Virginia News & Current Events | Public News Service

Military families are more likely to have a child with special or mental-health needs that require more coverage, compared with civilian families. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 9, 2025

Medicaid cuts risk health care access for VA military families

Republican lawmakers are considering billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, but a new report finds those spending cuts might impact health-care …

Students attend Crossroads Elementary in Quantico, Va. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Lawyers for two VA students ask judge to pause book bans in Pentagon schools

The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday asked a federal judge to pause the removal of books from Pentagon-run schools that pertain to diversit…

A number of Virginia cities in rural parts of the state, such as Charlottesville, Lynchburg and others, rank nationally for high air quality and low air pollution levels. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Report: Resistance to stricter vehicle emissions will affect air quality

A new report found the country needs cleaner vehicles to combat worsening air quality across Virginia but Republican lawmakers are looking to repeal s…

More than 40% of families with an early childhood educator rely on one or more public assistance programs. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicaid cuts could hurt VA early childhood education workforce

As Republicans in Washington, D.C. consider steep cuts to Medicaid, a new report showed the early childhood education workforce in Virginia heavily …

Only 16% of Americans live in rural areas but rural communities account for 88% of the area served by the U.S. Postal Service and 57% of post offices. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, May 5, 2025

Rural VA could be hit hardest by USPS privatization, report finds

Privatization of the U.S. Postal Service would affect services for thousands of people in Virginia, according to a new report. Research by the …

Some 56,000 military members, veterans and their families in Virginia are dually enrolled in military health insurance and Medicaid. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid cuts could impact veterans in VA, report finds

As Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C., consider cuts to Medicaid, a new report has found thousands of veterans in Virginia could be affected…

The bill would also establish a prison education task force to implement consistent programs across state correctional facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Prison education bill to expand opportunities for incarcerated people in VA

A bill passed by Virginia lawmakers would expand higher education opportunities to incarcerated people across the state. House Bill 2158 aims to …

The Government Accountability Office report found the waivers for the emissions standards don't count as a regulatory rule that falls under congressional authority. (Adobe Stock)

US House bill could repeal clean vehicle standards in VA

Lawmakers in the U.S. House will vote on a bill this week affecting Virginia's ability to create stronger emissions standards for vehicles and trucks…

About 9% of Virginians receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Adobe Stock)

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill discuss trillions in spending cuts, opponents warned students on SNAP and free school meal programs would suffer…

Global food security depends on work done by the National Plant Germplasm System. Its scientists and funding are on the DOGE chopping block. (s1llu/Adobe Stock/AI enhanced)

Crops at risk in VA, U.S. as Trump fires seed bunker employees

Working without fanfare, federal scientists at 22 U.S. sites maintain the nation's agricultural plant species collected since 1898. But the Trump …

More than 44,000 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations operate in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA nonprofits, lawmakers oppose revoking climate groups' tax-exempt status

Lawmakers and climate change activists are speaking out against a rumored executive action by President Donald Trump to revoke tax-exempt statuses fro…

It has been widely reported the Social Security Administration has moved more than 6,000 names into its

Trump policies put economic pressure on immigrants across U.S., Virginia

President Donald Trump continues his pressure campaign on immigrants -- both documented and undocumented -- disrupting the lives of many in Virginia…

Federal workers across the U.S. are impacted by cuts and legislation. More than 80% of federal workers live outside the Washington, D.C., metro area. (Adobe Stock)

Federal workers in VA and nationwide sue Trump over collective bargaining

Federal workers in the Commonwealth are part of a national labor union lawsuit filed against President Donald Trump's executive order to strip collect…

In Virginia, it is estimated 135,000 seniors must travel more than 45 miles to visit their nearest Social Security office. (Adobe Stock)

Rapid Social Security changes leave Virginians vulnerable to scams

Back-and-forth decisions on Social Security policies have created confusion, which may leave some Virginians more vulnerable to scams. Last month…

Climate change is driving worse and longer allergy seasons, scientists have found. (Adobe Stock)

How to deal with seasonal allergies in VA

About one in four adults and one in five children suffer from seasonal allergies in Virginia, and experts have tips on how to treat them. You may …

The city of Norfolk received the most grants from the agency. (Adobe Stock)

Advocate: Trump order to dismantle federal library service threatens rural libraries

Rural libraries are some of the most at risk of closing in the Commonwealth if they lose federal funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Ser…

