By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – Virginia labor unions and local government leaders are pressuring Gov. Abigail Spanberger over legislation expanding collective bargaining rights for public employees.
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By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – The Supreme Court of Virginia on Friday struck down the state’s redistricting amendment 4-3 on Friday.
By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – Federal agents executed court-authorized search warrants Wednesday at properties in Portsmouth tied to Virginia Senate President Pro Tempore Louise Lucas, according to the FBI.
By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – Virginia has yet to finalize a state budget for 2026-27, with negotiations stalled over a major policy dispute tied to the commonwealth’s data center industry.
By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – Gas prices in Virginia have moved above $4 per gallon, with averages rising ahead of the summer travel season, though prices still vary depending on where drivers fill up.
By Shirleen Guerra
(The Center Square) – A legal group filed a lawsuit in Tazewell County Circuit Court challenging the ballot language for Virginia’s proposed constitutional amendment on reproductive freedom, saying it is misleading and violates state law.
“This case involves the Court of Appeals’ unprecedented nullification of three Prince William County zoning amendments that would have brought tens of billions of dollars in investment—and thousands of jobs—to Virginia,” the QTS petition, Prince William Times reports. “In a decision resolving two sets of cases, the Court of Appeals rejected the rezonings by mistakenly finding violations of highly technical notice provisions that harmed no one.”
QTS filed its notice of appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court just before the 11:59 p.m. deadline Wednesday, after both Prince William County and Compass Datacenters signaled they would let the project die following two court losses over public notice issues. The roughly 1,760-acre data center complex along Pageland Lane in Gainesville had been approved in 2023 but was voided by the courts.
Here’s what’s happening around the area this week:
QTS to Fight On for Digital Gateway
The 28th Annual Eagle Festival returns to Mason Neck State Park on Saturday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering a day of family-friendly activities focused on nature and conservation.
The event features live animal demonstrations with reptiles, hawks, and owls, hands-on learning experiences, outdoor recreation clinics, nature programs, a puppet show, live music, food, and exhibits by conservation partners. Visitors may also spot the park’s resident bald eagles flying overhead.
The Virginia Supreme Court on Monday heard oral arguments in a high-profile case questioning the validity of a constitutional amendment on redistricting that voters narrowly approved on April 21, 2026. The case, Don Scott in his official capacity as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates et al. v. Ryan T. McDougle, Virginia State Senator and Legislative Commissioner for the Virginia Redistricting Commission et al., centers on whether the General Assembly followed required procedures under Article 12 of the Virginia Constitution.
Attorneys for the appellants, who are defending the amendment, argued that the process complied with every step outlined in the Constitution. Counsel for the appellees, who are challenging it, contended that multiple procedural violations — including the use of a special session and the timing relative to the 2025 general election — rendered the amendment invalid. Chief Justice Cleo E. Powell presided, with all justices present. A ruling is expected in May.