Virginia
- Can farmland thrive with solar? This Virginia nonprofit is finding out.
More than a decade ago, residents of Loudoun County, Virginia, banded together to buy up treasured open space before it became a strip mall and housing development, donating the land to the Piedmont Environmental Council instead. The nonprofit has maintained it as a unique blend of cattle pasture, a nature preserve, and a community farm that donates its yield to a local food pantry.
- Democrat Lawmakers in Virginia is 1 of just 3 states that passed license plate reader laws this year, despite widespread interest
Democrat Lawmakers in at least 16 states this year introduced bills to regulate the use of automated license plate readers responsible for collecting large amounts of data on drivers across the country.
- Earle-Sears and Spanberger spar over Jones’ text in their one debate
Gubernatorial hopefuls Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears and Abigail Spanberger, former Congresswoman, appeared on stage in person for the first time and probably only time during this election. They answered questions for one hour that ranged from the hated car tax to Jay Jones text messages to the Trump Administration and the ongoing shutdown of the federal government.
- House District 97, anchored in Virginia Beach, could determine party majority in House of Delegates
Just two years after House District 97 flipped from Republican to Democrat, the Virginia Beach district is being closely watched as a key race that could determine if Democrats will maintain their majority in the House, a hold they gained in 2023.
- Virginia community college enrollment down as career, technical education signups increase
The number of students registering for dual enrollment and career and technical education continues to grow in the commonwealth, but simultaneously, student enrollment at Virginia’s community colleges has declined by 7% over nearly a 10-year period, creating a financial strain on the system and negatively impacting smaller colleges, state researchers revealed Monday.
- Va. school divisions (Loudoun, Essex, and Northumberland) repay nearly $30 million in misused special ed funds; one division disputes
Three school divisions charged with misusing federal funds intended for students with disabilities have made nearly $30 million in total repayments, according to the state Department of Education, which will be returned to the federal government. Still, one division is actively disputing the charge.
- Tim Greenway, Former Roanoke county school board member faces charges for election-related infractions
Tim Greenway, who is running for reelection as a member of the Roanoke School Board this fall, was charged with a misdemeanor related to elections.
- Watershed mapping project shows rapid loss of forests, offers new view of Va.’s changing landscapes
Approximately 60% of Virginia is located inside the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and those communities now have access to an updated map that shows precisely how their landscapes are changing over time.
- Governor Glenn Youngkin Celebrates the Opening of Two New Lab Schools, 15 Now Serving Students Across Virginia
Governor Glenn Youngkin recognized two lab schools yesterday, the Isle Maritime Trades Academy (IMTA) and the Maritime Engineering and Environmental Studies Academy (MEESA), for their work in advancing the Commonwealth’s maritime industry workforce.
- Youngkin’s education board moves to toughen proficiency standards
Virginia students will soon face tougher academic expectations. Nearly a month after school leaders demanded greater transparency, the State Board of Education voted Thursday to support raising the benchmarks — or cut scores — for math and English, setting off a debate over how the changes will affect classrooms.
- Southwest Virginia lands $11M boost to reclaim abandoned coal mines
Southwest Virginia has been making strides to bring new life to abandoned mine sites. Millions of dollars have been invested in the region to plug the old coal mines, restore the land, and repurpose the space for economic development.
- GOP state Sen. Reeves launches 2026 US Senate bid, aims to unseat Warner
Virginia state Sen. Bryce Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, launched his campaign Wednesday for the U.S. Senate, setting up a high-stakes 2026 challenge to three-term Democratic Sen. Mark Warner.
- 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 […]
- GOP districts take early lead in Virginia’s first week of early voting
Early voting in Virginia began just last week, but the first wave of ballots already shows Republican-leaning House of Delegates districts pulling ahead of their Democratic counterparts.
- Hurricane Helene reshaped parts of Southwest Virginia’s landscape. New adaptations are underway.
On September 27th, 2024, floodwaters from Hurricane Helene that had already devastated North Carolina rushed through the hills and hollers of Southwest Virginia, uprooting timber, agriculture land, homes and businesses. The impact on the region’s natural resources can still be seen today.
- Virginia’s early voting season begins Friday, ushering in pivotal election
Early voting begins Friday in Virginia’s high-stakes general election, opening a six-week window for voters to cast their ballots in races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, all 100 seats of the House of Delegates and some local offices. This year’s early voting period arrives with several notable changes to state election law, including a shorter registration deadline and new re
- Spanberger’s Radical Energy Policy: Feels Good, Costs a Ton, and Built on Slave Labor
Spanberger’s Radical Energy Agenda On many occasions Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Abigail Spanberger has talked about her support for the Biden Administration’s environmental policies and the “importance of moving away from fossil fuels.” So, what does this really mean for the average Virginian family? For the last democrat governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, this meant a […]
- Migration patterns have changed. In Virginia, most rural counties are seeing a large influx of young adults.
