Virginia Mercury

Lawsuit claims violation of constitutional amendment process, but new law may invalidate that charge • Virginia Mercury At the core of a new Bedford County-based lawsuit challenging Virginia's pending reproductive rights amendment is an allegation that House of Delegates Clerk Paul Nardo failed to send copies of the…

A law legislators passed just weeks into this year's General Assembly session will be tested in a case challenging one of four constitutional amendments Virginia voters are supposed to weigh in on this year — and could have implications for all of them. virginiamercury.com/2026/03/06/l...

‘Unprecedented times:’ Virginia Democrats defend redistricting referendum as early voting begins • Virginia Mercury As early voting began Friday for Virginia’s closely watched redistricting referendum, Democratic leaders pushed back against claims that the proposal would open the door to future partisan map-drawing...

NEW: Early voting is now underway in Virginia’s redistricting referendum.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., calls the proposal a temporary response “to counter the tyranny that Donald Trump has unleashed.”

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/06/u...

Meet Sam McKelvey, new executive director of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation • Virginia Mercury McKelvey hopes his background in history and other foundation work will help the trail’s expansion continue forward.

New Virginia Capital Trail Foundation Executive Director Sam McKelvey has a fresh vision for the car-free, 51-plus mile path running from Richmond to Jamestown. He envisions an app that will let trail users explore "400 years of Virginia history along the trail." virginiamercury.com/2026/03/06/m...

General Assembly nixes bills that required data centers to get SCC certificate • Virginia Mercury Two bills in the General Assembly sought to give the State Corporation Commission the authority to review how proposed high-load users.

Bills to give state regulators authority to review how proposed data centers would impact the environment and energy reliability before approval were defeated this week. Opponents said they'd compromise local control; the bills' sponsors will try again next year. virginiamercury.com/2026/03/06/g...

Virginia joins multistate lawsuit challenging Trump administration over new global tariffs • Virginia Mercury Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones joined more than 20 Democratic-led states Thursday in suing President Donald Trump’s administration over a new round of sweeping tariffs, arguing the president is a...

NEW: Virginia AG Jay Jones has joined more than 20 states in suing the Trump administration over new global tariffs of up to 15% on imported goods.

The suit argues the president is imposing sweeping taxes on Americans without congressional approval.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/05/v...

Last-minute tweak to bill could double Virginia's medical malpractice payment caps for plaintiffs • Virginia Mercury What started as a “small little bill” by Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, to cap prejudgement interest in medical malpractice lawsuits on Wednesday evolved into a proposed doubling of payment caps f...

A last-minute change to a Virginia bill could double the state’s medical malpractice payout caps for plaintiffs, dramatically raising potential awards in rare cases that hit the cap.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/05/l...

Obama, Spanberger welcome Virginia Supreme Court ruling allowing redistricting vote • Virginia Mercury A ruling by the Supreme Court of Virginia allowing early voting to move forward in the state’s redistricting referendum has quickly reverberated beyond Richmond, drawing praise from former President B...

NEW: Former President Barack Obama and Gov. Abigail Spanberger welcome a Virginia Supreme Court ruling allowing early voting to begin Friday in the state’s redistricting referendum as Republicans mobilize opposition.

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Early voting begins Friday for Virginia redistricting referendum • Virginia Mercury Early voting is set to begin Friday across most of Virginia for an April 21 statewide referendum that could allow the General Assembly to redraw the state’s congressional districts ahead of this fall’...

Early voting begins Friday across Virginia for an April 21 referendum that could let lawmakers redraw the state’s congressional districts before the midterms.

The Va. Supreme Court cleared the way Wednesday, staying a lower court order pausing preparations.

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Bedford County supervisor files suit challenging reproductive rights constitutional amendment • Virginia Mercury Lawsuit claims abortion ballot initiative is invalid because Virginia’s House of Delegates did not distribute it to all circuit court clerks and post it for public inspection three months prior to the...

A Bedford County supervisor has filed a lawsuit challenging Virginia’s proposed reproductive rights constitutional amendment, arguing lawmakers didn’t follow procedures required before the 2025 election.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/04/b...

Virginia legislator pushes casino proposal that many in his wealthy county detest • Virginia Mercury Should Surovell’s bill be made into law, I’d wager a ton of Benjamins that Fairfax County voters will soundly reject it, columnist Roger Chesley writes.

Commentary: A proposal to bring a casino to wealthy Fairfax County is drawing fierce opposition from residents who say the area doesn’t need it — and would likely reject it at the ballot box, Roger Chesley writes.

