Join us in Roanoke for the third annual Cardinal Way: Civility Rules luncheon at 12 p.m. on Friday, April 3 featuring Virginia House leadership. Tickets are $25
Republicans protested the number of tax bills introduced during the 2026 legislative session. Few passed the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.
Democrats hold a trifecta of power but axed most of the bills that could raise taxes or establish new taxes as they seek to alleviate the impact of the nationwide affordability crisis on Virginians.
Politics
Attorney general asked to weigh in on Lynchburg Republicans’ firehouse primary attempt
Del. Dan Helmer, who authored a state law that effectively bans such nominating contests, has asked for an opinion from Attorney General Jay Jones.
Local
Roanoke City Public Schools cuts 170 positions to address budget shortfall
More than 100 of the cuts will come from existing vacancies, resignations and retirements. The rest – about 65 – will affect current employees, with about half that number losing their jobs and the other half being shifted into new roles.
Culture
Beyond the cardinal numbers: Have you heard about the state bird?
A swooping survey of all things cardinal.
education
Roanoke City School Board approves preliminary budget in preparation of cuts
The school board’s budget is not final and does not yet detail cuts to programs or personnel that will need to be made in the upcoming fiscal year, but it did include 2% raises for RCPS employees.
eCONOMY
‘My land is valuable’: Valley Link power transmission proposal meets a growing, organized resistance
Opponents of the proposed 115-mile, 765-kilovolt transmission line say it would harm their property, their communities, the environment and their health. The project’s developers say it’s necessary to meet growing electricity demand and keep the grid reliable.
OPinion
Roanoke Collaboration Project: Conflict entrepreneurs don’t have to win
Rage is as addictive as heroin. It gives us a false sense of security that feels good, lighting up the same part of the brain as opioids. Conflict entrepreneurs are more than happy to be pushers.
news briefs
Headlines from across the state: Jones joins multistate lawsuit over EPA’s repeal of landmark car emissions determination; more …
From elsewhere: Bedford board formally opposes state-mandated collective bargaining. Search warrant documents identify more than $120,000 in online purchases by Mecklenburg school administrators. UVa calls off yet another search for new provost.
Sports
‘Martinsville Missile’ sets a new land speed record for a stock car
With a Henry County driver behind the wheel, the car designed and built in Martinsville broke the record of 244.9 mph with a top speed of 253 mph.
WEATHER
Summer beating out winter to make March one of warmest on record
Virginia’s heat has been more sporadic and less intense than that in the western U.S., but that may start moving our way to start April.
Cardinal 250
Freedom was paved with confiscation
Virginia eventually seized and sold off an estimated 53,000 acres, plus personal property, which in some cases included enslaved Africans.
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