News

Luray, Va. — Shenandoah National Park will conduct an extended public safety and sobriety campaign beginning June 1 and continuing through Nov. 15, with high-visibility traffic enforcement and periodic checkpoints along Skyline Drive and at the park’s primary entrances.

Park officials said the extended enforcement period is intended to address safety concerns during the park’s busiest visitation seasons, including the summer travel months and the fall foliage season in October and early November.

“Our goal is to create a safe environment for everyone using Skyline Drive,” said Eric Yount, acting chief ranger. “By starting this campaign in June and extending it through the end of November, we are covering the most high-risk periods for traffic incidents. We want visitors to enjoy the overlooks and trails, but we have a zero-tolerance policy for driving while impaired in national parks.”

According to the National Park Service, U.S. park rangers will be looking for signs of alcohol and drug impairment during the campaign. Rangers will also check for valid operator licenses and essential safety equipment.

Periodic checkpoints will be conducted from June 1 through Nov. 15. Park officials said the checkpoints will use a neutral, predetermined mathematical formula to select vehicles for screening in accordance with federal law.

The enforcement operations will be placed strategically along the 105-mile Skyline Drive and at Shenandoah National Park’s primary entrance stations: Front Royal, Thornton Gap, Swift Run Gap and Rockfish Gap.

Visitors can find official updates on park conditions and safety regulations at www.nps.gov/shen.

Shenandoah National Park is part of the National Park Service, which was established in 1916 to preserve America’s natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations.

Stafford County, Va. — The driver of a tour bus involved in a fatal multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 has been arrested and is being held without bond, according to Stafford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Eric Olsen.

In a May 30 press release, Olsen said his office authorized Virginia State Police to obtain felony warrants related to the May 29 crash, which killed five people and seriously injured others.

The crash occurred on I-95 southbound in Stafford County and involved multiple vehicles. According to Olsen, evidence gathered since the crash has established that a tour bus traveling southbound at a high rate of speed struck one or more vehicles that were moving slowly through a work zone, causing a chain-reaction crash involving at least eight vehicles.

“Even as the Virginia State Police continues to conduct a complex investigation, I have determined that probable cause presently exists to establish that the driver of the tour bus caused this crash and, at the time of the crash, he was driving in a criminally negligent manner,” Olsen said in the release.

Felony warrants for two counts of involuntary manslaughter have been obtained and served on the driver, Jing Sheng Dong, 48, of Staten Island, N.Y., according to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. Each count of involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Dong suffered injuries in the crash and was arrested Saturday by Virginia State Police. He was served with the felony warrants in the hospital, according to Olsen.

A magistrate has determined that Dong will be held without bond pending his appearance in court. Olsen said Dong remains hospitalized but is in custody.

Dong’s first court appearance will take place after he is released from the hospital.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

Stafford County, Va. — Virginia State Police is investigating a multi-vehicle crash that killed five people and sent dozens more to area hospitals Friday morning on Interstate 95 southbound in Stafford County.

The crash occurred at approximately 2:35 a.m. May 29 at the 146-mile marker.

According to Virginia State Police, the preliminary investigation indicates that traffic was slowing southbound for an upcoming work zone when a bus operated by E&P Travel failed to slow for traffic and struck a Chevrolet Suburban.

The bus, which was traveling from New York City to Charlotte, N.C., was carrying approximately 34 occupants at the time of the crash.

Police said the impact forced the Suburban into an Acura SUV and additional vehicles. The bus also struck additional vehicles.

Five people were killed in the crash. Four of the fatalities were in the Acura: a 45-year-old man, a 44-year-old woman, a 13-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy, all from Greenfield, Mass. The Acura caught fire after the collisions, according to state police.

The fifth victim, Priscilla R. Mafalda, 25, of Worcester, Mass., was in the Suburban that was struck by the bus.

Approximately 44 patients were transported to area hospitals, including three with critical injuries.

The bus driver, Jing S. Dong, 48, of Staten Island, N.Y., was injured in the crash. State police said Dong has been charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, with additional charges pending.

The crash remains under investigation. Virginia State Police said investigators are also looking into the bus driver’s actions prior to the crash.

Information from Va. State Police. Edited by Dan McDermott.

UPDATE: Prosecutor says bus driver in fatal I-95 crash was driving in criminally negligent manner

Front Royal, Va. — The Warren Coalition’s Health Video Contest drew a record-breaking 11 submissions this year, making the judging and selection process more competitive as local middle school students created videos promoting healthy habits.

The winning students each received $125 Amazon gift cards for their work. This year’s winners were Kenny Buhl of Warren County Middle School; Ryder Bowen, a student at John Paul the Great Montessori Academy; Amiliyana Holt of Skyline Middle School; and Cara Gass of Warren County Middle School.

Buhl and Bowen repeated their wins from the previous year. Bowen and Holt produced videos focused on “Getting Enough Sleep,” while Buhl and Gass centered their videos on “Exercising Regularly.”

The contest was open to all middle school students ages 11 to 14 in Warren County. Students could submit videos about getting regular exercise, getting quality sleep, drinking enough water or maintaining healthy eating habits.

The contest was held as part of the Warren Coalition’s WAHOO program, which stands for Working to Achieve Healthy Outcomes and Opportunities. The program is funded by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth.

The winning videos will be used as healthy living advertisements throughout Warren County over the next six to eight weeks.

“It’s wonderful to see this competition grow each year,” said Celeste Brooks, community outreach coordinator. “The students engage with creativity and enthusiasm. My only regret is that we don’t have more prizes to award!”

This year’s winners, along with past contest winners, can be viewed on the Coalition’s YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/HealthVideoContest.

Warren Coalition is a nonprofit agency established in 1994 to help fill gaps in health care and substance abuse awareness in the community. The Coalition began under the guidance of Warren Memorial Hospital as an outreach project and was incorporated in 2001.

The Warren Coalition office is located in the Warren County Community Center. Its mission is to make Warren County a safe, healthy and drug-free community through its programs and in collaboration with more than 15 member agencies.

Information from a release.

Front Royal, Va. — Valley Pharmacy, the retail pharmacy located at Warren Memorial Hospital, will close July 1 as part of Valley Health’s ongoing response to more than $80 million in federal funding reductions.

Valley Health said the decision also reflects low utilization and sustained financial losses at the retail pharmacy over time. Despite efforts to maintain the service, the number of prescriptions filled locally has not been enough to support continued operation.

Patients may transfer prescriptions to any pharmacy of their choosing. Valley Pharmacy staff will assist patients with prescription transfers through June 30. Patients are encouraged to call or visit the pharmacy before July 1 for assistance. The pharmacy can be reached at 540-635-0736.

After July 1, all remaining prescriptions with active refills will automatically transfer to Valley Pharmacy in Winchester, which offers both in-person pickup and mail delivery options.

Retail pharmacy services remain widely available throughout the Front Royal and Warren County area, Valley Health said.

According to Valley Health, closing the retail pharmacy will allow Warren Memorial Hospital to repurpose the space for essential clinical services that directly support hospitalized patients and preserve access to care that only a community hospital can provide.

“We recognize that healthcare decisions carry deep meaning in this community,” Valley Health said in its announcement. “Warren Memorial Hospital remains committed to Front Royal and Warren County and is focused on sustaining essential hospital-based services today and for the future.”

Information from a release. Posted by Dan McDermott.

Washington, D.C. — Local residents proudly represented the region Monday as they marched in the 250th anniversary National Memorial Day Parade, participating as members of the Virginia Regiment at the request of the American Battlefield Trust.

Two weeks before the parade, organizers realized they were short of colonial reenactors and reached out to Mayor Charles Harbaugh IV for assistance. Harbaugh, who portrays Colonel George Washington, quickly assembled a group of local historians, authors and community leaders to answer the call.

The Virginia Regiment was the only full provincial regiment raised by the Colony of Virginia during the French and Indian War, which lasted from 1754 to 1763, and it played a central role in the earliest fighting of the conflict. It is especially famous as the first military command of George Washington, who served as its colonel from 1754 to 1758.

Participants included local author and motivational speaker Jay Foreman; Clarke County Historical Society Executive Director Nathan Stalvey; Winchester Tales author Mike Robinson; and Mayor Charles Harbaugh IV, portraying Colonel George Washington.

