Virginia News & Current Events | Public News Service

According to a 2023 report, more than one-third of all foreign tourists traveling to the United States, or 14 million people annually, visit a national park site like Wyoming's Yellowstone. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Fee hike for international visitors could bode well for national parks, report finds

International tourists visiting U.S. national parks may pay more at the gate starting next year. Advocates say it's a "common-sense policy" that …

More than two-thirds of SNAP recipients are in households with at least one child. (Adobe Stock)

Federal SNAP cuts threaten higher taxes or slashed benefits in VA, advocates say

Last week, Senate Republicans unveiled reduced cuts to food assistance programs in their version of the budget bill. The proposal from Senate …

Researchers estimate only one in 1,000 sea turtles reaches adulthood. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: Sea turtles in VA threatened by human activity

As World Sea Turtle Day approaches on Monday, an expert explains threats to sea turtles and their ecological importance along the coasts of the …

The percentage of Virginia high school students who do not graduate on time dipped from 13% to 11% in the 2025 Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Virginia ranks high for child well-being

New data show Virginia ranked 13th in the nation for overall child well-being and while the quality of Virginia children's families and communities im…

The average American home contains more than 300,000 items. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: VA seniors should declutter their homes for brain health

June is Brain Awareness Month, and experts say Virginia seniors should consider decluttering their homes to improve brain health. According to an …

More than 40% of transgender and gender-nonconforming people reported being discriminated against while using the bathroom. (Adobe Stock)

As trans rights roll back, gender-diverse Virginians face job market barriers

Transgender, intersex and gender-diverse people face barriers entering and rising in the workplace and advocates said employers can do better to make …

Same-sex couples are seven times more likely to be raising an adopted or foster child. (Adobe Stock)

Expert breaks down myths surrounding same-sex families and adoption

Some same-sex couples who are looking to adopt may feel intimidated or concerned about their prospects. But adoption experts say that doesn't need to …

Two in five speech controversies in 2023, after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began, were about the war in Gaza, according to a report from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Campus free speech curtailed as government punishes students

Students and faculty are increasingly being investigated and punished for exercising their right to protected speech on college campuses, according …

A report by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health showed only 22% of women who screened positive for depression received mental health treatment. (Adobe Stock)

Report: VA gets ‘C’ for quality of maternal mental health care

Virginia is ahead of many states in the quality of its maternal mental health care but one expert argued the Commonwealth has more work to do…

The race for Virginia governor is already set but some other local and down ballot races have competitive primaries this year. (Adobe Stock)

VA voters to decide nominees for local, statewide races in June primary

Voters in the Commonwealth have only a few more weeks to cast early ballots in the Democratic and Republican primary elections. Virginia voters have …

On average, more than 23% of rural women of childbearing age receive health care coverage through Medicaid. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Rural women of childbearing age more often rely on Medicaid

A new report found women of childbearing age in rural areas rely more on Medicaid for health care coverage than their urban counterparts and cuts to M…

Virginia's rate of workplace deaths has dipped year over year, with 2.7 per 100,000 workers dying on the job in 2023, compared to 3.4 in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia ranks in top 10 for lowest rates of deaths on the job

More than 5,000 workers nationwide died from traumatic injuries while on the job in 2023 and 135,000 more died from occupational diseases, according …

Meat producers are only required to submit written claims ensuring their products are antibiotic free. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Federal inspectors find antibiotics in beef, despite label saying otherwise

By Grey Moran for Sentient.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Virginia News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration…

A global survey of 130,000 people across 125 countries found 89% said their government should do more to fight climate change. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Survey: Vast majorities in VA, across globe back climate action

Nine in 10 people in Virginia and across the globe are worried about climate change and want governments to do something about it, according to a new …

Supporters of the National Endowment for the Humanities argued the lawsuit is on behalf of every American interacting with the humanities. (Adobe Stock)

Trump admin sued over efforts to dismantle National Endowment for Humanities

Supporters of the National Endowment for the Humanities said cuts to the agency by President Donald Trump hurt Americans' access to art and culture an…

Two-thirds of Virginians who receive SNAP benefits have a child in the house, and 36% are in working families. (Adobe Stock)

Bill would allow SNAP recipients to seek paid job training without losing benefits

A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives could make it easier for people to get job training while they're receiving federal food assistance…

Military families are more likely to have a child with special or mental-health needs that require more coverage, compared with civilian families. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid cuts risk health care access for VA military families

Republican lawmakers are considering billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, but a new report finds those spending cuts might impact health-care …

Students attend Crossroads Elementary in Quantico, Va. (Adobe Stock)

Lawyers for two VA students ask judge to pause book bans in Pentagon schools

The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday asked a federal judge to pause the removal of books from Pentagon-run schools that pertain to diversit…

A number of Virginia cities in rural parts of the state, such as Charlottesville, Lynchburg and others, rank nationally for high air quality and low air pollution levels. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Resistance to stricter vehicle emissions will affect air quality

