Breaking: A judge dismissed a legal challenge to Virginia's pending reproductive rights constitutional amendment. A lawyer for the plaintiff in the case tells me they intend to appeal. Background from a previous story here: virginiamercury.com/2026/07/03/v...

2 reform proposals for a federal drug pricing program are open for feedback this summer. The program, 340B, has been a lifeline for patients and some providers, but instances of abuse have sparked a years-long quest for how best to adjust it. Learn more here: virginiamercury.com/2026/07/13/e...

One lawsuit seeks a rewrite before the referendum hits ballots. Another seeks to tear it down on a procedural step. That case's outcome could create a path to affect the voting rights and marriage equality amendments, too. Learn more here: virginiamercury.com/2026/07/03/v...

ICYMI: After President Trump backed out of signing a major bipartisan congressional housing bill last week, there is still path for it to become law. You can learn more here: virginiamercury.com/2026/06/26/l...

From registrations being "on hold" to confusion around paperwork and eligible crimes, thousands of Virginians eligible to vote this year are still waiting. Early voting for congressional primaries began last week. virginiamercury.com/2026/06/23/c...

Virginia legislators today approved a two-year, $205 billion budget proposal to fund healthcare and public education, provide 4% teacher raises and a 3.5% pay bump to state employees, establish a retail weed marketplace and hedge against decreased federal dollars. virginiamercury.com/2026/06/22/v...

Va. Gov. Spanberger joined a coalition of governors taking various steps to enhance access to things like contraception, IVF and abortion. The announcement comes as she signed two new state laws regarding contraception access. virginiamercury.com/2026/06/17/s...

Virginia's State Senate & House of Delegates have been at an impasse for months on the next state budget. As they head towards a July 1 deadline, here's where different proposals stand currently. virginiamercury.com/2026/06/15/t...

A bipartisan housing bill is getting closer to President Trump's desk. All of Virginia's members of congress have supported it and some of the provisions in it mirror actions Virginia's state legislature has proposed or passed. virginiamercury.com/2026/06/04/c...

Virginia’s measles cases have surged past 70, with most infections centered in Central Va. and involving unvaccinated children. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged people to get measles vaccines, calling them “the best way” to prevent infection. virginiamercury.com/2026/06/04/v...

Pregnant asylum seeker who was detained at Dulles will return to Ghana. Her detention falls amid heightened immigration enforcement and joins a growing number of pregnant people detained amid Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship. virginiamercury.com/2026/05/29/p...

A pregnant asylum seeker & her son have been detained and held at Dulles International Airport for over a week. @acluva.bsky.social alleges poor treatment and risk for her pregnancy. A @dhsgov.govmirrors.com spokesperson calls the claims false. virginiamercury.com/2026/05/28/p...

Breaking: Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoes legislation to set up a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. The bipartisan effort was five-years in the making and would have applied already federally-approved price caps to state-regulated health plans. virginiamercury.com/2026/05/19/s...

How a 19th century law, central to a national telehealth abortion case, could impact Virginia. virginiamercury.com/2026/05/16/h...

These Black-led maternal health groups laid groundwork for Virginia's perinatal health hub grants — then they were left out. virginiamercury.com/2026/05/05/b...

2 years before Justin Fairfax killed Cerina Fairfax and then himself, she’d tried to leave him. 6 years prior, he’d been the tie-breaking vote on a red flag law. Updates to that law, and potential divorce reform, might have changed their lives. virginiamercury.com/2026/04/28/c...

Congressional Republicans have been working on a bill to put patients "back in the driver's seat." While experts say it can lower costs for some, it may drive them up for others. Dems also counter it's an attempt to further chip away at the ACA. virginiamercury.com/2026/04/20/h...

Gov. Spanberger signed laws to more strictly regulate how ICE operates in Virginia and when it can cooperate with local police. Amendments regarding detentions at certain public venues, however, are likely to face pushback from lawmakers. Learn more here: virginiamercury.com/2026/04/15/s...

I was on a call today with former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder as we talked about Virginia's (and other state's) redistricting efforts. Read more here: virginiamercury.com/2026/04/10/w...

The 33,000 drop in Virginia's marketplace comes since Congress failed to renew expired ACA subsidies. Virginia's legislature is considering funding a state-level version in the interim and will convene later this month to finalize a state budget. virginiamercury.com/2026/04/03/v...

Between federal changes to Medicaid and SNAP along with expired ACA subsidies, here's how Virginia lawmakers propose handling matters in the state budget. virginiamercury.com/2026/03/20/h...

2026 marks a significant legislative session for housing bills in Virginia. The local v. state authority debate is ever-present, but quite a few ideas are on their way to @abigailspanberger.com desk. See my roundup here: virginiamercury.com/2026/03/17/h...

A 5 year journey to set up a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Virginia reached a new milestone this week, as the proposal cleared the legislature with near-unanimous votes and strong bipartisan support. It took some turns though. Learn more here: virginiamercury.com/2026/03/12/a...

