Elizabeth Beyer

A powerful winter storm that swept across the U.S. over the weekend knocked out water service to the city of Richmond, just before the 2025 session was slated to start in Virginia’s capital city.

Virginia held three special elections to fill vacancies in the General Assembly, but the partisan balance didn’t change.

More than a dozen residents signed up to address lawmakers who sit on appropriations committees to share their perspectives on the governor’s budget proposal.

A study was due Nov. 1 to explore the feasibility of converting the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke into a state agency. That study is now two months overdue.

The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission is in its second year of developing and lobbying a list of legislative priorities to share with General Assembly members in the upcoming session. Other planning and regional commissions across Southwest and Southside Virginia may not put together a comprehensive list of legislative goals, but many have overlapping needs.

After a whirlwind week on Capitol Hill, Congress passed a funding bill to keep the federal government running through March and to provide about $100 billion in aid to states stricken by hurricanes Helene and Milton, along with other disasters.

The disaster relief fund would include $127 million to help residents recover and rebuild. The car tax proposal would provide rebates for lower-income car owners.

The director of the Virginia Department of Corrections met with a House committee Monday to answer questions about reported abuse of inmates at the supermax in Wise County.

Amanda Chase’s comeback bid in a different district fell short as a political newcomer was chosen on the third ballot.