Search
Public media groups in central Virginia voice concern over potential funding cuts
Public media groups in central Virginia are facing new uncertainty as a bill that would significantly cut their federal funding in various fields moves through Congress. That includes WTJU 91.1 FM, the University of Virginia’s community radio station, which does a lot more than play songs from its Ivy Road space. General Manager Nathan Moore says the people who work for WTJU are dedicated to connecting the community; whether through music, art, festivals, summer camps, or even teaching high schoolers here how to DJ. “It’s a service that really matters to people,” Moore said, “it resonates, and we really do try to connect folks in our community to not just music but also resources that matter.”
Democrats squaring off in Virginia AG primary say one name a lot: Trump
Two Virginia Democrats are battling Tuesday to be their party’s nominee for attorney general. Yet, the name mentioned most in their campaigns is not that of their opponent, but rather a man who lives just over the Arlington Memorial Bridge: President Donald Trump. The barrage of changes Trump has wrought to American culture in the first few months of his second White House residency has ignited the campaigns of Virginia Democrats Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor as they appeal unrelentingly to the most devout swaths of their base ahead of down-ballot primary elections. The primary will also determine the party’s nominations this year for lieutenant governor and some contested seats in the House of Delegates.
AG primary goes electric in battle over energy, experience
The Democratic primary for attorney general has become a heavyweight fight, but not necessarily between the two candidates. Dominion Energy and Clean Virginia have emerged as the principal combatants in a high-dollar race between former Del. Jay Jones, D-Norfolk, and Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney Shannon Taylor for the party's nomination to face Attorney General Jason Miyares in the general election in November.
Virginia governor’s race a test of Trump’s grip on competitive state
Virginia's governor election this year is a popularity test for Republican President Donald Trump and his policies, presenting an opportunity for Democrats to claw back some power after the party's recent election rout. The southern state holds a primary on Tuesday that will determine who faces off in the November 4 general election. The process is largely a formality as Democrats and Republicans each have only one candidate, likely meaning either Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, the first Black Republican elected statewide, or Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former three-term U.S. Representative, will become the state's first woman governor.
New Virginia law targeting drug dealers after fentanyl deaths is ‘huge win,’ mother says
A new Virginia law will allow prosecutors to charge drug dealers with involuntary manslaughter if they sell fentanyl that leads to a fatal overdose. The new law, which passed with support from both political parties, carries a sentence of one to 10 years. For Sharon Roberts, the law represents a victory in her personal fight against fentanyl. Roberts lost her son, Shawn, in 2018 after he took what he thought was Xanax, but it was laced with heroin and fentanyl. ... Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed the legislation Friday at a Hanover County fire station after recently highlighting Virginia's progress in fighting the crisis. There has been a 44% drop in fentanyl overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024.
Youngkin: Minnesota shootings ‘a crime against our entire republic’
Virginia’s political leaders on Saturday condemned the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses and called for turning down political rhetoric. Minnesota authorities said a man pretending to be a police officer shot and killed Melissa Hortman, a former Minnesota House Speaker, and her husband at their home early Saturday and separately shot Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their residence. ... Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement Saturday: “Political violence is not just a crime against those tragically killed or wounded, but a crime against our entire republic. We must all condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms ...”
What to know ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, attorney general
Six candidates will be on the ballot Tuesday in a Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, and two others are facing off for the party’s nod for Virginia attorney general. Can you name any of them? If you can’t, it’s not too late to learn about the elections, which could see turnout of less than 10 percent of registered voters, according to Stephen Farnsworth, director of the University of Mary Washington’s Center for Leadership and Media Studies.
Va. ahead of revenue forecast despite federal warning signs
Virginia moved almost a half-billion dollars ahead of forecast for government revenues through May, with one month left to ensure it collects enough tax money to pay for state spending obligations in the fiscal year that ends on June 30. The state is not likely to enter the next fiscal year on July 1 with a big surplus, as it has for the past five years, but collections were $488.3 million ahead of forecast in the first 11 months of the year.
House primaries in Roanoke area signal arrival of 2025 election season
Election season blooms anew Tuesday in Virginia, as voters prepare for primary contests before deciding on a slate of state and local candidates this fall. ... In House District 40, which includes all of Salem and parts of Roanoke city and county, voters will decide between two Democratic candidates who seek to challenge the incumbent Republican. ... And in sprawling House District 37 — ... incumbent Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, faces a primary election challenger in Austen Schwend.
Protesters march in ‘No Kings’ demonstration in Richmond: ‘This is what democracy looks like’
Demonstrators crowded into streets, parks and plazas across the U.S., including Richmond's Capitol Square on Saturday, to protest President Donald Trump, marching through downtowns and small towns, blaring anti-authoritarian chants mixed with support for protecting democracy and immigrant rights. Thousands turned out for Richmond's rally, which began at the Bell Tower and then moved onto Broad Street before ending at Kanawha Plaza. Protesters expressed concerns about what they described as constitutional overreach.