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Senator Warner warns that House Republican tax bill will harm Virginia families, hospitals
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) issued a stark warning about the impacts of the recently passed House Republican tax bill, saying it will devastate Virginia families and healthcare systems while primarily benefiting the ultra-wealthy. During a media availability from the Capitol, Warner criticized the legislation that passed “in the dead of night,” saying it will cause approximately 248,000 Virginians to lose healthcare coverage. “This bill is just devastating to Virginia,” Warner said. “About 248,000 Virginians will lose health care, whether they are on Medicaid… or if they buy their health insurance through the marketplace.”
Many undecided as Spanberger leads new Roanoke College Poll
Virginians will elect a new governor in November, but more than one in four voters are undecided about who they will pick, according to newly released polling data from Roanoke College. Out of 658 voters surveyed, Democrat Abigail Spanberger polled at 43%, compared to 26% who said they would vote for Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, results show. Still, 28% of respondents said they were undecided, and 3% said they would vote for someone else, with the survey’s margin of error at 5.25%, according to a press release.
Virginia leaders on Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’: Wittman says Medicaid protected, Dems raise concerns
Two members of Congress from Hampton Roads voted in favor of President Donald Trump's "One, Big, Beautiful Bill," while some Democratic legislators raised concerns about the legislation. Congressman Rob Wittman, R-Va., said the bill will "strengthen Medicaid for Americans who need it most" while delivering tax relief. “Throughout the reconciliation process, I’ve fought to protect and preserve Medicaid for Virginia’s most vulnerable, and this bill does just that," Wittman wrote in a statement. "It secures protection for pregnant women, single mothers, children, seniors and individuals with disabilities." ... Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, R-Va., said she voted for the bill because it reduces the size of government, cuts wasteful spending, and protects tax relief for working families.
Wittman, Kiggans among Republicans who backed Trump’s big bill
Two Virginia Republicans in congressional seats Democrats are targeting joined their GOP colleagues in voting for President Donald Trump’s big domestic policy package, saying it will protect Medicaid for the most vulnerable while providing tax relief. Reps. Rob Wittman, R-1st, and Jen Kiggans, R-2nd, had joined 10 other Republican representatives in an April letter to House GOP leadership that declared their opposition to potentially deep cuts in the federal-state program that provides health care to elderly, disabled and poor Virginians.
Langley: Virginia took an important step to regulate license plate readers
License plate reader (LPR) cameras, which capture images of license plates and other vehicle characteristics to solve crime, have been a longstanding tool for Virginia law enforcement agencies — helping police solve murder cases, locate and rescue missing persons and apprehend violent suspects attacking government workers. Virginia law enforcement have used best practices to implement these tools in a responsible way; however, LPR use remained unregulated. As the founder and CEO of a company that has deployed LPRs in communities across the commonwealth, I have supported codifying legislation that would ensure LPRs can be used for the substantial benefits they provide, while establishing guardrails so the technology is used responsibly.
Cobb and Peace: Cuts to anti-tobacco programs will cost lives
Virginia’s Tobacco Control Program, funded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), has been effectively defunded and dismantled as a result of recent federal action to reduce government programs and workforce. A conglomerate of nicotine and tobacco research scientists and physicians in Virginia have grave concerns about the impact of these closures and are urging Congress and Virginia’s congressional delegation to continue supporting programs that eliminate and prevent tobacco use.
Virginia unemployment rate rises slightly in April to 3.3%
Virginia’s unemployment rates continue to see an incremental rise, according to April data from the state’s Department of Workforce Development and Advancement, also known as Virginia Works. In April, the state’s unemployment rate rose a tenth of a percentage point to 3.3% compared to 3.2% in March and half a percentage point from April 2024’s unemployment rate of 2.8%. The state’s joblessness rate is below the national rate of 4.2%, Virginia Works reported Wednesday. However, Virginia could see the unemployment rate climb in May, as weekly reports have shown major increases in the state’s unemployment insurance claims this month.
Records from Red Onion say investigation found ‘no staff misconduct’
Records show Virginia Department of Corrections staff were tasked with investigating claims of “brutality,” “racism” and “retaliation” at Red Onion State Prison in Wise County — and they quickly reported they found “no staff misconduct.” VPM News made a Freedom of Information Act request for text messages and emails from prison officials and Red Onion’s warden, David Anderson, most of which were withheld or redacted. The ones that were shared reveal that Anderson formed a task force to probe alleged misconduct at the prison he runs. They also show details about additional self-burning incidents at other Virginia state prisons and how Red Onion staff responded to them.
Loudoun Community Raises Concerns Over Sheriff’s Office ICE Agreement
Community members gathered at the Board of Supervisors meeting last night to raise concerns over an agreement between the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agreement was formalized in March and has sheriff’s deputies inquiring with other agencies about detainers prior to releasing a person incarcerated at the Adult Detention Center. If ICE has a detainer, the Sheriff’s Office will hold the person to be picked up by federal agents for 48 hours.
Spotsylvania data center project milestone hit, opening nears
Spotsylvania County’s first data center facility is set to go online soon, and progress on the work was celebrated Wednesday morning. Hundreds of workers filled several aisles of tables in the large lunch facility on the Cosner Tech Campus data center complex around 10:30 on the rainy morning. There was catered food and a band to mark a milestone for the tech-giant Amazon project.