The group marched the full one-mile parade route from 7th Street to 17th Street along Constitution Avenue. Despite early rain, skies cleared just in time for the procession.

Thousands of spectators filled the National Mall for the parade, the first major event in a series of official 250th anniversary commemorations taking place throughout the summer. High school bands from Arkansas to Massachusetts performed patriotic classics including “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “The Liberty Bell March,” while veterans of Operation Desert Storm and the Vietnam and Korean wars waved from floats to cheering crowds.

Hundreds gathered on the steps of the National Archives, the parade’s official starting point, as announcers introduced each group marching west toward the Washington Monument.

The reenactment group was transported from Middletown to Washington, D.C., and back courtesy of Scott Fink, owner of 5 Star Executive Chauffeuring, LLC.

Information from a release.

These are the events being presented by the Youth Services Department at Samuels Public Library during the month of June 2026.  More information about Samuels Library and the programs and services available can be found at www.samuelslibrary.net or by calling (540) 635-3153.

Monday, June 1

10:15 AM – Music & Movement for Babies (ages 0-23 months). 

11:15 AM – Music & Movement for Toddlers (ages 2-5).  Join our fun and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby or toddler. 

***Anytime this month – For families with children, register and pick up a time capsule at the library or the Warren Heritage Society, for your family to fill and return prior to July 7^th.  One/family, while supplies last. Capsules will be “stored” for 25 years and returned to families in July of 2051!

Tuesday, June 2

10:30 AM – Colonial Games.   For ages 6-11.  Step back in time, as we celebrate our country’s 250^th birthday, and discover the fun of colonial-era games! Sponsored by the FRUMC.  Registration is required.

Wednesday, June 3

10:15AM – Toddler Story Time.  

11:00AM – Preschool Story Time. 

Come in for an enjoyable hour filled with Transportation stories, exciting sing-alongs, finger plays, and a craft. 

Thursday, June 4

10:30 AM – Grand Story Time.  For ages 0-6.  Come hear a grandparent read a few stories, say some nursery rhymes, and do a free form craft.  

Friday, June 5

10:00 AM – Trail Buddies. For ages 2-6, with a parent.  Join us and Warren County Parks & Recreation at Burrell Brooks Park (next to the library). Ready for an adventure in nature and creativity? Explore our park trail, learn about different biomes, and create your very own terrarium to take home. Registration is required.

Saturday, June 6

10:00 AM – Story Walk at Eastham Park.  Join us to celebrate the 250^th birthday of our country and read a new story, On the Fourth of July by Maggie Rudd.  Do a craft while supplies last!  

Monday, June 8

10:15 AM – Music & Movement for Babies (ages 0-23 months). 

11:15 AM – Music & Movement for Toddlers (ages 2-5).  Join our fun and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby or toddler.

Tuesday, June 9

10:30 AM – Waves in Motion: Curiosity Crew.  For ages 6-11.  Curious why waves crash on ocean shores but not on lakes? Dive into the fascinating science behind waves and discover what makes our oceans so unique! Join us to explore the mysteries of water movement and learn something new today!  Registration is required.

Wednesday, June 10

10:15AM – Toddler Story Time.  

11:00AM – Preschool Story Time. 

Come in for an enjoyable hour filled with Ice Cream stories, exciting sing-alongs, finger plays, and a craft. 

Thursday, June 11

10:30 AM – Grand Story Time.  For ages 0-6.  Come hear a grandparent read a few stories, say some nursery rhymes, and do a free form craft.  

Saturday, June 13

11:00 AM – Tales & Trails: What’s in My Lunchbox!  For ages 5-11.  Get ready for a wild lunchtime adventure!  We’re exploring the food web with “mystery lunchboxes” filled with critters and curious edibles for students to discover and taste. Can you guess what’s inside each box? Join us at the library, with the Shenandoah River Park Rangers, for hands-on learning, fun stories, and a few surprises along the way! Registration is required.

2:30 PM – Press Play. For ages 12-18. Come spend an afternoon playing games on the Nintendo Switch. Registration is required.  

Monday, June 15

10:15 AM – Music & Movement for Babies (ages 0-23 months). 

11:15 AM – Music & Movement for Toddlers (ages 2-5).  Join our fun and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby or toddler.

Tuesday, June 16

10:30 AM – Digging Up Dinos: Curiosity Crew.  For ages 6-11.  Hear thrilling dinosaur stories, discover fascinating fossils, and become a paleontologist for the day as you dig up your own ancient treasures! Registration is required. 

Wednesday, June 17

10:15AM – Toddler Story Time.  

11:00AM –Preschool Story Time 

Come in for an enjoyable hour filled with Zoo stories, exciting sing-alongs, finger plays, and a craft.

Thursday, June 18

10:30 AM – Grand Story Time.  For ages 0-6.  Come hear a grandparent read a few stories, say some nursery rhymes, and do a free form craft.  

Friday, June 19

The library will be closed for the holiday.

Saturday, June 20

10:00 AM, 10:20 AM,

10:50 AM, 11:10 AM    Paws for Reading.  For ages 6-18.  Paw for Reading is a program where people read aloud to therapy dogs, which helps improve their reading skills, confidence, and attitudes toward reading. This program provides a non-judgmental and stress-free environment, as the dogs are calm, attentive listeners who don’t correct mistakes, making it less intimidating for children. Bring your own book or use one of ours! Registration is required.

2:30 PM – Red, White, & Blue: ARC.  For ages 6+ with guardian.  Show your patriotic spirit—wear your red, white, and blue and join us for a star-spangled celebration of our country’s 250th birthday! Enjoy a special story time and get creative as we make our very own flags together. Registration is required.

Monday, June 22

10:15 AM – Music & Movement for Babies (ages 0-23 months). 

11:15 AM – Music & Movement for Toddlers (ages 2-5).  Join our fun and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby or toddler. 

Tuesday, June 23

10:30 AM – Magnetic Slime: Curiosity Crew.  For ages 6-11.  Make your own magnetic slime, explore how magnets work, and see what surprising things your slime will attract.  Registration is required.

Wednesday, June 24

10:30 AM – Santa in the Summer Story Time.  For all ages.  

Surprise! Santa is making a special summer stop at Samuels Public Library! Join us for a magical story time for all ages as Santa reads an exclusive preview of “If Sheep Pulled the Sleigh” by Bill Barnsley, coming this September. Don’t miss your chance to purchase and get your copy of “If Mice Pulled the Sleigh” signed by the author! Plus, capture the moment with festive photo opportunities. Mark your calendars and bring the whole family for a jolly good time!

Thursday, June 25

10:30 AM – Grand Story Time.  For ages 0-6.  Come hear a grandparent read a few stories, say some nursery rhymes, and do a free form craft.  

Friday, June 26

2:00 PM – Science Heroes. Features storytelling and hands-on outrageous and amazing experiments to get children of all ages excited about science! Interactive presentation gets the whole audience involved.  Bring the family!

Saturday, June 27

11:00 AM – Chess. For ages 10-18.  Ready to make your next move? Whether you’re new to chess, looking to sharpen your strategy, or just want to enjoy a fun game with friends, join us at Samuels Public Library! All skill levels are welcome! Registration is required.

2:30 PM – Art Escape. For ages 12-18. Join us for a creative afternoon as we dive into a relaxing painting session. Learn how to create a stunning masterpiece—no experience needed. All supplies provided. Don’t miss out on the fun—bring a friend who loves art! Registration is required.

Monday, June 29

10:15 AM – Music & Movement for Babies (ages 0-23 months). 

11:15 AM – Music & Movement for Toddlers (ages 2-5).  Join our fun and joyful time with your little ones as we listen to music while learning some basic movements and multisensory activities designed to delight your baby or toddler. 

From a release.

The Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force (NVRDGTF) and partnering law enforcement agencies are warning the public about a recent spike in fatal and non-fatal overdoses.  The NVRDGTF has reported three fatal overdoses and three non-fatal overdoses this year, all since February. The deaths include one in the City of Winchester and two in Frederick County. The total number of reported overdoses in 2025 was three fatal overdoses and twenty-five non-fatal overdoses. 

