- Divorce becomes next battleground as Virginia, other states debate family values
Former Virginia Lt.
- Loudoun Schools Prepare Artificial Intelligence Classroom Pilot as Device Costs Surge Past 70 Percent
Board members split over Gemini Notebook trials at seven middle and high schools while Chromebook and staff laptop prices jump on chip shortages.
- 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.
- Data shows 94,000 Virginians have dropped their Affordable Care Act insurance since last year
The U.S. House will begin debate in committee this week on a bill that would cut Medicaid spending.
- Laura TeKrony Discusses Compensation Amid State Guidelines
Loudoun County Supervisor Laura TeKrony addressed the compensation structure for board members during a recent meeting.
- Loudoun Supervisor Caleb Kershner Addresses Solar Panel Effects on County Vistas
Loudoun County Supervisor Caleb Kershner addressed the effects of solar panel installations on the county’s scenic vistas during a recent discussion.
- Richmond Solar Deal for Nearly 40 City Buildings Heads to Full Council Amid $28M Exit-Fee Fight
Government Operations advanced a 25-year Secure Solar proposal with no recommendation after members demanded a fuller risk assessment before the Sept. 28 vote.
- Virginia health committee considers mandating licensed nurses in every school
A newly proposed legislative measure would require all school districts in Virginia to employ a licensed nurse in every school.
- Attorney General Jay Jones Asks Regulators to Reset Clock on Dominion-NextEra Merger
Jones says September supplemental filings — including four-year residential bill credits — create a different $67 billion deal requiring a fresh 180-day State Corporation Commission review period.
- Feds suggest parts of Bath and Highland counties as a critical habitat for the rusty-patched bumblebee
The little Bumblebee is considered a keystone specie because it helps the environment by pollinating.
- Lawmakers Eye Fix for 1% School Construction Sales Tax as 47 Localities Head to Voters
Newport News officials warn the 20-year sunset may not line up with bond issuance; Simonds and Rasoul open to more flexibility.
- Virginia’s Data-Center Boom Runs on Water and Diesel: Loudoun’s Billion Gallons and 8,910 Generators
Unconstrained Demand tallies Loudoun data centers above 1 billion gallons of water in 2023, statewide use above 2.1 billion, and 8,910 mostly Tier 2 diesel generators permitted for up to 500 hours a year.
- Virginia Faces $1.7 Billion Highway Maintenance Funding Gap
Virginia transportation officials are confronting a projected $1.7 billion gap in highway maintenance as costs rise and older roads, bridges and drainage systems require more work.
- CarMax Cuts About 145 Corporate Jobs, Including Roughly 60 in Richmond Area
Latest round hits tech, HR, product, accounting, and marketing as CEO Keith Barr’s tenure pushes a leaner headquarters model.
- Virginia has a new law that regulates the use of license plate readers
The General Assembly has decided to take action to curb the use of automatic license plate readers by law enforcement.
- Higher Standards of Learning Cut Scores Coming, but Not This Year, Virginia Board Says
Virginia Board of Education Members listening to Superintendent Emily Anne Gullickson at the board’s business meeting on Nov. 13, 2025.
- Want to weigh in on the Dominion-NextEra merger? Here’s where public hearings will be held.
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 on September 2, 2025 in Richmond.
- Virginia Panel Advances Plan for a Licensed Nurse in Every School by 2028
School Health Services Committee backs a nurse-per-building or per-325-students rule with two-year hiring waivers; November 18 vote would send the proposal to the 2027 General Assembly.
- Virginia Voters Face November Ballot Questions on Abortions and Marriage Equality
Two Article I amendments ask whether abortions and baby killing decisions and same-sex marriage should be locked into the state bill of rights beyond ordinary politics.
- EMF Fear Still Drives Virginia Power-Line Residue Fights as Democrat-Approved Data Centers Need New Steel
RICHMOND / LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — Electromagnetic fields are not a side conversation in Virginia’s transmission boom.
- Virginia Delegate Presses House for Car Tax Relief Amid Affordability Push
Delegate Terry Kilgore urges incremental repeal of the car tax during the 2026 legislative session, citing affordability goals and prior campaign commitments.
- Virginia Lawmakers Press for Tighter Oversight of Data Center Growth
A Virginia congressional proposal would give local governments more tools to manage data center growth, including clearer rules for electricity demand, water use and community impacts.
- Lynchburg City Council returns from its summer break to discuss the budget and meeting rules
The Lynchburg City Council will return from its seven-week break for a Tuesday work session and a general meeting.
