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Latest news
Seeking ways to ‘make them notice,’ Henry County waives residential building fees
More housing incentives are planned over the next six to 12 months.
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Politics
Notes from the Square: Gov. Spanberger visits Europe on her first trade mission
Plus: Winsome Earle-Sears announces she’s returning to the campaign trail, more money is heading to Tazewell County for Hurricane Helene relief and the governor includes two Southwest Virginians in her latest round of board appointments.
Local
New River Valley Field Notes: Radford Arsenal incinerator completion now set for 2027
Plus: U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, files birthright citizenship bill and Democratic candidates respond.
Culture
He survived the Bataan Death March, only to be killed by mistake near war’s end. Now he’s coming home to Pittsylvania County.
Claude Dewberry was on two Japanese ships that were sunk by American bombers, not realizing they were carrying POWs. He survived the first, but not the second. It’s taken eight decades for his remains to be found and identified. His funeral is Saturday.

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education
Youth rescue camp aims to inspire Virginiaโs next generation of first responders
More than 40 kids attended last month’s camp, which is part of the Virginia Association of First Responders’ efforts to bolster fire and rescue recruitment efforts.
eCONOMY
Google to use electric cooling instead of water in at least 1 of 3 data centers on Botetourt campus
It is unclear what impact an air-cooling system would have on the projectโs overall water demand, according to a spokesperson for the Western Virginia Water Authority.
OPinion
Kennedy: Virginia’s next aviation chapter begins in Charlottesville
The General Assembly has demonstrated foresight by creating an Advanced Air Mobility program within the Virginia Department of Aviation, providing $1 million to establish an Advanced Air Mobility test site in partnership with the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority, and later approving an additional $500,000 to continue its development.
HealthCare
The Pulse: Nonprofit raises more than $2 million to expand pediatric cancer treatments and resources in Southwest Virginia
Plus, more Virginians are paying out of pocket for emergency department visits and LewisGale Hospital Montgomery announces a new CEO.
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news briefs
Headlines from across the state: Sen. Louise Lucas used $300,000 in campaign funds for legal defense, records show; more …
From elsewhere: DEQ asks Virginians how to best engage environmental justice communities during permitting process. Virginia transportation board OKs stricter oversight for economic development fund. Workers comp rates set to decline again.
Sports
VHSL 2026: With victory in girls tennis, Bland County wins its first team championship ever in any sport
Meanwhile, Ridgeview High won the Class 2 girls championship Thursday at Liberty University with a 5-2 victory over Bruton.
WEATHER
It has poured at my house four days this month. How are we still in drought?
Think beyond your backyard, much wider in space and time, to understand that drought is more than about what falls in your particular rain gauge.
Cardinal 250
Virginia’s royal governor made a grim last stand on a disease-ridden island by the Chesapeake Bay where corpses lay unburied
Lord Dunmore set up on Gwynn’s Island, but disease swept through his ranks. Then Andrew Lewis arrived with cannons.
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