Pulaski county seems to be thriving in an age when talent is seen as the key to success and the labor pool is shrinking.
- Glenn Youngkin Signature Sets Stage for Virginia Health Insurance to Cover in vitro fertilization Treatment
A bill that can help people start and grow their families through fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization will become law, after Gov.
- Winsome Earle-Sears On the Record
After four years presiding over the state Senate, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is attempting to make the leap to the governor’s mansion this fall. She is running on a platform of conservative values and her campaign largely mirrors the themes that brought Gov. Glenn Youngkin victory in 2021 — parents’ rights, fiscal responsibility and defending personal freedoms.
- Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association Endorses Winsome Earle-Sears, Jason Miyares and John Reid
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. — The Virginia Beach Police Benevolent Association (VBPBA) announced its endorsement of Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears, along with the entire GOP ticket, underscoring the importance of strong, principled leadership to keep Virginia’s communities safe. In its statement, the Virginia Beach PBA emphasized its independence from the statewide Virginia Police Be
- Hitachi Energy invests $457 million to create 825 new jobs in Halifax County
Hitachi Energy plans to invest $457m and create 825 new jobs on its South Boston Campus in Halifax County. The company will be building more power grid components as the demand for electricity is increasing rapidly.
- Ghazala Hashmi Has Long History of Smearing Her State’s Voters As Racist and Fascist
Whether you’re a parent who objects to sexually explicit books being shown in your kids’ classrooms, an opponent of discriminatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, or a rank-and-file Virginian, your state’s Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor thinks you’re a bigot.
- As Virginia Dept. of Education prepares for new academic benchmarks, education leaders call for more transparency
The Virginia Department of Education is facing calls for greater transparency regarding plans to raise academic benchmarks for students.
- Danville City Council will consider three budget amendments relating to the regional airport
The city council of Danville will discuss three budget amendments at its regular meeting on Tuesday at 7 pm. These amendments are to be used to fund projects and programs at the Danville Regional Airport.
- Virginia Natural Gas proposes rate hike, consumer advocates fear big impact on low-income homes
Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) residential users could see their utility bills increase by an average of over $8 monthly, if state regulators accept the company’s current proposal to make an interim rake hike permanent.
- Regulator approves electricity transmission line, towers in Alexandria to serve one data center
Bren Pointe residents in Fairfax County are closer to seeing steel transmission towers rise just outside their townhomes after Virginia’s regulators approved a new electricity line to serve a single planned commercial data center.
- Virginia eyes transgender athlete restrictions amid national legal battle
Virginia is advancing toward banning transgenders from competing on women’s sports teams, even as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to take up two cases that could set a national precedent.
- Virginia’s energy needs can’t wait. Now is the time for nuclear power and clean gas.
The Virginia Clean Economy Act was passed into law by the Governor of Virginia. Its supporters celebrated this bold step towards a future free from carbon. The ink had barely dried before the realities and assumptions of the 21st Century began to overwhelm its assumptions. Virginia’s demand for energy has increased dramatically in just a […]
- Loudoun County neighbors fight proposed Dominion transmission lines for Data Center Alley
As the demand to pump power to energy-thirsty data centers concentrated in Northern Virginia swells, a debate about where to put towering high-powered transmission lines in populated areas has put one Loudoun County community on the defensive.
- Survey finds gaps in use of top-tier teaching tools across Virginia
Some Virginia classrooms are embracing top-tier teaching tools — but others are barely touching them. A new statewide survey finds wide disparities in how English and math teachers use high-quality instructional materials (HQIM), underscoring the challenge of lifting student performance.
