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‘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.
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.
From VPAP New Episode: The Virginia Press Room Podcast
In the latest episode of the podcast from VaNews and VPM, Michael Pope is joined by Margaret Barthel of WAMU 88.5, Ryan Murphy of WHRO Public Media, and Jahd Khalil of VPM News. They discuss the week's top headlines: campaign stances on housing policies and data centers, lieutenant governor candidate profiles, and primaries for Norfolk commonwealth's attorney and Chesapeake sheriff. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
‘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.
Virginia AG Hopeful Was Outraising His Rival — Then Dominion Energy Tipped the Scale
Both candidates for Virginia attorney general in Tuesday’s Democratic primary have much in common. They’ve both promised, for instance, to fight against Donald Trump and DOGE, and to protect abortion rights. When it comes to who is funding their campaigns, though, there’s one source of cash that marks a striking difference between the candidates: Dominion Energy, the Fortune 500 utility company that has long thrown around huge sums to shape politics in Virginia. In the attorney general primary this year, local prosecutor Shannon Taylor has accepted $650,000 in donations from Dominion, while former state delegate Jay Jones has not taken any from the company.
Big turnout for Democrats in Virginia’s early primary voting gives party hope
Early voting was strong across Virginia this year in the 45 days leading up to Tuesday’s primary elections, in which voters will choose Democratic nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general and, in a handful of districts, candidates from both parties for the House of Delegates and local offices. Nearly 158,000 people had cast votes in Democratic primaries as of Thursday — up from 124,000 at the same point in Democratic primaries four years ago, when the party had a hotly contested, five-way primary for governor, according to analysis of the latest available data by the Virginia Public Access Project
Youngkin: Minnesota shootings ‘a crime against our entire republic’
Virginia’s political leaders on Saturday condemned the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses and called for turning down political rhetoric. Minnesota authorities said a man pretending to be a police officer shot and killed Melissa Hortman, a former Minnesota House Speaker, and her husband at their home early Saturday and separately shot Sen. John Hoffman and his wife at their residence. ... Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement Saturday: “Political violence is not just a crime against those tragically killed or wounded, but a crime against our entire republic. We must all condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms ...”
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.
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.