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Virginia politicians’ spending gives glimpses into campaign tactics
The two women vying to be Virginia’s next governor have so far followed dramatically different strategies, their campaign finance reports show. Democrat Abigail Spanberger, with far more financial resources than Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, is spending heavily on digital advertising and email, a Richmond Times-Dispatch analysis of thousands of items in the candidates’ campaign finance reports found. ... "The spending breakdown reveals each candidate's strategy and approach to voters. Spanberger targets a digital, fragmented audience, while Earle-Sears favors traditional grassroots engagement," said Olusoji Akomolafe, chair of the political science department at Norfolk State University.
Luckman: The Virginia Beach ‘Green Line’ is under attack
Established in 1979 to preserve Virginia Beach’s rural area and thwart urban growth, the Green Line has been a stalwart as a policy tool to stop urban sprawl and channel growth and infrastructure improvement to the northern half of the city. For 45 years city councils have reinforced its original purpose. It is an integral part of the city’s numerous updated comprehensive plans. The current draft comprehensive plan continues to state the well-known Green Line policy under its overview, context area goals, objectives and big ideas, thus documenting the fact that during its lengthy work-up citizens overwhelmingly favored continuing this established open space protection and minimal growth strategy.
VPAP Visual Statewide Candidate Funding Sources: Mid-Year 2025
See the sources of donations for statewide candidates on the November ballot.
Virginia Beach launching program to help homeowners protect themselves from flooding
The city of Virginia Beach is in the midst of a massive, long-term effort to protect itself from rising waters. In 2021, voters approved a $567 billion bond referendum to finance the Flood Protection Program, which is replacing and expanding outdated infrastructure to better drain streets and absorb excess water. But that work is limited to public rights-of-way, said Kyle Coolbaugh, an extension agent in the city’s stormwater department.
Virginia parents seeking subsidized child care have 90 days to get a job
There is a new job requirement rule for some families receiving state-subsidized child care in Virginia. The rule, which took effect July 1, requires parents of children participating in the Child Care Subsidy Program who are unemployed — and aren’t in an approved education or job training program — to find a job within 90 days or risk losing care. Before July 1, there was no limit on the amount of time parents could utilize the child care program while searching for a job.
68,000 Virginians impacted by SUN Bucks technical issues
The same day the statewide issuance of Virginia SUN Bucks began, around 68,000 people across the Commonwealth were impacted by technical difficulties within the system. A statement from Petersburg on Friday, July 18, informed the public that tens of thousands of households did not receive Virginia SUN Bucks — a one-time grocery benefit program for qualifying families — as scheduled due to technical difficulties.
Hundreds of Richmond residents participate in nationwide ‘Good Trouble’ protest
The sound of car horns honking and people shouting filled the air as Richmonders took their activism to the streets yet again, this time hoping to get into some “good trouble.” “Good trouble is saying what you mean and what you feel,” said one of the demonstrators, Jane Ward. Hundreds were scattered on medians on Monument Avenue between Lombardy Street and Willow Lawn. It’s just one of 1,600 Good Trouble protests that began nationwide on Thursday. The phrase was dubbed by the late Congressman John Lewis, who encouraged people to get into “good trouble” to fight for justice and equality. Thursday marked the fifth anniversary of his passing.
State agencies leaving Monroe Building will scatter across Richmond
When state government employees leave the James Monroe Building next year, they will disperse to about a dozen different office spaces downtown and outside Richmond. The Department of General Services, which manages real estate for the Virginia government, recently agreed to leases with landlords of local office buildings. The 29-story Monroe building is considered no longer functional — employees have gotten stuck in elevators and restrooms are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. State leaders expect the tower to be vacant by next spring. The new homes won’t be permanent. Eventually, state leaders plan to move government employees to a yet-to-be-built office at 1401 E. Broad St.
VPAP Visual Fundraising Outside Virginia
How much have candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general raised from donors outside of Virginia? Toggle among offices to see the share of total donations from outside Virginia, and compare donations from each state.
Youngkin touts Va. record in Iowa, land of presidential hope
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) made a campaign-style visit to the Iowa state GOP Thursday night — a logical first step toward a 2028 presidential run, though he insisted his full attention is focused on finishing his term as governor. “The invitation is humbling. … It is just a wonderful Iowa trait for you all to be so warm in the way you greeted me,” Youngkin said to a crowd of several hundred as the featured guest speaker for the Iowa Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Dinner. With its traditional first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses every four years, Iowa usually plays a leading role in selecting the party’s presidential contenders.