Samantha Willis

Virginia’s probe into public universities’ displacement of Black neighborhoods no longer theoretical • Virginia Mercury A Newport News task force revealed its preliminary findings in a recent meeting, the most public update yet in a process many residents have urged be more transparent

A new state commission and a local task force are digging into how institutions like Christopher Newport University and others used eminent domain or land acquisitions to displace Black neighborhoods — and they’re making the findings public for the first time.

Teddi Fishman, a Democratic poll greeter at a precinct in reliably red Hanover County, said several voters expressed support for Democratic governor nominee Abigail Spanberger this morning, which “surprised and encouraged” her. More on #ElectionDay in Virginia: virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...

Va. launches statewide food drive to counter federal government shutdown, delayed SNAP benefits • Virginia Mercury Building on a temporary state-level version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) announced last week, state agencies are collaborating on a food drive effort to further…

Under the new Virginia Cares Initiative, people can sign up to donate food and money to the state’s regional food banks. Participants will then receive a list of high-demand food items, drop off locations and hours of operation for the banks. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/y...

BREAKING: The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor’s race in Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s favor, as of 8:00 p.m.

More updates from Spanberger’s victory party coming soon. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...

BREAKING: State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi has won the Virginia lieutenant governor's race, the Associated Press reports. More updates: virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/e...

Democrats sweep Virginia’s statewide races, reclaiming full control of executive branch • Virginia Mercury Democrats completed a clean statewide sweep in Virginia on Tuesday night, as former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger defeated Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears for governor, Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Richmond,…

BREAKING: Democrat Jay Jones defeated Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in the attorney general race, completing the party's full sweep of statewide office elections in Virginia. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/d...

BREAKING: Democrat Abigail Spanberger wins Virginia governor's race • Virginia Mercury The Associated Press has called the Virginia governor’s race in Democrat Abigail Spanberger’s favor, as of 8:00 p.m. Spanberger clenched a victory over Republican opponent Winsome Earle-Sears,…

“It's a big deal that the girls and the young women I have met along the campaign trail now know with certainty that they can achieve anything,” Democrat Abigail Spanberger said after defeating Republican nominee Winsome Earle-Sears in the Virginia governor race. virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/b...

Check out @charlottewords.bsky.social's dispatch from today's Spanberger rally: 👇🏾
#VaGOV

Virginia SNAP substitute to roll out weekly through November • Virginia Mercury Dubbed Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance, or VENA, the newly-created program is expected to send money to SNAP beneficiaries’ Electronic Benefit Transfer cards starting on Nov. 3.

Virginia launches its own food-assistance fallback amid federal halt.

Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance will distribute $37.5 M/week beginning Nov. 3 to about 850,000 SNAP-eligible Virginians — payments go out Monday, Wednesday & Friday through Nov.

virginiamercury.com/2025/10/28/v...

Yes, Virginia, our elections are secure • Virginia Mercury Secure elections and voting rights protections are both critical to our confidence in Election Day outcomes. Just as important, though, is that citizens take their own responsibility to vote seriously...

In an new column, @virginiamercury.com's Ivy Main shares how serving in elections deepened her trust in the process—and why secure elections also require informed, engaged citizens.

Read the full story here: virginiamercury.com/2025/10/29/y...

Yes, Virginia, our elections are secure • Virginia Mercury Secure elections and voting rights protections are both critical to our confidence in Election Day outcomes. Just as important, though, is that citizens take their own responsibility to vote seriously...

Commentary: “Yes, Virginia, our elections are secure,” argues columnist Ivy Main — but she emphasizes that electoral integrity depends just as much on citizens taking responsibility and showing up to vote.

virginiamercury.com/2025/10/29/y...

Orange County board asks state regulators to test biosolids for forever chemicals • Virginia Mercury Farmers nationwide often use biosolids — human waste that has been treated by wastewater facilities — as a cheaper, readily available fertilizer option for their soils. But there is a rising concern…

Orange County supervisors and community members want the state to test for "forever chemicals" in biosolids used as farmland fertilizer before they approve permits. They're concerned that PFAS leeching into crops can cause "significant harm to human health." virginiamercury.com/briefs/orang...