The recent increase in opioid related overdoses is likely due to fentanyl.  Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid which is fifty to one hundred times more potent than morphine.  Two milligrams of fentanyl is potentially deadly for the average person.  In recent months, law enforcement agencies across the United States have encountered narcotics laced with Synthetic Opioids such as Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine.  These Synthetic Opioids, such as Cychlorphine, Xylazine, Dexmedetomidine, and Medetomidine, enhance the effects of the standard narcotics causing euphoria and respiratory failure often leading to death. Narcan (Naloxone), when used on a victim that has used a narcotic laced in these Synthetic Opioids, may work but due to the potency levels of the Synthetic Opioids used, it may take several dose units of Narcan to reverse the effects.  Narcan (Naloxone) will NOT reverse the effects of Xylazine. 

To increase community access to life-saving resources, the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Use Coalition is launching a series of pop-up events for free naloxone distribution across the region. We encourage residents to check our Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Use Coalition Facebook page for the most up-to-date information, specific event dates, and location details. 

The NVRDGTF is comprised of law enforcement personnel from Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, and Warren County Sheriff’s Offices, Front Royal, Luray, Strasburg, and Winchester Police Departments and the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Culpeper Field Office.  The NVRDGTF is a HIDTA-funded initiative. 

The National Park Service is reminding visitors to use extra caution in bear country as spring and summer bring increased bear activity in many parks, including Shenandoah National Park.

Bears may be moving through habitat, searching for food or protecting cubs during this time of year. Park officials say visitors can reduce the chance of a dangerous encounter by staying alert, hiking in groups, making noise in areas with poor visibility, storing food and trash properly and never approaching bears.

“National parks are wild places, and wildlife safety is visitor safety,” said Jessica Bowron, Comptroller, Exercising the Delegated Authority of the Director. “Simple actions, like giving bears space, securing food and knowing what to do before you enter bear country, can protect visitors and bears.”

In Shenandoah National Park, seeing a black bear can be a memorable part of a visit. Park officials note that visitors who keep their eyes and ears open have a good chance of seeing one. But black bears are wild animals and should be treated with caution and respect.

Shenandoah’s bear safety guidance says visitors should keep at least 150 feet, or 50 yards, away from bears. Visitors should stay with their group, keep children close, and make noise so the bear knows people are nearby. A bear standing on its hind legs is usually curious, not threatening, according to park guidance, while jaw popping is a sign that the bear is uncomfortable.

If a bear is along a trail or in a visitor’s path, hikers should take a detour while giving the animal plenty of room to leave. Visitors should not surround the bear or block its escape route.

If a bear moves closer, visitors should move away slowly without turning their back. If there is no safe escape route, Shenandoah officials advise standing tall, waving arms, yelling and clapping to deter the bear. Throwing objects may be appropriate only if a person is cornered.

The National Park Service also reminds visitors never to run from a bear. Shenandoah officials warn that running can trigger a black bear’s pursuit response. Black bears can also climb trees, so climbing is not a safe escape strategy.

If a black bear charges, visitors should stay calm and hold their ground. Bears may make bluff charges, sometimes coming within several feet without making contact. Visitors carrying bear spray should know how to use it before entering the park and should use it if necessary and allowed.

In the rare event of a black bear attack, Shenandoah National Park advises visitors to fight back, focusing on the bear’s eyes and nose.

Bear safety is also important for drivers. Along Skyline Drive, wildlife collisions are common. Shenandoah officials say many can be avoided by obeying the 35 mph speed limit and slowing down when animals are nearby. Visitors who see a bear should not stop in the middle of the road to take pictures. Instead, they should pull completely off the road, with all four wheels off the pavement, before stopping.

Food storage is another key part of bear safety. Visitors should properly secure food, trash and scented items, and should follow park-specific rules for food storage, camping and bear spray. The National Park Service says bear species, terrain, food storage requirements and bear spray recommendations vary by park, so visitors should check current alerts and safety guidance before their trip.

Core safety reminders include:

• Never approach a bear.
• Stay alert and avoid wearing headphones on trails.
• Hike in groups when possible.
• Make noise near streams, dense vegetation and blind corners.
• Store food, trash and scented items properly.
• Carry bear spray where recommended and allowed.
• Never run from a bear.

If visitors encounter a bear, they should stay calm, speak in a steady voice, back away slowly and avoid sudden movements. Bear encounters should be reported to park staff as soon as it is safe to do so.

In Shenandoah National Park, visitors should immediately report situations involving bears in populated areas, people deliberately feeding bears, a bear charging, or any physical contact with a bear. Reports can be made to park staff by calling 800-732-0911.

For park-specific bear safety information, visitors should check the park’s website before arriving.

From an NPS release and local park resources. Edited by Dan McDermott.

By Amanda Johnson
Associate Extension Agent,
Family Consumer Science,
Virginia Cooperative Extension

As gardens begin producing fresh vegetables and summer harvest season approaches, many families are preparing for home food preservation. Before canning season begins, Virginia Cooperative Extension is encouraging residents to make sure their pressure canners are operating safely and accurately.

Virginia Cooperative Extension will offer free dial-gauge pressure canner testing throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley during the first week of June. Annual gauge testing is an important food-safety step for anyone using a dial-gauge pressure canner.

“Pressure canning is the only safe method for preserving low-acid foods such as vegetables, meats, soups and beans,” said Amanda Johnson, Associate Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences with Virginia Cooperative Extension. “An inaccurate gauge can lead to under-processing, which may allow dangerous bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum to survive.”

Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal foodborne illness. Because pressure canning safety depends on reaching the correct temperature under pressure, Extension recommends testing dial gauges each year before the canning season begins.

Why gauge testing matters

Dial gauges can become inaccurate over time due to normal wear, rust, dropping or age.

Gauges should be within 2 pounds per square inch, or psi, of accuracy. Inaccurate gauges may result in unsafe food or reduced food quality. Weighted-gauge canners do not require annual testing.

Residents only need to bring the lid from their dial-gauge pressure canner for testing.

Free pressure canner gauge testing schedule

All testing events will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

Monday, June 1 — Shenandoah County Extension Office
Tuesday, June 2 — Page County Extension Office
Wednesday, June 3 — Clarke County Extension Office
Thursday, June 4 — Frederick County Extension Office
Friday, June 5 — Warren County Extension Office

Residents may also drop off their pressure canner lid at their local Extension office during normal office hours. Extension staff will test the gauge and contact participants when it is ready for pickup.

In addition to gauge testing, Virginia Cooperative Extension will offer several hands-on food preservation classes this summer focused on safe pressure canning practices for vegetable soup.

July pressure canning classes

The pressure canning vegetable soup classes will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the following dates:

Monday, July 13 — Shenandoah County
Wednesday, July 15 — Page County
Saturday, July 18 — Warren County

Class size is limited to eight participants per session to allow for hands-on instruction and individualized support. The registration fee is $25 per person to help cover supply costs.

Participants will learn USDA-recommended pressure canning methods, jar preparation and safe processing procedures for low-acid foods.

Virginia Cooperative Extension also plans to offer hands-on jam-making classes in Clarke and Frederick counties in early September. Additional details will be announced later this summer.

“Research-based food preservation recommendations have changed over the years,” Johnson said. “Using up-to-date methods helps ensure food is preserved safely for your family.”

Registration for the July pressure canning classes will become available in mid-June. Individuals interested in receiving registration information are encouraged to email Amanda Johnson at [email protected].

For more information about pressure canner testing or Virginia Cooperative Extension programs, visit ext.vt.edu.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) reports the results of chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance from the Department’s four CWD Disease Management Areas (DMAs) as well as results from across the Commonwealth. In total, more than 7,800 deer were tested resulting in 126 positive CWD detections.

For the 2025 – 2026 hunting season, DMA1 included Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren counties. Of 562 white-tailed deer within DMA1 that were sampled for CWD since July 2025, 83 were confirmed to be infected with CWD. There were 60 CWD-positive deer confirmed from Frederick County, 10 from Clarke County, nine from Shenandoah County, and four from Warren County.

1. is currently comprised of Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, and Rockingham counties.  A total of 2,883 white-tailed deer from DMA2 were sampled for CWD over the past year, with 32 confirmed to be infected with CWD. There were 11 CWD-positive deer confirmed in Loudoun County, seven in Fauquier County, four each in Madison and Rappahannock counties, three in Culpeper County, two in Fairfax County, and a single CWD-positive deer was confirmed in Page County. The detection in Page County is the first in the county and was found due to a report of an adult female deer exhibiting symptoms consistent with late-stage illness with CWD.

