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As partisan disputes boil, it’s still unclear how new federal law will impact Medicaid in Virginia
The “big beautiful bill” was passed by both chambers of Congress and last week. President Donald Trump signed it into law, triggering a countdown until sweeping changes to Medicaid take effect, including potential coverage loss for millions nationwide, financial strain to hospitals and new work requirements for Medicaid recipients. While the changes won’t kick in for more than a year, Virginia lawmakers are already preparing for the transformation of the state’s health care landscape. It’s still unclear exactly how many Virginians could lose Medicaid coverage because final analyses from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) haven’t dropped yet. The uncertainty has left many wondering if they or loved ones will be impacted — and set the stage for partisan bickering.
Threatened by rising waters, Norfolk museum fights back
When Erik Neil moved to Norfolk to become president of the Chrysler Museum of Art, he’d experienced the threat posed by the climate crisis to museum collections. Six months prior to Hurricane Katrina, he led an effort to find safe storage for the Newcomb Art Gallery collection at Tulane University in New Orleans. Just in time. The Chrysler Museum sits at the culmination of The Hague, an inlet of the Elizabeth River, a postcard-perfect location for decades. But that beauty belies an increasingly sinister reality. In recent years, rising tides and intensifying rainstorms repeatedly submerged streets, threatening the museum and its decade-old addition, the Perry Glass Studio. . . . Fast forward two decades from his days in Louisiana and Neil has overseen an evolving master plan to protect the museum and its collection in a city that is second behind New Orleans as most threatened by the effects of a warming world.
These Younger Democrats Are Sick of Their Party’s Status Quo
A number of prominent younger Democrats with records of winning tough races are forming a new group with big ambitions to remake their party’s image, recruit a new wave of candidates and challenge political orthodoxies they say are holding the party back. Members of the initiative, Majority Democrats, have different theories about how the national party has blundered. . . . According to Ms. Smith, members include: former Representative Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic nominee for governor of Virginia; Representative Mikie Sherrill, the party’s candidate for governor of New Jersey; Senators Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan; members of Congress from highly competitive districts including Representatives Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico and Kristen McDonald Rivet of Michigan; and the mayors of Cincinnati, Denver, Scranton, Pa., Newport News, Va., and Kansas City, Mo.
Inside the Univ. of Virginia gun incident that drew DOJ's ire
University of Virginia President James Ryan resigned last month amid a Justice Department investigation into allegations the school failed to wipe out its diversity programs. But a letter the agency sent U.Va., released last week as part of a public records request, reveals another reason the Justice Department targeted the university. In it, the department zeroed in on allegations that a fourth-year Jewish student had endured antisemitic bullying and that U.Va. had mishandled the case.
Richmond’s top election official sits down for one-on-one interview
Richmond’s Office of Elections is entering a new chapter with the appointment of David Levine as the city’s new general registrar. After a tumultuous period marked by scandal and leadership change, Levine said he’s committed to restoring public trust and ensuring transparency. Levine is no stranger to Richmond. He served as deputy registrar from 2012 to 2014 under former general registrar Kurt Showalter. Levine also brings years of election experience from Idaho, Maryland and Washington D.C. to the role. Now returning as the city’s top election official, he’s focused on reform and accountability.
Planned Parenthood centers in Virginia brace for potential Medicaid funding loss
Planned Parenthood centers in Virginia and across the nation are preparing for potential impacts from the Trump administration's "One Big, Beautiful Bill," which aims to prohibit Medicaid payments for services at facilities like Planned Parenthood for one year. A federal judge has temporarily blocked this provision for 14 days. Jamie Lockhart, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, said the legislation could affect around 5,700 Medicaid patients in Virginia. She explained that these patients would lose access not only to abortion services but also to STI tests, cancer screenings, and contraception.
Richmond hospital settles with last two families in infant abuse case
Henrico Doctors’ has agreed to pay two more babies who were injured in the hospital’s neonatal intensive-care unit, bringing the total number of settlements to 11. On Wednesday, Judge David Carson approved the agreements in Salem Circuit Court. The financial value of all 11 have been kept private. The Richmond Times-Dispatch is not identifying the victims or their families. Under the agreement, the money will be placed in trusts for the children to access when they are older.
City planner, wife ran permitless Airbnb in violation of city code
A city official and his wife for over a year operated an unpermitted Airbnb in violation of city code governing short-term rentals, according to records reviewed by The Times-Dispatch. The property in question is located on West Marshall Street in Jackson Ward. City assessment records show the rowhouse is owned by 17 W Marshall, LLC. State Corporation Commission records show that company is registered to Alexandra Mercer, wife of city planner Brian Mercer.
VPAP Visual Local Election Turnout: June 2025 Primaries
Turnout for local primaries in June ranged widely across the state, from a high of more than 21% to a low of less than 5%. See which other primaries were on the ballot in these areas and may have contributed to motivating voters.
National Republican group with ties to Trump is attacking Jay Jones
A PAC based in Texas with ties to a top Donald Trump donor is attacking Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones with over $100,000 in radio ads in Norfolk and Richmond. America’s PAC describes itself as a group that “specializes in expanding the free market conservative coalition by spreading the message to demographics that rarely vote conservative, including Hispanics and African-Americans.” Tom Donelson, a Texas Republican, runs the PAC. The ad attacking Jones focuses on illegal immigrants and accuses Democrats of supporting criminals, not victims.