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Republicans worry DOGE cuts will sink them in Virginia governor’s race
Republicans are increasingly worried that budget cuts by Elon Musk's DOGE could cost them dearly in November's vote for Virginia governor — an early electoral test of President Trump's policies. Virginia has one of the highest percentages of federal employees in the country — more than 5% of the state's workforce by some estimates — and Republicans' internal polls are starting to show the damage from tens of thousands of federal layoffs. The University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center has projected that 32,000 jobs could be lost in the state this year, many of them federal positions.
Spanberger announces plan to reduce housing costs in Va.
Democratic nominee for governor Abigail Spanberger announced a plan on Friday to lower housing costs in Virginia by eliminating arduous regulatory requirements that drive up production costs and incentivizing new housing construction for first-time homeowners and middle-class families. Spanberger announced her plan at Parkside Townes, a housing development under construction in eastern Henrico County that uses a land trust model to lower costs by separating ownership of the home from the land beneath it.
A Virginia Democrat hunts for votes in rural pockets where MAGA has strengthened its grip
Democratic politics in rural Virginia are not of a bygone era, according to Abigail Spanberger. The former congressional representative, now the Democratic nominee in the race to be Virginia’s next governor, posts videos online of herself sitting in a car on an interstate highway that goes up and down the Appalachian Mountains. She has toured a small, family-owned oyster shucking and packaging operation along a quiet boat haven on the northern neck of Virginia. And last month, the nominee held a news conference at a small pharmacy in an agrarian hamlet outside of Richmond.
From VPAP New Episode: The Virginia Press Room Podcast
In the latest episode of the podcast from VaNews and VPM, Michael Pope is joined by Sabrina Moreno of Axios Richmond, Michael O’Connor of the Virginia Dogwood, and Michael Martz of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. They discuss the week's top headlines: Virginia as a hot spot for immigration enforcement, consumers' tariff uncertainty, and proposed cuts to Medicaid. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
VPAP Visual Mapping Paid Conferences in 2024
In 2024, Virginia legislators and statewide office holders reported nearly 80 domestic conferences outside of Virginia, paid for by various organizations, often the host of the events. Under Virginia law, these paid conferences must be reported on annual disclosure forms.
VPAP Visual Paid Conferences: 2016-2024
After nearly disappearing in 2020, the number of paid conferences attended by Virginia General Assembly members and statewide officeholders has returned to pre-pandemic levels. This includes trips within Virginia, to other states, and outside the United States.
Va. agencies’ financial reporting increasingly inaccurate
Over the past several years, state agencies have increasingly been filing inaccurate and late financial reports, the office of Virginia’s Auditor of Public Accounts says. Now that the office has completed the latest round of its annual reviews, it has found state agencies needed to make $4.1 billion of adjustments to financial reports from last year, up from $2.4 billion the year before, said Zach Borgerding, the office’s deputy auditor for human capital and operations.
Williams: Can Henrico and Richmond become one? It’s not so far-fetched
Henrico County, which hugs the city of Richmond on three sides, once had its seat of government embedded within the heart of the city. A remnant of that era, still plainly marked as the Henrico County Court House, sits at 22nd and Main streets in Shockoe Bottom. The Victorian-era building is a majestic example of Romanesque Revival architecture ... The building has been a source of curiosity to me, particularly during times when relations between Richmond and its suburban neighbor seemed especially distant or strained, before settling into its current mode of mutual aid as Henrico lends personnel to a malfunctioning city water plant and a dysfunctional City Hall.
Judge and lawmakers question Trump administration’s plan to gut Job Corps centers
Members of Congress and a federal judge are questioning the Trump administration’s plan to shut down Job Corps centers nationwide, including the Old Dominion Job Corps in Amherst County, and halt a residential career training program for low-income youth that was established more than 50 years ago. ... Lawmakers asked Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer about the decision when she appeared before the House Education and Workforce Committee on Thursday. “Job Corps, which you know has bipartisan support in Congress, trains young, low-income people, and helps them find good-paying jobs and provides housing for a population that might otherwise be without a home,” U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott said.
Federal policies could put a damper on regional summer tourism
Hampton Roads is fortunate to be a popular tourism destination each summer for visitors who flock to the beaches and enjoy the many historic attractions throughout our region. These guests fill our hotels, eat at our restaurants and represent a significant share of the region’s annual economic activity. Yet, as the summer season starts, many in the area are justifiably concerned that President Donald Trump’s hostility to foreign nations, including traditional allies, and his administration’s zealous and often ham-fisted deportation efforts will drive away tourists ...