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Aston and Fleet: Hampton Roads lawmakers continue to deliver for higher education
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.
Thousands attend Williamsburg’s ‘No Kings’ protest against the Trump administration
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 ...
Spencer: Despite Medicaid pledges, Wittman and Kiggans folded
“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 ...
Yancey: 10 questions that Tuesday’s primaries will answer
I don’t know who’s going to win Tuesday’s Democratic primaries for lieutenant governor and attorney general but I can sure tell you who’s going to lose: Donald Trump. If all you knew was what you saw from the television ads of the six lieutenant governor candidates and two attorney general candidates, you’d think Trump is their opponent, not the others on the ballot. That’s likely good politics in a Democratic primary, but it also highlights just how few policy differences there appear to be between the respective candidates. Some primaries are a battle royale for “the soul of the party.” This year’s Democratic primaries for two of the three statewide offices — Abigail Spanberger is already the party’s nominee for governor — does not appear to be one of those.
The Virginia Mercury’s 2025 elections questionnaire: lieutenant governor
With seven contenders vying to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor, the Mercury asked all the hopefuls to answer a questionnaire to outline their political and legislative experiences, their plans should they be elected to preside over the state senate and their positions on policy that shapes citizens’ lives. Here are their responses.
Culpeper man drives SUV through crowd at ‘No Kings’ protest; no injuries reported
A person at a No Kings protest was struck by a vehicle Saturday in Culpeper as a crowd was dispersing near the end of the gathering on the sidewalk in front of Walmart. Police said no injuries were reported and they don't know who was hit, but a Culpeper man has been taken into custody in the incident. Culpeper Police Department officers were in the area of 801 James Madison Highway on June 14 monitoring the conclusion of a lawful protest event organized by Culpeper Democrats as part of a nationwide movement protesting Trump Administration policies.
Fredericksburg participates in worldwide ‘No Kings’ protest
The chants of “No Kings here” and “This is what Democracy looks like” rang out from protestors gathered at the corner of William and Blue & Grey Parkway on Saturday morning. Hundreds of people lined the corner from the Route 1/ Falmouth off-ramp all the way past St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church to protest the actions of President Donald Trump and his cabinet since his return to the White House in January 2025. Throughout the two hours when the protest was held, from 10 a.m. to noon, protesters chanted and made noise, gathering support from passing commuters. The event’s organizers offered bottled water to those participating, and the only notable disruption was a pickup truck whose driver purposely spewed exhaust fumes while driving by.
Alicia Atkins challenges Delores McQuinn in 81st House District primary
Del. Delores McQuinn has served in the Virginia House of Delegates since winning a 2009 special election. In that time, she has never received less than 73% of the vote in a Democratic primary or general election for the House, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. On Tuesday, she will face off with Henrico County School Board member Alicia Atkins — in a primary that takes place at a time when the Democratic Party across the country is considering whether to elevate new voices or continue to rely on seasoned political leaders.
State health regulators fine Richmond $6.8K for violations related to January water crisis
Richmond has agreed to pay state water regulators a “civil charge” of $6,817 as part of an agreement to resolve violations related to January’s water crisis. [Last] week, the city announced it had reached an agreement with the State Board of Health to resolve a series of problems that contributed to the water outage earlier this year. The order of consent between the city and the state formalizes the steps being taken to address the issues at the city’s water treatment plant, including the financial penalty.
Shenandoah Valley leaders bracing for One Big Beautiful Bill fallout
Shenandoah Valley leaders say President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill, now being considered in the U.S. Senate, will have a devastating impact on health care, higher education and workforce development. They voiced their concerns over the budget reconciliation bill to U.S. Sen. Mark Warner on Friday at a business policy roundtable just outside Staunton.