For the 2025 – 2026 deer hunting season, DMA3 encompassed Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Roanoke, and Wythe counties. DWR sampled 2,158 deer for CWD throughout the year in DMA3, yielding 11 positive detections including seven in Floyd County, two in Montgomery County, and one each in Pulaski and Roanoke counties.

1. currently encompasses Bland, Smyth, and Tazewell counties. DWR tested 231 deer for CWD throughout the year in these counties. There were no new CWD detections.

At this time, no changes to any DMA boundaries are expected for the 2026 – 2027 deer hunting season.
Statewide Surveillance outside of DMAs
Throughout the remainder of the Commonwealth, 2,001 deer were tested for CWD. No additional positive detections were able to be confirmed as a result of these efforts.

Administrative code section 4VAC15-40-285 prohibits feeding of cervids (deer and elk) year-round within twenty-five miles of a CWD detection. The map below highlights all the counties that have a year-round cervid feeding ban because of CWD detections or due to inclusion in the Elk Management Zone. No additional counties are being added in 2026.

The Department sincerely appreciates the assistance of deer hunters in these areas for their willingness to have their deer tested for CWD. Additionally, DWR is grateful for the help of commercial deer processors and taxidermists across the Commonwealth who assisted with the Department’s CWD surveillance efforts. These partnerships proved effective in acquiring over 5,000 samples this past season.
 
CWD has been detected in 37 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. In Virginia, a total of 488 deer from 18 counties have tested positive since 2009. This incurable disease, found in deer, elk, and moose in North America, is a slow and progressive neurologic disease that ultimately results in death of the animal. The disease-causing agent, a prion, is spread through the urine, feces, and saliva of infected animals.
 
Noticeable symptoms of CWD, though they may not appear in animals for 16 months to two years, include staggering, abnormal posture, lowered head, drooling, confusion, and marked weight loss. These symptoms are rarely seen until the disease is well-established in an area. In Virginia, deer exhibiting these clinical symptoms have been detected in Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Floyd, Frederick, Montgomery, Page, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Shenandoah, and Warren counties. There is currently no evidence that CWD can be transmitted naturally to humans, pets, or livestock, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise hunters to test all deer harvested from known CWD-positive areas and to not consume any animals that test positive for the disease.
 
Additional surveillance data, descriptions of regulations pertaining to CWD, maps of DMAs, and more information about CWD can be found on the DWR website.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has vetoed a new round of bills sent back to her after the 2026 General Assembly reconvene session, rejecting measures dealing with cannabis sales, prescription drug pricing, election administration, higher education governance, courthouse security and other issues.

The vetoes came after lawmakers rejected several amendments proposed by the governor. In her veto statements, Spanberger repeatedly said she supported the intent of some of the bills but objected to their structure, timing or potential unintended consequences. 

The list includes legislation that would have created a legal retail market for cannabis in Virginia. House Bill 642 and Senate Bill 542 would have established a framework for retail marijuana sales, penalties and related regulation. The governor said she supports a “safe, legal, and well-regulated cannabis retail marketplace,” but said the bills lacked the timeline, structure and resources needed for effective implementation. The legislation had been awaiting final action after the General Assembly rejected Spanberger’s amendments. 

Spanberger also vetoed House Bill 483 and Senate Bill 271, which would have created a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. Supporters have argued such boards can help address high prescription drug costs, but Spanberger said similar systems in other states have not delivered the intended savings and can be costly to implement. The Senate bill was listed by the Legislative Information System as a passed measure establishing a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. 

Another vetoed measure, House Bill 61, dealt with Virginia’s Small, Women-owned and Minority-owned Business program, commonly known as SWaM. According to the governor’s veto statement, the bill would have changed the program in a way that could remove nearly 800 women-owned and minority-owned businesses from eligibility and reduce current SWaM spending by at least $340 million. The bill was listed as passed in the 2026 regular session. 

On election administration, Spanberger vetoed House Bill 111, which dealt with voter-roll maintenance, and House Bill 639, which addressed private donations or services accepted by election officials. The governor said HB 111 raised concerns about administrative burdens on grieving families. On HB 639, she said the bill attempted to address unintended consequences of a 2022 law limiting private funding for election administration, but failed to clearly define whether a $1,000 cap applied weekly, monthly, annually or over all time. 

Spanberger also rejected House Bill 449 and Senate Bill 229, which would have created a class-action process in Virginia courts. She said she supported the goal of providing a class-action mechanism but wanted a narrower approach based on federal precedent and regional circuit-court implementation.

Several vetoes involved criminal justice, courts and public safety. House Bill 246 and Senate Bill 335 would have created a new legal standard tied to one criminal charge for certain individuals with mental illness, neurocognitive disorders or intellectual or developmental disabilities. Spanberger said the proposal could create confusion and inconsistency in the legal system. Senate Bill 218 would have prohibited placement at Red Onion State Prison for inmates transferred to Virginia through the Interstate Corrections Compact. The governor said the Department of Corrections needs discretion in placing out-of-state inmates based on security risks and other factors.

House Bill 1392 and Senate Bill 83, which dealt with courthouse safety, were also vetoed. Spanberger said she did not support statewide security-screening exemptions for attorneys without additional study or a clear public-safety benefit.

The governor also vetoed House Bill 1173 and Senate Bill 258, which would have added menopause and perimenopause as protected categories under the Virginia Human Rights Act. Spanberger said women facing menopause or perimenopause are already protected under existing age and gender protections, and said her amendments would have required further study before adding new named protected categories.

House Bill 1222, dealing with child-welfare interviews, was also vetoed. The bill would have required full recording of child-welfare interviews. Spanberger said she supported the general purpose but wanted social services agencies to retain discretion when recording was unnecessary or not in a child’s best interest.

Another vetoed pair of bills, House Bill 1385 and Senate Bill 494, would have changed governance rules for Virginia’s public colleges and universities. Spanberger said parts of the legislation could further politicize higher education governance and interfere with efforts to stabilize university boards.

The vetoes follow a broader clash between the new governor and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly over amendments to major legislation. During the reconvene session, lawmakers rejected more than a dozen Spanberger amendments, leaving the governor to decide whether to sign or veto bills in their original form. 

Spanberger said she expects to keep working with legislators on several of the issues addressed in the vetoed bills, including cannabis regulation, prescription drug costs, election administration, criminal justice and higher education governance.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

Local students from the Northern Shenandoah Valley have earned a range of academic, leadership and athletic honors this spring, including dean’s list and president’s list recognition, commencement honors, student leadership awards, athletic conference honors and membership in a national honor society.

Arelys Martinez Fabian of Winchester received the 2026 Cords of Distinction Award at Eastern Mennonite University. Martinez Fabian is majoring in Spanish Language & Hispanic Studies, with Education Licensure for PreK-12. The award honors up to 10 graduating students each year who have made outstanding contributions to the university, community or society. It was established in 2000 to recognize graduates who have demonstrated creative learning and achievement, exemplary leadership and engagement across communities, and a commitment to the university’s values of academic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith.

At Shenandoah University, outfielder Cadence Rieg of Winchester was named the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Week on April 13, giving the Hornets their second weekly conference award winner of the 2026 season. During Shenandoah’s 6-0 week, Rieg went 12-for-18 at the plate with six doubles, seven RBIs, five runs scored, seven walks and a stolen base. She posted a .667/.760/1.000 slash line in those six games and entered the following week ranked fourth in the ODAC in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS and doubles.

Rieg later earned first-team All-ODAC honors as a utility player as Shenandoah softball collected six All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference awards, the most since the Hornets joined the ODAC in 2013. Brenna Westwood was also named first team All-ODAC, while Paige Eagleton and Makayla Cox earned second-team honors. Allison McQueeney and Gracie Ravenkamp were named to the third team.

Rieg, a sophomore from Winchester, hit .429 in ODAC play with a 1.164 OPS, 27 hits, nine doubles, one triple, one home run and 18 RBIs in 20 conference games. She also pitched 29.2 innings in conference play and posted a 4-2 record.

Harrison Cruz Burrell of Winchester is among more than 9,400 candidates to be recognized in the University of Georgia’s Class of 2026 spring commencement ceremonies. Burrell is a candidate for a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. The undergraduate ceremony is scheduled for May 8 at Sanford Stadium.

