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Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population falls to ‘distressing low’
Blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay have dropped to a “distressing low” number, experts say, marking several years of repeated declines and raising concern about their long-term health. The estimated number of crabs was 238 million, the second-lowest point since an annual blue crab dredge survey to measure their population started in the 1990s and coming shortly after 2022’s record low of 226 million crabs, according to experts. The survey found that the decline hit all of the crustaceans, regardless of maturity or gender.
Nivar, Schear compete for Democratic nomination in 57th Virginia House District
Democrats Andrew Schear and May Nivar are campaigning to win their party’s nomination in Virginia’s 57th House of Delegates District in a race that will be decided June 17. Schear plans to tackle childcare and housing affordability if ultimately elected, while Nivar is focusing her campaign on public safety and improving public school education and infrastructure. The seat currently is held by first-term Republican David Owen, who is seeking re-election.
Miyares breaks with Trump over pardon of convicted ex-Culpeper sheriff
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon former Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Jenkins, saying the ex-lawman’s federal bribery conviction was well-founded and the pardon misguided. “I have to authorize any state investigation into any elected official. And so I was aware of a lot of the facts at that time,” Miyares told The Mercury in an interview Tuesday. “Given what I know, I would not have pardoned him.” The rare public break from Miyares, a Republican and rising star in Virginia politics who is seeking a second term this year, comes just weeks after Trump issued the controversial pardon in late May.
Virginia campaign finance laws take first step beyond honor system
In a bitter 2009 Democratic primary, Roanoke Del. Onzlee Ware’s opponent accused him of dipping into his campaign funds for personal use. The complaint reached the state elections agency in Richmond, which fired off a letter demanding Ware provide receipts for the expenses in question. That’s when all hell broke loose. Candidates from both parties quietly reminded the state Department of Elections that it lacked investigative powers. The agency could only check to see if campaign finance disclosures were filled out completely and the math added up. The Ware incident was a sobering reminder that Virginia’s campaign finance laws operated entirely on the honor system.
Miyares, Surovell clash over university board appointments
In dueling letters to university rectors, Attorney General Jason Miyares and Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, each said the other doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to the status of college board of visitors members who a state Senate panel refused to confirm. The lightning rod is Gov. Glenn Youngkin‘s appointment of former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to the University of Virginia board. Cuccinelli was one of eight appointees the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee refused to confirm this week.
Miyares files lawsuit against 23andMe’s plan to sell personal data following bankruptcy
Attorney General Jason Miyares is taking legal action against 23andMe’s plan to sell people’s data, with the aim of protecting Virginians, just a couple of months after the company filed for bankruptcy. Miyares has filed a lawsuit and separate objection to 23andMe’s plan to sell 15 million customers’ data without their consent or knowledge, according to a release from June 10. This news comes two months after 23andMe, a genetic testing company that collects and analyzes customers’ genetic information, announced that it filed for bankruptcy on March 23.
Virginia attorney general, top Democrat spar over fate of Youngkin university picks
A dispute over Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s picks for eight university board seats escalated Wednesday as the Virginia attorney general and the Senate majority leader sent dueling letters over whether the appointees can still serve. Senate Majority Leader Scott A. Surovell (D-Fairfax) told university rectors on Monday that the members could no longer be on the boards, effective immediately, after a Senate committee rejected the eight appointments. But in a letter Wednesday to the rectors, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) claimed that Senate Democrats had misled them.
Pa. reaches reciprocity agreement with Virginia for concealed carry permit holders
Virginians who hold a permit to carry a concealed handgun will be able to keep it on their persons or in their cars when visiting Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced a reciprocity agreement with Virginia that allows people with Licenses to Carry Firearms to do so in both states.
Norfolk school board fires Superintendent Sharon Byrdsong
The Norfolk school board voted to fire Superintendent Sharon Byrdsong Wednesday night. The board discussed their decision in a closed session and cast a 4-3 vote after coming out of the closed meeting. Members didn’t include a reason for the termination during the meeting. Board members also voted to appoint Chief Academic Officer James Pohl as interim superintendent. Byrdsong’s contract was up for reconsideration next year.
Tobacco at risk in GOP’s big tax bill, industry reps say
The Mecklenburg County Board of Supervisors took aim Monday at an obscure provision of President Donald Trump’s signature tax cut and spending bill that will hurt domestic tobacco growers, according to tobacco industry representatives. The provision, the elimination of the “tobacco duty drawback,” is wrapped up in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in May. Industry advocates say changes contained in Section 112032 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will discourage domestic production of tobacco products and push cigarette companies into using cheaper foreign tobacco