Sign up for our Cardinal News speaker series to hear Rep. Ro Khanna, the congressman from Silicon Valley, who will talk June 9 in Blacksburg about why the nation’s technology sector should be more widely distributed. Event is free but registration is required.

Health, social services agencies await word on state funding for referral network
Funding for the program was originally slashed; agencies praise the network but some backers fear that legislators are unfamiliar with its use.

The French baron who tried to start a colony in Southwest Virginia comes to life on stage
A play staged this weekend in St. Paul will tell the story of Pierre Francois du Tubeuf, who tried to create a French colony on the Clinch River.

10 takeaways from the Southwest Virginia economic summit
Video games are good, workers need cell phone breaks, and other things that might pop your eyes out. All these lessons apply beyond Southwest.

Volunteers needed for IRONMAN event; more . . .
Briefs: University of Lynchburg names new director for nature center. Business wins chamber awards in Farmville and Buckingham County. New River CC student makes all-Virginia academic team.
Politics

Skilled litigation
Inside a former NASCAR driver’s fight to overturn Virginia’s ban of electronic betting machines.
Economy

Southwest Virginia ‘ahead of the curve’ on post-pandemic jobs recovery
The region’s employment rebounded to pre-pandemic levels faster than the state as a whole, but challenges remain, according to the CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
Culture

Bluefield’s Morgan named one of Top 100 coaches
Former Salem and UVa standout now coaches at Bluefield University.Plus more college sports news in Doug Doughty’s weekly college sports notebook.
HeaDlines
Bristol, Tenn. sues Bristol, Va. over stinky landfill; more . . .
From elsewhere: Norfolk casino could be second in state. Archiects propose non-traditional design for Halifax high school. Franklin, Patrick name tourism directors.

W&L to generate 100% of power from solar energy
The school has partnered with a solar energy developer to build a solar farm in North Carolina.

P&H to add boxing club; more . . .
Briefs: Birthplace of Country Music Museum starts monthly Bluegrass Jam. Warner, Kaine announce federal funding for school programs.
Covid deaths in Roanoke region hit 1,000; more . . .
From elsewhere: Housing shortage in Bristol impacts casino hiring. Pulaski military supplier agrees to $3 million fine. Pot event in Chase City aims to reduce stigma.

Watkins Family Hour coming to Lexington
The band will be at Lime Kiln in August.

Mipso to play Rocky Mount on Aug. 18
The North Carolina-based band’s top single has been streamed more than 91 million times on Spotify.
Opinion

Revenue from ‘skill games’ matters more in many rural localities than elsewhere
Legislators from the urban crescent want to ban the games, but their localities don’t depend on the revenue the way some rural localities do.

Could Virginia get an east-to-west passenger train?
A little-noticed state study lays out what a Christiansburg-to-Newport News train would cost.

No, a Bristol train isn’t going to cost $1.5 billion
It will cost a lot to extend Amtrak to Bristol but that high estimate isn’t realistic. Here’s why, and what the cost is likely to be.

Just how competitive is the 5th Congressional District race?
An early look at the coming campaign between Rep. Bob Good and Josh Throneburg.

Why the worker shortage is here to stay
The pandemic has accelerated a demographic problem that was going to hit us anyway.

Why Roe may not matter as much politically as some think it might
Our politics are so polarized along geographical lines that any backlash can only change a small number of districts.
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