A worker who relocates to a rural area is 13% less likely to have a workplace retirement plan. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Virginians less likely to have work-based retirement plans

Virginians who work at low-wage jobs often don't have a workplace retirement plan so they can save money through payroll deductions. A new study …

The U.S. Senate voted 52-48 to end the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's overdraft-fee protection regulation. (Adobe Stock)

VA military members face outsized impacts as consumer watchdog dismantled

As President Donald Trump dismantles the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, advocates of the agency warn that veterans and military service …

Good-government groups have long argued that in American democracy, one citizen - not one dollar - should equal one vote. (Adobe Stock)

Report: SCOTUS to blame for money pouring into elections

Outside groups spent more than $45 million in congressional races across the Commonwealth, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. It's …

More than 25% of doctors in the United States were born outside the country, according to the Migration Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Doctor shortages in VA lead to changes to licensing rules

By Arielle Zionts for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Virginia News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Ser…

A bill creating a Medal of Honor memorial in Washington, D.C. is being considered by the Senate. (Henry Villarama/Wikimedia Commons)

Celebrating VA’s legacy of Medal of Honor recipients

Tuesday is National Medal of Honor Day, celebrating the nearly 3,500 service members since 1861 who have been awarded the country's highest military …

From 1980 to 2024, Virginia experienced more than 100 severe weather events, each with losses exceeding $1 billion. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

NOAA cuts forecast trouble for VA weather warnings

One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm…

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has until March 24, to decide whether to veto Senate Bill 813 or sign the legislation into law. (Adobe Stock)

VA bill would regulate frequency of voter roll purges

Legislation in Virginia would prohibit any systematic removals of people from voter rolls at least 90 days before an election. Last August, …

High school students are getting a head start on careers in the

Program trains underserved high school students for 'data economy'

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Virginia News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News…

Support for neutrality agreements comes as more public employees in the Commonwealth unionize following a 2021 bill giving them the right to form a union. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Voters support company neutrality when workers unionize

A recent poll finds that voters in Virginia and around the country view unionization efforts as widely beneficial to workers - and are more supportive…

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has dropped lawsuits against major financial groups, including Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, and Rocket Homes. (Adobe Stock)

VA advocates chart new path without consumer rights watchdog

Consumer advocates in Virginia and around the country are trying to chart a new path forward as a federal consumer rights watchdog is being effectivel…

Grants and other disbursements from the U.S. Department of Education fund about 40% of the annual budget for students with disabilities in Virginia Public Schools. (Adobe Stock)

Possible closure of US Department of Education 'devastating' for VA

Capitol Hill observers said the Trump administration is moving quickly against the federal Department of Education, potentially leaving Virginia …

The bill to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board received the support of all Democrats and seven Republicans in the General Assembly. (Adobe Stock)

Youngkin to decide fate of prescription drug cost watchdog

Two-thirds of Virginians over the age of 18 regularly take prescription medication, and - according to ARRP - support establishing maximum prices for …

Agriculture systems constructed before 1998 often have the biggest issues with runoff of animal wastes that can contaminate groundwater. (Adobe Stock)

The state of animal waste regulations in Virginia

Virginia has certain restrictions in place for workers handling animal waste in order to avoid contaminating groundwater sources. But one expert says …

An estimated 60% of Virginians have a valid passport. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Bill would disenfranchise VA rural voters, married women

House Republicans have reintroduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or SAVE Act. Backers say it's meant to ensure only citizens register …

One option states could consider to make up for added Medicaid costs would be to reduce provider payment rates, which many argued are already too low and disincentivize providers from accepting Medicaid patients. (Adobe Stock)

Over half-million Virginians risk Medicaid coverage loss under proposed cuts

As Congress threatens deep cuts to the Medicaid program, a new report from the health policy research organization KFF showed how some of the …

More than 7.5% of the Commonwealth's electricity comes from solar power. (Adobe Stock)

VA clean energy benefits at risk in Capitol budget negotiations

Virginia lawmakers and clean air advocates are closely watching budget talks in Congress. They hope clean energy tax incentives, passed in previous …

Manuel Gago Silcox, co-director of the Virginia-based Worker Justice Program at the Legal Aid Justice Center, said less-mechanized crops such as tomatoes or apple orchards rely on migrant farmworkers. (Adobe Stock)

