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Valley Health braces for $50M loss after Medicaid cuts become law
Valley Health says it expects to lose more than $50 million in revenue following the enactment of a new federal law that significantly reduces Medicaid funding and health insurance subsidies nationwide. The legislation, often called the Big Beautiful Bill and signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to the Medicaid program over the next decade. According to Valley Health President and CEO Mark Nantz, those changes are expected to result in the loss of health coverage for millions of Americans, including nearly 380,000 people across Virginia and West Virginia, where Valley Health operates six hospitals, including Winchester Medical Center.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission considers requiring devices on crab pots to protect terrapins
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted to review potential regulations that would require modifications to crab pots to discourage the unintentional capture of diamondback terrapins. Diamondback terrapins, found all along the East Coast, are the only turtles found in brackish water, and problems begin when they move into areas with crab pots. Specifically, they can get stuck in the submerged pots that are common in Virginia’s waters, especially within 150 feet of the shore, and drown. In some cases, terrapins can follow each other into crab pots, whether or not they have bait inside.
Google partners with Youngkin and offers AI training courses to Virginia job seekers
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced on Tuesday that Google will partner with his administration to provide free and low-cost artificial intelligence certification courses to Virginians as part of his office’s ongoing effort to connect citizens to new jobs amid changes to the state’s economy. The partnership, which he has described as an AI career launchpad, will provide Google-sponsored AI training courses for up to 10,000 Virginians at any given time, officials said at Google’s office in the northern part of the state.
Big Beautiful Bill cuts to Medicaid will quake Virginia hospitals, health care experts say
Experts are warning that cuts the One Big Beautiful Bill Act makes to Medicaid pose a significant threat to rural hospitals, but hospitals across Virginia are bracing for the impact. Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, for example, projects a loss of more than $20 million as a result of the cuts. “While the fiscal impact on our organization is significant, the greater travesty lies in what this means for our patients, particularly the more than 15% who rely on Medicaid,” said Reese Jackson, president and CEO.
Va. prison ombudsman holds first stakeholder meeting
Legislation introduced during the 2024 General Assembly session created an ombudsman position to oversee the Virginia Department of Corrections. Andrea Sapone took the role in September, and later promised to prioritize an investigation into Red Onion State Prison. She held her first stakeholder meeting Tuesday to explain how the office works and what it’s accomplished so far. Sapone said her office is focused on high-level issues at prisons across the state. The unit has published several inspection reports since February and completed work on about 12 others.
Virginia Democrats join Planned Parenthood to launch ‘Bros for Repro’
Several incumbent Democrats running in competitive House of Delegates districts joined Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia in launching its “Bros for Repro” campaign on Tuesday. “Women are family members, they are spouses, they are many things to lots of different men, and they care and want those people to stay in their lives,” said Del. Josh Thomas (D-Prince William). “It just seems like it’s a cheesy slogan on a very serious topic,” said Republican Tim Anderson, who’s challenging one of the Bros for Repro, Del. Michael Feggans (D-Virginia Beach).
Students, faculty, and lawmakers rally behind GMU amid Trump administration civil rights probe
When student Hanaan Kazia first heard about the federal civil rights probe into George Mason University, she wasn’t surprised. But the junior political science major and member of the school’s Political Science Honor Society says the implications still scare her. “I think it is kind of frightening, because I know that one of the reasons that I went to Mason and one of the reasons why other people have attended Mason is because it is one of the most diverse public universities in Virginia,” Kazia told The Mercury in an interview Tuesday.
VPAP Visual House of Delegates Mid-Year Fundraising
See how much money candidates for the House of Delegates have raised so far this election cycle, from Jan. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, and how much money they still have in their campaigns. Filter the list to see information on challengers, incumbents, and candidates running for open seats, or click through for more information.
VPAP Visual Statewide Mid-Year Fundraising
How much have statewide candidates raised so far this election cycle as of June 30? Toggle to see candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general.
Hopewell sewage spill highlights need for spending on wastewater. Will federal funds dry up?
The Hopewell Water Renewal wastewater treatment plant released over 1 million gallons of untreated sewage into the James River on Friday night following an electrical failure. The spill resulted in an advisory warning against swimming, fishing or otherwise coming into contact with the river from the Old City Waterfront Park to the Berkley Plantation. The advisory will likely be in place until Friday, giving the section of river time to flush or settle out the contaminants. In 2024, over two-thirds of the water treated by Hopewell Water Renewal came from industrial sources, which is contaminated with different chemicals than domestic sewage.