Andrew Kerley✍️📸

Five years after Adam Oakes’ hazing death, VCU community weighs-in on prevention Heciel Nieves Bonilla, News Editor Molly Manning, Managing Editor | “The medical examiner said if anybody would have called and got Adam help, he would be alive today.”These are the words of Eric Oake...

Five years ago today, Adam Oakes was hazed to death at VCU. Here’s what’s changed in the wake: commonwealthtimes.org/2026/02/25/f...

ARCHIVES: AFAM students had to fight for their major While many VCU students enjoy being African-American studies majors in 2026, it took decades of protest and advocacy by some of the most outspoken voices on campus to achieve such a status.

Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time flipping through archives
commonwealthtimes.org/2026/02/25/a...

HAPPENING NOW: About 50 people are in Monroe Park protesting the shooting and killing of Minneapolis woman Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer.

Virginia homeowners' water turns brown and becomes unusable. Now their utility company wants to raise prices. Aqua Virginia is asking to raise their water and wastewater prices as customers report issues with brown and unstable water.

My latest for CBS 6 with Melissa Hipolit: People across the state have been complaining about poor water quality from Aqua Virginia, a private company, for decades. Now Aqua wants to raise their prices, and they’re merging with their biggest competitor.

www.wtvr.com/news/local-n...

I’m here at Diversity Thrift with @bilanreports.bsky.social for the Virginia gubernatorial election where voters are starting to pour in. Stay tuned for more live reports. @vcucns.bsky.social #vavotes #election2025

Good morning from Thomas Dale High School in House District 75! The chief officers of election estimate over 110 people have voted as of 7 a.m..
@vcucns.bsky.social

I’m a bit late on this — but my internship with Virginia Scope ended back in September. Incredibly thankful to Brandon Jarvis for the opportunity ✍️📰

I doubt I’m done with Scope, but for now, catch my reporting on WTVR CBS 6!

Same work, different medium.

Speaker Don Scott wasn’t happy, and asked Delegates to stop using recognitions to talk politics.

“That’s the last time that will be happening today”

Spoiler alert: Republican delegates did the same thing two more times.

Del. Kim Taylor recognizes the law enforcement officer who took action when a Dinwiddie Man made death threats against her and her family — and uses the moment to talk about Jay Jones

After recognizing members the largest high school Turning Point USA Chapter visiting the Capitol — Del. Nick Freitas asks the House to honor Charlie Kirk.

“Many of us felt that something fundamental had changed around our entire political discourse in this country”

VCU Qatar students shelter, classes cancelled following Israeli airstrike in Doha Students at the VCUarts Qatar campus took shelter on Tuesday after Israeli forces struck a building in Doha, the nation’s capitol, serving as Hamas political leaders’ headquarters.

Students at the VCUarts Qatar campus took shelter on Tuesday after Israeli forces struck a building in Doha — the nation’s capital — serving as a headquarters for Hamas political leaders. commonwealthtimes.org/2025/09/10/v...

Senate Democrats block 14 more university appointments, ask Youngkin to cease making more Senate Democrats asked Gov. Glenn Youngkin to cease appointing more members to the governing boards of three Virginia universities after blocking 14 more of them in a Senate meeting Thursday.

Senate Democrats vote to block 14 more of Gov. Youngkin’s university board appointments to UVA, GMU and VMI — bringing the total to 22. virginiapoliticalnewsletter.substack.com/p/senate-dem...

I was shamed by our entire staff after rejecting the original headline idea for this story, which was “‘meow meow meow;’ Richmond welcomes new cat cafe.” Executive Editor is proving to be a hard job.

t.co/GbAd3gZ7XX

AG Miyares appeals court decision over university board rejections Miyares on Monday formally filed to appeal a July court decision that affirmed Senate Democrats’ rejection of some of Youngkin’s university board appointees.

