Latest Virginia state government News

Both parties rally supporters as voting begins in Virginia's closely watched legislative elections

Sep. 22, 2023 13:26 PM EDT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Early voting started Friday in Virginia's costly, high-stakes and closely watched legislative elections after a week in which elected officials and candidates rallied their supporters across the state. All 140 General Assembly seats are on the ballot, with...

US Rep. Wexton, a Democrat, won't seek reelection to Congress after new medical diagnosis

Sep. 18, 2023 13:50 PM EDT

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton, a Democrat, announced Monday she won't seek reelection in her competitive district in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington after learning she has a severe form of Parkinson's disease. Wexton announced in April that she had...

Youngkin signs bipartisan budget that boosts tax relief and school funding in Virginia

Sep. 14, 2023 16:23 PM EDT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bipartisan state budget Thursday that provides $1 billion in tax relief and boosts spending on public education and mental health by hundreds of millions of dollars. The compromise spending plan was overwhelmingly adopted...

Prospects for more legalized gambling in North Carolina remain uncertain

Sep. 08, 2023 17:41 PM EDT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Prospects that another large expansion of gambling in North Carolina will be included in a state government budget appeared dimmer this week as the House's top leader said there weren't enough Republicans on board with the idea. The GOP-controlled General...

A Navy veteran announces bid to seek Democratic nomination in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District

Sep. 06, 2023 15:07 PM EDT

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A Navy veteran announced a bid Wednesday to seek the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s coastal 2nd Congressional District, aiming to take the seat back from a GOP congresswoman elected last year. Missy Cotter Smasal said she will focus on the local...

Virginia lawmakers pass long-overdue budget bill with tax rebates, extra aid for schools

Sep. 06, 2023 14:45 PM EDT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The politically divided Virginia General Assembly approved long-overdue budget legislation Wednesday, voting in an unusually fast-paced special session to both reduce taxes and boost spending on public education and mental health as part of the package. ...

Casino developers ask Richmond voters for a second chance, promising new jobs and tax revenue

Sep. 01, 2023 18:38 PM EDT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Two years ago, voters in Virginia's capital city narrowly rejected a referendum that would have opened the door for a proposed casino. Now, the developers behind a retooled project are hoping to change their minds. Richmond officials have opted...

Youngkin calls lawmakers back to Richmond for special session on long-delayed budget

Aug. 29, 2023 18:33 PM EDT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers will reconvene in Richmond next week to consider a compromise General Assembly negotiators recently reached on the long-delayed state budget. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has called the part-time Legislature into session Sept. 6 to consider the deal,...

Virginia school boards must adhere to Gov. Youngkin's new policies on transgender students, AG says

Aug. 24, 2023 16:43 PM EDT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's new model policies for the treatment of transgender students are in line with federal and state nondiscrimination laws and school boards must follow their guidance, the state's attorney general said in a nonbinding legal analysis...

Compromise on long-delayed state budget could be finalized this week, top Virginia lawmakers say

Aug. 23, 2023 17:19 PM EDT

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A compromise deal on a state budget will likely be reached in the next few days, a bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers who have been leading this year's drawn-out negotiations said Wednesday. “I’m quite sure we’re going to have a deal,” said...