Leaders Chosen For Virginia's New Environmental Justice Office

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has tapped a Tennessee clean water advocate with experience in community engagement.

'Big Data' Helps Direct Preservation Decisions

When a hiking guide stops dead in his tracks on a trail, it's often to point out a rare salamander crossing the path, or an endangered bird.

UVA's Abel Liu Breaks Barriers

The Redwood High grad became the nation's first openly transgender student government president at any university.

Virginia Livestock Fencing Program Sees "Jump" In Sign-Ups

Environmentalists and farmers have long been at loggerheads over agricultural best management practices.

Neighbors Deplore Clearing Cut At Virginia's Camp Peary

The first inkling that something was afoot last September was the sound of thumping and whirring in the woods in York County, Va.

Virginia Lawmakers Boost Funds For Chesapeake Cleanup, Environmental Literacy

In a recent session, lawmakers voted to ban releases of nonbiodegradable balloons and phase out the use of polystyrene foam food containers.

Virginia Board Gives Wegman's Permit To Impact Wetlands

A Virginia board has narrowly approved a key permit for Wegman's grocery chain to build a regional distribution center in Hanover County.

"Do We Deserve To Kill?" Executing Criminals Takes Something From All Of Us

Just last week, the General Assembly passed a bill to end the death penalty in Virginia. It’s a historic proposal.

Virginia Lawmakers Vote To Legalize Marijuana, But House And Senate Still Have To Agree On Details

Virginia lawmakers voted Friday to legalize marijuana, agreeing in principle to legislation that would allow retail sales to begin in 2024.

Some Virginia School Systems Say They’ll Lose Out Under Enrollment Loss Funding Formula

Virginia schools have lost thousands of students over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rebates Are Key To Democrats’ Transportation Electrification Package; Paying For Them Is A Harder Nut To Crack

Democrats are pushing to create incentives for drivers to buy electric vehicles as part of a broader goal.

Virginia House Votes To Double Minimum Fine For Littering From $250 To $500

As someone who’s adopted a stretch of road, Del. James Edmunds says Virginia’s littering problems have never been worse.

Virginia House Committee Advances Bill Giving FOIA Exemption To New Northam Cabinet Officials

Two recently created cabinet-level positions in Gov. Northam’s office would gain a broad exemption from Virginia’s public-records laws.

Virginia Courts Could Consider A Defendant’s Autism Diagnoses Under Proposed Law

It would allow more defendants in criminal cases to present evidence that they suffer from mental illness or intellectual disabilities.

We Can’t Address Climate Change Without Tackling Transportation

Efforts have really only addressed about one-third of Virginia’s carbon pollution, those emissions that come from fossil-fuel burning.

Will Baker, Longtime Head Of Chesapeake Bay Foundation, To Step Down By Year’s End

William C. Baker, longtime president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, announced plans to retire later this year after 40 years on the job.

‘A Badge Of Shame’: Virginia Senate Votes To Censure Amanda Chase

After stinging personal critiques from Republicans and Democrats alike, Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, was censured.

VCU Reverses Decision To Delay Thousands Of Second-Dose Vaccinations As Virginia Unrolls New Allocation Strategy

VCU " abruptly reversed course" after a question from this publication sought an explanation on the original ruling of delayed second doses.

Virginia Shifts Vaccine Distribution Strategy, Triggering Thousands Of Canceled Appointments

Teachers and other frontline employees in Fairfax County received an unwelcome surprise on Monday.

How We Get Through The Pandemic And Rebuild For A Better Future

Much more still must be done to get Virginia back on the right fiscal track, according to the guest author, who conducts fiscal analyses.

Lawmakers Are Considering Adding ‘Advanced Recycling’ To State Code. So What Exactly Is It?

Recycling, once seen as a key environmental priority, has seen its star fall recently, with many localities eliminating or scaling back.

Virginia Republicans Stick With Convention As Messy Fight Over How To Pick A Nominee Continues

Virginia Republicans appear to be sticking with their plans to hold a convention to select their nominees.