Miyares filed with the Virginia Supreme Court to appeal a July court decision that affirmed Senate Democrats’ rejection of some of Youngkin’s university board appointees. Miyares is citing multiple reasons for filing the appeal.

@andrewkerley.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Protesters rally at city hall following ICE arrests in Richmond The Commonwealth Times Community members and activists rallied at Richmond City Hall on Monday to protest recent deportations in the area, increased activity by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and to express so...

“In Honduras, I am not coming out of the house,” wrote deported asylum seeker Martinez-Cantero in a letter read to the crowd. “I am scared.”
Story by: @hazelissimo.bsky.social
commonwealthtimes.org/2025/08/12/p...

BREAKING: A Fairfax Judge has sided with Virginia Senate Democrats in a legal battle over their rejection of some of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s university board appointees, reaffirming the GA’s power over the governing bodies.

Background: www.virginiascope.com/senate-democ...

Sen. Rouse’s statement ⬇️

VCU finally gives Sereen Haddad her degree.

The Virginia Senate Republican Caucus released a statement condemning Democrats for calling another Privilages and Elections committee meeting for Monday — where they are likely to vote on more of Gov. Youngkin’s university board appointments.

Brandon Jarvis (@virginiascopenews) Democrats continue their fundraising advantage in House races

Virginia House Democrats are holding their lead in the money race ahead of November elections, though Republicans are catching up compared to the last report.

substack.com/@virginiasco...

Thanks Michael Pope for having me on the Virginia Press Room podcast this week! Listen to our discussion on your favorite platform ⬇️

www.vpm.org/vapressroom

George Mason seems to be the Trump DOJ’s next target in their crusade on DEI.

“They [GMU] have a board appointed by Youngkin, so they’re not going to be resistant in any way," political analyst Bob Holsworth said.

t.co/Nqp3joYWfi

My latest for Virginia Scope: Senate Democrats are weighing blocking more of Gov. Youngkin’s appointees to university boards as he gains full control of Virginia’s institutes — fearing he may exert unprecedented influence before his term’s end. ⬇️

open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

Walkinshaw wins Democratic nomination for Virginia's Eleventh Congressional District Fairfax County Supervisor James Walkinshaw beat out nine other candidates in a contentious firehouse primary on Saturday to become the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District in ...

Supervisor James Walkinshaw is the Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.

www.virginiascope.com/walkinshaw-w...

Stewart Whitson is the Republican nominee for the Va-11 special congressional election - party chair Katie Gorka tells me. The Democratic nominee is expected to be announced later tonight.

Walkinshaw’s frontrunner status sparks debate over fairness in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District Primary A crowded field of Democrats is vying for the party’s nomination in the special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. James Walkinshaw, Connolly’s chosen successor, appears to be the cl...

10 Democrats are in the race to succeed the late Rep. Gerry Connolly — but his chosen successor’s front runner status has brought about concerns by some other candidates over fairness.

www.virginiascope.com/walkinshaws-...

Walkinshaw’s frontrunner status sparks debate over fairness in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District Primary A crowded field of Democrats is vying for the party’s nomination in the special election for Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.

James Walkinshaw is the favorite in the crowded Democratic primary for VA-11's special election. His opponents are expressing concerns that the nomination process favors establishment candidates and also limits voter access.

By: @andrewkerley.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/virginia...

State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi declares victory in Democratic lieutenant governor primary State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, declared victory in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor Tuesday night shortly after 10 p.m.

Oh yeah so I’m interning with Virginia Scope and the Virginia Political Newsletter this summer to cover state elections and politics! I’m super stoked.

Here’s my first byline: Hashmi wins.
www.virginiascope.com/state-sen-gh...

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi just declared herself Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Virginia.

“Here in Virginia we’re choosing something different," Hashmi said. "We’re choosing courage, we’re choosing progress and we’re choosing to lead.”

That’s all for my reporting. Look forward to the full Commonwealth Times story.

After doing a lap around the entirety of downtown, the march is wrapping-up with a rally back at Kanawha Plaza.