Sienna Forrer of Stephens City has enrolled at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland, as a member of the Class of 2030. Forrer, a graduate of Sherando High School, plans to study biochemistry. McDaniel College is a liberal arts and sciences college offering undergraduate and graduate programs, with campuses in Maryland and Budapest, Hungary.

Southern New Hampshire University recognized several local students for academic achievement during the Spring 2026 term.

Local students named to the SNHU Dean’s List include Amie Lopez of Stephenson, Heather Venditti of Front Royal and Hannah Sherrill of Winchester. Full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean’s List.

Local students named to the SNHU President’s List include Mckenna Greene, Georgia Sowers and John Gilkerson of Stephenson; Crystal Danzo, Jayden Patten, Emmalyn Beale and Kaila McLean of Stephens City; Seanna Baker and Jack Hagy of Middletown; Anne Marie Soldo, McKenzie Hemphill, Emma McDonald and Nina Hess of Front Royal; David Quinteros of Lake Frederick; Matthew Wallace of Clear Brook; and Jessica Gerald, Joshua Easter, Cecilia Clarkson-Johnson, Azelyn Marsh, Hailey Wehrheim, Edward Johnston, Emily Walker and Patrick Middleton of Winchester.

Full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade-point average of 3.700 or higher for the reporting term are named to the President’s List.

Shenandoah University also announced the winners of its 2026 Student Leadership Awards during a ceremony April 26 at Winchester Country Club. Jillian Taylor of Stephenson received the Emerging Leader of the Year award. The award is given to a student who shows promise in academics and leadership in and out of the classroom.

Other Shenandoah University Student Leadership Award winners included the Pre-Health Professions Club, named Undergraduate Student Organization of the Year; SU Wheels, named Breakthrough Student Organization; Alejandro Montano-Martinez, named Student Employee of the Year; Alyssa Bonfardeci, named Outstanding Graduate Student Leader; Chaya Ray, named Outstanding Undergraduate Student Leader; Jessica Velasquez, recipient of the Inclusive Leadership Excellence Award; Elisabeth Myers, recipient of the Omicron Delta Kappa Campus Impact Award; Lauren Duffy, named Shenandoah University Leadership Academy Student Leader of the Year; and Cynthia Schneider, CEO of the Top of Virginia Regional Chamber and a member of the SULA Advisory Board, recipient of the Legacy of Leadership Award.

Jillian VanGilder of Winchester was elected to membership in The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi at Old Dominion University. Phi Kappa Phi is an all-discipline collegiate honor society founded in 1897. Membership is by invitation only and is open to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and the top 7.5 percent of juniors, along with qualifying faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Cedarville University in Ohio named Micah George of Winchester to the Spring 2026 Dean’s List. The recognition requires a grade-point average of 3.50 or higher for the semester and a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Sophia Clark of Winchester was named to Cedarville University’s Spring 2026 Dean’s Honor List. That recognition requires a grade-point average of 3.75 or higher for the semester and a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Liam Spurlock of Front Royal, a member of Elmira College’s Class of 2029, received the Class of 2000 Prize. The award is given annually to two first-year students entering the sophomore class who exemplify the standards and spirit of Elmira College. Spurlock was nominated by Dr. Stephanie Johnson.

Information from releases. Posted by Dan McDermott.

The Col. James Wood II Chapter of the Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution joined the Front Royal/Warren County Tree Stewards on May 2 to plant a Burr oak at Lions Community Park in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The tree was planted as part of a national SAR effort to plant Liberty Trees in every state in celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial. A commemorative plaque is expected to be installed in August.

The Liberty Tree tradition dates back to colonial Boston, where a 100-year-old elm became a symbol of resistance to British rule. On Aug. 14, 1765, colonists protesting the Stamp Act gathered at the tree and hung an effigy of the local stamp tax collector in protest of taxation without representation.

The protesters later became known as the Sons of Liberty, and the Boston tree became a powerful symbol of colonial defiance. Other towns throughout the colonies soon designated their own Liberty Trees as gathering places for residents who supported Massachusetts’ opposition to British policies.

In August 1775, during the siege of Boston, British troops cut down the original Liberty Tree in a symbolic act against the growing rebellion.

Representing the Front Royal/Warren County Tree Stewards at the May 2 planting were Johnny Goodine, Linda Bartlett, Joan Grewe, Bill Grewe, Henry Pickard, Ron Perlik, John Cermack, and Nancy Sabella.

Representing the Sons of the American Revolution were Bryan Buck, Sean Carrigan, Dale Corey, Chip Daniel, Allan Phillips, and Marc Robinson.

Photos were provided courtesy of Michelle Phillips.

Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is participating in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), sponsoring 23 locations starting in late May, helping ensure that children across the region have access to nutritious food to fuel their learning, play, and growth. 

One in seven (1 in 7) children in Virginia is food insecure. The Summer Food Service Program is designed to reach children who may not have access to nutritious meals at home over the summer break. Students receiving free or reduced-price meals when school is in session are at particular risk. 

The Food Bank provides wholesome breakfast items, vegetables, fruit, protein-rich dishes, and snacks to organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, summer school programs, churches, and recreation programs. This nutritious food is provided to all eligible children without charge, helping children thrive and stay on track for healthy development.

During this summer program, the Food Bank will serve approximately 550 children through SFSP, across its 25-county service area. 

Below is a list of sites offering Summer Food Service Programs:

*Sites may require registration as they are daycare providers or camps. These sites are required by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to be listed.

**Meals To-Go, rural non-congregate meal sites. Meal kits will be distributed between 5/26/2026 and 8/8/2026 on a first-come, first-served basis, and will include five (5) breakfasts and five (5) suppers per meal kit.

For details about SFSP, visit the Food Bank’s website at http://www.brafb.org/sfsp. 

Families who need food assistance can access the Food Bank’s “Food Finder” tool to locate local food pantries. Go to www.brafb.org/FoodFinder

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1.         mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2.         fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3.         email:
[email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

About the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization serving western and central Virginia. Founded in 1981, the Food Bank serves 25 counties and 8 cities through distribution centers in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Winchester, and its headquarters in Verona. Each month, the Food Bank supports an average of 177,000 guest visits, reaching record numbers of Virginians through a network of 400+ community partners—food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and program sites. As a partner food bank of Feeding America®, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank pledges to continue innovating and adapting to secure, store, and distribute more food to more individuals, families, children, and seniors experiencing hunger. For more information, visit www.brafb.org.

Information from a release. Posted by Dan McDermott.

Edited by Dan McDermott | WarrenCountyVa.com

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday denied an emergency request to stay a Virginia Supreme Court ruling that blocked a recently approved constitutional amendment allowing mid-decade congressional redistricting.

The order was brief. The Court’s docket says the application was presented to Chief Justice John Roberts, referred by him to the full Court, and denied. No justice publicly dissented, and the Court gave no explanation. The docket does not disclose the vote. 

The case, Don Scott, in his official capacity as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, et al. v. Ryan T. McDougle, et al., came to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled May 8 that the General Assembly had not followed the state constitution’s required amendment process. The Virginia court divided 4-3. 

At issue was whether lawmakers validly advanced a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts in response to mid-decade redistricting in other states. According to the emergency application, the General Assembly first approved the proposal on Oct. 31, 2025, approved it a second time on Jan. 16, 2026, and voters approved it in an April 21, 2026 referendum. 

Opponents argued the amendment failed because the Virginia Constitution requires a proposed amendment to pass the General Assembly, then be referred to the next General Assembly session after the “next general election” for the House of Delegates, and then pass again before going to voters. The Virginia Supreme Court agreed that the timing requirement had not been satisfied because early voting in the 2025 House election had already begun before the first legislative approval. 

The applicants — including House Speaker Don Scott, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, Senate President Pro Tempore L. Louise Lucas and the Commonwealth — argued to the U.S. Supreme Court that the Virginia Supreme Court had misread both Virginia and federal election law. Their filing said the Virginia ruling wrongly treated the word “election” as including the entire early-voting period rather than Election Day itself, and that the state court’s reasoning was intertwined with federal law governing congressional elections. 

They also argued that without a stay, Virginia would be forced to conduct the 2026 congressional elections under districts that the voters had rejected through the referendum process. The application asked the Court to stay the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision while the applicants prepared a petition for full Supreme Court review. 