- Early Voting Opens Across Virginia as Mail Ballot Fight Continues
Virginia voters can cast ballots early in the 2026 election while courts continue to weigh a dispute over federal limits on mail voting.
- Chesapeake Bay ospreys see worst breeding season on record
Dr. Bryan Watts, a researcher at William & Mary checks an osprey nest for eggs on the Ware River.
- Loudoun Supervisors Vote 7-1-1 to Advance Yearlong Data Center Application Pause
Staff must draft a resolution for a final October vote after Chair Randall frames the pause as time to rewrite local rules.
- Virginia Lawmakers Move Closer to Regulating Self-Driving Vehicles
A General Assembly workgroup is drafting a commercial autonomous-vehicle framework ahead of a Nov. 1 report for the next legislative session.
- Fairfax County Proposes Restoring High School Crossing Guard Funding
Staff recommend about $708,000 to bring back 11 crossing-guard posts after student crashes and parent outcry.
- Prince William Planners Recommend Ending By-Right Data Centers
The Planning Commission backed a smaller opportunity overlay, a 120-day grace period and a 500-foot buffer before a Sept. 22 board hearing.
- Virginia Lawmakers Move Closer to Regulating Self-Driving Vehicles
Virginia lawmakers are considering regulations to allow for autonomous commercial vehicles, which could shift companies from using gas to electric, self-driving vehicles.
- Virginia’s Medical Marijuana Program Logs Big Sales, but Patient Concerns Linger
Cannabis leaves.
- Virginia General Assembly Passes House Bill 357 Reforming Felony Arrest Bail Procedures
RICHMOND — The Virginia General Assembly has completed action on House Bill 357, sponsored by Delegate Katrina Callsen, which adjusts the conditions under which individuals arrested for felonies may be released on secured or unsecured bonds.
- Virginia House and Senate Move to Speed Up Career and Technical Education Teachers
Virginia legislators are taking on a major issue to meet the growing demand for skilled workers: the shortage in career and technical education teachers.
- Kelly Convirs-Fowler House Bill 188 Millionaire Income Tax Stalls in Committee
RICHMOND, VA – A proposal to impose a new 10 percent income tax bracket on earnings exceeding $1 million stalled in the House Finance Committee during the 2026 Virginia General Assembly session, after being incorporated into a broader tax measure that also failed to advance. House Bill 188, introduced by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler of Virginia
- Kelly Convirs-Fowler House Bill 189 on Standards of Learning Grade Weight Continued in Senate
RICHMOND, Va. – A bill seeking to eliminate the requirement that Standards of Learning test scores count toward at least 10 percent of final course grades for students in grades seven through 12 faced a significant setback in the Virginia Senate this week. House Bill 189, introduced by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler, passed the House of
- Kelly Convirs-Fowler House Bill 187 Codifies Virginia Beach 10-1 Council Charter
RICHMOND, Va. – Legislation to update the City of Virginia Beach’s charter, reflecting the shift to a city council composed entirely of single-member districts plus a mayor, has cleared both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly and now awaits final action following the governor’s recommendations. House Bill 187, introduced by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler with co-patrons
- As sports betting surges, Virginia weighs how to curb gambling harms
State Sen. Mike Jones, D-Richmond, left, and Dr.
- Louise Lucas and Don Scott Clash as Virginia Budget Talks Stall Over Data Center Tax Breaks
With just days remaining in the 2026 legislative session, Virginia lawmakers are running out of time to reach agreement on a new two-year state budget, even as Democrats control the governor’s office and both chambers of the General Assembly. As of Wednesday afternoon, budget con
- Louise Lucas Presses Data Center Tax Repeal After Virginia Senate Vote
RICHMOND (VA) (AP). Nearly 20 years ago, Virginia offered tax breaks to tech companies on software and equipment.
- Old Dominion University Shooter, Convicted of Islamic State Links, Released From Prison Only 2 Years Before Attack
Documents from the court show that less than two years after Mohamed Bailor Jalloh had been released from prison on charges of attempting to help the Islamic State, he opened fire in a class before ROTC students were able to subdue and kill him.
- Public Comment at Loudoun County School Board Highlights Concerns Over Renaming Committee Process
The speaker stated that the group is expected to prioritize input coming specifically from this area and put forward recommendations reflective of community sentiments. Concerns were raised about past processes that became highly political, prompting the board to commit to closely monitoring the current effort to ensure it discourages such maneuvering.
- School Resource Officers’ Training Highlighted in Loudoun County School Board Deliberations
School Resource Officer candidates complete more than 800 hours in police academy instruction, encompassing core policing competencies, followed by over 500 hours of supervised field training.