At the core of a lawsuit challenging Virginia's reproductive rights constitutional amendment is an allegation the House Clerk didn't follow procedure. But a new law might invalidate that charge. Courts can test it and you can learn more here: virginiamercury.com/2026/03/06/l...

A lawsuit has been filed to try to stop Virginia's proposed reproductive rights constitutional amendment from making it to statewide ballots later this year. virginiamercury.com/2026/03/04/b...

People with periods have “no choice” but to use menstrual health products to manage their bleeding, @hollyseiboldva.bsky.social said. Her label requirement bill is on its way to the governor for further consideration. virginiamercury.com/2026/03/03/b...

Meet two of Virginia's new public health leaders. As Secretary of Health & Human Resources and Commissioner of VDH, Marvin Figueroa and Cameron Webb discuss being Black men in leadership and navigating federal funding changes to state health care. virginiamercury.com/2026/03/02/v...

ATTN: Va. political people, mark your calendars for Feb. 19 for the Virginia Capitol Correspondents gala! Come celebrate the midpoint of the 2026 legislative session and mingle with the journalists who chronicle it! Tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/virginia-c...

The agreement — which stems from Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration — had effectively placed state law enforcement under federal control and supervision. virginiamercury.com/2026/02/04/s...

NEW: Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor — and the first woman to hold the office — invoking unity, warning of “recklessness” coming out of Washington and moving quickly to define her agenda. virginiamercury.com/2026/01/17/s...

Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Virginia’s first woman governor.

Follow @charlottewords.bsky.social and @mschmidtrva.bsky.social's #SpanbergerInauguration coverage here: virginiamercury.com/2026/01/17/s...

I'm helping with inauguration coverage today for @virginiamercury.com as @abigailspanberger.com is sworn in as Virginia’s next governor.

It's the 1st day of Virginia's 2026 legislative session. I caught @kimadamsforva.bsky.social having a moment after she was sworn in to the Virginia House of Delegates.

I FOIAed records to see what Virginia has been doing to reduce its SNAP error rate -- a task the state must complete to comply with Congress' July 2025 reconciliation bill. Learn more here: virginiamercury.com/2026/01/05/h...

With applicants to the Rural Health Transformation Fund set to be notified within the next few days, here's a look at what Virginia has proposed: virginiamercury.com/2025/12/29/v...

I know there are some other UVA-related things making news today, but a qualitative research study that just dropped reveals some gun violence prevention strategies. People living in "hotspots" around the state were also interviewed for their insights. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/14/n...

Virginia’s South Side maternal health care desert is about to get a little drier as a Farmville hospital is closing its labor & delivery unit. Longstanding challenges paired with federal funding changes in health care were among the reasons. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/07/c...

🚨Transition in motion: Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin meet at the Executive Mansion to focus on food security, health care and living costs as Virginia gears up for "Day One" of the new administration. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/06/y...

BREAKING: Democrat Jay Jones defeated Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in the attorney general race, completing the party's full sweep of statewide office elections in Virginia. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/d...

“It's a big deal that the girls and the young women I have met along the campaign trail now know with certainty that they can achieve anything,” Democrat Abigail Spanberger said after defeating Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears in the Virginia governor race. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/b...

Updates for now on SNAP and Virginia's state-level temporary version of it: virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/y...

Scenes from Saturday in Norfolk, Virginia as former president Barack Obama campaigned for Abigail Spanberger.

Check out @charlottewords.bsky.social's dispatch from today's Spanberger rally: 👇🏾 #VaGOV

Some SNAP recipients walked me through how they stretch their dollars to feed themselves and their families. But worry grows amid the federal shutdown and new restrictions. A Gov. Youngkin order could provide temporary relief if the shutdown lasts past October. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/27/i...

New story from @virginiamercury.com @charlottewords.bsky.social discusses how Virginia registrars secure our votes, build trust & handle challenges on the frontlines of democracy. These insights come from our new video series Behind the Ballot Read here: virginiamercury.com/2025/10/27/v...

I traveled the state this summer exploring how federal funding changes affect Virginia's hospitals, clinics, nonprofits, and the state health department. The three-part series launched this week. 🧵 1/4 virginiamercury.com/category/pul...

Allegations that Centreville High School staff coerced minors into getting abortions and helped them get the procedure without their parents’ knowledge are “likely untrue,” per the Virginia school district's legal probe, by @charlottewords.bsky.social www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fair...

Democratic attorneys general remain one of a few checks on power against Republican majorities in Congress and the White House. Meanwhile, Jones' text scandal also looms over his race against Miyares. Voters can glean more from both men in tonight's debate. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/15/j...

Under plans the Trump administration posted this weekend, hundreds of thousands of federal workers will be furloughed during a government shutdown, while others will keep working without being paid. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/29/r...