Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation to halt the manufacture, sale or transfer of assault weapons and magazines with a capacity of 15 rounds or more. The law is slated to take effect July 1 and does not require gun owners to relinquish weapons they already own.
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Posted inPolitics
Supreme Court of Virginia voids redistricting election as unconstitutional
The commonwealth’s high court on Friday issued a 4-3 opinion that struck down the mid-decade redistricting effort.
Posted inLocal
Special prosecutor steps down from Martinsville mayor’s removal case
Lynchburg Commonwealth’s Attorney Bethany Harrison moved to withdraw due to a “material conflict” in the case. The court appointed Alfred Gray Collins III of Colonial Heights to both the civil removal petition and forensic audit of Martinsville expenses, both of which involve Mayor L.C. Jones.
Posted inPolitics
First day of the budget special session ends without an agreement on data center tax exemptions
The chairs of both of the House of Delegates and state Senate finance committees have agreed that data centers need to pay their “fair share,” but differ on how to accomplish that goal.
Posted inPolitics
Virginians narrowly approve mid-decade redistricting effort
The Democrat-backed referendum will temporarily amend the state’s constitution ahead of the 2026 midterms. Republicans are expected to continue the fight in the courts.
Posted inLocal
Martinsville mayor reinstated to city council pending trial on recall petition
Mayor L.C. Jones had been suspended since February, when a judge ordered a recall trial after petitioners accused him of wrongdoing.
Posted inEducation
Tim Sands to step down as president of Virginia Tech
Sands, who has been at the university’s helm for 12 years, is credited with helping to land Amazon’s HQ2 project for Virginia and strengthening Virginia Tech’s ties to Roanoke’s burgeoning biomedical sector.
Posted inOpinion
Cline, Warner, Kaine ask Rubio to designate former Salem man imprisoned in Russia as a political prisoner
In a letter, the three lawmakers ask that the U.S. Secretary of State designate Chuck Zimmerman as “wrongfully detained,” which triggers a higher level of diplomatic pressure to secure his release.
Posted inPolitics
The 2026 General Assembly session wraps with no budget, special session on the horizon
The legislature will reconvene April 23 to deal with the budget. Among the bills that passed on the final day: Cannabis sales legalized, “skill” games legalized, task force to study VMI established, collective bargaining for state employees authorized.
Posted inPolitics
Virginia Supreme Court orders early voting to move forward in Tazewell County
The high court’s decision, issued late Wednesday, is the latest in a litany of lawsuits and rulings over the redistricting effort. Tazewell had been the only locality in the state that was set to sit out the referendum.