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The Virginia Mercury’s 2025 elections questionnaire: attorney general
Three contenders — Republican incumbent Jason Miyares, and Democrats Jay Jones and Shannon Taylor — are aiming to become Virginia’s top prosecutor. The Mercury asked the attorney general hopefuls to answer a questionnaire to outline their vision for the role, their priorities concerning crime and consumer protection and what qualifies them to be the state’s leading legal counsel. Here are their responses.
Crowd lines Abingdon sidewalks for ‘No Kings’ rally
Armed with signs and placards, protesters of all ages lined both sides of Main Street in the center of Abingdon Saturday, wanting their voices and feelings opposing President Donald Trump’s recent actions be heard. Organizers said about 700 people assembled near the federal courthouse for two hours to conduct a peaceful protest.
Environmental groups in Hampton Roads at odds with Army Corps over proposed wetlands mitigation project
For decades in Hampton Roads, officials have used a legal mechanism called mitigation banking to protect local ecosystems. If a developer or locality impacts wetlands or river bottom when building a project, they must compensate by paying to restore it elsewhere. Organizations that conduct restoration work can sell credits to developers to meet those requirements – hence the bank-like system. The goal is for the compensatory work to serve the same river or watershed that is affected by the original development action. But local environmental groups and some federal scientists now worry that an impending decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could upend that system.
What’s ahead for Virginia colleges if Trump targets international students?
Virginia had over 21,000 international students in its colleges in universities last year, but recent actions from President Donald Trump may see that number change. The fight over international students in U.S. colleges started last month when Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his office would move to revoke Chinese student visas from Harvard University over national security concerns. Then, Rubio announced increased vetting of all foreign students' social media accounts. And this week the president's new travel bans from 12 countries went into effect and also applies to would-be students. Some of these issues are winding through the courts, but immigration visa attorney Keith Pabian said it will disrupt US colleges.
‘No Kings’ protest in Berryville attracts crowd of at least 1,000
At least 1,000 people protested Saturday afternoon in downtown Berryville against President Donald Trump as part of a "No Kings Day" demonstration. It was one of about 2,000 such events held nationwide. Not only did it attract Clarke County residents, but also people from Winchester and Frederick County as well as Warren, Fauquier and Loudoun counties.
New documents show Averett’s finances in dire straits in 2024, but optimism in 2025
Averett University’s financial situation last summer raised serious concerns about its ability to operate, according to a draft audit prepared for the university. But the private university in Danville has had recent fundraising successes that may help pave its path forward. ... The Danville school started cutting costs a year ago, at the tail end of fiscal 2024, in response to its discovery of a budget shortfall caused by what Averett officials have said were unauthorized withdrawals from its endowment. Averett has laid off staff, eliminated academic programs and begun selling property to keep the university afloat.
Victor Salgado envisions a powerful lieutenant governor for Virginia
Victor Salgado is a former federal prosecutor who left the US Department of Justice after President Donald Trump’s second election. The Northern Virginia attorney spent his career prosecuting public corruption, bribery and election crimes; now, he’s hoping his legal experience will serve him well as Virginia’s next lieutenant governor. Salgado is one of six candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the June 17 primary. The winner will face Republican John Reid in November for the office currently held by Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears.
Over 1,000 protesters gather in Manassas for ‘No Kings’ demonstration
Around 1,500 people gathered in Manassas Saturday for an anti-Donald Trump “No Kings” protest, part of the more than 1,900 similar protests happening nationwide. The protests came on the same day President Trump hosted a military parade in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the military’s 250th birthday. It is also Trump’s 79th birthday. Community members and elected officials turned out in droves to the protest, held at the Manassas Community Center on Sudley Road.
‘No Kings’: Hundreds of Charlottesville residents turn out to protest Trump
Virginia’s official state motto is “Sic semper tyrannis.” Those words — which translated out of Latin mean “Thus always to tyrants” — are emblazoned on the state seal, the state flag and, on Saturday, hundreds of signs held aloft by Charlottesville protesters. Throngs of them gathered along U.S. 29 outside the Shops at Stonefield just north of city limits, part of a nationwide protest against the Trump administration.
Culpeper man drives SUV through crowd at ‘No Kings’ protest; no injuries reported
A person at a No Kings protest was struck by a vehicle Saturday in Culpeper as a crowd was dispersing near the end of the gathering on the sidewalk in front of Walmart. Police said no injuries were reported and they don't know who was hit, but a Culpeper man has been taken into custody in the incident. Culpeper Police Department officers were in the area of 801 James Madison Highway on June 14 monitoring the conclusion of a lawful protest event organized by Culpeper Democrats as part of a nationwide movement protesting Trump Administration policies.