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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.
‘No Kings’ Protest Draws Estimated 1,700 in Loudoun
The Loudoun County courthouse lawn on Saturday afternoon was overflowing with people taking part in a ‘No Kings’ protest organized by Indivisible NOVA as part of a nationwide initiative to protest actions taken by President Donald J. Trump and his administration. Event organizers estimated the turnout to be between 1,700 and 2,200 people. That included several local elected officials including Sen. Russet Perry (D-31), Del. Marty Martinez (D-29), Del. Atoosa Reaser (D-27), County Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large), Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk and other Loudoun supervisors and Town Councilmembers and former 10th District Rep. Jennifer Wexton.
Va. is posed for economic growth, but thirsty for stability
Gov. Glenn Youngkin remains steadfast in his belief that Virginia’s economy can deftly navigate abruptly shifting federal tariff policies and growing fears of an economic recession. Early data suggests the situation is precarious, however, and business leaders have voiced the need for greater stability and predictability. Despite those challenges, one thing is clear: The commonwealth is fortunate to have considerable resources and successful programs in place to make this an attractive place to build a business and enjoy financial success. So long as that remains true, Virginia will be well positioned to compete, whatever may come.
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.
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.
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.
Williams: Heavy on country, light on Black artists: Richmond’s new venue needs DEI
Sly Stone modeled a brand of diversity, equity and inclusion that would serve well as a template for Richmond’s new musical venue, Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront. Sly and the Family Stone as a band was an early model of integration — Black, white, male and female — when it arrived on the music scene in the late 1960s. One of its biggest hits, “Everyday People,” celebrated difference at a time of intense racial strife, urban unrest and political polarization ... But looking at the lineup of artists, I detected the harsh note of exclusion, and the sense that this $30 million venue was not built for folks like me.
No Chesterfield, no Richmond, no water authority
Kudos to Henrico and Hanover counties, whose boards met on Wednesday to discuss a path forward after recent meltdowns at the Richmond Water Treatment Plant left residents in parts of both counties — not to mention all of Richmond — without potable water for six days in January, and then again in late May. That two of RVA’s largest jurisdictions are on board with some kind of regional approach to address the root causes — city mismanagement of a century-old water treatment plant that’s in desperate need of modernization and repair — is significant. ... The problem? Richmond, which owns and controls the asset Henrico and Hanover want to oversee, wasn’t part of the meeting. And central Virginia’s largest jurisdiction, Chesterfield County, which has actual experience with a regional authority and more water capacity than either Henrico or Hanover, was MIA.
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.
Organ transplant network chooses new board, drawing more criticism
The nation’s organ transplant network has elected a new board of directors in the federal government’s latest effort to reform a flawed system. For now, the Richmond-based United Network for Organ Sharing acts as the contractor that administers the network, which includes more than 300 transplant hospitals and organ procurement organizations that recover hearts, livers and kidneys from dead donors. The federal government has solicited bids from outsiders and has said it will divvy up UNOS’s work among other companies.