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- Prince William County FY2027 Budget Expands Public Sector Workforce with 129 New Positions
The proposed FY2027 budget in Prince William County, Virginia, features significant investments in new staff across multiple governmental departments. The financial blueprint includes the addition of 129.28 new full-time equivalent positions within the local government structure. This substantial spending targets critical areas like public safety, special education, and environmental sustainabilit
- Loudoun County Adds 188 Staff Positions in $5.4 Billion FY2027 Budget
Loudoun County officials are preparing to implement a comprehensive $5.4 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year that includes significant workforce expansion. The FY2027 financial plan adds 188 newly hired staff positions distributed across 18 different municipal departments. This staffing increase is largely designed to support the opening and operation of new county facilities slated […]
- Virginia Delegate Jason Ballard Introduces Measure to Lower Fees for Concealed Handgun Permit Applications
Richmond, Virginia — During the 2026 session of the Virginia House of Delegates, Delegate Jason Ballard introduced House Bill 106. The legislation focuses on reducing the maximum fee that local law enforcement agencies may charge to process concealed handgun permit applications. Under the bill’s provisions, the overall maximum fee for obtaining a concealed handgun permit […]
- New Requirements for Handgun Storage in Unattended Vehicles, Virginia Legislature Approves Bill
Virginia Legislature Approves Bill Establishing Requirements for Handgun Storage in Unattended Vehicles The 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly concluded with the enactment of House Bill 110, which introduces new rules governing the storage of handguns in unattended motor vehicles. Sponsored by Amy Laufer, the bill was signed by the governor on April […]
- Prince William County Approves $21 Million Affordable Housing Investment in FY2027 Budget
Budget Approval and Housing Focus The Prince William County Board of County Supervisors recently approved a comprehensive municipal budget that includes a significant $5 million contribution to the local affordable housing reserve fund. This latest financial commitment brings the total county investment in affordable housing initiatives to $21 million spanning from fiscal year 2024 through […]
- Prince William County Navigates Complex Pension Liabilities in FY2027 Budget Negotiations
Rising pension liabilities and shifting retirement costs are significantly reshaping the financial landscape for Prince William County as officials navigate the upcoming fiscal year. The proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget highlights a complex scenario where general government pension costs are decreasing while school system retirement obligations are surging. These divergent financial trajectories h
- Virginia Bill Proposes Lower Fees for Concealed Handgun Permits
In the 2026 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly, Delegates Jason Ballard and Will Davis introduced House Bill 106 (HB 106). The legislation aims to reduce fees associated with obtaining or renewing a concealed handgun permit in Virginia by lowering the maximum amount local law-enforcement agencies can charge for background investigations. Current Fee Structure […]
- Virginia Enacts New Rules for Handguns Left in Unattended Motor Vehicles
The Virginia General Assembly has passed legislation that sets forth specific requirements for the storage of handguns in unattended motor vehicles. This bill, designated as House Bill 110, was approved by the governor on April 13, 2026, and will take effect on July 1, 2026, as Chapter 560 of the Acts of Assembly. The primary […]
- Virginia House Advances Firearm Transfer Rules in 2026 Legislation Amid Opposition
In the 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly, House Bill 93 emerged as a key piece of legislation concerning the handling of firearms by individuals subject to protective orders or convicted of certain domestic offenses. The measure modifies sections 18.2-308.1:4 and 18.2-308.1:8 of the Code of Virginia to establish stricter protocols for firearm possession […]
- The rush to pass legislation at the last minute has led to errors.
