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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.
Army Secretary stops in Yorktown for Army’s 250th Anniversary
Standing in front of a monument to the end of the Revolutionary War, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told the crowd, which included soldiers from the 7th Transportation Brigade, that Yorktown is where the Army began. “Yorktown is where the Army's legacy actually sprung to life. After years of hardships, defeat and sacrifice, our Army turned the world upside down right here,” he said.
Shenandoah Valley leaders bracing for One Big Beautiful Bill fallout
Shenandoah Valley leaders say President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, now being considered in the U.S. Senate, will have a devastating impact on health care, higher education and workforce development. They voiced their concerns over the budget reconciliation bill to U.S. Sen. Mark Warner on Friday at a business policy roundtable just outside Staunton.
State health regulators fine Richmond $6.8K for violations related to January water crisis
Richmond has agreed to pay state water regulators a “civil charge” of $6,817 as part of an agreement to resolve violations related to January’s water crisis. [Last] week, the city announced it had reached an agreement with the State Board of Health to resolve a series of problems that contributed to the water outage earlier this year. The order of consent between the city and the state formalizes the steps being taken to address the issues at the city’s water treatment plant, including the financial penalty.
Alicia Atkins challenges Delores McQuinn in 81st House District primary
Del. Delores McQuinn has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since winning a 2009 special election. In that time, she has never received less than 73% of the vote in a Democratic primary or general election for the House, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. On Tuesday, she will face off with Henrico County School Board member Alicia Atkins — in a primary that takes place at a time when the Democratic Party across the country is considering whether to elevate new voices or continue to rely on seasoned political leaders.
The Virginia Mercury’s 2025 elections questionnaire: lieutenant governor
With seven contenders vying to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor, the Mercury asked all the hopefuls to answer a questionnaire to outline their political and legislative experiences, their plans should they be elected to preside over the state senate and their positions on policy that shapes citizens’ lives. Here are their responses.
Appeals for federal relief funds for Va. schools uncertain
After the U.S. education secretary set a March deadline to use unspent pandemic relief funds, Virginia school officials are still awaiting a decision on their appeal whether the federal government will rescind the cutoff allowing them to use $33 million. Across the commonwealth, 14 school divisions, including Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Symth County, and the Department of Juvenile Justice have appealed to use $25 million. The Virginia Department of Education wants to use nearly $8 million.
10 Va. House of Delegates contests to watch Tuesday
With early voting already underway and primary day set for Tuesday, Virginia’s House of Delegates races are shaping up to be a revealing test of party identity, grassroots energy, and electoral ambition. For the first time in many years, Democrats have fielded candidates in all 100 House districts — a feat that underscores just how determined the party is to hold the majority it won back two years ago, and how fired up its base has become heading into another high-stakes election year. Many of the most compelling primaries are playing out in safely blue districts, where challengers are confronting Democratic incumbents from the left and prompting broader questions about the party’s ideological trajectory.
Fredericksburg participates in worldwide ‘No Kings’ protest
The chants of “No Kings here” and “This is what Democracy looks like” rang out from protestors gathered at the corner of William and Blue & Grey Parkway on Saturday morning. Hundreds of people lined the corner from the Route 1/ Falmouth off-ramp all the way past St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church to protest the actions of President Donald Trump and his cabinet since his return to the White House in January 2025. Throughout the two hours when the protest was held, from 10 a.m. to noon, protesters chanted and made noise, gathering support from passing commuters. The event’s organizers offered bottled water to those participating, and the only notable disruption was a pickup truck whose driver purposely spewed exhaust fumes while driving by.
Thousands attend Williamsburg’s ‘No Kings’ protest against the Trump administration
Car horns, chants and cheers filled the air around the Williamsburg-James City Courthouse on Saturday night as thousands of people participated in the largest “No Kings” rally in the region. Organized by Williamsburg JCC Indivisible, the event was one of roughly 2,000 held across the country to protest the actions and policies of the Trump administration. The event was the largest of the five held in Hampton Roads on Saturday ...