- Abigail Spanberger Refuses to Condemn Antisemitism From the Democrat Party Leadership — It’s Not the First Time
RICHMOND, VA — In what is becoming an alarming pattern, Abigail Spanberger refuses to condemn radical antisemitism in the Democrat Party. This time, Spanberger refused to address antisemitic social media posts by state Del. Sam Rasoul, a Roanoke Democrat who heads the House Education Committee. Rasoul called Zionism “evil” and “a supremacist ideology created […]
- Protesters in Richmond call for ban on local cooperation with ICE after wave of detentions
Protesters hold signs outside Richmond City Hall on Monday during a rally against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions, calling for the city to bar local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Richmond City Hall Monday afternoon to protest what they called an escalation of […]
- 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 […]
- VA ends union contracts for thousands of employees, citing focus on veterans
The Fredericksburg Health Care Center in Virginia, which is operated by the VA. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs) In a sweeping policy shift that could reshape labor relations at one of the largest federal agencies, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has terminated collective bargaining agreements for most of its unionized workforce, […]
- Trump makes surprise phone call to SC Republicans at fundraising dinner headlined by Youngkin
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks to 770 attendees at SC GOP’s annual Silver Elephant fundraiser gala in Columbia Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. (Photo by Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA — South Carolina Republicans attending the party’s annual fundraiser received a surprise phone call Saturday night from a previous keynote speaker — President Donald Trump. U.S. […]
- Addiction treatment as an economic development strategy? Dickenson County, ravaged by substance abuse and overdose deaths, says yes
Developer Greg May was pulling out of the parking lot of a barbecue lunch he throws every year in Dickenson County when he heard a commotion and saw a large man running toward him, waving his arms and yelling. May stopped and rolled down the window. “Are you Greg May?” the man asked, and May […]
- 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 […]
- Montgomery County school needs, legislative priorities to be addressed
Montgomery County supervisors will take action to put various school system funding into the new county budget when they meet Monday. The county board will also review its priorities for legislation in the 2026 General Assembly and will learn about absentee voting sites for the November election. The board will convene at 7 p.m. in […]
- Headlines from across the state: Youngkin directs National Guard to help with immigration enforcement; more . . .
Here are some of the top headlines from other news outlets around Virginia. Some content may be behind a metered paywall: Politics: Amtrak Virginia ridership increased exponentially this year. But is future growth in jeopardy? — Virginia Mercury. (See Cardinal’s previous report on how ridership on the Roanoke route increased faster than any other Virginia […]
- VHSL football schedules for 2025: Every game in the state listed
High school football kicks off Aug. 28. Here’s the schedule for every Virginia High School League team in the state. All schedules are subject to change. New to Cardinal News? We’re a nonprofit news organization without a paywall. Sign up for one of our free newsletters: The Daily All of our latest stories, plus public […]
- Rabid foxes found in Campbell and Franklin counties
The Virginia Department of Health warns that rabid animals have been found in Campbell County and Franklin County. This follows a previous announcement that rabies had been detected in Tazewell County. Campbell County: Authorities are looking for two unidentified dogs that were spotted Aug. 5 near the body of a dead fox, which tested positive […]
- Dominion Substations to Support Dulles Area Data Centers
Fairfax County Planning Commission , at its meeting on July 9,, approved Dominion Energy’s request for two new substations that will support future data centres in the Dulles region.
- Amtrak Virginia ridership increased exponentially this year. But is future growth in jeopardy?
An Amtrak passenger train crosses the James River in Richmond. (Photo by Taber Bain/Flickr/Creative Commons License 2.0) Amtrak Virginia’s ridership numbers continue to show increases, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. Ending fiscal year 2025, more than 1.4 million passengers traveled on state supported rail service — an increase of 4.8% compared to the […]
- Virginia’s proposed extension of Beltway toll lanes into Maryland won’t solve our mobility crisis
Traffic on the Capital Beltway near the American Legion Bridge. (Photo by Dave Dildine/WTOP News) Maryland commuters don’t want to be exploited by toll-road profiteers, or held hostage and manipulated into paying high tolls on highways that fail to deliver on the promise of congestion relief. Pouring rivers of concrete to create a magic carpet […]
- McAuliff running for HD 30 doesn’t fit the mold we need
As a proud Virginian I feel compelled to voice my concerns about John McAuliff’s candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates. At a time our Commonwealth continues to face pressing challenges—from crime to burdensome taxes—we need steadfast principled leadership that offers proven solutions. McAuliff simply does not fit that mold. First and foremost, his policy […]
- Dominion Electricity Provider Spends More Dollars on Politicians
Dominion Energy Virginia contributed an additional $1 million to Virginia state level politicians as large, late donations for the pre-primary elections.
- Virginia AG candidate Jay Jones puts children in danger of sexual abuse
Jay Jones, the Virginia Democrat candidate for Attorney General, took a stand in public against protecting children who are vulnerable. Jones, as a Virginia Delegate for 2020, voted against some mandatory reporting laws pertaining to sex crimes committed against minors. Jones voted for House bill 257, which removed the requirement that school principals report misdemeanor crime to law enforcement.
- Education Department tells Fairfax County School Board to rescind transgender-inclusive policies
Fairfax County Public Schools and other Northern Virginia school districts are being pressured by the U.S. Department of Education to reverse their policies that support transgender children.
- Report shows violent crime continues to drop across US cities, including 3 in Va. due to Republicans
Amid recent political rhetoric about rising crime and violence in American cities, a new analysis shows that violent crime has continued to decline this year. Homicides and several other serious offenses, including gun assaults and carjackings, dropped during the first half of 2025 across 42 U.S. cities, continuing a downward trend that began in 2022, […]