This post was originally published on this site.It’s not the fault of Democrats when they pursue bad policies, like infringing rights, increasing taxes, and letting criminals go free early. Rarely if ever, do last-minute legislative changes bring about anything positive. The majority party changed policy in order to fix serious problems that were not caught […]
- Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Virginia Over Semi-Automatic Rifle Restrictions
The United States Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit on July 1, 2026, against the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia State Police. The complaint challenges a newly enacted state law that bans the commercial purchase and sale of ordinary semi-automatic rifles. This includes AR-15-style firearms, which the department notes are owned by millions […]
- Democrats challenge Beyer in Va.’s 8th Congressional District, marred by federal layoffs
Everyone in Northern Virginia knows someone who was “DOGEd,” either laid off or otherwise impacted by sweeping cuts initiated through President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Virginia is home to nearly 200,000 federal workers; over 20,000 of them lost their jobs last year. The pain of those losses runs […]
- Justice Department Challenges Virginia Assault Weapons Law in Federal Court
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit on July 1, 2026, against the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia State Police. The suit challenges provisions of a state law that restrict certain semi-automatic firearms. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division announced the action, which targets bans on the purchase, […]
- New Law Sets Rules for Handguns in Unattended Motor Vehicles in Virginia
The Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate have passed legislation that sets new standards for storing handguns in unattended motor vehicles. House Bill 110 provides that no person shall leave, place, or store a handgun in an unattended motor vehicle when the handgun is visible to any person outside the vehicle. A violation of […]
- Virginia Republican Lawmaker Pushes for Expanded Workers’ Compensation Protections for Sheriffs and Deputies
In the 2026 session of the Virginia House of Delegates, Delegate Mitchell Cornett introduced legislation to expand critical workers’ compensation protections to sheriffs and deputy sheriffs across the commonwealth. The bill, HB130, sought to include these officers in the legal presumption that certain cancers developed after years of service are work-related. Current Law and What […]
- High-potency marijuana fuels state debates over psychosis and addiction risks
When her son was a teenager, Connecticut mom Amy Wadsworth said, he was the type of kid parents rarely worry about. He played sports, cared about his health and stayed away from drugs. In 2018, when he left West Hartford to start his freshman year at American University in Washington, D.C., she expected his biggest […]
- Virginia joins 21 states in opposing USPS gun mailing proposal
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones on Tuesday joined 21 other states in opposing a proposed United States Postal Service rule that would allow certain firearms to be sent through the mail, warning the change could undermine state gun laws and make it easier for prohibited individuals to obtain weapons. In a multi-state comment letter, the […]
- Virginia schools push for local tax option as aging buildings strain rural divisions
Every time storms threaten the Tidewater region, Superintendent David Daniel worries the next round of severe weather could cripple Mathews County Public Schools’ aging environmental system, forcing classroom closures and creating safety risks for students. In one case, the storm did just that. Moisture overwhelmed the elementary school’s heating, ventilation and cooling system, causing water […]
- Virginia braces for dangerous heat wave ahead of Fourth of July weekend
Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday urged Virginians to prepare for dangerous heat and humidity expected to blanket much of the commonwealth through the Fourth of July weekend, with forecasters warning heat index values could reach as high as 115 degrees in some areas. The National Weather Service said Virginia is expected to face a prolonged […]
- What’s in the water? What we know and don’t know about data center water discharge in Virginia
Data centers require a massive amount of water to cool their systems, which heat up as they process digital information through numerous computers and network servers. Systems that aren’t “closed loop” have to cycle out water that doesn’t evaporate. Most data centers in Virginia are permitted to discharge water into municipal wastewater systems, the same […]
- Valley Link Transmission Project: Proposed High-Voltage Lines Spark Debate Across Virginia and Beyond
A major infrastructure initiative known as Valley Link is advancing through planning stages to address growing electricity demand in the Mid-Atlantic region. Developed by Valley Link Transmission LLC—a joint venture of Dominion Energy, Transource (involving American Electric Power), and FirstEnergy—the project features 765kV transmission lines intended to enhance grid reliability. However, it has
- Virginia faces mental health provider shortages as Hampton Roads residents struggle to navigate care
By Yiqing Wang/WHRO A new national report found Virginia is facing “catastrophic” shortages in community mental health. Providers in Norfolk say many patients still struggle to know where to turn during a mental health crisis. The report from mental health policy group Inseparable found Virginians go out of network for mental health care six and a half […]
- Virginia House Bill 53 Proposes Adjustments to School Bullying Definition
