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Virginia Mercury
Good to seek recount after officials certify results showing McGuire won
Having likely lost to challenger state Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland, 5th Congressional District Rep. Bob Good is seeking a recount. The Virginia State Board of Elections certified primary election results Tuesday — which opened a window of opportunity for candidates appearing to have lost by less than 1% of the vote to pursue a recount […] The post Good to seek recount after officials certify results showing McGuire won appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Virginia officials defend ‘free and fair’ elections as primary results are certified
Virginia officials on Tuesday certified the results of last month’s congressional primaries and defended the integrity of the state’s voting systems after a contentious election season. “I think we can comfortably say we’ve had free and fair elections in this primary,” said former Republican delegate John O’Bannon, who now chairs the Virginia State Board of […] The post Virginia officials defend ‘free and fair’ elections as primary results are certified appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Va. Senate again fails to pass bill on tuition benefit for military families
For the second time this summer, the Virginia Senate returned to Richmond and failed to pass a bill most General Assembly members and many military families want to see advance. Another five hours at the Capitol Monday produced no breakthroughs in the slow-burning controversy over the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP), which […] The post Va. Senate again fails to pass bill on tuition benefit for military families appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Groups celebrate full year of Pell Grant eligibility for prisoners to earn college degrees
Darryl Byers-Robinson choked up as he stood before a crowd of about 30 at Virginia’s Department of Corrections headquarters in Richmond on Monday with various advocacy groups and members of Virginia’s DOC. The groups had gathered to celebrate the first year since the full reestablishment of eligibility for incarcerated people to receive Pell Grants. The […] The post Groups celebrate full year of Pell Grant eligibility for prisoners to earn college degrees appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Va. school board member to be jailed for his role in Jan. 6 riot and more state headlines
• “Virginia school board member gets 12 days in jail for Jan. 6 riot role, says he won’t step down.”—NBC4 • “Losing candidate in Lynchburg Republican primary for council files suit to invalidate election.”—Cardinal News • “Almost 30% house renters in this Northern Virginia city pay more than $5,000 a month.”—WTOP • “Emergency loans may […] The post Va. school board member to be jailed for his role in Jan. 6 riot and more state headlines appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case
WASHINGTON — U.S. presidents enjoy full immunity from criminal charges for their official “core constitutional” acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, sending former President Donald Trump’s case back to the lower courts. The justices left open the question of how far official acts can reach, possibly reshaping the contours […] The post Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Teachers, state employees to get raises as new budget takes effect and more Va. headlines
• “As chief of staff departs, Youngkin tries to reset relationship with assembly.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch • “Trump says Unite the Right story was ‘debunked.’ Charlottesville disagrees.”—Daily Progress • “Virginia Beach Catholic school rocked by parent abuse allegations, priest reassignment.”—Virginian-Pilot • “Use of N-word pervasive in Montgomery County school, school board member says.”—Roanoke Times • “State employees, […] The post Teachers, state employees to get raises as new budget takes effect and more Va. headlines appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aiding Virginia Energy’s abandoned mine cleanup
This is Part 1 of a three-part series on efforts to develop on abandoned mine lands in Southwest Virginia. Parts 2 and 3 will be published in the coming days. POUND – Southwest Virginia’s bucolic scenery is easy to see: steep slopes blanketed with trees; rolling farmland with grazing cattle; closely-clustered single-story homes and places […] The post Bipartisan Infrastructure Law aiding Virginia Energy’s abandoned mine cleanup appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Va.’s task force recommends dedicated funding for campus threat assessment team training
A task force directed by the Virginia legislature has recommended creating a dedicated funding stream for threat assessment team training on college and university campuses and allowing teams to share confidential information about a person who’s the subject of an investigation with other public institutions. An assessment team may investigate a person, whether a student […] The post Va.’s task force recommends dedicated funding for campus threat assessment team training appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Attorney’s crusade on speed cameras jeopardizes workers, schoolchildren
Attorney and former state delegate Tim Anderson has a beef with speed cameras that monitor school and work zones around the commonwealth. Anderson, who’s based in Virginia Beach, has filed lawsuits in state and federal courts against the shutterbugs in Chesapeake and Suffolk. “It is completely, totally profit policing,” the Republican told me. Anderson said […] The post Attorney’s crusade on speed cameras jeopardizes workers, schoolchildren appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Trump rallies in Chesapeake, backed by Virginia governor, GOP leaders
