Lawsuit
- 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.
- King George school board settles suit, will allow middle school LGBTQ+ student club
(Illustration by mustafahacalaki/Getty Images) King George County Schools will now allow sixth- to eighth-grade students to form non-curricular clubs, including one supporting LGBTQ+ students, after the school board settled with the families of two students who said the school did not allow them to form the LGBTQ+ club previously, according to a Monday announcement.
- Franklin Officials Weigh Closed Street Transfer and Tax Revenue
City of Franklin leaders debate whether conveying a closed street segment to an adjacent owner would generate taxes or create an unwanted free-property precedent.
- Attorney General Jones Permanently Blocks Federal SNAP Penalties Targeting Virginia
A federal judge in Oregon made a multi-state injunction permanent, shielding Virginia from steep SNAP fines and clarifying food aid for certain lawful permanent residents.
- Bristol building owners continue to fight legal battle against abortion clinic
The landlords of Bristol who tried for two years to get the abortion clinic out of their building have appealed the dismissal their lawsuit against clinic owner.
- 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.
- Franklin County Jury Awards $750,000 in Smith Mountain Lake Housing Discrimination Case
A Franklin County jury awarded $750,000 to two families that were evicted after the campground owner discovered one family member was Black.
- New guidance limits voting disqualifications to murder, manslaughter convictions
Among Virginians who are no longer incarcerated, only those convicted of murder and voluntary or involuntary manslaughter remain disqualified from voting under new guidance from the Virginia Department of Elections.
- Trump administration moves to steer homelessness grants toward treatment and enforcement
A campsite is seen in Anchorage, Alaska, last year.
- Judge John Gibney Upholds Ruling That Virginia Cannot Automatically Strip Felons of Voting Rights
On Monday, a federal court reaffirmed a January ruling that found that Virginia’s current practice of disenfranchising all people with felony convictions violates post-Civil War laws that required former Confederate states to guarantee voting rights for newly emancipated Black re
- Judge affirms ruling in favor of former felons in voting rights lawsuit
Despite winning a lawsuit earlier this year that found that certain Virginians with felony convictions should not have lost their voting rights, some Virginians missed their chance to vote in congressional primary elections earlier this month. But a new ruling from U.S. District Court Judge John Gibney means that they will be able to vote […]
- Montgomery County court to decide if Spanberger’s removal of Virginia Tech board member was lawful
A Southwest Virginia circuit court will consider whether a sitting governor’s decision to remove a college governing board member was legal, a rare type of case in the commonwealth. In June, John Rocovich, one of the longest-serving governing board members in Virginia Tech’s history, filed a civil lawsuit in Montgomery County Circuit Court challenging Gov. […]
- 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 […]
- Virginia resident seeks answers from state education superintendent over genocide definition
A Virginia resident is asking a Prince William County district court to order the state’s superintendent of public instruction to demonstrate how the Virginia Department of Education defines the term “genocide” in the state’s K-12 history curriculum. Prince William resident Gene Sokolowski filed a FOIA lawsuit in his county district court, alleging that Superintendent of […]
- Governor seeks participants for new corrections council to help shape Virginia prison reforms
Angel DeJesus spent much of his adolescence involved with Virginia’s Department of Juvenile Justice and a chunk of his adulthood in Virginia Department of Corrections facilities. He’s now a public speaker and youth mentor, after being pardoned by former Gov. Ralph Northam in January 2022. When he learned that Gov. Abigail Spanberger is assembling a […]
- Hampton Roads tenants describe landlord’s abuse, retaliation after landmark fair housing settlement
A new settlement with Hampton Roads landlord David Merryman — who is currently serving a 17-year sentence for defrauding the federal government — means several of his former tenants will receive a piece of $2.5 million in financial compensation over the next year. Merryman must sell his Virginia properties, numbering over 60, and can never […]
- Franklin County officials have privacy agreements while deliberating a data center, resident FOIA shows
A Freedom of Information Act request by Franklin County residents revealed county officials entered into confidentiality agreements with an unnamed company related to a proposed data center project the local government is currently weighing. WFXR reported that local residents said they felt left out of the approval process because it appears substantial discussion about the […]
- Shenandoah School Board violated students’ civil rights by reinstating Confederate names
A federal judge ruled Thursday evening that the Shenandoah County School Board broke federal civil rights laws when it brought back Confederate school names two years ago, and ordered the monikers be removed promptly. The Virginia State Conference of the NAACP and families of six students had challenged the school board for renaming two schools […]