Democrats push redistricting amendment as special session jolts Virginia ahead of election • Virginia Mercury With just one week before Election Day, Virginia lawmakers returned to the state Capitol Monday for a surprise special session that swiftly turned into a partisan clash over the future of the state’s…

Democrats presented a measure that would allow legislators to consider a proposed constitutional amendment giving them authority to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts mid-decade. Republicans said it runs counter to voters' wishes and the law. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/27/d...

Thousands flood Richmond streets for No Kings rally in protest of Trump administration • Virginia Mercury Thousands of Virginians gathered at Capitol Square in Richmond for the No Kings protest against the Trump administration.

At Richmond's No Kings rally, thousands marched from the state Capitol and speakers from pro-democracy and civil rights organizations shared messages of resistance to the federal government upheaval that has come to define President Donald Trump’s second term. virginiamercury.com/2025/10/18/t...

In Damascus, business is down but hopes are high one year after Hurricane Helene • Virginia Mercury A year after Hurricane Helene battered southwest Virginia, the town of Damascus is coming back strong.

Hurricane Helene washed away homes, battered businesses and nearly wiped popular hiking and biking trails off the map in the tiny Southwest Virginia town of Damascus. A year on, the community is primed for a major comeback. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/22/i...

Federal judge says restoring Stonewall Jackson name at Shenandoah school violates students’ rights • Virginia Mercury A federal judge in the U.S. Western District Court opined on Tuesday that Shenandoah County School Board’s decision to restore the moniker of Stonewall Jackson High School violated a group of…

Siding with the students, Judge Urbanski wrote that Jackson’s name “is expressive as a symbol of racial exclusion in public schools.”

He granted the students’ summary judgement, denied the school board’s counter motion and deferred a final ruling until December. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/10/f...

Va.’s chief schools superintendent advises leaders to investigate teachers for Kirk comments • Virginia Mercury Citing “multiple reports of deeply troubling” comments made by teachers and school personnel concerning the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Virginia Superintendent of Public…

Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson said K-12 educators who suggest conservative activist Charlie Kirk's killing was acceptable should have their teaching licenses revoked. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/15/v...

Va.’s chief schools superintendent advises leaders to investigate teachers for Kirk comments Citing “multiple reports of deeply troubling” comments made by teachers and school personnel concerning the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Virginia Superintendent of Public Inst...

JUST IN from @virginiamercury.com: Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson on Friday advised school districts to investigate educators making comments concerning the death of Charlie Kirk.

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/vas-...

Va. Department of Health issues order to ease COVID-19 vaccine access, as federal guidance shifts • Virginia Mercury An order the Virginia Department of Health issued Wednesday now makes it easier for eligible Virginians to get vaccines in the weeks ahead.

Breaking: Virginia Department of Health issues order to ease COVID-19 vaccine access as federal guidance shifts. (I asked VDH and the governor about this yesterday, as other states have done so in the interim)
virginiamercury.com/briefs/virgi...

On the record: Winsome Earle-Sears • Virginia Mercury Part one of The Virginia Mercury’s On the Record series examines Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears’ positions on some of the state’s most pressing issues: immigration, education,…

Part one of our On the Record series examines Republican governor candidate Winsome Earle-Sears’ positions on key Virginia issues: immigration, education, energy, environment, health care, housing, criminal justice and policing, voting rights and elections.

Shannon Taylor launches bid to represent Virginia’s 1st Congressional District • Virginia Mercury Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor launched her bid for Congress Monday morning, less than three months after losing the Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general to Jay…

Henrico County Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor launched her bid for Congress on Monday, joining nine other Dems want to unseat longtime 1st District U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, a vulnerable Republican. virginiamercury.com/2025/09/08/s...