The McDougle respondents urged the Court to deny relief, arguing that the request came too late, that emergency intervention would disrupt upcoming elections, and that the Virginia Supreme Court decision rested on state-law grounds outside the U.S. Supreme Court’s ordinary review. They also argued that a separate state case, Koski, created additional obstacles because that injunction rested on other state-law grounds, including allegedly misleading ballot language. 

The legislative clerks named in the case filed a short response supporting the stay application, saying they had not joined the application because their legislative-immunity defense had been sustained below, but that they supported the applicants’ request. 

Amicus briefs split along similar lines. The Virginia NAACP supported the stay, arguing that the state Supreme Court’s ruling nullified the votes of more than 3.1 million Virginians and relied on an unprecedented interpretation of “election.” The NAACP brief also argued that the referendum had strong support from Black voters and other minority voters. 

The American Center for Law and Justice opposed a stay, arguing that the Virginia Supreme Court was enforcing state constitutional limits and that other state-law defects — including the referendum’s timing and ballot language — independently supported blocking the amendment. 

West Virginia also filed an amicus brief opposing intervention, arguing that the case asked the U.S. Supreme Court to do what it usually avoids: review a state supreme court’s interpretation of its own constitution in a state-law matter. 

In their reply, the applicants disputed the timing and jurisdiction arguments, saying May 12 was an operational deadline, not a legal bar to relief, and that the federal issues arose from the Virginia Supreme Court’s own ruling. They argued that the state court had displaced authority assigned to Virginia’s lawmaking process in a federal-election case. 

Friday’s order leaves the Virginia Supreme Court ruling in place. It does not necessarily end the case, because the applicants could still seek full review through a petition for certiorari. But without a stay, the immediate practical effect is that Virginia’s 2026 congressional elections proceed without the new redistricting amendment taking effect.

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation making it illegal to import, sell, manufacture, purchase or transfer assault firearms and certain high-capacity magazines in the commonwealth beginning July 1.

Under Senate Bill 749 and companion House Bill 217, violations involving assault firearms would be classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Anyone convicted under the law would also be prohibited from purchasing, possessing or transporting firearms for three years following conviction.

The legislation also prohibits the importation, sale, barter, transfer or purchase of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices capable of holding more than 15 rounds, with some exceptions.

The law allows people who already legally own the affected firearms to keep them and exempts antique firearms and weapons rendered permanently inoperable.

Spanberger previously proposed amendments to the legislation, including language she said would have carved out certain firearms commonly used for hunting, but lawmakers rejected those changes during April’s reconvened session before the governor signed the bill Thursday.

“I am signing this bill into law because firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets,” Spanberger said in a statement. “We are taking this step to protect families and support the law enforcement officers who work every day to keep our communities safe.”

Sen. Saddam Salim, D-Fairfax, chief patron of the legislation, called the signing “a monumental victory for public safety in the commonwealth of Virginia.”

“This achievement is the collective work of countless advocates, elected leaders and groups who have fought tirelessly for gun violence prevention long before my time in the General Assembly,” Salim said. “When I ran for state Senate against an incumbent who voted against prior versions of an assault weapons ban, the people who believed in this vision stood with me to make the impossible possible.”

The National Rifle Association said Thursday night it had filed lawsuits in both Virginia state and federal court challenging the law.

“As promised, we are taking Abigail Spanberger to court,” John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. “Throughout the legislative session, the NRA and our members fought Richmond’s radical gun control package tooth and nail.”

Commerford called the legislation “a blatant violation of Second Amendment rights” and said the organization would seek to block enforcement of the measure in court.

Virginia House GOP Leader Terry Kilgore also criticized the legislation Friday, calling it an “unconstitutional gun ban.”

“We warned Democrats repeatedly that their effort to ban some of the most commonly owned firearms was unconstitutional,” Kilgore said in a statement. “The Supreme Court has already spoken to this in Bruen, and Democrats are going to waste even more taxpayer money just to lose. Again.”

Original post.

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed legislation Thursday that would have expanded collective bargaining rights for Virginia public employees.

In her veto message for House Bill 1263, Spanberger said she supports collective bargaining rights for public sector employees and believes “public servants should have the same right to collectively bargain that Virginia’s private sector workers have.”

She said amendments she proposed earlier this year to phase in implementation and provide additional flexibility for local governments were rejected by the General Assembly.

“I remain committed to continuing to work with the General Assembly, unions, localities, and public servants across the commonwealth to develop a public sector collective bargaining system that works for Virginia. However, I believe additional amendments are needed to the enrolled bill currently before me.” Spanberger wrote.

According to Virginia’s Department of Planning and Budget, the legislation could have increased annual state costs by between $24 million and $26 million once fully implemented, excluding additional wage increases negotiated through collective bargaining agreements.

The legislation, House Bill 1263 and Senate Bill 378, would have established statewide rules for collective bargaining involving many public employees, including state workers, teachers and local government employees.

Spanberger’s proposed amendments would have delayed implementation for local governments until 2030 and increased flexibility for public employers handling bargaining agreements with budget implications.

Supporters of the legislation, including labor organizations and Democratic lawmakers, had urged Spanberger to sign the bills in recent weeks.

Attorney General Jay Jones said Thursday he joined union members and public servants “in their disappointment in today’s veto.”

“As the first attorney general to be a member of a union, I look forward to working with all parties to develop a bill that will deliver collective bargaining rights for the Virginia workers who have earned them,” Jones said in a statement.

Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi also voiced disappointment with the veto Thursday, saying Virginia workers “deserve the right to organize for fair wages, worker protections, and a seat at decision-making tables.”

Hashmi said she would continue supporting legislation expanding collective bargaining rights for public sector workers.

Opponents, including the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League, said the legislation could increase costs for local governments and complicate local workforce decisions.

Original post.

You can find and register for all library events on our website, www.samuelslibrary.net.

One-Time Events

Wednesday, May 13^thfrom 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM

In person. Registration Suggested.

Author Steven Wright will be joining us to share his experiences and book “The Weight I Carried: Hiking Through Grief and Healing on the Appalachian Trail”. 

There will then be time for a Q&A session, as well as an opportunity for book signing.  

Steven C. Wright is a lifelong outdoorsman, thru-hiker, survivalist, craftsman, and storyteller who believes that nature has a way of stripping life down to what is real, necessary, and true.

In 2023, Steven became the last northbound thru-hiker to complete the 2,198-mile Appalachian Trail, a journey born not from adventure alone, but from grief, faith, and a promise to his late wife, Sandy, who he lost to triple-negative breast cancer. That journey — through storms, injury, solitude, and soul-deep reckoning — became the foundation of his memoir, The Weight I Carried: Hiking Through Grief and Healing on the Appalachian Trail, a raw, unfiltered account of love, loss, childhood trauma, resilience, and redemption. But the trail was only one chapter of a life forged in hard places.

Steven is a self-employed slate roofer and coppersmith by trade, spending decades working at heights, shaping metal, restoring historic structures, and building things meant to outlast storms and time. His hands know weight, weather, and endurance — the same qualities that carried him across mountains. He has traveled the world on mission and disaster-relief trips, helping rebuild communities after hurricanes, earthquakes, and devastation, offering not just labor but presence, faith, and compassion in the aftermath of loss.

An outdoor survivalist since childhood, Steven has spent his life in the woods — backpacking, mountaineering, wild camping, trail running, and learning how to live simply and self-reliantly in extreme conditions. From freezing ridge lines to remote forests, his gear has been tested by real storms, real miles, real consequences.

Steven’s mission is simple: To live fully. To tell the truth. To honor the past.

And to help others see that your scars are not evidence that you’re broken. They are evidence that you survived.

Sewing 201- Sew a Book Pillow 2 parts

Wednesday, May 13^{th (Part 1)} AND May 20^{th (Part 2)} from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM

In person. Registration Required.

Create a cozy, functional accessory perfect for holding your favorite reads. Participants will sew a custom book pillow complete with a storage pocket. Two-part series. Supplies and materials provided, if you want to bring your own fabric this will use approximately 1 yard.

Registering for Part 1 on 5/13/26 will automatically register you for Part 2 on 5/20/26.

*Must have completed Sewing 101 or have a basic working knowledge of using a sewing machine. Supplies and materials provided. Registration required.

Wildlife Photography & Scavenger Hunt

NOTE: PROGRAM IS OFF-SITE

Saturday, May 16^th from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM

In person. Registration Required.

