4 days ago · Nonprofit. Nonpartisan. No paywalls. Fair and tough reporting on the policy and politics that affect all of us is more important than ever. The Mercury brings you coverage of the commonwealth's biggest issues from a team of veteran Virginia journalists.

2 days ago · Virginia’s legislature has once again approved legislation to create a regulated and taxed cannabis marketplace, and with both chambers backing identical measures, the proposal is all but certain to reach Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s desk once the General Assembly adjourns later this month. By the session’s midpoint Tuesday, both chambers had passed identical measures to …

5 days ago · Halftime in Richmond: Virginia lawmakers clash over taxes, health care, and gun control BY: Markus Schmidt - February 3, 2025 As Virginia’s General Assembly reaches “crossover” on Tuesday — the midpoint of the legislative session when bills move from one chamber to the other — lawmakers have been navigating a cycle defined by high-stakes policy battles, a public health emergency, and ...

Jan 14, 2025 · Abortion Policy; Government + Politics; Health; Labor; Historic push for constitutional protections in Virginia gains momentum Amendments on reproductive rights, voting rights, and marriage equality clear the House; Republicans back “right-to-work” safeguard.

Jan 13, 2025 · Entering his final full year in office, Gov. Glenn Youngkin addressed a joint session of the General Assembly on Monday, delivering his annual State of the Commonwealth speech after a delay caused by last week’s winter storm and the resulting Richmond water crisis. Yet the governor struck an optimistic tone, highlighting Virginia’s economic growth, education reforms and declining crime ...

Jan 6, 2025 · Nonprofit. Nonpartisan. No paywalls. Fair and tough reporting on the policy and politics that affect all of us is more important than ever. The Mercury brings you coverage of the commonwealth's biggest issues from a team of veteran Virginia journalists.

The Virginia Mercury is an independent, nonprofit online news organization covering state government and policy. The Mercury launched in 2018 to bring a fresh perspective to coverage of the state’s biggest political and policy issues and fill the gaps in statehouse reporting created by a shrinking media industry. The Mercury is an affiliate of States […]

Jan 21, 2025 · There were tears, yells and a call of “out of order” but by the end of the day Virginia’s Senate on Tuesday passed three resolutions aimed at enshrining certain civil rights into the state’s constitution. The resolutions, presented by Democrats, would protect abortion and other reproductive healthcare access in the state’s constitution, automatically restore voting […]

Dec 27, 2024 · Number 1: Documenting and preserving Virginia’s largest, most revered trees By freelance contributor Evan Visconti, published May 20 (Courtesy of Eric Wiseman and the Virginia Big Tree Program) From the story: Virginia is home to nearly 80 national champion big trees, consistently placing the commonwealth in the top five states with the most documented champion trees, or trees that have ...

Sep 6, 2024 · Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears on Thursday evening officially announced her candidacy for governor of Virginia in the upcoming 2025 election, aiming to become the nation’s first Black female governor.