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Va.’s international trade already disrupted by U.S. trade war
Amid rising tariffs and U.S. threats to its trade partners, Virginia’s international exports fell sharply while imports rose in the first three months of the year. The value of the state’s exports fell by 12.5% compared to the same period in 2024, the largest drop in the last decade, falling from $5.7 billion to $5 billion. Exports to Canada, the state’s largest trading partner, fell 5%, according to the most recent data from the International Trade Administration. At the same time, imports grew 14% as companies boosted inventory in anticipation of rising tariffs. This shot up Virginia’s trade deficit by more than $5 billion. At the same period last year, the trade deficit stood at $3 billion.
Warner, Kaine condemn GOP tax bill over gun silencer rollback
Virginia’s Democratic U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, D-Va., are slamming the Republican spending plan moving through Congress, warning that tucked among its billion-dollar tax cuts for the wealthy is a dangerous gift to the gun industry that rolls back long-standing safety rules for firearm silencers. In a blistering joint statement Thursday, the senators said the proposal would weaken gun laws that have been in place since 1934 by eliminating registration and ownership requirements for silencers, also known as suppressors — devices that muffle the sound of gunfire and make it harder for law enforcement to respond to active shooter situations.
Former Virginia congressman reports back from Ukraine
Former Virginia Congressman Denver Riggleman has been busy since he left office, including doing humanitarian work in war-torn Ukraine. He returned from his most recent trip early Thursday morning after spending recent days dodging drone strikes. In a video shot on one night of his trip, the former Fifth District Congressman turned humanitarian, writer and podcaster can be seen running from Russian drones as they strike the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.
State cuts off money to agency supporting halfway homes for recovering addicts
For several years, Virginia’s halfway homes for recovering addicts have been managed by an independent, non-governmental group. That will soon change to the dismay of some local recovery home operators. Language in this year’s budget takes nearly $2 million away from the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences, or VARR. The organization certifies group homes, of which there are more than 100 in Richmond and Henrico. It also monitors those homes, investigates complaints and sets standards of care.
Youngkin: Virginia is turning the tide on fentanyl deaths
Virginia is seeing real progress in reducing overdose deaths. For the first time in years, data shows overdose deaths are declining nationwide — and here in the commonwealth, we’re helping drive that trend. Virginia reported a 44% decrease in overdose deaths over the past year and a 46% drop from its peak in 2021. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Virginia’s year-over-year decline in overdose deaths between November 2023 and November 2024 was among the largest in the country.
Youngkin and Pillion: United to stop fentanyl deaths
Since its inception in 2023, National Naloxone Awareness Day is a time to acknowledge the danger of the synthetic opioid, fentanyl, as well as the importance of the opioid overdose reversal drug, naloxone. On this day, Virginians are reminded that on average three Virginians lose their life to fentanyl every day. However, it is also a moment to celebrate Virginia’s recently achieved, 44% year-over-year drop in fentanyl-related overdose deaths — among the most significant declines nationally — and a 46% decrease from its peak in 2021.
Moran: Scammers are everywhere. Here’s how to stop them
Under two separate gubernatorial administrations, I was honored to serve as the secretary of public safety and homeland security. In that role, I was responsible for keeping Virginians safe and overseeing various layers of state law enforcement. With each passing year, the threats that we faced grew and evolved. Year after year, however, one threat became larger and larger — the alarming rise in sophisticated financial scams.
Lynchburg NAACP demands school board reverse ban of public schools advocate
The Lynchburg branch of the NAACP is demanding the school board reverse its decision to ban a longtime city schools advocate from speaking at future meetings after he went beyond his allotted time during the public comment period at Tuesday’s board meeting. When city resident Danny McCain said he would sit down only after the school board agreed to meet with him to discuss the achievement gap between Black and white students in Lynchburg, board Vice Chair Martin Day suggested he might need to call the police to have him removed from the meeting room.
Martinsville City Council member sues city manager and sheriff’s deputy
Martinsville Councilman Aaron Rawls is pursuing a civil rights lawsuit against City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides and Sheriff’s Deputy Reva Keen. Filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Danville, the lawsuit stems from a prior incident in which Rawls was escorted from a public meeting. The suit alleges that Rawls’ removal is a violation of his First, Fourth, and 14th Amendment rights.
Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office extends partnership with ICE
The Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office announced a new extended partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office, the partnership “establishes a secure and clearly defined process for ICE to transfer individuals who have been located and detained.” Sheriff Dave Rosado explained that prior to this new agreement, the holding period for undocumented immigrants was 48 hours. Now, ICE will have up to 72 hours to take custody of individuals originally detained by Chesapeake deputies.