News
Johnson wins Trump’s endorsement to continue as U.S. House speaker
WASHINGTON — As U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson vies to keep his gavel, President-elect Donald Trump on Monday gave the Louisiana Republican a major boost with his “Complete & Total Endorsement.” Trump’s coveted backing — just days ahead of Friday’s House vote to elect a speaker — came as Johnson sat in the hot seat […]
Georgia, Rhode Island repealed car taxes. Could Youngkin’s plan lead to an elimination in Virginia?
As lawmakers consider Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposal to provide vehicle tax relief for Virginians and ultimately eliminate the property tax, policymakers can find comfort after repeals in Rhode Island and Georgia. All of Virginia’s cities, counties and towns are subject to a personal property tax, which helps fund their respective governments. Municipalities are likely to […]
As ‘smart cities’ tools grow nationwide, so do privacy and ethical concerns
After nearly a week of searching for a suspect in the hit-and-run death of an 81-year-old St. Helena, California woman this summer, police found and arrested a man with the help of license plate reading cameras that registered him near the scene. The police department used information from FLOCK’s automatic license plate reading camera system, which monitors […]
Virginia Attorney General Miyares asks SCOTUS to uphold ‘divest or ban’ law against TikTok
Following the passage of a federal law earlier this year that calls for the owners of social media app TikTok to either sell it or be subject to a ban on the app in the U.S., Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares filed an amicus brief Friday urging the Supreme Court to uphold the law. TikTok […]
Elections, blue catfish, huge trees, education: The Mercury’s most-read stories of 2024
The Mercury’s top 10 most-read stories this year reflect our readers’ interests in a range of issues that most affect them and communities across the commonwealth. Since January, over 2.7 million people have visited our site and read our stories on state politics and government, local, congressional and presidential elections, Virginia’s environment and evolving energy […]
Immigration drives nation’s population growth
A recent immigration surge brought newcomers to every state this year, helping to offset a continued drop in U.S. births while contributing to a national upswing of about 3.3 million new residents, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Texas and Florida continued to dominate state population growth, together adding more than 1 million people […]
How Virginia plays into the history of campaign finance laws and more state headlines
• “Spanberger faces reckoning with left in bid for Va. governor.”—Washington Post • “How Virginia plays into the history of campaign finance laws.”—VPM News • “Gov. Youngkin announces funding for events, festivals to increase visitation in 2025.”—WAVY • “Boil water advisory issued in Washington County, Virginia.”—WCYB • “A Virginia zoo welcomes newborn pygmy hippopotamus as […]
Social Security benefits boosted for millions in bill headed to Biden’s desk
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved a broadly bipartisan bill early Saturday that would increase Social Security benefits for millions of Americans with pensions by ending two of the program’s policies in place for decades — the windfall elimination provision and government pension offset. The legislation, which would cost more than $195 billion over 10 […]
‘Why not us?’ Nannies, housekeepers win labor protections in some states
When she first started working as an au pair, Edy Dominguez earned less than the minimum wage and went without paid sick time or overtime pay for extra-long weeks. That’s because domestic workers, including nannies, housekeepers and home health workers, have historically been excluded from the basic labor protections most workers enjoy. “There are standards […]
Minimum wage increases, other new Va. laws that go into effect in 2025 and more state headlines
• “Minimum wage increases and other new Virginia laws that go into effect in 2025.”—WSET • “As drone sightings multiply, a Virginia Tech team is working on better ways to detect and identify the unmanned fliers.”—Cardinal News • “Another former Richmond employee files whistleblower suit alleging retaliation.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch • “Miss Virginia sheds light on disparities […]
Biden commutes nearly all federal death sentences
President Joe Biden commuted the sentences on Monday of 37 death row inmates, citing his conscience as a force behind the decision. He also left the death sentences unchanged for three men charged with hate-motivated mass shootings and terrorism. Biden, who imposed a moratorium on federal executions during his administration, commuted the death sentences to […]
Virginia Beach woman plays Santa for teens experiencing homelessness and more state headlines
• “Virginia Democrats see next month’s special elections as first major test of 2025.”—The Hill • “Biden death sentence commutation ‘reprehensible,’ says Virginia victim’s father.”—NBC4 • “Accreditor issues warning to University of Lynchburg over fiscal responsibility, student outcome standards.”—Cardinal News • “Former NFL great Michael Vick introduced as Norfolk State coach.”—ESPN • “Virginia Beach woman […]