ContributorsPublishersAdvertisers

Virginia Mercury

Virginia Mercury

Virginia Mercury

3K+
Followers
1K+
Post
504K+
Views
ABOUT

The Virginia Mercury is an independent, nonprofit online news organization covering state government and policy. From the push to remove Confederate statues to big shifts in health care and energy policy, the Old Dominion is changing. The Mercury aims to bring a fresh perspective to coverage of the state’s biggest issues. The news outlet, which also features original and guest commentary on a range of topics, is staffed full-time by five veteran Virginia newspaper journalists. The Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. We retain full editorial independence and are a proud member of the Virginia Press Association.

 https://www.virginiamercury.com
Virginia Mercury

Federal lawmakers aim to crack down on ‘dark patterns’ that trick users online

WASHINGTON — Tech companies sometimes lure users to sign up for a service or share information they might not have agreed to otherwise by using subtle tactics and marketing on their websites and apps, like surveys that mine for personal information or designs that hide privacy settings. But these practices — commonly called “dark patterns” […] The post Federal lawmakers aim to crack down on ‘dark patterns’ that trick users online appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
INTERNET
Picture for Federal lawmakers aim to crack down on ‘dark patterns’ that trick users online
Virginia Mercury

U.S. Senate Democrats urge ‘bold action’ by Biden on abortion rights

Most of the Democrats in the U.S. Senate have signed on to a letter to President Joe Biden pressing him to “take immediate action” to protect abortion rights, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Friday ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. The one-page letter, led by Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray of Washington and […] The post U.S. Senate Democrats urge ‘bold action’ by Biden on abortion rights appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
RICHMOND, VA
Picture for U.S. Senate Democrats urge ‘bold action’ by Biden on abortion rights
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
News Break
Politics
NewsBreak
U.S. Politics
NewsBreak
Congress & Courts
NewsBreak
Elections
NewsBreak
Republican Party
NewsBreak
Lifestyle
NewsBreak
Supreme Court
NewsBreak
Congress
NewsBreak
Health
NewsBreak
Food & Drinks
Person
Donald Trump
NewsBreak
POTUS
NewsBreak
Economy
NewsBreak
Public Safety
NewsBreak
Industry
NewsBreak
Pets
NewsBreak
Housing
NewsBreak
Military
NewsBreak
Agriculture
NewsBreak
Senate
Virginia Mercury

No further bird flu spread in Virginia, but danger hasn’t passed, says state vet

Virginia has so far eluded widespread outbreaks of a highly pathogenic strain of avian flu, but the state veterinarian cautions poultry owners that they’re “not out of the woods yet.”  State vet Charles Broaddus urged poultry owners “to continue implementing high biosecurity measures as an everyday practice” in a June 10 letter to industry members, […] The post No further bird flu spread in Virginia, but danger hasn’t passed, says state vet appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
VIRGINIA STATE
Virginia Mercury

The Richmond Department of Veterans Affairs is scaling down its research on laboratory dogs

The Department of Veterans Affairs is about halfway through its congressionally mandated five-year plan to eliminate or reduce the use of canines, felines and non-human primates in biomedical research.  Two approved experiments, or protocols, on canines were still active in March at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center in Richmond, according to Freedom of Information […] The post The Richmond Department of Veterans Affairs is scaling down its research on laboratory dogs  appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
RICHMOND, VA
Virginia Mercury

2022 exposed the dysfunctions of Virginia’s agrarian, part-time legislative model. Again.

You hear it regularly on Capitol Square in Virginia: Ours is a “part-time” legislature. Not really. Not for years and years now, either in fact or by definition. But it sure evokes wistful nostalgia in presentations loaded with gauzy clichés about “the Virginia way.” Look no further than this year’s long-running session in which the […] The post 2022 exposed the dysfunctions of Virginia’s agrarian, part-time legislative model. Again. appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
VIRGINIA STATE
Virginia Mercury

Snack attack

                                                                                                          More information:  […] The post Snack attack appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
VIRGINIA STATE
Virginia Mercury

Congress sends Biden historic gun safety legislation, with GOP support

WASHINGTON — Congress on Friday cleared the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, a bipartisan package that will now head to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature. In a 65-33  vote, the bill, comprised of eight provisions, passed the U.S. Senate late Thursday. The House on Friday joined, approving the Senate’s bill 234-193, with […] The post Congress sends Biden historic gun safety legislation, with GOP support appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
CONGRESS & COURTS
Virginia Mercury

Voters ‘have the final word’ in protecting abortion rights, Biden says

President Joe Biden on Friday called for Congress to pass laws protecting abortion rights and for voters to elect pro-rights candidates on “a sad day for the country” after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on abortion. Biden pledged to fight for policies that protect abortion access, including interstate travel and access to federally approved […] The post Voters ‘have the final word’ in protecting abortion rights, Biden says appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Virginia Mercury

Congress roiled by U.S. Supreme Court decision revoking abortion rights

Republicans in Congress were jubilant at the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling overturning decades of precedent to revoke a constitutional right to an abortion, while Democrats were equally despondent about what they called an extremist decision that revoked a long-held right and represented an attack on women’s autonomy. The party-line reaction hints at how lawmakers will approach abortion […] The post Congress roiled by U.S. Supreme Court decision revoking abortion rights appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
CONGRESS & COURTS
Virginia Mercury

