Independent
- Newport News rape, sodomy convict granted geriatric parole after nearly 24 years
Rodney Jerome Jones, 61, was granted parole in August after serving decades on rape and forcible sodomy convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Chesapeake Regional may avoid criminal trial, but former OB-GYN Perwaiz’s patients are still suing
Chesapeake Regional Medical Center on Battlefield Boulevard.
- Man convicted of four counts of forcible sodomy in Hopewell granted parole after 30 years
Waverly Otis Robinson, 63, was granted parole in September after serving decades on four counts of forcible sodomy convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Fairfax County man convicted in 1998 stabbing death granted parole over family's opposition
Troy Demar, 53, was granted parole in September after serving decades on second-degree murder convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Virginia Beach man with long burglary record granted geriatric release after nearly 35 years
Michael McCoy Duncan, 62, was granted parole in September after serving decades on dozens of burglary and larceny counts convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Norfolk man, 71, with 1992 rape convictions and 2023 child-rape conviction granted parole
Clarence Eugene Billups, 71, was granted parole in September after serving decades on rape, including the 2023 rape of a child under 13 convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- 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.
- Staunton man convicted of 1990 rape and robbery granted parole after 32 years
John Michael Moran Jr., 56, was granted parole in September after serving decades on rape and robbery convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Richmond man serving life for 1989 first-degree murder granted parole; prosecutor supported release
Calvin Darnell Johnson, 61, was granted parole in September after serving decades on first-degree murder convictions, according to Virginia Parole Board records.
- Governor Spanberger Announces $615,000 in Virginia Main Street Grants to Revitalize Historic Commercial Districts Across 22 Communities
RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today announced $615,000 in grant awards to support 22 community revitalization projects across Virginia downtowns through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development’s Virginia Main Street program.
- Who Can Be Inside Your Virginia Polling Place on Nov. 3, and Who Can't
Virginia law strictly limits who may be inside a polling place.
- Governor Spanberger, Avio USA Break Ground on $500 Million Manufacturing Facility in Pittsylvania Creating 1,500 Jobs
HURT, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today joined Avio USA leadership for the formal groundbreaking of the company’s new $500 million manufacturing facility in Pittsylvania County that is projected to create more than 1,500 new jobs for Virginians in the region.
- Vindman faces crowded field and economic pressures in Virginia’s 7th District Congressional race
Pictured from left are candidates for the seventh congressional district race in Virginia: U.S. Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Woodbridge, Republican Douglas Ollivant and Libertarian Taner Lopez.
- Luria and Kiggans rematch in Va.’s 2nd Congressional District among most-watched races in nation
From left to right: U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, Democrat Elaine Luria, and independents Bishop Staten and Matt Baker.
- 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.
- Virginia to receive $353 million in landmark Meta child-safety settlement
Facebook parent company Meta has agreed to pay Virginia at least $353 million and adopt new safeguards for young users under a proposed multistate settlement over allegations that its platforms harmed children.
- 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.
- The School Choice Programs have SAVED taxpayers up to $45 billion
Democrat legislators use fear tactics to claim that school choice would bankrupt their state.
- Survey Finds Majority of Virginia Families With Children Face Food Insecurity
State-commissioned poll fills gap left by ended USDA hunger survey; food banks report rising demand and thinner donations.
- Early voting begins in Virginia, as Trump mail-ballot restrictions remain blocked
Early voting for the Nov. 3 midterm elections begins Friday, with a U.S. Senate race, all 11 congressional seats, three proposed constitutional amendments and numerous local referendums on ballots across the commonwealth.
- Meeting Unconstrained Virginia Data-Center Power Demand Will Be “Very Difficult” — Households Face Rising System Costs
December 2024 JLARC Report 598 finds unconstrained demand could double Virginia power need in a decade, new build rates look unachievable, and Dominion residential customers could see $14–$37 more per month in generation and transmission costs by 2040.
- Warner, Kaine and Local Candidates Push to End NDAs on Data Center Deals
Senators urge voters to put officials on the record as secrecy surrounds projects like Wood Haven Technology Park.
- Data Center Load Is Driving Capacity Costs — and Risk of Blackouts
WASHINGTON / RICHMOND — The Independent Market Monitor for PJM told federal energy regulators that the region’s capacity crisis is not a mystery.
