Search
Republican Governors Association to invest in Earle-Sears
The Republican Governors Association is investing $500,000 in Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears. RGA also released a new digital ad attacking Earle-Sears’ Democratic opponent, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger. The RGA is prepared to spend “several million dollars to keep Virginia red,” Punchbowl reported [Saturday] morning. Earlier this month, the Democratic Governors Association announced its plans to make a $5 million initial investment in Spanberger’s campaign.
Democrats push unity in first day of bus tour
The Democratic statewide ticket held its first joint event Saturday afternoon at Abner Clay Park in Richmond, launching an eight-day bus tour. Gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger, lieutenant governor nominee Ghazala Hashmi and attorney general nominee Jay Jones emphasized party unity and standing up to President Donald Trump. “Today is a really fun day,” Spanberger said. “We are starting our bus tour across the commonwealth to make sure that everywhere we travel, people get to hear from us about the things that we are for, the policies we wish and will work to pursue.” The ticket was introduced by United States Senator Mark Warner and Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-VA04, who both stressed the importance of standing up to Trump.
Youngkin orders assessment of federal sexual assault prevention programs in Virginia National Guard
Hoping to provide oversight for existing federal sexual assault prevention programs in the military, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order Friday that would establish a commonwealth work group. Youngkin said he hoped the order would provide an assessment the Sexual Assault Prevention Response (SAPR,) a federal program introduced in the 2000s to respond to sexual violence claims in all branches of the military, as well as the National Guard.
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 Shannon Heckt of the Virginia Mercury, Teo Armus of The Washington Post, and Graham Moomaw of The Richmonder. They discuss the week's top headlines: the results of the Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor and attorney general, Richmond voters turning against former mayor Levar Stoney, and Virginia's patchwork data center regulation policies. Tune in for insights and analysis on Virginia politics. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Smithfield Foods relocating 115 corporate jobs to Hampton Roads
Smithfield Foods is relocating about 115 of its U.S. corporate jobs to Hampton Roads. Two regional Midwest offices — in Illinois and Missouri — will close and associated positions will move to the Smithfield headquarters by the end of next year, said Ray Atkinson, Smithfield Foods spokesperson. Since the process has just begun, the company hasn’t yet determined how many employees will move and how many positions will be open for hire, Atkinson said. The positions include finance, procurement, human resources, information technology and other support functions.
Bray: Federal ‘choice’ bill would harm local public schools
There’s nothing wrong with a family choosing to send their child to a private school; that’s their right and choice. However, a component of the federal budget reconciliation bill called the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) brings Virginia Beach to a crossroads in educational reform. This legislation would have serious consequences for our neighborhood public schools and threatens our community.
After Va. elections, governor’s race begins a new phase
Virginia’s election season kicked into high gear Saturday as the newly formed Democratic lineup for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general launched a statewide bus tour on a blistering hot afternoon while their Republican rivals kept to a far more low-key campaign approach. “Everywhere we travel, people get to hear from us about the things we are for,” gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger said at an afternoon rally at Richmond’s Abner Clay Park with her ticket mates, state Sen. Ghazala F. Hashmi (Richmond) for lieutenant governor, and former Norfolk delegate Jerrauld C. “Jay” Jones for attorney general.
Richmond’s 4th Circuit upholds federal ban on handgun sales to young adults
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld a federal law barring gun shops from selling handguns to individuals under the age of 21. The ruling is another flashpoint in a yearslong saga by Second Amendment advocates to allow young adults to buy handguns — an issue that has divided Virginia’s federal judiciary since 2018, when a young Republican political organizer first alleged an infringement of his rights. ... Wednesday’s ruling came in response to a lawsuit brought in June 2022 by Palmyra resident John Corey Fraser.
Judge approves settlements for 5 babies hurt at Henrico Doctors’ NICU
A judge in Salem approved settlements Friday that resolved likely lawsuits from the families of five toddlers, who as newborn babies suffered broken bones and other injuries while being cared for at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital. Circuit Judge David Carson said he was keeping confidential the amounts of money to be placed in trust accounts structured to provide payments to the victims, once they come of age, “over quite a long period of time.” The civil settlements are related to the criminal case of Erin Strotman, a former nurse at the Richmond-area hospital, who is facing 20 felony counts of child abuse and malicious wounding of the patients under her care.
From the classroom to the campaign trail: Ghazala Hashmi’s rise
Before she was a state senator from Chesterfield County, and long before she became Virginia's Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, Ghazala Hashmi was known by colleagues as a calm, soft-spoken English professor who led meetings with precision and brought her deep love of early American literature to the classroom. After nearly 30 years in the classroom, Hashmi has made a swift rise in politics and is now the first Muslim woman in the U.S. to be nominated to a statewide ticket, according to her campaign.