The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday released a sweeping set of rules aimed at cutting air, water and land pollution from fossil fuel-fired power plants. Environmental and clean energy groups celebrated the announcement as long overdue, particularly for coal-burning power plants, which have saddled hundreds of communities across the country with dirty air and […] The post New EPA rules will force fossil fuel power plants to cut pollution appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealth’s leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in […] The post FOIA Friday: Unsealed cannabis warrants and ‘highly variable’ transparency policies appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

“ACLU of Virginia demands Department of Corrections ‘recalculate’ prison sentences after court ruling.” — WRIC “Pulaski town councilman charged with ethics and conflict of interest violations.” — Cardinal News “Charlottesville socialite pleads guilty to child sex crimes.”—Daily Progress “General Assembly updates relationships with federal Virginia Indian tribes.” — VPM “Girl Scout who created banned book […] The post ACLU wants prison sentences recalculated and more Virginia headlines appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical Thursday of former President Donald Trump’s argument he is immune from criminal charges that he tried to overturn his loss in the 2020 election. But conservatives who dominate the court appeared open to returning key questions to a trial court, possibly delaying Trump’s prosecution beyond the November […] The post U.S. Supreme Court floats return to trial court for Trump in presidential immunity case  appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

A week before the Petersburg City Council voted unanimously to pick Cordish Companies to potentially build a casino, City Manager John Altman Jr. signed a letter saying the city council intended to pick a competing company, according to a copy of the document obtained by The Virginia Mercury. The April 17 letter of intent addressed […] The post Before picking Cordish casino, Petersburg letter said city preferred Bally’s appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

We’re moving soon and our new house sits on land that’s been in my family for generations. Wanting a clearer picture of the ancestors who passed the property down to us, my husband and I asked my aunts, our family historians, to do some genealogical sleuthing. They identified our long-dead relatives who settled the land […] The post Who do you think you are? Ask the Library of Virginia. appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

Starting next week, certain dairy cattle must be tested for avian influenza before they can be transported to a different state, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday. The requirement is among several that will expand the testing, reporting and monitoring of the cattle to reduce the spread of bird flu among the animals. The […] The post Feds to require bird flu tests of dairy cattle before transport appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

Youngkin will visit Europe for his third international trade mission as Virginia governor.” —Associated Press “Fired executive to sue Alexandria-based United Way, claims retaliation after reporting sexual harassment.” —WTOP “Justices’ $1 billion suit against Carter Bank transferred to Virginia court.” —Cardinal News “‘Unpaid toll’ scam texts spreading throughout Virginia.” —WAVY “The Peedmont, Virginia’s satirical news […] The post Youngkin heading to Europe again and more Virginia headlines appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

PETERSBURG – After a closed meeting that lasted more than an hour and a half, the Petersburg City Council abruptly voted Wednesday to pick Baltimore-based Cordish Companies as the developer that will have a chance to build a casino in the economically struggling city. There was nothing on the council’s meeting agenda indicating such a […] The post Petersburg doubles down on Cordish as its casino operator appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

U.S. Supreme Court justices spent two hours Wednesday morning debating whether a federal law about emergency treatment encompasses abortion care even in states with strict abortion bans, with no clear indication of how they may ultimately rule. A decision could come as soon as the end of June whether Idaho’s near-total abortion ban means doctors […] The post Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan emergency spending law Wednesday to provide an additional $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, ending months of behind-the-scenes maneuvering and public pleas for Congress to approve the funding. The package also included a measure requiring the popular app TikTok be sold by its Chinese […] The post Biden signs $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan into law  appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday new rules that will put refunds quickly back into air travelers’ pockets for canceled or delayed flights.  The agency estimated that the new regulations will save consumers over a half billion dollars every year in airline fees. Under the new rules, which will go into effect beginning […] The post Feds require airlines to automatically refund passengers for canceled or delayed flights appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

Another attempt to impose tighter regulations on the menhaden fishery in Virginia was defeated Tuesday and interested parties again called for the state to study the menhaden population. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted 5-3 to deny a petition from the Chesapeake Legal Alliance that sought to limit the catch of Omega Protein, the lone […] The post Latest petition to reduce Omega Protein’s menhaden catch limit is rejected appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

• “Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney threatens to withhold prosecution amid funding dispute.”—Potomac Local News • “Trial opens for former Virginia hospital medical director accused of sexual abuse of ex-patients.”—Associated Press • “Speed cameras in Chesapeake, Suffolk have raked in millions in fines as lawsuit challenges use.”—Virginian-Pilot • “BYO containers: Look inside this zero-waste store […] The post Bottles of 200-year-old cherries found at George Washington’s Mount Vernon and more Va. headlines appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

Industries that discharge toxic PFOA and PFOS compounds into the environment will now be held legally and financially responsible for the contamination, according to a final rule issued by the EPA April 19. The Department of Defense is also subject to the new requirements. PFOA and PFOS are now classified as hazardous substances under Superfund […] The post Polluters must pay to clean up areas contaminated with PFOA, PFOS appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

There is no better way to recognize the significant impact of service and volunteerism — on our city, our state and in ourselves — than by amplifying the first-hand stories of Virginians who are making a difference. According to data  collected by AmeriCorps and the Census Bureau, nearly 2 million Virginia volunteers contributed 130.5 million […] The post National Volunteer Week 2024: Volunteers strengthen Richmond appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced Tuesday that he’s no longer seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2025 and will instead run for lieutenant governor next year. Stoney’s downshift appears to put Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger on a clear path to become her party’s next pick for governor, making her the lone Democrat officially running […] The post Stoney drops out of Virginia governor race, will run for LG instead appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

Both residents and Virginia Department of Forestry officials agree: Callery pear trees, including the much-loathed Bradford pear variety, aren’t just offensive to the nose — they’re detrimental to the state’s environment.  A new state program is what led approximately 300 residents to the department’s headquarters in Charlottesville this past weekend, each having chopped down at […] The post State forestry program purges hundreds of Virginia Callery pear trees appeared first on Virginia Mercury.

Let’s get this out of the way at the outset: Tim Murtaugh and I agree on little when it comes to politics, particularly his most famous boss: Donald Trump. I’ve known Tim for three decades. Early on, he was a member of the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association by virtue of his job as Richmond correspondent […] The post The redemption of Timothy Michael Murtaugh appeared first on Virginia Mercury.