Join local photographer and educator Sharon Fisher for a photography workshop. This program takes place at Raymond R. “Andy” Guest, Jr. Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, Virginia. 

Using observational and photography skills to document nature, this session will focus on capturing images of the smaller details in our natural world. We will begin with a review of close-up photography techniques, then head into the field to practice these skills by completing a nature-themed scavenger hunt. This is a great family-friendly event. All types of cameras—from smartphones to professional cameras—and all experience levels are welcome. The park’s standard parking fee and rules apply. The library has a limited number of park passes available. This event is open to the public. Registration through the library allows you to receive advance information about the event.

* Meet at the River – Shelter 1  

Origami: Legend of a Thousand Cranes & Dragons

Saturday, May 16^th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM

In person. Registration Required.

Origami: Legend of a Thousand Cranes and Dragons is a workshop to learn how to fold an origami crane or dragon.  

There will be an optional, simpler origami tutorial available for children to participate (or adults who want to learn another type of fold!).

AIDS Response Effort, Inc. (ARE) Free STI Testing 

Wednesday, May 20^th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

In person. 

Winchester’s AIDS Response Effort, Inc. (ARE) will be at the library on February 18, May 20, August 19, and November 18 of 2026 to provide free STI testing for the community. 

1 in 5 people in the U.S.A. has an STI

Testing includes:

HIV

Hepatitis B & C

Chlamydia

Gonorrhea

Syphilis

Family Memories Preservation Workshop

Thursday, May 21^st from 5:00 to 7:00 PM

In person. Registration Required.

Family treasures like photo albums, scrapbooks, and bibles connect us to our past and inspire future generations. Preserving them ensures these stories last. 

Join Samuels Public Library and the Warren Heritage Society for a special Third Thursdays event featuring Kristi Wright, principal of Wright Conservation & Framing. Kristi is a book and paper conservator in private practice based in Front Royal, Virginia. She will demonstrate practical ways to store, handle, and care for your family memories to include photo albums, family bibles, and scrapbooks.

Walkabout Wednesday: Best Pots for Indoor Plants

Wednesday, May 27^th from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM

Last Wednesday of every month.

In person. 

Join Extension Master Gardener Volunteers as they discuss and care for the indoor plants at the library!

This month, join us to learn about what type of pot may be best for your indoor plant!

Recurring Programs

Love and Logic: Parenting with Empathy Session 2

Every Thursday, March 14^th to June 18^th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM 

In Person. Registration Required. Sessions run for 6 weeks at a time.

Warren County Social Services partners with Samuels Public Library to present Love and Logic, equipping young people with character, compassion and problem solving skills. 

Parents will gain practical and proven tools for raising respectful, responsible and happy kids.

To register for this session of class (or the next available session), or ask questions contact:

Lillian Johns at [email protected] or by calling 540-635-3430 ext. 3386

Bad Romance 

First Wednesday of every month.

In person. Do you consider yourself a hopeless romantic?  Are bad romances a guilty pleasure of yours? Then you should join us for Bad Romance, where Samuels Public Library will have a themed discussion for the romance genre every month. May’s theme is people in uniform!

Indulge us with your favorite romance books, movies, music or other media related to the topic, and possibly discover a new treat in this awesome informal discussion! New members are always welcome!

Studio 330: Personal Archiving Series

Second Saturday of every month. 

In Person: Discover practical, beginner-friendly ways to organize, preserve, and make accessible your photos, documents, videos, and memorabilia during our monthly Personal Archiving Series. Each month will feature a stand-alone topic including organizing photos, scanning and digitizing your media, and sharing your collections with family. Make sure to check our calendar for monthly features.

Studio 330: Genealogy Club

NOTE: Program is Off-site

Second Monday of every month.

In person. Interested in your family’s history? Already done extensive research and want to be able to share your finds? Join our genealogy club where both novices and experts alike can come together and talk about different genealogy topics.

May’s Topic: National Preservation Month

Join us May 11th, 2:00-4:00PM, at the Warren Heritage Society for a lecture and hands-on demonstration on preservation techniques. Utilizing records within the Laura Virginia Hale Archives, this session will provide you with ways to approach digitization, storage methods, documentation of materials, and so on. Come prepared with questions on how to preserve your photos, scrapbooks, family bibles, and more!

Books & Beyond Book Club

Thursday, May 14^th from 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM 

Second Thursday of every month.

In person. Do you love books and sharing them as much as we do? Join us to delve into new worlds of conversation about new books at your community’s public library! 

May’s theme is “Books to Production”.

Scary Words Book Club

Saturday, May 16^th from 2:30 to 4:30 PM

Third Saturday of every month. 

In person. A horror book club for people who should be afraid of the dark. This month’s title is “Metropolis Down” by local author Vesper Doom.

Phoenix Project- Hope For New Beginnings

Tuesday, May 19^th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Serving all members of the Front Royal/Warren County community who have experienced or are currently experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, Phoenix Project Advocates are available to provide crisis intervention, supportive counseling, safety planning, information, education, and more. Their services are free, confidential, and trauma-informed. Hope. Help. Healing.

What the Tech!

Every Tuesday from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

In person. Need help with technology? Come by the library’s Studio 330 where we will be going over computers and other technology basics. Having trouble with your phone, tablet, laptop, or other device? Bring it in, and we’ll help!

Studio 330: Embroidery Club

Every Thursday from 10:00 PM to 12:00 PM

In person. Join us for Hand Embroidery Stitchers every Thursday morning! Bring your own needlework project to work on for a morning of crafting and socializing. 

*No food allowed in the studio and patrons between 13-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Studio 330 Walk-in Hours

Every Thursday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

In person. Come tour Studio 330 or bring your project to work on. Walk-In hours are provided on a first come, first serve basis. 

*Glowforge is not available during walk-in hours. No food allowed in the studio and patrons between 13-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Studio 330: String Theory- A Fiber Arts Club

Every Saturday from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

In person. Welcome to a fiber arts community for experienced, novice, or first-time artists 13 and up looking to meet other artists, relax, and/or share their expertise! Bring your own knitting, crochet, weaving, or other project to Studio 330 on Saturdays 2pm to 4pm 

*No food allowed in the studio and patrons between 13-17 must be accompanied by an adult.

By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

Virginia labor unions and local government leaders are pressuring Gov. Abigail Spanberger over legislation expanding collective bargaining rights for public employees.

The bills, House Bill 1263 and Senate Bill 378, passed the General Assembly earlier this year largely along party-line votes.

The legislation would establish statewide rules for collective bargaining involving many public employees, including state workers, teachers and local government employees.

Spanberger proposed amendments in April that would have delayed collective bargaining implementation for local governments until 2030 and increased gubernatorial oversight of the Public Employee Relations Board created under the legislation.

Lawmakers rejected those amendments during the General Assembly’s April 22 reconvened session, sending the bills back to the governor in their original form.

Spanberger faces a May 23 deadline to sign the legislation, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature.

Supporters say the bills would expand bargaining rights long unavailable to Virginia public workers.

In a joint statement released this week, Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, and Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax County, urged Spanberger to sign the legislation, calling the bills “landmark legislation” that would extend collective bargaining rights to more than 500,000 public employees across Virginia.

Virginia Professional Fire Fighters and the Virginia AFL-CIO also publicly backed the legislation this week.

Supporters have also tied the legislation to Virginia’s decades-long restrictions on public sector collective bargaining.

Opponents, including the Virginia Association of Counties and the Virginia Municipal League, say the legislation could increase costs for local governments and reduce flexibility in workforce management decisions.

According to the Department of Planning and Budget, the legislation could increase annual state costs by between $24 million and $26 million once fully implemented, excluding additional wage increases negotiated through collective bargaining agreements.

In a joint statement, VACo and VML said the legislation would require significant local resources to implement and supported Spanberger’s proposed amendments addressing local government concerns.

“This legislation is complex and will require significant local resources to implement,” VML Executive Director Michelle Gowdy said in the statement.

VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch said counties remain concerned about maintaining flexibility in workforce decisions.

Mayors from Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach also sent a letter urging Spanberger to veto the legislation, saying the bills create operational and legal concerns for local governments.

The letter states the legislation would limit local governments’ ability to review collective bargaining agreements, create inconsistencies between employee groups and complicate local decision-making timelines.

