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The 2026 session halfway mark: Retail marijuana and minimum wage increase survive, ‘right-to-work’ repeal fails
The last day for lawmakers to take action on bills in their chamber of origin was Tuesday before they are sent to the other chamber for a vote.
Politics
McGuire’s reelection campaign focuses on current 5th; no word on where he’d run if redistricting passes
The Republican incumbent’s campaign schedule focuses on the district as it’s drawn now.
Local
Danville under boil-water advisory until further notice
Sunday’s rainfall caused salt, sand and chemicals to run into the Dan River, which made the water cloudy with sediment. It will take at least 48 hours for the advisory to be lifted.
Culture
Roanoke-born hip-hop music producer celebrates Grammy wins with Kendrick Lamar
Ruchuan Akers, known in the rap world as Scott Bridgeway, shared two Grammys with Kendrick Lamar, Sza and other collaborators at the recent Grammy Awards presentation.
education
Buchanan County tentatively agrees to give $3.4 million to struggling law school
The funding still must be approved by the IDA and the board of the Appalachian School of Law.
eCONOMY
Cardinal Commerce Notes: New restaurants in Lynchburg and Patrick County, Pluck’d plants first tomatoes, Bedford seeks comp plan thoughts
Get up to speed on recent business happenings.
OPinion
5 reasons why the redistricting referendum will pass; 5 reasons why it will fail
The Virginia Supreme Court may yet throw out the results after the fact, but for now, let’s assume that the referendum on April 21 on whether Virginia should redraw the state’s congressional lines mid-decade to give Democrats an overwhelmingly partisan advantage in the state’s delegation will count.
Health Care
Future of program that helps low-income Virginians with HIV remains unclear
Cuts to the program stem from billing errors and problems within the Health Department’s rebate claims process.
news briefs
Headlines from across the state: Ebbin bids Senate farewell, after opening door for gay lawmakers; more …
From elsewhere: Virginia lawmakers target teen AI chatbot use. Bedford County School Board discusses “reversion cliff” and other financial concerns. Virginia distilleries take their spirits to Paris.
Sports
NIL could be made more transparent with new bill calling for work group on student athlete endorsement deals
The legislation comes as Virginia’s state universities have resisted calls to be more forthcoming about how they are complying with new compensation rules, which took effect last July, that allow schools to pay athletes directly.
WEATHER
A hard winter thaws: Where we are, where we’ve been, where we’re going
As we enter a milder period, there is no doubting the bona fides of this winter as one of the most impactful of the 21st century so far.
Cardinal 250
An army of ghosts haunts Prince Edward County history
Local legend says that 70 French soldiers from the Revolutionary War are buried at Kingsville. But were they really? Historians dig into the story to separate fact from folklore.
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