- 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 […]
- Pro-data center industry group behind ad campaign in Virginia
Just days before the Oregon Legislature in March passed a one-year pause on a popular tax incentive program for data centers, a group called Oregon Connects registered as a nonprofit business in the state. Then the ads started appearing. “From homes to hospitals to businesses, Oregon’s data centers are unlocking a smarter power grid for […]
- Brown water, dust and loud noises: Louisa homeowner sues Amazon over data center construction
From the driveway of his Louisa home and business, Austin Newsome sees dozens of dump trucks barrel down Route 33 most days, hauling dirt and other debris. The road is stained rusty red from the soil displaced by the construction of Amazon’s latest data center campus in the county. One day, Newsom said, his neighbor […]
- Goochland residents rebuff data center developer Tract ahead of permit application
On Thursday evening, dozens of Goochland residents donned red t-shirts and held signs that spelled out their displeasure with the idea of multiple data centers being built in the county’s technology overlay district that butts up against Mosaic, a 55+ neighborhood that hosts over 500 homes. “We want to make sure that everyone understands that […]
- National landlord with property in Virginia accused of housing discrimination
Civil rights complaints filed in Virginia and other states allege that Greystar, a national apartment management company, has violated fair housing laws by rejecting prospective tenants that use housing vouchers to help pay their rent. An investigation by nonprofit watchdog Housing Rights Initiative found over 100 instances where properties managed by Greystar in Virginia, Maryland, […]
- 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 […]
- 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 […]
- Fight-or-Flight at Six Years Old: One Girl’s Lawsuit Accuses Virginia of Betraying Children With Disabilities
Ava is six years old. On good days she can sit for a short stretch of time with a favorite book or a quiet activity, her small hands moving carefully, her focus intact for a few precious minutes. On harder days the world itself feels too loud, too bright, too unpredictable. Fluorescent lights hum. Classroom […]
- Montgomery County Finalizes Acquisition Deal for White’s Ferry Maryland Operations
Montgomery County officials announced they have reached a deal with the owners of the Maryland side of White’s Ferry. The agreement involves the purchase of ferry operations and associated dock facilities. This development follows years of closure that began in December 2020 after a legal dispute over the Virginia landing. The ferry previously connected Montgomery […]
- Virginia Lawmakers Approve Reforms to Underinsured Motorist Insurance Claims Process
The Virginia General Assembly has passed and the governor has signed into law House Bill 107, which introduces important changes to how underinsured motorist benefits are handled in the Commonwealth. The legislation, which amends sections 8.01-66.1:1 and 38.2-2206 of the Code of Virginia, focuses on clarifying procedures for settlements involving liability insurance and the subsequent […]
- Spanberger unveils reformed practices for Va. prisons and council on corrections
A new council convened by Gov. Abigail Spanberger aims to help solve longstanding issues in Virginia’s prisons that residents and correctional officers have expressed concerns about for years. The Governor’s Community Partnership Council On Corrections, which Spanberger announced Tuesday, will bring together representatives from advocacy groups, faith-based organizations, healthcare and public saf
- 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 […]
- 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, […]
- Virginia’s abortion amendment faces legal challenges over procedural step, language
A legal challenge to Virginia’s pending reproductive rights amendment is headed toward a hearing later this month, with potential implications for two other pending constitutional amendments. At the center of Bansley v. Nardo is an argument that the clerk of the House of Delegates, Paul Nardo, failed to send copies of the amendment to circuit […]
- Judge weighs future of Stone Wall Jackson Highschool in Shenandoah County
Shenandoah County is awaiting a closely watched court decision over whether the names of Confederate figures should remain on several school buildings, a dispute that has reignited debate over history, race and educational equity in Virginia schools. Some residents view honoring Confederate generals, including Turner Ashby, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, as an […]
- ‘It’s outrageous’: Spanberger navigates budget fight, Democratic unrest six months into governorship
Back in January, Gov. Abigail Spanberger arrived in office promising pragmatism, affordability and a less combative style of politics. Fast forward a few months, and Virginia’s first woman governor finds herself navigating one of the rockiest starts to a Democratic administration in years, with budget negotiations intensifying weeks before a shutdown deadline, frustration simmering inside […]
