Category: Virginia Mercury

For years, the psychoactive compound kratom has been sold across much of the United States as an herbal supplement, available in powders, capsules and extracts with few of the restrictions applied to controlled substances. But the market is changing. Products containing a potentially dangerous kratom derivative known as concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine,

The debate over whether Florida-based NextEra Energy should be allowed to acquire Dominion Energy and create the largest regulated utility in the country heated up Tuesday, with Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi pledging her opposition to the $67 billion merger. She is the first elected official at the statewide level

Quadaire Patterson will vote for the first time this fall, a fact that brought a smile to his face on a recent afternoon as his 1-year-old daughter Trinity frolicked around the living room of the Henrico County home he shares with his wife.   He said he has been thinking about

• “Virginia voters broadly support increased investment in public schools, poll finds.” — Cardinal News • “Virginia felony voting errors collide with Question 3.” — Axios  • “Virginia’s ‘Rap Back’ program tops 56,000 enrollments in first year.” — 13newsnow • “Virginia Beach makes progress on flood prevention 10 years after

Virginia Republican leaders on Tuesday called for Gov. Abigail Spanberger to summon lawmakers to Richmond and suspend the state’s gasoline and diesel taxes for 90 days, arguing that the temporary break would help families, farmers and trucking companies cope with high fuel prices.  Diesel prices have climbed sharply amid disruptions

The Virginia Board of Education recently reestablished its adult education advisory committee after a three-year hiatus to guide how the state uses resources to improve its adult education and literacy program. The programs combine education and job training that can help enrollees earn recognized industry credentials and provide academic and

Virginia’s workforce training program has earned another No. 1 national ranking as the commonwealth competes for companies looking for workers trained for specialized jobs. Area Development, a major national trade publication, ranked Virginia first for workforce training programs in its 2026 Top States for Doing Business report. The recognition highlights

• “In Virginia, voting rights restoration is tough. A ballot measure could change that.” — NPR/WAMU • New data shows lifetime return on investment of Virginia degree programs.” — VPM News • “Southwest Virginia fish farm project ‘on pause’ due to tariffs, gas prices.” – Cardinal News  • “Virginia ranks

WASHINGTON — Democrats expect they’ll gain a majority of seats in the U.S. House following November’s midterm elections, giving the party a platform to serve as a check on the president’s power.  Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene said during an interview Monday that curbing the war in Iran

The Virginia State Corporation Commission will allow documents detailing an internal investigation into NextEra Energy’s failed attempt to acquire Jacksonville, Florida’s public utility to be included in deliberations of the company’s $67 billion proposed merger with Dominion Energy.   “I find the requested information is discoverable in the instant case, although