The Virginia House of Delegates took up House Bill 53 during its 2026 regular session, focusing on adjustments to the definition of student bullying in public schools. The legislation, introduced on December 29, 2025, seeks to amend and reenact Section 22.1-276.01 of the Code of Virginia. Specifically, the bill addresses student bullying by adjusting the […]
- Dominion just can’t kick its fossil fuel addiction
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 is pushing its luck with a proposal for a massively bigger gas combined-cycle plant. The 3,000 MW facility slated for Cumberland County would be Dominion’s biggest fossil fuel plant ever, the […]
- Norfolk Police Officers Allege Retaliation After Raising Concerns Over Transgender-Identified Male Recruit in Women’s Locker Room
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 access to women’s locker room facilities, according to detailed accounts provided to Independent Women’s Features (IW Features), the investigative arm of Independent Women’s Forum. The incidents, which reportedly occurred in 2024 [
- The sheer waste of Virginia’s redistricting referendum staggers the conscience
Signs encourage voters to reject or approve a proposal to give lawmakers temporary power to redraw the state’s congressional maps outside the Hanover County Government Complex, April 18, 2026. The proposal passed April 21 by a slim margin, but the state Supreme Court overturned the amendment May 8. (Photo by Samantha Willis/Virginia Mercury) Friday’s unprecedented […]
- DOJ Civil Rights Division Launches Investigation into Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano for Alleged Discrimination in Favor of Illegal Immigrant Defendants
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has initiated a formal federal investigation into the Office of the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney, led by Steve Descano, examining whether its plea bargaining, charging decisions, and sentencing policies discriminate against U.S. citizens by providing preferential treatment to illegal immigrant defendants. The notification was sent to
- Inventory Uncovers Compliance Gaps in Loudoun County Venues Posing Public Safety Concerns
The review detected volume anomalies across the venues, described as warranting further investigation from both administrative and investigative standpoints. Officials noted that such discrepancies are not dismissed as insignificant but represent potential areas of concern requiring scrutiny. Enforcement actions have been linked to generating complaints, while numerous issues appear to exist witho
- March for Life abortion opponents hit the streets in Virginia March for Life
Attendees of Virginia March For Life in downtown Richmond on April 22, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) As the governor, advocates and lawmakers celebrated the new maternal health laws inside the Patrick Henry Building Wednesday morning, about 1,000 people gathered outside for the Virginia March for Life Hosted with support from the Family […]
- Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax kills wife, then himself, police say
Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax presides over the state Senate during the 2020 General Assembly session in Richmond; police say he fatally shot his wife early Thursday morning before taking his own life. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) Former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife, Cerina Fairfax, before taking his own […]
- Spanberger signs sweeping gun legislation reshaping Virginia’s firearm laws
Gun safety advocates at a Moms Demand Actions rally in Richmond. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) Just hours before a midnight deadline, Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Monday submitted a series of amendments to high-profile gun legislation passed by the General Assembly last month, while also signing several related measures into law. Taken together, the changes […]
- Ethiopian Orthodox Christians mark Easter in Washington with prayer and joyful family celebrations
This post was originally published on this site.WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – Dressed in all white, hundreds Ethiopian Orthodox Christians crowded into Washington, D.C.’s DSK Mariam Church, to sing hymns and pray in the ancient Ge’ez language, as well as to keep vigil during their Easter Sunday. Fasika, the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection, is celebrated a […]
- Virginia set to rejoin RGGI as utilities prepare to pass the cost back to ratepayers
A natural gas-fired power plant. (Photo by Getty Images) Virginia is poised to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative this summer, a move that could again add a monthly charge to electricity customers’ bills as utilities resume buying carbon credits. State officials expect the commonwealth to participate in the program’s September auction once regulations to […]
- US employers created 178,000 new jobs in March, a huge increase from the February low.
This post was originally published on this site.WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – American employers created 178,000 jobs in March, a surprising number after a dismal month of February. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.3%. The Labor Department announced Friday that the hiring of new employees was a positive sign after February’s loss of 133,000 positions. The […]
- Virginia Concealed Carry Reciprocity Reform Bill Falters in House Public Safety Committee
RICHMOND, Va. – Legislation aimed at tightening Virginia’s concealed handgun permit reciprocity standards met a roadblock in the House Public Safety Committee, where House Bill 24 was left in committee on February 18, 2026. The measure, introduced by Delegate Dan Helmer of Fairfax, sought to introduce a more rigorous evaluation process for out-of-state permits, potentially […]
- Polar Plunge Raises $76,000 for Special Olympics Virginia
The Special Olympics athlete Josh Norris declared, “Freezin’ with a purpose!”