- Residents wrangle over transmission line proposal for rural Virginia
GOOCHLAND, Va.—Deborah Blackburn leaned on her cane in a line to enter the Central High Cultural and Educational Complex, angst-ridden over a giant transmission line proposal for reasons that are common refrains here: It’s all to benefit data centers in Northern Virginia, and it will disrupt the rural character here outside Richmond. “We don’t want […]
- Virginia joins lawsuit to block EPA rollback of emission standards
Attorney General Jay Jones has joined 13 other attorneys general in a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its proposal to repeal emissions standards for ethylene oxide, or EtO — a chemical often used by commercial sterilization facilities for medical supplies and considered one of the most toxic chemicals regulated under the Clean […]
- Thousands of Virginians will regain the right to vote next month
Virginia resident Tati King, a former felon who helped lead a major lawsuit to win back his and others’ voting rights, stands outside of Virginia’s Capitol. (Photo courtesy of Phuong Tran/ACLU of Virginia) Tati Abu King, who was formerly incarcerated for a felony, has been waiting years to be able to vote again. A court […]
- Bill to bar out-of-state transfers to Red Onion vetoed, lawsuit on living conditions set for trial
Red Onion State Prison, a Southwest Virginia correctional facility, has come under scrutiny in recent years for inmates’ allegations of racism, retaliation and abuse, claims partially supported by a state probe earlier this year. Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed on Tuesday a bill that aimed to solve some of these issues. Senate Bill 218, sponsored by […]
- 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 [
- Fairfax County School Board Member Raises Concerns in Debate Over Leadership Role
The appointee in question appears to be Kyle McDaniel, who was elevated to Vice Chair of the Budget Committee earlier in March 2026. McDaniel faces an active lawsuit from Blue Label Aviation, his former employer, alleging embezzlement of $175,000, misuse of funds at strip clubs, and attempts to steal airplanes worth $1.5 million. The suit […]
- Virginia House Debates SB727: Bill Banning Assault Firearm Carry in Public Passes Amid Controversy
Tom Garrett described initial shock upon reading the text, which bars carrying such weapons ‘about his person’ in public areas. He employed a Venn diagram to demonstrate overlaps: Northern Virginia pickup truck owners, rural firearm owners, and recreational shooters/hunters. A limited exemption for hunting or target practice, he argued, fails to exempt most scenarios, like […]
- Local governments race to attract data centers, often in spite of concerns from their constituents
Marvell data center is one of eight newly approved data center campuses in Culpeper County. (Photo by Evan Visconti/Virginia Mercury). Data centers — proposed beside town centers, on generational farmlands, in view of cemeteries and next to Civil War battlegrounds across Virginia — are testing local governments’ ability to regulate industrial land use. Concurrently, the […]
- New court challenge targets Virginia abortion amendment ballot language
Family Foundation president Victoria Cobb speaks alongside lawyers and plaintiffs in a case challenging Virginia’s pending ballot referendum to enshrine reproductive rights into the state’s constitution on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) Tazewell County makes news once again — this time over a second lawsuit challenging a proposed constitutional amendment that […]
- Abigail Spanberger signs bill forcing Virginia schools to add ‘Restorative Disciplinary practices’ before suspending students
Abigail Spanberger, the Virginia governor, signed into law a state bill that was passed by her Democratic colleagues. The bill prohibits public schools in Virginia from suspending or expelling a student before they have considered “restorative disciplinary practice” such as “peer mediation” and a “restorative circular.” Schools that do not use such practices are required […]
- 10 questions and answers about Virginia’s redistricting referendum
(Photo illustration by States Newsroom) Virginians will head to the polls Tuesday to approve or reject a closely watched constitutional amendment that could reshape the state’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 elections. The standalone spring referendum will cap months of legal battles, political messaging and unusually high early voting interest. The vote follows a […]
- Virginia Democrats’ 10-1 map proposal heads to Gov. Spanberger’s desk
Virginia’s General Assembly approved a proposal to redraw the congressional map, which favors Democratic candidates for 10 of 11 commonwealth districts. Next stop for the prototype redistricting is the Democratic Governor. Abigail Spanberger’s desk. The governor can sign the entire bill, veto a specific item, amend the legislation, or choose not to act at all. […]
- Prince George resident files lawsuit against apartment management over mold
Lauren Stephenson, wearing a mask to protect her face, pointed out the new wood that was installed along the baseboards of her kitchen cabinetry. This is one of many spots in her apartment located at Jefferson Pointe, Prince George County, where black mold had been growing. Other spores were found inside cabinets, on windowsills, and […]