Youngkin vows to ‘protect life’ as Supreme Court overturns right to abortion

Gov. Glenn Youngkin applauded Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision abolishing the constitutional right to an abortion and said Virginia Republicans will get to work on legislation “protecting the life of unborn children” by potentially banning most abortions after 15 weeks. “The Supreme Court of the United States has rightfully returned power to the people and […] The post Youngkin vows to ‘protect life’ as Supreme Court overturns right to abortion appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
RICHMOND, VA
Virginia Mercury

U.S. Supreme Court overturns right to abortion in landmark decision

WASHINGTON —  The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that established abortion as a constitutional right. The decision by five of the Court’s nine justices will allow each state to set its own abortion laws, leading to a patchwork of access throughout the country. The result is expected to be an […] The post U.S. Supreme Court overturns right to abortion in landmark decision appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
CONGRESS & COURTS
Virginia Mercury

‘Just say the election was corrupt’: Trump pressure on Justice Department detailed

President Donald Trump sought to use the U.S. Justice Department to create the illusion of a legitimate investigation into the validity of the 2020 election results, the Jan. 6 committee and former Justice Department leaders said Thursday in the panel’s fifth hearing this month. In the weeks between Election Day 2020 and Jan. 6, 2021, […] The post ‘Just say the election was corrupt’: Trump pressure on Justice Department detailed appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
MARIETTA, GA
Virginia Mercury

Stage is set for dramatic House races in Virginia this fall

By Kyle Kondik  Matchups are set for a pair of high-profile House races in our home state. State Sen. Jen Kiggans (R) will face Rep. Elaine Luria (D, VA-2) in a Hampton Roads-based seat, while Prince William County Supervisor Yesli Vega (R) won a competitive primary for the right to challenge Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D, […] The post Stage is set for dramatic House races in Virginia this fall appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
VIRGINIA STATE
Virginia Mercury

U.S. Supreme Court expands gun rights in striking down New York concealed carry law

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a New York law that made it illegal to carry a firearm in public without showing a special need for protection. The court ruled that the state’s concealed carry law violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution — a major decision that expands the Second […] The post U.S. Supreme Court expands gun rights in striking down New York concealed carry law appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
NEW YORK CITY, NY
Virginia Mercury

Board of Health calls commissioner’s comments an ‘embarrassment’

In an unanimous but largely symbolic resolution, the Virginia Board of Health called recent remarks on racism by state Health Commissioner Dr. Colin Greene an “embarrassment” to the body and its members. The strongly worded statement was adopted by 12 members of the board who were present (three were absent) at a Thursday board meeting, […] The post Board of Health calls commissioner’s comments an ‘embarrassment’ appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
VIRGINIA STATE
Virginia Mercury

Mixed signals on plastic bags, recycling indicate we should do better by our habitat

Two recent news stories show that for every small step forward Virginians take to protect the environment, we often take one backward. The net gain is negligible.  Since this is the only planet we occupy, we should do better. Future generations will curse us for our sorry stewardship of the air, water and soil.  First […] The post Mixed signals on plastic bags, recycling indicate we should do better by our habitat appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
CHESAPEAKE, VA
Virginia Mercury

As feds eye more wind leases off Virginia, fishing industries fear losses

Today, two wind turbines turn off Virginia’s coast. But by the middle of the next decade, hundreds more may have joined them.  With a major push underway by President Joe Biden’s administration to develop 30 gigawatts of offshore wind as a way to reduce U.S. reliance on fossil fuels, federal officials are looking to dramatically […] The post As feds eye more wind leases off Virginia, fishing industries fear losses appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
VIRGINIA STATE
Virginia Mercury

Biden pitches a summer gas tax holiday as price hovers around $5 a gallon

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Wednesday called on Congress and state legislatures to provide a temporary reprieve from gas taxes — but members of his own party and Republicans appeared opposed, making it look unlikely on the federal level. In addition, many state legislatures are out of session for the year and aren’t expected […] The post Biden pitches a summer gas tax holiday as price hovers around $5 a gallon appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
VIRGINIA STATE
Virginia Mercury

Virginia AG threatens crackdown on ‘copycat’ THC edibles

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares says his office is planning to crack down on “copycat” THC edibles made to look like popular snack and candy brands, saying the colorful, cartoonish packaging poses a clear threat to children who may not know what they’re eating. At a news conference in Richmond Wednesday, Miyares held up two […] The post Virginia AG threatens crackdown on ‘copycat’ THC edibles appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Virginia Mercury

U.S. Senate moves forward on gun safety legislation

WASHINGTON — The Senate is poised to pass a bipartisan bill later this week that could become the most comprehensive federal gun safety legislation in years, including billions in new mental health funding. Senators on a procedural vote late Tuesday agreed 64-34 to start debate on the gun control bill, which would also have to be passed by […] The post U.S. Senate moves forward on gun safety legislation appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
CONGRESS & COURTS