Policy
- 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 […]
- Virginia House Debates Leadership Structure for New Distributed Energy Resources Task Force
Helmer’s comments focused on Recommendation 3 within the bill, arguing that board-chosen leadership aligns with standard practices for such advisory groups. The exchange highlighted procedural nuances in establishing the task force, which would include representatives from utilities like Dominion Energy, environmental organizations, local governments, and industry experts. These entities are pivot
- Debate Heats Up in Fairfax County Over Recommending Smartphone Delay for Children Until 8th Grade
Proponents argue that early smartphone introduction fosters addiction, comparable to other compulsive behaviors, impairing impulse control and daily functioning. Behavioral challenges manifest as increased irritability and reduced social skills, compounded by cyberbullying prevalent on social platforms. Sleep quality declines due to screen-emitted light interfering with circadian rhythms, resultin
- Virginia Marijuana retail plan in limbo after lawmakers reject Spanberger changes
In Virginia, the future of a legal, regulated market for adult-use marijuana remains in limbo years after possession was legalized. (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Five years after Virginia legalized simple adult possession of marijuana, lawmakers are at an impasse over how to finally stand up a legal retail market, after the General Assembly […]
- Prince William County’s Transit Operations: Funding Without General Fund Reliance and Comparison to Fairfax County
The system’s annual revenue totals about $30 million, sourced from mechanisms including local contributions and fares, with $20 million allocated from state grants and $10 million from other local streams. This covers the entirety of operations for services like OmniRide buses managed by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), which connects Prince William County […]
- 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 […]
- Virginia Legislation Seeks Modernization of Social Services Technology Systems
Virginia lawmakers are advancing legislation aimed at modernizing the technological infrastructure supporting the state’s administration of key federal benefit programs. House Bill 66, introduced in the 2026 session of the Virginia House of Delegates, directs the Department of Social Services and the Department of Medical Assistance Services to engage a third-party vendor to conduct a […]
- Fairfax County Parent Urges Superintendent Michelle Reid’s Resignation Over Alleged Mishandling of School Incidents
FCPS has faced multiple controversies during Reid’s tenure, which began in 2022 after her appointment by the Fairfax County School Board. One prominent issue involved Hayfield Secondary School’s football program, where state investigators confirmed violations of athletic recruitment rules. Dozens of players transferred from Freedom High School in Prince William County following a coach’s move. […]
- A new law will make it easier to build a tiny house in your back yard, starting next year
An ADU with alley access in Richmond’s Fan neighborhood. (Photo by Wyatt Gordon) Accessory dwelling units — which could be a tiny house on another home’s lot, a garage-turned-apartment, a carriage house, or an ‘in-law suite’ — will be easier to build beginning next year, following Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s signature of a new law this […]
- Hospitals are not closing down
This post was originally published on this site. The hospitals in the area say that they will continue to serve the region, despite possible cuts in Medicaid funding which were approved by Congress last year. Public Citizen, a report highlighted by Virginia U.S. Senators. Tim Kaine, Mark Warner and others stated that Sentara Halifax Regional […]
- Loudoun County Farmer Highlights Concerns on Agrotourism’s Impact on Rural Preservation
Rockland Farm’s history traces back over 200 years within the Rust and Brown-Devlin family lineage, including figures like Elizabeth Devlin. The site has weathered regional changes, such as legal issues surrounding White’s Ferry operations that halted service in 2020. Since launching his farm in 2020, Devlin has engaged with networks of seasoned Loudoun farmers committed […]
- Virginia General Assembly Debates Tax Treatment of Vacant Land Amid Housing Concerns
During the public session, one speaker advocated for reduced taxation on undeveloped parcels, arguing it would incentivize property owners and developers to improve the land. ‘Having a lower tax rate on vacant land encourages development and improvements,’ the speaker said, suggesting it could lead to more housing units entering the market. Counterarguments focused on fiscal […]
- Minimum Wage to $15 by 2028 Amid Close Vote
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Senate gave final legislative approval to House Bill 1 on March 4, 2026, passing the measure by a narrow 21-19 vote and sending it to Governor Glenn Youngkin for consideration. The bill, which incrementally raises the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by January 1, 2028, codifies the current […]
- Caste Legislation in the US is Not Emancipatory Reform
Recent efforts in the West, particularly in the United States, to legislate ‘caste’ as a protected category, similar to race, religion, and national origin, have elicited sharply divergent reactions. In academia and among human rights advocates, these measures have been celebrated as extending one of the world’s most ambitious affirmative action regimes: a modern state […]
- Trump Administration stops use of human fetal tissues in NIH funded research
This post was originally published on this site.The Trump administration announced on Thursday that human tissue from fetal tissues resulting from abortions cannot be used for research funded by the National Institutes of Health. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have funded fetal-tissue research for decades. The tissue that would otherwise be thrown out has been […]
- The Trump administration wants everyone to reapply for food stamps. What does that mean?
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ call for a close reexamination of the 42 million people who receive federal food aid has befuddled advocates and lawmakers, coming mere days after recipients began to see benefits that had been stalled during the government shutdown.
- WATCH: Abigail Spanberger, Asked Whether Boys Should Play in Girls’ Sports, Instead Rants About ‘Costs’
Abigail Spanberger was asked a yes or no question: Does she support biological boys playing in girls’ sports and using girls’ bathrooms? Instead, the Democratic Virginia gubernatorial hopeful gave a rambling answer before abruptly discussing rising costs. “Do you support trans women playing in girls’ sports and being in girls’ restrooms?” ABC 13’s Alexia Stanbridge […]
- Democrat Congressional Candidates make their pitch for the successor to Gerry Connolly
Local Democrats who are seeking to replace the late Rep. Gerry Connolly yesterday (Wednesday) sought to differentiate themselves from a crowded race by outlining their plans to represent Virginia’s eleventh Congressional District if they were elected.
- Winsome Earle Sears’ Op-Ed: Voters deserve honesty
By Lieutenant governor Winsome Earle Sears on December 16th 2024, in VaGovernor.
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Praises State Air Pollution Control Board’s Repeal of RGGI
For Immediate Release: June 7, 2023 Contacts: Office of the Governor: Christian Martinez, Christian.