- Loudoun’s Data Center Loop: Democratic Supervisors Greenlit the Boom. Ratepayers and Homeowners Face the Lines.
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — Northern Virginia already hosts the densest cluster of data centers on the planet.
- PJM Market Monitor Warns FERC: New Data-Center Loads Risk Customer Blackouts — Ghiorzi Backs Complaint
Monitoring Analytics’ November 2025 EL26 complaint says PJM is interconnecting large loads it cannot serve reliably; Loudoun’s Theresa Ghiorzi’s December comments tie the docket to Data Center Alley’s Democrat-built demand surge.
- Russell County Eyes Three or Four Data Centers on Reclaimed Moss Number 3 Mine
Oasis Digital Properties says power and clients still must line up while the industrial authority cites a nondisclosure agreement.
- Arlington School Board Candidates Clash Over Teacher Support and Safety
Incumbent Bethany Zecher Sutton and challenger James Rives debated discipline, resource officers and enrollment at a civic forum.
- Attorney General Announces 353 Million for Virginia in Meta Child Safety Settlement
The multistate deal requires Instagram and Facebook time limits, nighttime blocks and stronger age checks pending federal court approval.
- 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.
- Dominion and NextEra Pledge Extra Bill Credits and Jobs if Merger Is Approved
The utilities say average residential customers would get $10 monthly credits for four years under a revised package tied to their proposed $67 billion combination.
- Loudoun Supervisors Advance Proposed Yearlong Pause on New Data Centers
A temporary halt on new applications heads toward a final vote Oct. 13 as neighbors and electrical workers clash over growth.
- Virginia House Bill 1251 Fails in Subcommittee, Ending Push for Digital Right to Repair Act
House Bill 1251, the Digital Right to Repair Act, has stalled in the Virginia House of Delegates during the 2026 Regular Session.
- Loudoun County School Board Votes 5-3-1 Against Elementary School Resource Officers Expansion
Public commenters urged the board to support Sheriff Mike Chapman’s proposal, citing national statistics on mass shootings. Research from the Crime Prevention Research Center reports that 94 to 98 percent of mass public shootings occur in gun-free zones, where armed resistance is
- Data Center Bills Dominated This Year's General Assembly. Here's What Passed.
The rapid growth of Virginia’s data center industry was a key point of focus during the 2026 legislative session, as lawmakers sought to balance the sector’s benefits — including over $80 billion in state investments and thousands of jobs — against its enormous electricity and water needs, which are a growing concern for communities statewide. Legislators filed dozens of bills directly aimed at re
- Hemp businesses ask federal judge to block Virginia’s new THC cap
Seven Virginia hemp businesses are asking a federal judge to block new restrictions on consumable hemp products, arguing the changes will wipe out much of their inventory, trigger layoffs and force some companies to close when they take effect on Aug. 15. The lawsuit, filed July 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Western […]
- Independent report calls for campus safety overhaul at Old Dominion University after fatal shooting
An independent firm recommended Old Dominion University improve campus safety, threat assessment, emergency response, communications, and institutional processes in a report released Tuesday, after a fatal campus shooting killed an employee and injured multiple students in May. The report comes as the university prepares to welcome students back to Norfolk on Aug. 24, three months […]
- Advocacy Group Requests Steve Descano Recusal in Fairfax Supervisor Andres Jimenez Traffic Case
A local advocacy organization has formally requested the recusal of Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano from a pending reckless driving case. The case involves County Supervisor Andres Jimenez, who faces charges stemming from a May traffic stop where he was cited for driving 104 miles per hour in a 70-mile-per-hour zone. Virginians for Safe […]
- State Corporation Commission Chair Kelsey Bagot, Former NextEra Attorney, Declines to Recuse Herself From Merger Case
On Tuesday, Virginia lawmakers heard from utility regulation experts on the potential impact of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. If approved, the merger would create the largest electric utility in the country. In the days preceding this week’s Commission on Electric Utility Regulation meeting, legislators asked State Corporation Commission Chair Kelsey […]
- More states ban child marriage, including Virginia, though it’s still legal in most of the United States
After authorities rescued 16 children last month who had been confined to a single room in a home in rural Ohio, attention turned to their mother, who had been 15 and pregnant when she married their father. The child endangerment case has recharged a national conversation around child marriage, which is defined by the United […]
