Recent News
Juneteenth reminds us of Black Americans’ long struggle for education following end of slavery
Screenshot By Rodney Coates Virginia Mercury This piece originally appeared in The Conversation. The abolitionist and writer Frederick Douglass is known for many things, but perhaps among the most significant is his...
Virginia House, Senate to meet Monday as budget deadline inches closer
Virginia House, Senate to meet Monday as budget deadline inches closer By Samantha Willis Virginia Mercury The Virginia House of Delegates will convene Monday afternoon in Richmond, House Clerk Paul...
Four Va. counties will pump almost 20 million gallons of water a day to Amazon. Cause for concern?
Four Va. counties will pump almost 20 million gallons of water a day to Amazon. Cause for concern? By Eric Bonds, Braderick Hatch, Fiona Steffens Virginia Mercury How you look...
Some former felons, eligible to vote this summer, are in registration limbo
Some former felons, eligible to vote this summer, are in registration limbo By Charlotte Rene Woods Virginia Mercury While a pending constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to people...
William & Mary’s Lemon Project helps Black Virginians learn about their lineage, counter narratives
By WHRO Virginia Mercury By Nick McNamara/WHRO William & Mary’s Lemon Project helps African Americans in Williamsburg uncover their families’ histories and the role their relatives played in shaping the...
Va. centralizes state internship programs to benefit students, workforce
Va. centralizes state internship programs to benefit students, workforce By Nathaniel Cline Virginia Mercury Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger recently signed a law creating a Virginia State Internship coordinator position, designed...
Spanberger joins governors in Reproductive Freedom Alliance, signs related Va. bills into law
Spanberger joins governors in Reproductive Freedom Alliance, signs related Va. bills into law By Charlotte Rene Woods Virginia Mercury From support for legislation and ballot referendums to helping states stockpile...
Senate budget proposal keeps data center sales tax exemption, adds new tax for industry
Senate budget proposal keeps data center sales tax exemption, adds new tax for industry By Shannon Heckt Virginia Mercury On Tuesday, the Virginia Senate released its latest budget proposal that...
Federal measure could undermine rideshare safety laws, Virginia, Colorado state legislators say
Federal measure could undermine rideshare safety laws, Virginia, Colorado state legislators say By Sara Wilson Virginia Mercury Colorado state Rep. Jenny Willford is calling on congressional leadership to strike an...
Spanberger, legislators roll out retail weed plan, set to launch in July 2027
Spanberger, legislators roll out retail weed plan, set to launch in July 2027 By Samantha Willis Virginia Mercury Tuesday morning, Gov. Abigail Spanberger and the legislative architects of a long-awaited...
Luria to face Democratic challengers before a potential rematch with Kiggans in 2nd District
Luria to face Democratic challengers before a potential rematch with Kiggans in 2nd District By Charlotte Rene Woods Virginia Mercury This summer, four Democratic candidates will face off in a...
‘It’s outrageous’: Spanberger navigates budget fight, Democratic unrest six months into governorship
‘It’s outrageous’: Spanberger navigates budget fight, Democratic unrest six months into governorship By Markus Schmidt Virginia Mercury Back in January, Gov. Abigail Spanberger arrived in office promising pragmatism, affordability and...
The House and Senate both released new budgets. Here’s how they align and diverge.
The House and Senate both released new budgets. Here’s how they align and diverge. By Shannon Heckt, Charlotte Rene Woods, Nathaniel Cline, Samantha Willis Virginia Mercury With a June 30...
Amid budget battle, legislators pass the buck on concrete data center reforms. Again.
Amid budget battle, legislators pass the buck on concrete data center reforms. Again. By Ivy Main Virginia Mercury Oh yay, another commission. Leaders in the House of Delegates are continuing...
How public education has transformed in Virginia since the nation’s founding
How public education has transformed in Virginia since the nation’s founding By Nathaniel Cline Virginia Mercury Like the United States, Virginia’s K-12 education system has evolved over the last two...
Recent News
Board to discuss solar ordinance at Monday meeting – The Enterprise
By Taylor Boyd The Patrick County Board of Supervisors will consider a draft solar ordinance proposed by the Planning Commission at its Monday, Feb. 9 meeting. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the third-floor courtroom of the Patrick County Administration Building. The ordinance was sent to the board more than four months ago, on Sept. 16. Kurt Bozenmayer, then chairman of the commission, asked the board to take action on the proposed solar ordinance at the...
Read moreDetailsLocal volunteers go above and beyond for Fincastle shelter animals – Fincastle Herald
By Matt de Simone When a winter storm threatened the League for Animal Protection in late January, the shelter’s safety depended not on equipment, but on people willing to step in at a moment’s notice. As freezing temperatures and icy conditions approached, shelter officials learned that the facility’s backup generator had failed — a discovery that raised immediate concerns for the dogs and cats in their care. “We realized the generator wasn’t working the very day the storm was...
Read moreDetailsSupervisors approve confidential retail deal, elect new leadership at January meeting – Fincastle Herald
By Matt de Simone In a surprise move during its January meeting, the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a performance agreement tied to a proposed major retail development, an item added to the agenda as a walk-on without advance public notice. County Administrator Gary Larrowe presented the agreement, describing it as a preliminary step to allow a developer to seek financing for a “confidential” national destination retailer proposed for the Gateway Crossing area near the Interstate 81...
Read moreDetailsBuchanan Theatre to close for long-awaited renovations – Fincastle Herald
The Buchanan Theatre will close following this Saturday’s final screenings as the historic venue begins a long-anticipated renovation project aimed at improving accessibility, comfort and long-term efficiency while preserving the theater’s beloved character. The project is being funded largely through grants from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, awarded two years ago. Theater officials said the timeline was extended as architects, engineers and contractors were secured and detailed plans finalized for the complex renovation of the aging building. Once construction...
Read moreDetailsCommunity invited to shape future of Greenfield Recreation Park – Fincastle Herald
Botetourt County Parks and Recreation has unveiled the first two conceptual designs for the Greenfield Recreation Park Master Plan, marking an important early step in a long-term vision for one of the county’s most beloved outdoor spaces. The concepts, released last week, are the result of community survey feedback gathered over recent months. According to Parks and Recreation officials, resident input played a central role in shaping the preliminary layouts, amenities, and overall direction of the proposed park improvements. “We’ve...
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