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Spanberger Rallies Warren County Democrats at Apple House Event in Linden
Democratic nominee for governor Abigail Spanberger made a lively and well-attended stop at the Apple House in Linden on Friday morning, addressing a packed house as part of her eight-day bus tour across Virginia. The tour, which is taking her to all corners of the Commonwealth, aims to connect directly with voters and share her message of affordability, safer communities, and stronger public schools. Spanberger, who served as U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 7th District from 2019 to 2025, is the Democratic Party’s nominee in the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election, running against Republican nominee and current lieutenant governor Winsome Earle-Sears.
In Chesterfield, ICE does its job – stoking fear for political gain
Whatcha gonna do? The bad boys showed up at the Chesterfield County courthouse last week as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) descended on RVA, snatching more than a dozen immigrants as they made their way out of General District Court. It just wasn’t altogether clear who the villains were — the federal agents, faces covered, refusing to identify themselves or their purpose, or the unsuspecting “illegals” who showed up to court voluntarily for misdemeanors and mostly minor criminal offenses.
Yancey: Senate Democratic leader warns University of Virginia not to pick a new president ‘anytime soon’
Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, warned the University of Virginia’s governing board Saturday not to pick a new president “anytime soon” in the wake of President James Ryan’s resignation under pressure from the Trump administration, because Democrats could install a new majority on the board if Abigail Spanberger wins this fall’s governor’s race. “There will be a different ideological majority come next July 1,” Surovell said. He also warned that if the board allows former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, whose appointment to the board is now the subject of a court case, to take his seat, that would give a future Democratic governor grounds to remove board members for “malfeasance.”
Spanberger, other Democrats vying for office draw hundreds at Williamsburg campaign stop
The Democratic nominees for statewide office stopped near Williamsburg on Saturday as part of an eight-day, 40-stop campaign tour of Virginia. Abigail Spanberger, candidate for governor; state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, who is vying to be the commonwealth’s next lieutenant governor; and Jerrauld “Jay” Jones, who is running for attorney general; were joined by Jessica Anderson, who is seeking to represent Virginia’s House of Delegates District 71. The event, hosted by the Historic Triangle Democrats at Lafayette High School in James City County, drew approximately 400 attendees.
Coggin: To tackle sea level rise, Hampton Roads needs NOAA
Since Hampton Roads was settled, it has fought a tug-of-war with its surrounding waters. Nowhere is this more evident than at Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base. Naval Station Norfolk, home to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, supports 75 ships and 134 aircraft including five of the Navy’s 12 aircraft carriers. Sea level rise threatens its operational readiness. ... Yet, President Donald Trump’s White House proposes to cut NOAA’s fiscal year 2026 budget by 25%, severing a lifeline of weather and climate data and services for Hampton Roads. Now, NOAA’s fate is in the hands of Congress as it considers the Trump-endorsed “big, beautiful” budget bill.
Atkins: Teach all history? Thanks to Youngkin, that's exactly what Virginia is doing
In recent weeks, I’ve seen some commentators writing that the governor’s veto of a bill — which would have allowed African American history electives to be substituted for basic World History or World Geography — goes against his campaign promises to “teach all history, the good and the bad.” I disagree. As a lifelong educator, former school division superintendent in Virginia and a member of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s cabinet charged with ensuring all Virginians have the opportunity to succeed, I witnessed firsthand how this promise is being realized.
University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure From Trump Administration
The Trump administration on Friday secured perhaps the most significant victory in its pressure campaign on higher education, forcing the resignation of the University of Virginia’s president, James E. Ryan, over the college’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The extraordinary wielding of federal power to oust the 58-year-old college president showed the unusual lengths the administration would go to pursue President Trump’s political agenda and shift the ideological tilt of academia, which he views as hostile to conservatives. Mr. Ryan’s resignation also presents new challenges for other colleges negotiating with the government, including Harvard, ...
U-Va. president resigns amid Trump administration pressure
University of Virginia President James E. Ryan resigned Friday, a decision he said he took to try to spare the university a costly fight with the Trump administration amid pressure over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Justice Department officials had previously told Ryan they’d like him to step down, a person familiar with the matter said. The agency declined to comment Friday. In a note to the community, Ryan said he worried that trying to save his own job to fight the federal government would harm U-Va. researchers reliant on federal funding and students who could lose financial aid or their visas.
DOJ officials call for UVa President Jim Ryan to resign
In an unprecedented move, U.S. Department of Justice officials are calling on University of Virginia President Jim Ryan to resign, saying he has slow-walked the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at the school and misrepresented the steps UVa has taken to end them. DOJ officials have asked Ryan to step down on multiple occasions, as first reported by the New York Times on Thursday. The DOJ did not immediately respond a Daily Progress request for confirmation.
Rep. Don Beyer buzzes to spelling bee win
“Stygian” means having the characteristics of death, but the word kept a lawmaker alive in a spelling competition Wednesday night. Rep. Donald S. Beyer Jr., D-Va., got it correct to move on to the final round of the National Press Club’s Press & Politicians Spelling Bee, where he squared off against Jessica Mendoza, a podcast co-host at The Wall Street Journal. Mendoza spelled “caryatid” right, while Beyer missed “espalier” to start the round. But then Mendoza stumbled on “trichinosis,” knocking her out of the contest altogether and leaving Beyer as the last speller standing.