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Crowd lines Abingdon sidewalks for ‘No Kings’ rally

By TAMAS MODOVICS, Bristol Herald Courier (Subscription Required)

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.

VaNews June 16, 2025


New documents show Averett’s finances in dire straits in 2024, but optimism in 2025

By LISA ROWAN, Cardinal News

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.

VaNews June 17, 2025


From VPAP June Primary: Who’s on Your Ballot?

The Virginia Public Access Project

Enter your address to find out who is on your ballot and where your polling place is for today's primary elections. Statewide primaries are being held to choose the Democratic nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general, and Republican and Democratic primaries are being held in some areas for the House of Delegates and local offices.

VaNews June 17, 2025


What’s ahead for Virginia colleges if Trump targets international students?

By BRAD KUTNER, WVTF-FM

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.

VaNews June 17, 2025


Over 1,000 protesters gather in Manassas for ‘No Kings’ demonstration

By EMILY SEYMOUR, Inside NOVA

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.

VaNews June 16, 2025


What’s the future of drone production in the U.S.? Sen. Warner tackles the question at Manassas’ RapidFlight

By EMILY SEYMOUR, Fauquier Now

Sen. Mark Warner visited Manassas-based RapidFlight Thursday for a discussion on the future of domestic drone production. The fireside chat, hosted by Axios reporter Colin Demarest, was held in RapidFlight’s headquarters and production facility in downtown Manassas. RapidFlight was founded in 2021 and announced it would be opening its operation in Manassas in 2022. The company designs and manufactures 3D-printed unmanned systems, more commonly called drones.

VaNews June 16, 2025


Spencer: Despite Medicaid pledges, Wittman and Kiggans folded

By JIM SPENCER, published in Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

“We cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations.” That is what U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman and Jen Kiggans, along with 10 other Republican House members, wrote in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson on April 14. On May 22, Wittman and Kiggans voted for a House budget reconciliation bill that the Congressional Budget Office says could leave 16 million people without health insurance over the next decade. Millions of those people will lose coverage because of $803 billion in cuts to Medicaid ...

Spencer of Williamsburg is a former Virginian-Pilot reporter, columnist for the Daily Press and Denver Post, and Minnesota Star Tribune Washington correspondent.

VaNews June 17, 2025


Victor Salgado envisions a powerful lieutenant governor for Virginia

By JAHD KHALIL, VPM

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.

VaNews June 16, 2025


Thousands attend Williamsburg’s ‘No Kings’ protest against the Trump administration

By JAMES W. ROBINSON, Virginia Gazette (Metered Paywall - 4 Articles per Month)

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 ...

VaNews June 16, 2025


Aston and Fleet: Hampton Roads lawmakers continue to deliver for higher education

By BOB ASTON AND CLIFF FLEET, published in Virginian-Pilot (Metered Paywall - 2 articles a month)

It is not common these days to hear voters say positive things about what leaders in government are doing. Yet, in this age of political division, Virginians agree on at least one big thing: Our top-ranked higher education system drives growth and opportunity in our commonwealth. And, in Hampton Roads, our legislators are leading the way. Recently, our organization, the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, released the results of a wide-ranging statewide public opinion survey to gauge voters’ views on higher education.

Aston Jr. of Portsmouth is executive chairman of TowneBank. Fleet of Richmond is president and CEO of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

VaNews June 17, 2025