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Report finds 44% of working Hampton households are struggling to meet basic needs
Nearly half of Hampton households cannot afford basic necessities, and most of them are making too much money to receive benefits, according to a new report from the city’s Economic Empowerment and Family Resiliency department. The study looked at poverty, with 2023 Census data showing 13% of Hampton households fall below the federal poverty line — roughly 2% higher than national average. However, another 31% of the city’s households are classified as Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE), meaning they earn above the federal poverty line, but not necessarily enough to afford necessities like health care, food or transportation.
Warner gets an earful at event with Richmond seniors
Virginia Senator Mark Warner was in Richmond Thursday morning to meet with seniors and groups that aid them. Many of the residents gathered in the basement of the Randolph Place senior living facility were angry with what was happening in Washington. Kate Ruby is with the Birdhouse Farmers Market, a local food source for folks who can get their SNAP funds doubled thanks to federal grants. That is until July when, thanks to cuts in Washington, Ruby said the grant funds run out. And while she was angry at the loss of funding, she was also angry about something else: “I don’t feel like we’ve got a good opposition party. I’m seeing a lot of angry noises and chest pounding, but not any real opposition!”
New Averett president says school is ‘so far from closing’ despite year of financial challenges
Averett University’s new president says he has a plan for financial recovery that includes repaying the school’s vendors and endowment, and could include further limiting academic options and selling more real estate. But the school’s ongoing financial issues are “not fatal,” and Averett will not close, Thomas Powell said. “As I meet people in town, the first question they ask me is, ‘Are you closing?’” Powell said. “Well, we are so far from closing.” The Danville school has been consumed by financial issues since last spring, when it revealed that financial mismanagement had led to a budget deficit.
Lynchburg business owners keep pressure on city council behavior
Lynchburg business leaders brought their concerns about the conduct of elected officials to City Hall on Tuesday, letting council members know their patience has run out and they want to see changes that will allow the city to move forward. The criticism ramped up after the previous city council meeting on May 13 when Dave Henderson ... sent an email to city leaders and the business community letting them know about his worries about council’s actions possibly costing the city business. During the public comment period Tuesday, business owners told council about the messages of support they received after they decided to speak out about council in response to Henderson’s email.
Dem lawmakers urge state action after U.S. food safety cuts
It’s time to take a hard look at what have been some obscure parts of state government now that the Trump administration has been cutting food safety oversight, the two chairs of the General Assembly’s health committees said Wednesday. The state’s agriculture and health departments each have food safety branches, but the federal government has taken the lead for decades. Now, though, staff cuts last month led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to suspend its quality control program for Grade A Milk.
UVA student-led groups urging General Assembly to reject BOV appointee Cuccinelli
Eighteen different student groups at UVA sent a joint letter to every member of the General Assembly on Wednesday, calling for them to block the confirmation of an appointed Board of Visitors member, Ken Cuccinelli. After Gov. Glenn Youngkin fired Bert Ellis from the board, he appointed Cuccinelli, a former Virginia attorney general, to take that spot. Many UVA students were frustrated with the governor's decision, claiming Cuccinelli has previously undermined the safety and security of students across the commonwealth.
From VPAP New Episode of Policy Matters: Your Window Into Virginia Politics with VPAP on VPM
Join VPAP’s Chris Piper and VPM’s Ben Dolle as they break down what’s ahead for Virginia’s June 17 primaries and how voters can get election-ready. They spotlight VPAP’s Early Voting Dashboard, Early Voting by House District visualization, and the “Zoom into Your Neighborhood” tool that shows voters their polling place, sample ballot, and more. Plus, they cover top VaNews stories, from an unusual budget veto showdown to behind-the-scenes dynamics in the Virginia GOP.
VPAP Visual 2025 Legislators’ Most Common Stock Holdings
Virginia legislators are required to file conflict of interest forms each year disclosing their ownership of securities, including stock in publicly traded companies. See the companies that were reported in the stock portfolios of at least five members of the 2025 General Assembly.
Virginia Natural Gas breaks ground on $50M operations headquarters in Chesapeake
Virginia Natural Gas is building a new $50 million operations headquarters in Chesapeake. The project features 39,000 square feet of office space and a 30,000-square-foot warehouse. Roughly 150 employees — from the company’s Virginia Beach and Chesapeake locations — will work at the new facility on almost 30 acres on Clearfield Avenue. ... One of four natural gas distribution companies operating under Southern Company Gas, Virginia Natural Gas maintains its corporate headquarters on South Independence Boulevard in Virginia Beach.
Frederick County Republicans joining Sixth District GOP Committee lawsuit
The Frederick County Republican Committee (FCRC) on Tuesday night agreed to join a lawsuit that will be filed by the GOP Committee of Virginia's Sixth Congressional District seeking to overturn a new state law which denies political parties the right to choose their nomination processes. It was decided on March 1 by the Sixth District Republican Committee on a 22-1 vote that the group would file a lawsuit seeking to overturn Helmer's Law, which went into effect in January 2024. The law, which was originally sponsored by Del. Dan Helmer (D-Fairfax), requires political parties to use state-run primaries instead of their own nomination methods. Local elections are excluded.