CHESAPEAKE — “We win Virginia, the race is over,” former president Donald Trump told a crowd of more than a thousand at Historic Greenbrier Farms in Chesapeake on Friday. He and opponent President Joe Biden each held rallies following their debate the night before. Biden held one in Raleigh, North Carolina earlier in the day. […] The post Trump rallies in Chesapeake, backed by Virginia governor, GOP leaders appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Virginia House votes to reverse changes to tuition program serving military families
The Virginia House of Delegates voted 92-0 Friday to reverse recent cost-cutting measures aimed at a state program that helps the families of killed or wounded soldiers go to college without paying tuition. In a quick and drama-free morning at the Capitol, the House easily passed a repeal bill nearly every Democratic and Republican member […] The post Virginia House votes to reverse changes to tuition program serving military families appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Trump rally could bring crowds, traffic and road closures to Chesapeake and more Va. headlines
• “Trump rally could bring thousands to Chesapeake Friday, along with traffic and road closures.”—Virginian-Pilot • “Parents express frustrations, say Virginia special education system is ‘profoundly flawed.’”—WTVR • “Va. library might be getting a name change after community outcry over current ‘very racist president’ name.”—WTOP • “Metro fares will increase this weekend. Here’s what to […] The post Trump rally could bring crowds, traffic and road closures to Chesapeake and more Va. headlines appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
McClellan, Spanberger work to repeal parts of 19th century law that could ban abortion nationally
Democrats are finally talking about the Comstock Act — and they are finally trying to repeal it. The act is a dormant 19th century federal law that’s still technically on the books and could be used to implement a national abortion ban. Named for activist Anthony Comstock who pushed for it, the 1873 law prohibits […] The post McClellan, Spanberger work to repeal parts of 19th century law that could ban abortion nationally appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
FOIA Friday: New effort to shield UVA shooting report, Portsmouth’s severance payouts
One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealth’s leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in […] The post FOIA Friday: New effort to shield UVA shooting report, Portsmouth’s severance payouts appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump pitched to undecided voters Thursday night during the first debate of the presidential campaign — trading insults over their policy differences, immigration and who represents a threat to democracy. During the debate from CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, the two men argued over who can do better for […] The post Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Youngkin to reestablish maternal health data task force, after vetoing bill that would have done so
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a new executive order to reestablish a maternal health data task force a little over a month after vetoing legislation designed to accomplish the same goal. Executive Order 32 reestablishes the Maternal Health Data and Quality Measures Task Force, which was first established in 2021 and ran through the end of […] The post Youngkin to reestablish maternal health data task force, after vetoing bill that would have done so appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Former Va. Senate GOP leader clashes with election official over assault case
A few weeks ago, former Virginia Senate GOP leader Tommy Norment contacted a pair of Charles City County election officials with an unusual request. As an attorney, Norment is representing a Republican member of the Charles City Electoral Board, Maria Anne Kinney, whose feud with other election officials in the county has led to her […] The post Former Va. Senate GOP leader clashes with election official over assault case appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Text messages reveal behind-the-scenes details of Petersburg casino process
On the mid-April day when the Virginia General Assembly was voting on whether to give the city of Petersburg permission to pursue a casino, Sen. Lashrecse Aird sent a text message to a top city official saying she needed a document sooner rather than later. City Manager March Altman texted Aird on the morning of […] The post Text messages reveal behind-the-scenes details of Petersburg casino process appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
First Lady Jill Biden will visit Virginia Beach and more state headlines
• “First Lady Jill Biden to visit Virginia Beach on Thursday.”—Virginian-Pilot • “Former Virginia EMS employee accused of embezzling $4 million.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch • “Misleading effort to put third-party presidential candidate on Virginia ballot.”—NBC4 • ‘It’s quite political’: Hanover School Board debates leaving state association.”—WRIC • “‘Empty the Shelters’ reduces adoption fees for Virginia shelter pets.”—Roanoke […] The post First Lady Jill Biden will visit Virginia Beach and more state headlines appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
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The Virginia Mercury is an independent, nonprofit online news organization covering state government and policy. From the push to remove Confederate statues to big shifts in health care and energy policy, the Old Dominion is changing. The Mercury aims to bring a fresh perspective to coverage of the state’s biggest issues. The news outlet, which also features original and guest commentary on a range of topics, is staffed full-time by five veteran Virginia newspaper journalists. The Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. We retain full editorial independence and are a proud member of the Virginia Press Association.
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