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Youngkin vetoes $1.37M for Biscuit Run trail in Albemarle County
Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s veto of a $1.37 million line item in the Virginia budget, eliminating funding for a walking trail connected to Biscuit Run Park in Albemarle County, has disappointed local lawmakers and residents alike. A major advocate for the project says the governor went “out of his way” to derail it, and the legislators who fought for the money say they don’t understand why Youngkin targeted such a small investment with such significant benefits for the community.
They helped Democrats win back the House in 2018. Now they’re taking on a new mission
In 2018, Democrats won back the House — ending eight years of Republican control — with the help of dozens of candidates with national security backgrounds who vowed to serve as a check against the first Trump administration. This year, two of those successful candidates — Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill — are taking on a new challenge following President Donald Trump’s return to power: running for governor. As Democrats grapple with how best to improve their diminished standing with voters, the upcoming races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey will serve as crucial tests for the party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Earle-Sears facing potential legal scrutiny after originally failing to disclose trips paid for by outside organizations
Republican gubernatorial nominee Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is facing potential legal scrutiny after failing to disclose multiple trips paid for by outside organizations on her required financial disclosure forms. Earle-Sears amended her Statement of Economic Interests (SOEI) last week to reflect participation in seven trips funded by third-party groups, despite originally certifying in February that she had taken none. The Earle-Sears campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Virginia Scope.
Former state delegate, political newcomer square off in District 97 GOP primary
A former state delegate will square off with a political newcomer in the Republican primary for Virginia House District 97. The candidates are Tim Anderson, 50, an attorney, and Christina Felder, 28, a substitute school teacher. The seat is considered competitive. Republicans lost control of it to Democrat Michael Feggans in 2023 and are hoping to oust him to win it back. Anderson, an attorney who represented House District 83 from 2021-2023 and later ran unsuccessfully for a Virginia Senate seat, is making a bid for District 97 in an effort to flip the Democratic-controlled majority in the House.
Del. Hope debates challenger over historic preservation law’s impact on housing
Del. Patrick Hope and one of his challengers in the Democratic primary are at odds over how new legislation on historic preservation will impact housing. Arjoon Srikanth, who is facing Hope (D-1) in the June 17 primary, argued that legislation enacted last year will hold up development plans designed to meet housing goals. As a case in point, he held up a Crystal City-area project that may face delays over a disputed interpretation of the law.
Families, advocates protest alleged prison abuses
A few dozen people gathered at the state capitol in Richmond on Saturday to protest alleged abuses at Wallens Ridge and Red Onion state prisons. Activists and family members of people incarcerated at Red Onion say multiple men are participating in a hunger strike because of their treatment. April Wright came to the capitol from near Winchester. She says her son, Austin Arocho, has been mistreated while in state custody. He has two years left on his sentence, but Wright wants the facilities shut down for the sake of future generations.
‘Local elected official at heart’: Family, friends remember late Congressman Gerry Connolly at funeral
Nearly one week after he died of cancer, family, friends and community members gathered to honor 75-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) at his funeral service. Dozens of elected officials from local, state, and federal government helped fill Heritage Fellowship Church in Reston, where Connolly was known to attend and sit six rows back. The longtime public servant died May 21 with loved ones by his side in his Fairfax County home after his esophageal cancer returned weeks ago, which prompted him to step down as the ranking member of the House Oversight committee.
Dominion Prepares Next Transmission Line Project: Morrisville to Wishing Star
Community members last week had the chance to provide feedback on Dominion Energy’s next transmission line project – a 36.5-mile-long route across three counties. The Morrisville to Wishing Star line will feature 500 and 230 kilovolt lines running north through Fauquier, Prince William and Loudoun counties. Less than five of the miles will be built in Loudoun. The project is designed to improve reliability for the region, according to Dominion Energy. While some of the exact routes are still being determined, according to Dominion Representative Porlan Cunningham, the majority of the line and new infrastructure will be built in Fauquier and Prince William counties ...
Trump’s pardons highlight Justice Department’s pullback from public corruption cases
The government's evidence against Scott Jenkins was compelling, including undercover video and other corroboration showing Jenkins, then the sheriff of Culpeper County, Virginia, accepting over $75,000 in exchange for giving law enforcement authority to local businessmen, as well as two undercover FBI special agents. Jenkins’ co-defendants all pleaded guilty, and jurors didn't take long to convict Jenkins last year, deliberating for around two hours before they found him guilty on all counts. When Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison in March, the acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Virginia said he "violated his oath of office and the faith the citizens of Culpeper County placed in him when he engaged in a cash-for-badges scheme."
Far-right speaker banned from USS Liberty reunion at Norfolk Sheraton
A far-right public figure named Stew Peters, known for making social media posts promoting antisemitism and white nationalism, has been banned from the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel where he was slated to speak at the USS Liberty Veterans Association (LVA) reunion next month, an LVA boardmember confirmed to WTKR News 3 Tuesday. John Dixon with LVA shared the following with News 3: “The hotel owner Marriott-Bonvoy has banned Stew Peters from entering their property and has advised us he is not to speak.” Shortly after, the hotel also confirmed to WTKR News 3 that they have banned Peters.