Danville business owners say they’re still waiting for traffic boost from casino
Part of Danville’s goal in bringing in Caesars Virginia was to capitalize on increased visitation by sending out-of-towners to other parts of the city. Some business owners have seen this happen, and others are still waiting.
Politics
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.
Local
High demand leads to parking limits in more areas of Danville’s River District
Two-hour time limits will be expanded to several additional streets in the neighborhood, after the city has seen success with initial enforcement efforts.
Culture
Parkway foundation sees bright future for dark sky tourism
The nonprofit Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, headquartered in Winston-Salem, is partnering with universities to conduct a comprehensive light pollution survey from the parkway’s northern gate at Rockfish Gap to its southern terminus near Cherokee, N.C.
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.
OPinion
What happens in April will set the political direction in Virginia for years to come
At least four political events in the coming month will prove consequential. Three of them come in the same week. Here’s a preview.
news briefs
Headlines from across the state: Spanberger order, RNC lawsuit highlight divide over Virginia voter roll maintenance; more …
From elsewhere: Virginia congressmen debate Trump’s plan to make D.C. “safe and beautiful.” Nearly all students at Virginia’s largest cyber school are passing, but SOL scores are among the lowest in the state. Ken Clay, Lynchburg native who pitched on Yankees’ world championship teams in 1977-78, dies at age 71.
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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