Spanberger vows to scrap Youngkin’s immigration order if elected governor • Virginia Mercury Democratic nominee for governor Abigail Spanberger says one of her first acts if elected would be to undo Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s February directive requiring Virginia law enforcement to help carry out ...

NEW: Spanberger vows to rescind Gov. Youngkin’s Feb executive order that forces VA law enforcement to help carry out immigration crackdowns.

She calls it a misuse of local resources and a threat to community trust #VAGov

virginiamercury.com/2025/08/27/s...

State lawmakers reconsider costs, purpose of serving after Minnesota assassination BOSTON — In some of his first public comments since being shot in an attempted assassination, Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman urged fellow lawmakers to refocus on the true purpose of public…

In some of his first public comments since being shot in an attempted assassination, Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman urged fellow lawmakers to refocus on the true purpose of public service.

via @stateline.org

Virginia Court of Appeals rules NAACP’s voting rights FOIA lawsuit against Youngkin isn’t over • Virginia Mercury The Virginia Conference of the NAACP had originally filed a Freedom of Information Act request to the governor’s office seeking further details about how it handles restoration of voting rights to peo...

#breaking The Virginia Court of Appeals has ruled that the NAACP’s FOIA lawsuit challenging Gov. Youngkin’s voting‑rights restoration process isn't over.

A lower court never addressed attorney‑fees, so the appellate court sent it back to be resolved.

virginiamercury.com/2025/08/06/v...

Amazon pulls Louisa County data center proposal after strong resistance • Virginia Mercury Members of the Louisa community railed against a now-halted fourth proposed data center but concerns remain over the three to come

After intense pushback, Amazon withdrew its proposed 7.2 million square foot data center in Louisa last week, which would have been the third data center in the county.

A revised approval process now gives residents more say in future data center development. virginiamercury.com/2025/07/28/a...

Judge temporarily suspends appointees senators rejected from serving on Va. college governing boards • Virginia Mercury A Fairfax County Circuit Court judge on Tuesday granted a temporary injunction suspending eight gubernatorial appointees from serving on governing boards at the University of Virginia, Virginia…

BREAKING: A Fairfax County Circuit Court judge temporarily blocked eight of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's appointees from serving on governing boards at UVA, GMU and VMI, the latest development to rock Virginia’s higher education landscape. virginiamercury.com/2025/07/29/j...

Students, faculty, and lawmakers rally behind GMU amid Trump administration civil rights probe • Virginia Mercury When student Hanaan Kazia first heard about the federal civil rights probe into George Mason University, she wasn’t surprised. But the junior political science major and member of the school’s Politic...

NEW: Students, faculty & lawmakers are pushing back after the Trump administration launched a civil rights probe into GMU, accusing it of race-based hiring.

Critics call it a political attack on one of the nation’s most diverse public universities.

virginiamercury.com/2025/07/16/s...

New Va. law protecting reproductive health data prompts Walmart’s online data collection pop-ups • Virginia Mercury “I don't think a lot of people realize the information that private industry buys and sells about them,” Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax said in a recent call.

Virginians shopping online for condoms, birth control, or period products may now see pop-ups warning their data is being tracked — a result of a new state law protecting reproductive health info.

Walmart’s response: shop elsewhere if you don’t consent.

virginiamercury.com/briefs/new-v...

Virginia agencies assist Texas flood recovery, share how state prepares for dangerous weather events • Virginia Mercury Following the deadly flooding in Texas, Virginia officials share how the state stays ready for weather disasters.

I asked Virginia agencies how they prepare for dangerous weather events and what tools are available in the state for disaster recovery. #valeg #vapol #vagov

virginiamercury.com/briefs/virgi...

A Marco Rubio impostor is using AI voice to call high-level officials An imposter using AI to pose as Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress, according to a State Department cable.

Breaking news: An imposter using AI to pose as Secretary of State Marco Rubio contacted three foreign ministers, a U.S. governor and a member of Congress, according to a State Department cable.