Hurricane Helene washed away homes, battered businesses and nearly wiped popular hiking and biking trails off the map in the tiny Southwest Virginia town of Damascus. A year on, the community is primed for a major comeback. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/22/i...

Siding with the students, Judge Urbanski wrote that Jackson’s name “is expressive as a symbol of racial exclusion in public schools.” He granted the students’ summary judgement, denied the school board’s counter motion and deferred a final ruling until December. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/10/f...

Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson said K-12 educators who suggest conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing was acceptable should have their teaching licenses revoked. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/15/v...

JUST IN from @virginiamercury.com: Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson on Friday advised school districts to investigate educators making comments concerning the death of Charlie Kirk. www.newsfromthestates.com/article/vas-...

Breaking: Virginia Department of Health issues order to ease COVID-19 vaccine access as federal guidance shifts. (I asked VDH and the governor about this yesterday, as other states have done so in the interim) virginiamercury.com/briefs/virgi...

Part one of our On the Record series examines Republican governor candidate Winsome Earle-Sears’ positions on key Virginia issues: immigration, education, energy, environment, health care, housing, criminal justice and policing, voting rights and elections.

Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor launched her bid for Congress on Monday, joining nine other Dems want to unseat longtime 1st District U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, a vulnerable Republican. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/08/s...

NEW: Spanberger vows to rescind Gov. Youngkin’s Feb executive order that forces VA law enforcement to help carry out immigration crackdowns. She calls it a misuse of local resources and a threat to community trust #VAGov virginiamercury.com/2025/08/27/s...

In some of his first public comments since being shot in an attempted assassination, Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman urged fellow lawmakers to refocus on the true purpose of public service. via @stateline.org

#breaking The Virginia Court of Appeals has ruled that the NAACP’s FOIA lawsuit challenging Gov. Youngkin’s voting‑rights restoration process isn't over. A lower court never addressed attorney‑fees, so the appellate court sent it back to be resolved. virginiamercury.com/2025/08/06/v...

After intense pushback, Amazon withdrew its proposed 7.2 million square foot data center in Louisa last week, which would have been the third data center in the county. A revised approval process now gives residents more say in future data center development. virginiamercury.com/2025/07/28/a...

BREAKING: A Fairfax County Circuit Court judge temporarily blocked eight of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's appointees from serving on governing boards at UVA, GMU and VMI, the latest development to rock Virginia’s higher education landscape. virginiamercury.com/2025/07/29/j...

NEW: Students, faculty & lawmakers are pushing back after the Trump administration launched a civil rights probe into GMU, accusing it of race-based hiring. Critics call it a political attack on one of the nation’s most diverse public universities. virginiamercury.com/2025/07/16/s...

Virginians shopping online for condoms, birth control, or period products may now see pop-ups warning their data is being tracked — a result of a new state law protecting reproductive health info. Walmart’s response: shop elsewhere if you don’t consent. virginiamercury.com/briefs/new-v...

I asked Virginia agencies how they prepare for dangerous weather events and what tools are available in the state for disaster recovery. #valeg #vapol #vagov virginiamercury.com/briefs/virgi...

Breaking news: An imposter using AI to pose as Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress, according to a State Department cable.

FROM THE STATES NEWSROOM DC BUREAU: GOP leaders in US Senate struggle to redo mega-bill by July Fourth deadline @jennifershutt.bsky.social @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social @ashleymurray.bsky.social @fischler.bsky.social www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-...

Big kudos to @fitzsimon.bsky.social, Scott Greenberger of @stateline.org, and @wordsbywillis.bsky.social of @virginiamercury.com for representing @statesnewsroom.com at today's event with The Pew Charitable Trusts. By all accounts, it was a great success!

It's almost showtime, and @statesnewsroom.com's Chris Fitzsimon & I are ready! Tune in for "Federalism Tested: How States are Navigating an Era of Uncertainty" at 10am; I'll be moderating a dialogue with former Govs. Hogan of Maryland and Bullock of Montana. www.pew.org/en/about/eve...

TUNE IN: This morning at 10 am @statesnewsroom.com hosts w/ Pew Charitable Trusts: "Federalism Tested: How States Are Navigating an Era of Uncertainty." Hear from former Govs Hogan of Maryland & Bullock of Montana, moderated by @wordsbywillis.bsky.social register here web.cvent.com/event/cfed53...

“President Trump has no constitutional authority to take us to war with Iran without authorization from Congress, and Congress has not authorized it,” Virginia Democratic Congressman Don Beyer posted on X, after Trump announced the U.S. bombed three sites in Iran. virginiamercury.com/2025/06/21/r...

The polls have closed, and primary day 2025 is racing towards an end. View the unofficial results of Virginia’s attorney general, lieutenant governor and House of Delegates primary races on our live election results page: virginiamercury.com/2025/06/17/l...

Leading Democrat Melissa Hortman, who was among the most influential Minnesota elected officials of the past decade, died on Saturday morning after a man impersonating a police officer shot her in her Brooklyn Park home, Gov. Tim Walz said. virginiamercury.com/2025/06/14/m...

Senate Democrats rejected several appointees to Virginia’s governing boards at various colleges on Monday. via @virginiamercury.com www.newsfromthestates.com/article/va-l...