Migrant farmworkers in VA threatened by mass deportation policy

President Donald Trump has issued a flurry of executive orders meant to jump-start his mass deportation policy but the policy may negatively affect mi…

Nearly two-thirds of adults in a recent study noted behavioral changes during the winter months. (Adobe Stock)

How Virginians can combat wintertime blues

Some people may feel more fatigued during the winter months, when the days are short and sunlight is in short supply - and that's common. People …

Libraries are tailored to their local communities, Varga says, such as a local library in Virginia Beach offering surfboard rentals. (Adobe Stock)

Show some love to VA libraries

February is Library Lovers Month - and libraries across the Commonwealth are encouraging their long-time and new patrons to celebrate. Lisa Varga…

The largest flock identified in the Great Backyard Bird Count was a group of four million bramblings in Germany. (Adobe Stock)

Bird count begins today, across VA and worldwide

This weekend, Virginians will participate with other birders around the world in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Thousands of birding enthusiasts …

Virginia motorists collide with many animals, including bald eagles, according to Meg Gammage-Tucker, president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates push for program to decrease wildlife collisions in VA

Virginia is the ninth-likeliest state for a driver to hit wildlife but environmental advocates are working to change it. One in 76 people in …

The Trump administration has paused all environmental litigation in the Justice Department. (Adobe Stock)

Climate advocate: Closure of EPA branch harms VA environment

The Trump administration has begun to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency's office dealing with reducing environmental harms to minority and…

A new federal report found U.S. service members, when buying cars, are less likely to make a down payment, more likely to make a smaller down payment, and more likely to make a negative equity trade-in than civilian buyers. (Freedomz/Adobe Stock)

Service members in VA pay more for car loans, report finds

Military borrowers pay higher costs and face greater financial risks than civilian borrowers when taking out credit to buy a car, according to a new …

Salmonella, campylobacter, listeria and E. coli are among the leading bacterial causes of foodborne illnesses resulting in hospitalizations and death. (Adobe Stock)

Government report offers ways to better monitor foodborne illnesses

Foodborne illnesses from meat and poultry products kill thousands of people a year and a new report from the Government Accountability Office offers w…

In the latest analysis of U.S. Department of Labor data by state, Maryland took first place as the worst state for wage theft, owing on average more than $2,200 to workers. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft

Virginia ranks third behind only Maryland and Delaware among the worst states for the average amount of back wages companies owe to their workers…

Data from the State of Supplemental Income report shows paying down debt, paying off student loans, saving for major life goals and covering living expenses are the top reasons for working multiple jobs. (Adobe Stock)

The benefits, pitfalls of juggling two jobs

Americans working two jobs to help with living expenses and cover some extras has become the norm. A study conducted by the company My Perfect …

Omega Protein, a Canadian company, removes an estimated 100 million Atlantic menhaden from the Chesapeake Bay each year. (Adobe Stock)

VA advocates push for study on Chesapeake menhaden

A critical fish species in the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic menhaden, could be declining rapidly. Or its numbers could be growing. There is no data …

Legislation to increase fines for companies that violate child labor law to as much as $10,000 passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. (Adobe Stock)

New child labor laws on the books in VA this year

New child labor laws went into effect in Virginia at the start of the year, but some advocates say more can be done. House Bill 100 took effect in …

Among respondents to a Consumer Reports survey, 95% said fuel economy is at least somewhat important when buying a vehicle. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Virginians want better fuel economy standards

A new survey finds the vast majority of Virginians want automakers to continue improving their vehicles' fuel efficiency. Large majorities of …

No current offshore oil and gas drilling leases were affected by outgoing President Joe Biden's order to restrict new drilling, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. (Garth Weals / Wikimedia Commons)

VA coastline protections: Are they safe in the Trump era?

Days before the end of his term, President Joe Biden announced sweeping protections for the nation's coastlines but President Donald Trump has …

A Virginia Healthcare Association survey found that burnout and stress are major reasons for staff members leaving their jobs. (Adobe Stock)

Nursing home staffing shortages key focus for VA senior advocates

What is the quality of Virginia's nursing homes? If you ask one advocate, he says "bad." Jared Calfee, state advocacy director for AARP Virginia…

Free lunch, breakfast could soon come to all VA students

Free school lunch and breakfast may soon be the law in the Commonwealth. House Bill 1958 would require local school boards to participate in federal …

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