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Bills aimed at lowering utility bills also renew pricey power line burial program • Virginia Mercury Cost shifting capacity auction, distribution costs to data centers saves some money on bills, while extending strategic undergrounding program that adds up.

Legislation aimed at lowering utility bills by shifting some grid costs to data centers also revives the state’s expensive power-line burial program — a trade-off some lawmakers say could still push rates higher.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/04/b...

Bill to require factual teaching about U.S. Capitol attack clears Va. General Assembly • Virginia Mercury Virginia lawmakers on Monday passed a proposal that would require schools, if they teach students about the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, to relay the facts of what actually happ...

Virginia lawmakers passed a bill requiring schools that teach about the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol to present it as a violent effort to overturn the election.

The measure now heads to the governor’s desk.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/04/b...

Bill mandating ingredient labels on menstrual products headed to Spanberger • Virginia Mercury While some companies label ingredients used to make menstrual health products like tampons or pads, many disclose little about the chemicals their products contain.

Virginia lawmakers have passed a bill requiring clear ingredient labels on menstrual products sold in the state, aiming to boost transparency and consumer safety.

The measure now heads to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/03/b...

Va. transportation board overturns decision to transfer rail and trail project • Virginia Mercury In one of the quietest moves yet under Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration, the Commonwealth Transportation Board overturned a controversial decision made in the final weeks of former Gov. Glenn ...

Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board has reversed an earlier decision to transfer a rail-and-trail project to another agency, restoring control amid local debate over the future of the corridor.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/03/v...

In Southwest Va., Scott County parents search for answers amid children's cancer diagnoses • Virginia Mercury State health department’s study ruled out pediatric cancer clusters in the area, but doesn’t include data from 2024 and 2025, when parents say several children were diagnosed with cancer.

Parents in Scott County say they’re still waiting for answers after a spate of childhood cancer diagnoses as the Virginia Cancer Registry reviews data — even after a state health report ruled out a cluster due to outdated data.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/03/i...

Virginia’s new public health leaders take the helm as state agencies weather uncharted waters • Virginia Mercury Two men with deep experience in health care policy and practice have recently been tapped to oversee Virginia’s public health agencies, as health care remains a top concern for residents and an…

Virginia health secretary Marvin Figueroa (right) and health commissioner Dr. Cameron Webb are steering the state’s public health agencies as state health departments nationwide grapple with federal shifts that threaten to drain budgets and slash workforces. virginiamercury.com/2026/03/02/v...

As conflict with Iran widens, Virginia lawmakers navigate political fallout • Virginia Mercury President Donald Trump’s decision to launch a sweeping military offensive against Iran over the weekend is reverberating far beyond the Middle East, injecting new uncertainty into Virginia’s congressi...

President Trump’s war in Iran could shake up Virginia’s congressional races.

Dems question its legality; most VA Republicans back it.

Sen. Warner, up for reelection this fall, calls it a “war of choice.”

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/02/a...

Virginia lawmakers reach agreement for first steps to monitor PFAS in biosolids • Virginia Mercury After multiple debates and meetings between stakeholders, a compromise has been reached on how Virginia can begin to monitor the presence of “forever chemicals,” in biosolids.

Senate Bill 386 outlines Virginia's first steps towards restricting the use of biosolids, fertilizer which may contain toxic, health-harming "forever chemicals." The measure would mandate testing for the substances and ban use once certain levels are detected. virginiamercury.com/2026/03/02/v...

Va. lawmakers propose guardrails for artificial intelligence use in education • Virginia Mercury As Virginia schools adopt AI and students spend more time on screens, state lawmakers question the technology’s impact on students' safety, critical thinking and learning skills.

As Virginia schools adopt AI and students spend more time on screens, state lawmakers are questioning the impact on students’ safety, critical thinking and learning skills. Several AI bills are on track to pass the General Assembly; here's what they'd do: virginiamercury.com/2026/03/02/v...

Va. lawmakers propose guardrails for artificial intelligence use in education • Virginia Mercury As Virginia schools adopt AI and students spend more time on screens, state lawmakers question the technology’s impact on students' safety, critical thinking and learning skills.

AI in VA: Advocates of artificial intelligence praise the technology for increasing efficiency and productivity.

But as schools adopt AI and students spend more time on screens, Virginia state lawmakers have questions. @virginiamercury.com

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/02/v...