- Virginia’s Energy Gamble: Higher Risk, Higher Costs, Less Reliability
Snowstorms and the Anxiety They Bring Snowstorms in Virginia are always a source of anxiety. When will roads get cleared so we can get back to work? What do we do with the kids until they go back to school when we still have to go to work? How do we feed and maintain the livestock? This […]
- Tom Dannan Controversy Brews in Fairfax’s Braddock School Board Race Amid ICE Ties and Democratic Endorsements
At the center of the storm is Democratic-endorsed candidate Tom Dannen, whose professional ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have raised eyebrows among voters
- Virginia’s “Affordability” Lie: How Democrats Turned Campaign Promises into a Tax Tsunami
“Affordability” — Just a Campaign Slogan Virginia Democrats barely waited for the ink to dry on their election victories before revealing what their version of “affordability” really means. Within days of taking unified control of state government, they began advancing tax proposals that would push Virginia toward the highest tax burden in the nation. The campaign rhetoric sounded […]
- Powerless by Design: How the Virginia Clean Economy Act Sacrifices Affordability for Ideology
The VCEA: A Partisan Law with Sweeping Energy Mandates In 2020, the Virginia Legislature passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) in a vote largely along party lines. Democrats voted for the measure, and Republicans voted against it. The legislation was signed into law by Democratic Governor Ralph Northam. Do Virginians know what this law […]
- RIP, Charlie Kirk, American Patriot and Friend of Israel
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old father of two and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed in broad daylight Wednesday at a Utah Valley University event.
- Chesterfield community members sustain opposition to proposed gas plant Dominion calls necessary
Members of the Chesterfield community gather before a DEQ meeting about the proposed Dominion Energy gas plant. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) “Enough is enough,” Jason Woodby said in a crowd of Chesterfield residents at the Department of Environmental Quality’s Aug. 7 informational meeting for a new Dominion Energy gas plant air permit. The utility […]
- Roanoke seeks to bring all city workers over $42K ‘living wage’ pay threshold
It was clear from the start of Roanoke’s tumultuous budget season this year that improving employee compensation for the city’s 1,643 full-time employees was a priority for new City Manager Valmarie Turner. “We must address the growing demands of our workforce, particularly when it comes to overtime or city employee compensation; ensuring fair pay for […]
- Why congressional redistricting is blowing up across the US this summer
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, left, and Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, right, listen as Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu speaks to reporters during a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters on Aug. 3, 2025 in Carol Stream, Illinois. Wu was with a group of Democratic Texas lawmakers who left the […]
- Martinsville fires city manager for cause following closed session
Aretha Ferrell-Benavides is no longer city manager following her termination, Thursday evening, by Martinsville’s city council. Following a closed session deliberation lasting more than two hours, councilors voted 4-1, with Mayor L.C. Jones casting the dissenting vote, to terminate Ferrell-Benavides for cause. In its motion before the vote, councilors related the termination to a number […]
- Fairfax City is considering expanding the ban on firearms in public places
Fairfax City Council, four years after a vote to prohibit firearms from public property and to ban them in the city, is now considering whether or not to extend these restrictions.
- Two Fairfax County Police Officers shot during Fair Oaks traffic stop, gunman killed
A gunfight broke out during a traffic check in Fair Oaks on Wednesday, leaving two Fairfax County officers wounded and one local man dead.
- Loudoun County Board of Supervisors ratifies collective bargaining agreement with SEIU
During its April 1, 2025, meeting, the Board of Supervisors ratified a tentative collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Virginia 512 and the Loudoun County government,
- Trump appointee fires Freddie Mac CEO
Bill Pulte was quick to launch a cleaning campaign when he was confirmed as the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency on March 13. According to reports, Pulte terminated Freddie Mac‘s CEO Diana Reid on Thursday. The website of the government-backed Mortgage Financing Provider lists Freddie Mac’s President Michael Hutchins, as interim CEO. Reid’s […]
- Armed Robbery at Leesburg Convenience Store
Loudoun County, VA (March 14, 2025) – The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is investigating an armed robbery that occurred this morning, Friday, March 14, 2025, at a convenience store in Leesburg.