We're stoked you're part of the team, Shannon! Folks, if you have Virginia energy and environment questions or tips to share, give her a holler. 👇

Featured in the latest Virginia News Reader: State probe into Black communities’ displacement surges forward with infusion of funds - By Brandi Kellam @virginiamercury.com Read the full article at Virginia Mercury. ➡ tinyurl.com/yc9fykr9

This powerful story, written by reporter Brandi Kellam, was published in partnership with @columbiajournalism.bsky.social's 2025-2026 Spencer Education Journalism Fellowship. Brandi is one of four fellows to take part in the program this year and @virginiamercury.com is proud to work with her!

The "big, beautiful" bill's impact on Virginia isn't fully clear, but the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee estimates 161,614 Virginians could lose Medicaid coverage if it passes. And that number could rise, pending U.S. Senate action. virginiamercury.com/2025/05/23/b...

Updated story on the GOP mega bill that passed the House early this morning. By @jennifershutt.bsky.social and @ashleymurray.bsky.social of @statesnewsroom.com. U.S. House Republicans push through massive tax and spending bill slashing Medicaid

A chorus of Virginia's state and federal lawmakers mourned the loss of U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly after the Democratic congressman died in his home Wednesday. He was 75. Connolly had represented Virginia’s 11th District, anchored in Fairfax, since 2008. virginiamercury.com/2025/05/21/a...

1. Abortion med challenges are back in federal courts. @sofiaresnick.bsky.social and I have more details here for @statesnewsroom.com @virginiamercury.com 2. Thank you to my old local library for being our temporary workspace when back in Charlottesville yesterday virginiamercury.com/2025/05/19/a...

Adriana Smith was around nine weeks pregnant when she was declared brain-dead in February. But doctors say maintaining life support was the only legal option due to Georgia's strict abortion ban.

Following months of preparation after securing federal funding in September, a research team headed by the Mi’kmaq Nation received an email from the U.S. EPA's Office of Mission Support on May 13 stating that their four-year grant had been terminated. mainemorningstar.com/2025/05/19/d...

A group of determined students and educators helped secure a state historical marker that was unveiled Saturday alongside former Black students who broke barriers in local schools during the Civil Rights era, paving the way for integrated education in Virginia. virginiamercury.com/2025/05/19/r...

Commentary: Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power are seizing the opportunity to push for changes that would undermine the economic calculus supporting customer-owned solar in Virginia, writes columnist Ivy Main. virginiamercury.com/2025/05/08/a...

NEW: Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears signed Virginia’s reproductive rights amendment—as required by law—but added a handwritten note: “I am morally opposed to this bill; no protection for the child.” She’s not required to explain her signature. But she did. virginiamercury.com/2025/05/08/e...

NEW: The rate of sepsis in Houston surged 63% after Texas banned abortion. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where hospital leaders empowered doctors to intervene before patients’ conditions worsened, it rose just 29%.

VDH is investigating a possible pediatric cancer cluster in Scott County after residents raised alarms over unusually high cases. Officials are now seeking more data from the public. The Mercury has created a survey for those impacted (link in story). virginiamercury.com/2025/05/07/v...

NEW: Va. Democrats just hit a milestone: For the first time in recent memory, they’re running candidates in all 100 House districts — including red territory like the Eastern Shore. Chef Rocco DeBellis is one of them, challenging Del. Rob Bloxom in HD-100. virginiamercury.com/2025/05/07/d...

Scoop by @mschmidtrva.bsky.social, the latest element in the firestorm engulfing the Virginia GOP over Republican John Reid's lieutenant governor candidacy: 👇🏾

Lots of layers to this bit of Virginia politics news cycle. I hope I covered some of the gender and sexuality dynamics in an informative way for @virginiamercury.com. virginiamercury.com/2025/04/29/j...

“What other leader arrested judges? Hitler, Mussolini and other dictators arrested judges. I think we are all very concerned about the rule of law," attendee Jim Kutz said at the town hall demanding Rep. Rob Wittman reject Trump's aggressive immigration reforms. virginiamercury.com/2025/04/26/w...

NEW: In a fiery video response, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor John Reid vowed he would stay in the race. Youngkin asked him to drop out after a social media account with the same handle that Reid uses shared pornographic content online. virginiamercury.com/2025/04/25/i...

NEW: A Hanover judge rules Queen of Virginia skill games legal under state law — a win for small businesses & a blow to casino-backed bans. The court said the machines don’t meet the legal definition of gambling devices. virginiamercury.com/2025/04/24/h...

With Virginia poised to elect its first woman governor later this year, the future of its state legislature is also female. All 100 House of Delegates seats are up for election this year and about 80 candidates are women. virginiamercury.com/2025/04/23/w...

What would a Great Dismal Swamp National Heritage Area look like? The National Park Service is seeking input on a potential designation that highlights the environmental & cultural significance of this vast, ancient wetland stretching from SE Virginia to NC. virginiamercury.com/2025/03/31/w...

UPDATE: Bon Secours and commercial health insurer Cigna have reached a deal to keep over 30,000 Virginians in-network, averting interruptions in care and higher health care costs for patients after months of protracted contract negotiations and uncertainty.

NEW: Youngkin unleashes veto storm, blocking key progressive reforms while advancing new laws on energy, health, and political transparency. #VAGov #VALeg virginiamercury.com/2025/03/25/y...

COMMENTARY: Baxter’s participation in the new campaign is a positive outcome after a sordid incident. It will inform people of their rights and help reduce housing bias that persists, writes columnist Roger Chesley.

Here are all the locations you can pick up free bottles of water or fill up your own containers with fresh H2O in Richmond, Henrico and Hanover on Friday: