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Kiggans and Smasal face off in highly competitive 2nd District
Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans faces Democratic challenger Missy Cotter Smasal this year in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. Both Navy veterans have been involved in their local communities for years – Kiggans as a former state senator and Smasal as a member of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. While both women share some priorities, like […]
Harris cautions against Trump’s ‘concepts’ of health care plans, Trump to ‘release more details’
On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign released a report cautioning against former President Donald Trump’s plans for health care policy. Though he has not formally outlined specific proposals, the report noted previous comments from Trump and his vice presidential pick U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, and previous actions he took when president — such […]
U.S. Senators, Richmond housing expert discuss how to ease nation’s affordable housing crisis
WASHINGTON – Conversations about things like zoning laws, permits, or use of housing subsidies typically happen in city or county government chambers rather than those of the U.S. Senate. But people in localities across the nation, including Virginia, are experiencing the persistent challenges of finding and affording a place to live. So, the Senate’s budget […]
Virginia could lead the way on strengthening privacy laws regarding intimate images
A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in Virginia and other states want to strengthen privacy laws regarding the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. Forty-nine states including Virginia already have some law on the books to protect peoples’ sexual or intimate images from being shared without their consent, but model policy from former democratic House of Delegates […]
Federal court weighs appeal in voter disenfranchisement case
Federal judges in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond on Tuesday appeared sympathetic to the plaintiffs in a case challenging Virginia’s disenfranchisement of people with felony convictions. After a federal district judge allowed the challenge to move forward earlier this year, alleging that Virginia has been out of compliance with a Reconstruction-era federal […]
Workforce housing pilot launches to support southern and southwestern Virginia
Virginia launched a workforce housing pilot program this summer aimed at both attracting economic development to the southern and southwestern portions of the state and bolstering local affordable housing supply. With $2 million in allocated funding, the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission launched the program in late July. For-profit and nonprofit developers can now apply […]
As early voting starts in Virginia, political parties rally their bases
Starting Friday, voters across Virginia can begin casting their ballots in this year’s critical elections for the White House, a U.S. Senate seat, and the state’s 11 congressional districts that will not only impact the future of the commonwealth but also help shape next year’s gubernatorial race. An amendment to the Constitution of Virginia and […]
State emergency department audit finds $33 million deficit, $4 million embezzlement
Virginia’s Office of Emergency Medical Services is considering several reforms to get the agency back on track, following an audit that confirmed a deficit of $33 million and over $4 million in fraudulent charges from a former director in the department. OEMS is currently part of the Virginia Department of Health and oversees funding and […]
Virginia’s rural healthcare committee considers unique challenges, possible solutions
A committee of state lawmakers met in Virginia’s Eastern Shore this week as part of ongoing gatherings to hear from health care providers and other experts about rural health care challenges and possible solutions. The cohort will deliver a report later this year with recommendations. Topics at the meetings have been broadly about rural health […]
Richmond mayor candidates’ ideas on housing and how the state can help the city
Typically a very local issue, presidential candidates are discussing housing policy this year and Virginia’s state legislature continues to play a role in addressing related issues. The state’s capital city, Richmond, has a mayoral election in November that could shape housing policy for at least the next four years. Last year council passed a resolution […]
Richmond pilots participatory budget program, hands residents $3 million
On Tuesday, the city of Richmond presented a $3 million check to its residents to spend how they want — both metaphorically and literally. A crowd of about 50 gathered in Abner Clay Park in the afternoon for the formal kickoff of a public-input process on how to spend the earmarked amount on improvement projects […]
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott endorses Abigail Spanberger for governor
Days after Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears announced her bid for governor of Virginia — a contest that will take place next year but is already ramping up — House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, is throwing his support behind the only other declared candidate in the governor’s race, congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, D-Prince William. Scott’s endorsement […]