If your insurer left the ACA market, a special enrollment period for new insurance ends March 1 • Virginia Mercury Some insurers left the Affordable Care Act marketplace at the end of last year, which triggered a special enrollment period for some who lost their health coverage in the shift. While open enrollment…

Several insurers left the Affordable Care Act marketplace at the end of last year, triggering a special enrollment period for some who lost their health coverage in the shift. These people have until March 1 to enroll in a new insurance plan; here's how: virginiamercury.com/briefs/if-yo...

Va. lawmakers’ rejections leave vacancies on three higher ed governing boards • Virginia Mercury President Debbie L. Sydow and her team at Richard Bland College had operated for years without a governing board until last year, when the school gained independence from its parent university,…

Lawmakers rejected 14 nominations by former Gov. Youngkin at three institutions this month: Richard Bland College, VCU, and ODU. The legislature and Gov. Spanberger are reviewing the nomination process for governing boards at Virginia’s colleges and universities. virginiamercury.com/2026/02/27/v...

Army Corps plans to fast-track infrastructure priorities, including in Virginia • Virginia Mercury Plan’s initiatives include overhauling the regulatory process to eliminate delays in permitting projects, empowering commanders to “take informed risks” to advance key water resources programs and…

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has unveiled a new initiative to deliver critical national priority projects faster and cheaper.

It’s a potential breakthrough for the Corps and could fast-track some of Virginia’s coastal resilience projects. virginiamercury.com/2026/02/27/a...

Workers, Speaker Scott criticize plan to axe data center tax exemption as budgets advance • Virginia Mercury The Senate proposal to end the sales and use tax exemption that’s saved data centers over $1 billion passes with bipartisan support.

Virginia legislators passed their spending plans yesterday, but the Senate's pitch to end data centers' sales tax exemption met pushback from worker unions and House Speaker Don Scott. Keeping the exemption will save jobs and boost the economy, they said. virginiamercury.com/2026/02/27/w...

As federal drug pricing program reforms lag, Va. senator’s bill seeks state-level solutions • Virginia Mercury national solutions to the problem have yet to materialize, and some Virginia state lawmakers who are tired of waiting are taking matters into their own hands during this year’s legislative session.

As federal reforms to the 340B drug pricing program lag, Virginia lawmakers are eyeing state-level fixes.

A new Senate bill aims to protect hospitals and clinics — and keep prescription costs down — as debate grows over how the program is being implemented.

virginiamercury.com/2026/02/26/a...

A voter’s guide to Virginia’s 2026 redistricting push • Virginia Mercury The "why" and "how" of the current redistricting proposal that's designed to give legislators temporary power to reshape the state's 11 congressional districts.

A voter’s guide to Virginia’s 2026 redistricting push:

The “why” and “how” of the current redistricting proposal that’s designed to give legislators temporary power to reshape the state’s 11 congressional districts.

virginiamercury.com/2026/02/26/a...

Virginia Democrats sharpen focus on ICE limits after Spanberger’s State of the Union rebuttal • Virginia Mercury Virginia Democrats were already advancing legislation to curb state cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when President Donald Trump took the podium Tuesday night to tout record d...

NEW: After Gov. Spanberger’s SOTU rebuttal, Virginia Democrats are doubling down on efforts to limit ICE’s reach — pushing new legislation to curb cooperation with federal immigration agents and boost oversight.

virginiamercury.com/2026/02/26/v...

Attorney General Jones joins multi-state lawsuit over canceled Solar for All funding • Virginia Mercury Virginia had been awarded $156 million for the grant program to help residents install solar panels on their homes

Virginia AG Jay Jones joins 23 other state attorneys general in suing the EPA after $156 million in “Solar for All” clean energy funding was canceled.

virginiamercury.com/briefs/attor...

Virginia State University faces questions after firing six agriculture research experts • Virginia Mercury Virginia State University's Agricultural Research Station fired six professors in December, sparking outrage among farmers.

Virginia State University is facing scrutiny after firing 6 agriculture research experts who helped secure millions in federal grants & supported Black farmers.

Lawmakers are demanding answers as the cuts raise concerns about the future of research programs.

virginiamercury.com/2026/02/24/v...

In Democratic rebuttal, Spanberger accuses Trump of driving up costs and chaos • Virginia Mercury Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, just weeks after being sworn in as the commonwealth’s 75th governor, delivered a sharp Democratic rebuttal Tuesday night to President Donald Trump’s 107-minute State ...

Gov. Spanberger's rebuttal to Trump's State of the Union:

POTUS is driving up housing, health care, energy and grocery costs, creating chaos at home and weakening the U.S. abroad.

She also alleged corruption, saying he's
"enriching himself." #vagov

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