- State Corporation Commission commissioner, former NextEra attorney declines to recuse herself from merger case
On Tuesday, Virginia lawmakers heard from utility regulation experts on the potential impact of the proposed merger between Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy. If approved, the merger would create the largest electric utility in the country. In the days preceding this week’s Commission on Electric Utility Regulation meeting, legislators asked State Corporation Commission Chair Kelsey […]
- Testimony Presented to Virginia Senate on Guardianship Issues
Yolanda Bell provided testimony to the Virginia Senate regarding her sister Anastasia’s experience in a guardianship proceeding. She described how her sister lost everything and noted that exploitation was alleged in the matter. Bell stated that no attorney was obtained for Anastasia throughout the process. The account included the detail that Anastasia did not ask […]
- Virginia Medical Freedom Alliance Prepares Health Choice Summit Amid Ongoing Debates Over Medical Autonomy
The Virginia Medical Freedom Alliance (VAMFA), a nonprofit organization based in the Commonwealth, is set to host its Health Choice Summit on September 12, 2026, at the Founders Inn Conference Center in Virginia Beach. Titled “Health Choice: Liberation from Mandates” and associated with the theme “Operation Save Our Children,” the event is organized in partnership […]
- Spanberger takes unprecedented step to intervene in $67B Dominion-NextEra merger
Gov. Abigail Spanberger is stepping directly into the regulatory fight over the proposed $67 billion sale of Dominion Energy to Florida-based NextEra Energy, becoming the first Virginia governor to formally intervene in a case before the State Corporation Commission. Spanberger announced Thursday that she will seek intervenor status in the case, giving her administration the […]
- Fairfax County FY2027 Budget Introduces Police Oversight Consolidation and Expanded Land Use System Funding
The Fairfax County government is preparing to implement notable administrative reorganizations within its upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget. Local officials have outlined specific financial allocations aimed at restructuring police oversight and modernizing digital land development platforms. These changes include the establishment of a consolidated Office of Police Accountability and increased fun
- Manassas Council Member Tom Osina Enters Mayor’s Race
Manassas City Council member Tom Osina has formally announced his candidacy for mayor in the 2027 municipal election. Osina, who has held his council seat since 2020, brings a record of local governance to the contest. The announcement was made public through local media outlets covering Prince William County and surrounding areas. In his statement, […]
- Expert Testimony Examines Electromagnetic Field Levels Near Data Centers
Theodora Scarato provided testimony at a Montgomery County Council public hearing focused on a proposed moratorium for data center projects. She outlined conclusions regarding electromagnetic field exposure and its documented associations with health outcomes. The presentation referenced cancers in general and breast cancer in particular along with environmental considerations. Scarato cited indep
- He Cannot Speak With His Voice. Virginia’s Schools Still Wouldn’t Listen
Noah does not speak with his voice. He speaks with his hands, with the careful shape of signs his family has worked hard to learn, with the urgency in his eyes when something is wrong, and with the full weight of a body that needs constant, skilled attention just to stay safe. At school, at […]
- She Asked for Help. The School Answered With Suspension
Maya is thirteen years old and already exhausted by the gap between who she is and what the school day demands of her. She is bright. She wants to do well. After one of her hardest moments she wrote an apology, asked for alternatives, and said she wanted to be a good leader. Yet the […]
- Federal judge in Virginia says certain abortion drug restrictions are unlawful
A lawsuit filed in 2023 by abortion providers in Kansas, Montana and Virginia challenges the FDA’s restrictions on mifepristone as excessive, unwarranted and inconsistent with other legal requirements. A federal judge ruled Thursday that the federal agency didn’t sufficiently justify the Biden-era rules. (Photo by Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent) A federal judge in Virginia ruled Thursday […]
- Virginia’s Children With Disabilities Keep Crying Out. Their Leaders Keep Looking Away
She is eleven years old and already carries a weight no child should have to bear. On some mornings she still wakes with the quiet hope that today might be different — that the classroom will feel manageable, that the adults will notice when her body starts to tighten, that someone will offer the support […]