Category: Virginia Mercury

In its latest effort to overhaul federal homelessness funding, the Trump administration is proposing to provide more money to localities that prioritize treatment-first policies such as sober living, more cooperation with law enforcement and more temporary and transitional housing.  It’s a reversal from a decade-long federal approach known as Housing

Early voting begins Friday across Virginia, kicking off more than six weeks of voting for the Nov. 3 midterms just days after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked new mail-ballot restrictions sought by President Donald Trump’s administration.  Voters will choose a U.S. senator and representatives in all 11 of Virginia’s congressional

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve raised interest rates Wednesday for the first time in three years as inflation continues to dog the economy, largely driven by soaring gas and fuel oil prices while the war in Iran drags on. The central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee voted 12-0 to increase its

Ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay recorded their worst breeding season on record, according to the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary.  The number of birds laying eggs has dropped 20% to 30%, a steeper decline than during the height of the DDT crisis in the 1970s and ‘80s,

Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Friday unveiled a package of legislative proposals to rein in the data center industry in Virginia, with goals to tighten environmental regulations, increase cost allocation for the industry, and make the proposal process more transparent by barring non-disclosure agreements between localities and data center developers. The

A newly launched digital dashboard spotlights affordable housing properties whose affordability terms are set to expire, so that local governments can preserve them if they wish.  Housing Forward Virginia, in partnership with Virginia Housing Alliance and Locus Impact, collaborated to craft the tool. The groups approached the state’s housing authority

Seven community colleges in what the Virginia Community College Association dubs the state’s “rural horseshoe” have received $5.93 million to train more healthcare workers.  Virginia has so far disbursed $122 million of its $198 million in Rural Health Transformation Fund money to organizations around the state. Associations, foundations and the

Virginia farmers struggling with drought-damaged pastures will be able to receive larger hay deliveries under a state of emergency declared by Gov. Abigail Spanberger Wednesday.   Spanberger’s Executive Order 21 temporarily exempts over-width hay deliveries from certain transportation restrictions, allowing hay to reach farmers more quickly to feed their livestock. Persistent

• “Spanberger is bullish about Virginia House races even without a favorable map.” — The Washington Post • “How does Ballot Question 1 affect Virginia’s abortion regulations?” — VPM • “Virginia casinos’ August take is $97.6M.” — Virginia Business  • “Virginia Beach reaches halfway point in 10-year flood protection plan.”

• “Virginia Film Festival announces in-state filmmaking lineup.” — Cville Right Now • “City Council approves redevelopment of Virginia Home into apartments.” — The Richmonder • “Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy creates stewardship fund.” — WCYB • “Various Southwest, Central Virginia school district awarded up to $250,000 for 2026-27 School Security