Spanberger’s office previously said the proposed amendments were intended to help ensure the legislation could be implemented successfully and clarified “that any agreement with budget implications remains subject to approval by the local government boards with budgetary responsibilities.” There was no indication whether the governor plans to sign or veto the bills.

If signed into law, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry would be required to establish regulations for implementation by July 1, 2028.

Original post.

The American Military Heritage Museum will host its 13th annual military heritage event on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 811 Fairfax Pike, Route 277, in Stephens City.

The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, and will feature a 30-ton World War II Sherman tank, reenactors and living history displays, historic museum exhibits, a large collection of WWII equipment and military vehicles, and free Jeep rides.

Veterans are scheduled to be available to meet visitors from 10:30 a.m. until noon.

The museum’s displays include American Civil War, World War I, Civilian Conservation Corps, World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam-era exhibits. The museum is located about 1.5 miles east of I-81 Exit 307. Visitors are advised to look for the large American flag. 

Admission is free.

For more information, visit the American Military Heritage Museum on Facebook.

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Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash that occurred Thursday night on Strasburg Road in Warren County.

The crash happened May 7, 2026, at 9:52 p.m. on Strasburg Road near its intersection with Andrews Road, according to state police.

Police said a 2001 Jaguar Type S was traveling east on Strasburg Road when it ran off the right side of the road, lost control and overturned.

The driver, Gregory S. Williams, 66, of Bentonville, died at the scene. Police said Williams was not wearing a seatbelt.

The crash remains under investigation.

The Virginia Herb Festival will return to Sunflower Cottage and Backroom Brewery in Middletown on Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, 2026.

The two-day indoor and outdoor festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at 150 Ridgemont Road, Middletown. Admission is free.

The festival features vendors and artisans, food, craft beer, live demonstrations, presentations, plants, garden items, herbal products, handmade goods and family-friendly activities. The brewery will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days.

Founded in 2009 by Sunflower Cottage, the Virginia Herb Festival is held on a 10-acre herb farm and garden center in the Shenandoah Valley. Organizers describe the event as a celebration of herbs, gardening, local makers and the agrarian lifestyle.

This year’s vendor list includes herb plants, garden accessories, pottery, raw honey and honey products, baked goods, baskets, woodworking, perennials, jewelry, herbal skin care products, soaps and other handmade items. The Garden Club of Warren County is also listed among the participating vendors.

Live music is scheduled for Saturday with Lyndsie Nicholson.

Guests are encouraged to bring the family and pets, and to bring a folding chair or blanket if they plan to stay and enjoy the farm.

For more information, visit the official Virginia Herb Festival website.

Event details

What: Virginia Herb Festival
When: Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Sunflower Cottage/Backroom Brewery, 150 Ridgemont Road, Middletown, VA 22645
Admission: Free
Website: vaherbfest.com

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Edited by Dan McDermott

RICHMOND, Va. (WarrenCountyVa.com) — The Virginia Supreme Court ruled Friday that the General Assembly violated the state constitution when it advanced a proposed amendment that would have authorized partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, nullifying a statewide referendum in which voters approved the measure — a vote the court ruled has no legal effect.

The 4-3 decision, written by Justice D. Arthur Kelsey and handed down May 8, found that the General Assembly’s first vote on the proposed amendment — taken Oct. 31, 2025 — came after early voting in the 2025 House of Delegates general election had already begun, violating the intervening-election requirement in Article XII, Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution.

The ruling leaves in place the nonpartisan congressional district maps drawn by the Supreme Court of Virginia in 2021.

The vote and the amendment

The Virginia Department of Elections reported that 1,604,276 voters cast “yes” votes and 1,499,393 cast “no” votes in the April 21 special election on the proposed amendment. Voting ran from March 6 through April 21, with approximately 45% of ballots cast during the early voting period and 55% on Election Day.

The ballot question asked voters whether they wanted to “restore fairness” in upcoming congressional elections.

The proposed amendment would have temporarily suspended Article II, Section 6-A — the provision that created Virginia’s bipartisan Redistricting Commission — and authorized the General Assembly to redraw congressional districts outside of the regular decennial-census redistricting cycle in response to other states doing the same. A new congressional map had already been enacted contingent on the amendment’s approval.

The court noted that the existing map produces a 6-5 split in Virginia’s congressional delegation between the two major parties. The contingent replacement map, the majority wrote, would have been expected to produce a 10-1 split.

The constitutional violation

Article XII, Section 1 requires that a proposed constitutional amendment pass the General Assembly twice — with an intervening general election of House of Delegates members between the two votes. The purpose, the court wrote, is to give voters an indirect voice by allowing them to support or defeat candidates based on their position on the amendment before the second legislative vote occurs.

The General Assembly first approved the proposed amendment on Oct. 31, 2025 — four days before Election Day on Nov. 4, 2025. But early voting in the House of Delegates election had begun Sept. 19, 2025, and more than 1.3 million ballots had already been cast by Oct. 31.

The Commonwealth argued that “general election” in Article XII, Section 1 referred only to Election Day itself — Nov. 4 — meaning the four-day window was sufficient to satisfy the intervening-election requirement.

The court rejected that argument, holding that an election encompasses the combined actions of voters casting ballots and election officials receiving them and closing the polls, beginning with the first day of early voting and ending on Election Day.

“The plain and ordinary meaning of the expression matches the historical definition embraced by the courts and legal scholars,” the majority wrote.

The court also noted that of the 63 proposed amendments Virginia has advanced since the 1971 constitution was adopted, the Commonwealth could not identify a single prior instance in which the General Assembly passed a proposed amendment after voting in a general election had already begun.

The litigation timeline

The Commonwealth had successfully argued before the referendum that courts could not intervene to block the election while the constitutional amendment process was ongoing, citing the 1912 Virginia Supreme Court decision Scott v. James. The Claimants — the parties challenging the amendment — had urged the court to rule before the vote was held.

The court addressed that history directly, noting that if pre-election challenges were barred and post-election challenges were also barred by the force of voter approval, judicial review of unconstitutional amendment procedures would effectively cease to exist in Virginia. The Commonwealth’s counsel acknowledged at oral argument that the fact of a “yes” vote did not affect the court’s jurisdiction to review procedural compliance.

Dissent

Chief Justice Powell, joined by Justices Mann and Fulton, dissented, arguing that the majority’s interpretation conflicts with how both Virginia and federal law define an election.

The dissent pointed to Code § 24.2-101, which defines a general election as “an election held in the Commonwealth on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November,” and argued the General Assembly’s express constitutional authority to regulate the time and manner of elections supports limiting the term to a single day.

The dissenters also raised practical concerns, arguing the majority’s multi-day definition of “election” could hamper court operations for more than 90 days per year under Article II, Section 9’s prohibition on compelling voters to attend court during the “time of holding any election,” and could conflict with federal law requiring congressional elections to be held on a single day.

The majority addressed each of those objections, concluding none undermined its interpretation of Article XII, Section 1.

Effect of the ruling

With the referendum nullified, the 2021 congressional maps — which the Princeton Gerrymandering Project graded an “A” and described as providing no partisan advantage — remain the governing maps for Virginia’s 2026 congressional elections.

The court said its holding made it unnecessary to resolve two additional procedural questions that had been raised: whether the 2024 special session in which the amendment was first passed violated its own procedural resolutions, and whether the General Assembly’s failure to comply with a statutory posting requirement for proposed amendments also independently invalidated the process.

The Warren Heritage Society will host Corks & Chords, an evening of live music, food, wine, beer and community fellowship, on May 15 at 6 p.m. on the Warren Heritage Society grounds at 101 Chester Street in Front Royal.

The event will feature live music by Bearded Harmony and will serve as a kickoff to the Virginia Wine & Craft Festival. Admission is $10 and includes five tickets that may be used for food or drink. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and enjoy the evening outdoors.

Food, wine and beer will be available for purchase during the event. The gathering is designed as a relaxed community evening centered on music, conversation and support for a local organization dedicated to preserving Warren County’s history.

Proceeds from ticket sales will help support the Warren Heritage Society and its work to preserve local history and enrich the community. The organization maintains historic properties, collections and programs connected to the heritage of Warren County and the surrounding area.

The presenting sponsor for the event is Clear Horizon Forensic and Counseling Group.

For more information, contact the Warren Heritage Society at 540-636-1446 or visit warrenheritagesociety.org.