Recent News
Youngkin returns to campaign trail, calls for court to strike redistricting vote
GOP leaders rally in Lynchburg, accusing Democrats of unconstitutional map-drawing ahead of April 21 referendum. By: Markus Schmidt - April 11, 2026 1:18 pm With just 10 days remaining before...
Cannabis testing challenges persist as Virginia retail market nears
No standard THC test complicates cannabis DUI enforcement efforts By: Capital News Service - April 13, 2026 5:25 am By Stef Anderson/VCU Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. –THC breathalyzers are...
Spanberger joins other governors in push for PJM to prioritize ratepayer protections
By: Shannon Heckt - April 13, 2026 5:26 am Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has joined seven other governors in the PJM Interconnection territory in pushing the regional grid operator to...
New public safety laws focus on gun violence prevention and support for law enforcement
Fate of bills to ban assault-style weapons still pending; governor’s action deadline is April 13. By: Charlotte Rene Woods - April 10, 2026 4:59 pm Gov. Abigail Spanberger tapped into...
‘We have to do something’: Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder supports Virginia redistricting
In a call with The Mercury, Holder outlined his support in the context of the national movement in red and blue states. By: Charlotte Rene Woods - April 10, 2026...
SCC approves Loudoun transmission line, nixes undergrounding; final route to be determined
The Golden-Mars high-voltage transmission line was approved by the SCC, but the final route depends on if the Loudoun County School Board will grant easements By: Shannon Heckt - April...
Virginia to raise minimum wage to $15 by 2028 under new law
Measure wins broad public support but carries growing fiscal impact and draws GOP concern. By: Markus Schmidt - April 9, 2026 2:46 pm Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday signed legislation...
US House Democrats call for Congress to come back into session for Iran war debate
By: Ashley Murray - April 9, 2026 3:55 pm WASHINGTON — House Democrats on Capitol Hill Thursday slammed President Donald Trump’s rhetoric on Iran as “beyond the pale” and urged...
Slate of new Virginia laws address health care and housing affordability
Building on campaign promises by the governor and Democratic lawmakers, health care and housing affordability bills dominated the 2026 legislative session. By: Charlotte Rene Woods - April 10, 2026 5:26...
Virginia AG joins fight against president’s hypocrisy on mail-in voting
Democrat Jay Jones participates in the Virginia attorney general debate with Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in Richmond, Va., Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Thoughts from Mister Roger’s neighborhood: quick hits by...
FTC wants to hear from renters about ‘unfair and deceptive housing fees’
apartment for rent Tenants nationwide can comment until April 13, as the federal commission considers a new consumer protection rule. By: Charlotte Rene Woods - April 9, 2026 5:26 am...
Spanberger signs bills to aid low-income utility customers, manage power demand
By: Shannon Heckt - April 9, 2026 12:13 pm Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday announced she signed another slate of bipartisan bills as part of her affordability agenda, just days...
As redistricting referendum nears, Spanberger balances governing and campaigning
Polls show tight support while Democrats press for stronger push and Republicans ramp up opposition. By: Markus Schmidt - April 8, 2026 5:06 pm Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Wednesday pushed...
Legislative effort to buy Monroe’s Loudoun estate on pause, budget effort underway
House Bill 500, sponsored by Del. John McAuliff, D-Fauquier, would enable the Department of Conservation and Recreation to receive a 1,240 acre parcel of land known as Oak Hill Farm...
Va. Court of Appeals stops major data center development in Prince William County
By: Shannon Heckt - April 8, 2026 5:26 am A court ruling has once again halted a massive rezoning effort in Prince William County that would have allowed dozens of...
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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