Virginia Senate Repeals Ban On Abortion Coverage For Plans Offered Through State Exchange

The bill passed would remove the ban on coverage of abortions from private plans offered on the state’s health insurance exchange.

Virginia Redistricting Commission Starts On Bipartisan Note, But Census Delays Add Uncertainty

Out of an abundance of bipartisanship, members of the Virginia Redistricting Commission didn’t want to pick just one chairperson.

After Tiebreaker, Senate Passes Bill Moving Local Elections To November

The Virginia Senate passed legislation to move all May local elections to November, with Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax casting the tiebreaker.

Private Prison, Gambling And Marijuana Businesses Showered General Assembly With Campaign Cash Before Session

The company that operates Virginia’s only private prison doled out campaign contributions to 29 Virginia lawmakers, reports indicate.

Senate Lawmakers Strip Chase Of Her Last Committee Assignment

Lawmakers in the Virginia Senate stripped Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, of her last committee assignment Tuesday.

Legislation Aims To Reduce Barriers For Energy Storage Projects

In 2020, lawmakers seeking to speed the development of renewables and wean Virginia off fossil fuels made a host of changes to state law.

‘I’m Just Trying To Get On TV:’ Gun Rally Draws Fringe Groups, Lots Of Media To Richmond

The sequel Monday to the 2020 Richmond gun rally, which drew over 20,000 followers, "was smaller and stranger," the report indicates.

Bill To Add ‘Cultural Competency’ Training For Virginia Teachers Moves Forward

A House committee voted Monday to approve a bill requiring new cultural competency training for Virginia educators.

McAuliffe Dominates Gubernatorial Fundraising, Reporting More Cash Than All Opponents Combined

Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe entered 2021 with more money in the bank than all other candidates for governor combined.

Voters Might Not Like Dr. Northam’s "Chill-Pill" Prescription For Virginians Awaiting Vaccines

Here we go again, Virginia, trailing the pack at yet another critical turn in combating the global coronavirus pandemic.

Exhausted Vaccine Reserve Could Unravel Plans For Phase 1b Expansion In Virginia

News that the federal government has already exhausted its supply of “reserve” COVID-19 vaccines sent Virginia officials scrambling Friday.

Democrats Eye Vehicles As The Next Target For Cutting Carbon Emissions

Virginia Democrats’ big environmental push of 2020 was the Virginia Clean Economy Act, a sweeping omnibus measure.

Northam Unveils Proposal To Begin Legal Marijuana Sales In 2023

Retail sales of recreational marijuana would begin in Virginia on Jan. 1, 2023, under legislation authored by Gov. Northam’s administration.

Pro-Trump Republican Picked For Va. Redistricting Commission Tweeted About ‘Rigged’ Election, Used Slurs For Female Celebrities

Marine Corps veteran Jose Feliciano Jr.'s "vulgar, degrading online comments," in support of Trump, are brought into question.

Republicans Have No Business Talking About The Integrity Of Elections

Claims by Republican legislators in Virginia about “voter integrity” can sound seductive — until you peel back layers of their arguments.

Virginia Democrats Continue Push For Criminal Justice Reform, As General Assembly Convenes

As the General Assembly reconvenes this week, Virginia Democrats are continuing a push to reform the state’s criminal justice system.

Virginia Democrats Push To End Constitutional Rule Stripping Felons Of Voting Rights

Democrats would seek a constitutional amendment to rid Virginia of what many call "a racist relic of a Jim Crow system."

If We Want To Save Our Restaurants, Virginia Must Put Long-Term Relief On The Menu

The issue with Virginia restaurants, says a hospitality official, "needs dedicated long-term financial assistance to solve."

Travel Like A Local: Submit Your Town For Our 2018 Travel Guide

Whether you've got the best brewery around or a music festival that rivals Coachella, tell us why your town should be a destination in 2018.