A new report found the country needs cleaner vehicles to combat worsening air quality across Virginia but Republican lawmakers are looking to repeal s…

More than 40% of families with an early childhood educator rely on one or more public assistance programs. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicaid cuts could hurt VA early childhood education workforce

As Republicans in Washington, D.C. consider steep cuts to Medicaid, a new report showed the early childhood education workforce in Virginia heavily …

Only 16% of Americans live in rural areas but rural communities account for 88% of the area served by the U.S. Postal Service and 57% of post offices. (Adobe Stock)

Rural VA could be hit hardest by USPS privatization, report finds

Privatization of the U.S. Postal Service would affect services for thousands of people in Virginia, according to a new report. Research by the …

Some 56,000 military members, veterans and their families in Virginia are dually enrolled in military health insurance and Medicaid. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid cuts could impact veterans in VA, report finds

As Republican lawmakers in Washington, D.C., consider cuts to Medicaid, a new report has found thousands of veterans in Virginia could be affected…

The bill would also establish a prison education task force to implement consistent programs across state correctional facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Prison education bill to expand opportunities for incarcerated people in VA

A bill passed by Virginia lawmakers would expand higher education opportunities to incarcerated people across the state. House Bill 2158 aims to …

The Government Accountability Office report found the waivers for the emissions standards don't count as a regulatory rule that falls under congressional authority. (Adobe Stock)

US House bill could repeal clean vehicle standards in VA

Lawmakers in the U.S. House will vote on a bill this week affecting Virginia's ability to create stronger emissions standards for vehicles and trucks…

About 9% of Virginians receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Adobe Stock)

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill discuss trillions in spending cuts, opponents warned students on SNAP and free school meal programs would suffer…

Global food security depends on work done by the National Plant Germplasm System. Its scientists and funding are on the DOGE chopping block. (s1llu/Adobe Stock/AI enhanced)

Crops at risk in VA, U.S. as Trump fires seed bunker employees

Working without fanfare, federal scientists at 22 U.S. sites maintain the nation's agricultural plant species collected since 1898. But the Trump …

More than 44,000 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations operate in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA nonprofits, lawmakers oppose revoking climate groups' tax-exempt status

Lawmakers and climate change activists are speaking out against a rumored executive action by President Donald Trump to revoke tax-exempt statuses fro…

It has been widely reported the Social Security Administration has moved more than 6,000 names into its

Trump policies put economic pressure on immigrants across U.S., Virginia

President Donald Trump continues his pressure campaign on immigrants -- both documented and undocumented -- disrupting the lives of many in Virginia…

Federal workers across the U.S. are impacted by cuts and legislation. More than 80% of federal workers live outside the Washington, D.C., metro area. (Adobe Stock)

Federal workers in VA and nationwide sue Trump over collective bargaining

Federal workers in the Commonwealth are part of a national labor union lawsuit filed against President Donald Trump's executive order to strip collect…

In Virginia, it is estimated 135,000 seniors must travel more than 45 miles to visit their nearest Social Security office. (Adobe Stock)

Rapid Social Security changes leave Virginians vulnerable to scams

Back-and-forth decisions on Social Security policies have created confusion, which may leave some Virginians more vulnerable to scams. Last month…

Climate change is driving worse and longer allergy seasons, scientists have found. (Adobe Stock)

How to deal with seasonal allergies in VA

About one in four adults and one in five children suffer from seasonal allergies in Virginia, and experts have tips on how to treat them. You may …

The city of Norfolk received the most grants from the agency. (Adobe Stock)

Advocate: Trump order to dismantle federal library service threatens rural libraries

Rural libraries are some of the most at risk of closing in the Commonwealth if they lose federal funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Ser…

A worker who relocates to a rural area is 13% less likely to have a workplace retirement plan. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Virginians less likely to have work-based retirement plans

Virginians who work at low-wage jobs often don't have a workplace retirement plan so they can save money through payroll deductions. A new study …

The U.S. Senate voted 52-48 to end the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's overdraft-fee protection regulation. (Adobe Stock)

VA military members face outsized impacts as consumer watchdog dismantled

As President Donald Trump dismantles the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, advocates of the agency warn that veterans and military service …

Good-government groups have long argued that in American democracy, one citizen - not one dollar - should equal one vote. (Adobe Stock)

Report: SCOTUS to blame for money pouring into elections

Outside groups spent more than $45 million in congressional races across the Commonwealth, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. It's …

More than 25% of doctors in the United States were born outside the country, according to the Migration Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Doctor shortages in VA lead to changes to licensing rules

By Arielle Zionts for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Virginia News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Ser…

A bill creating a Medal of Honor memorial in Washington, D.C. is being considered by the Senate. (Henry Villarama/Wikimedia Commons)

Celebrating VA’s legacy of Medal of Honor recipients

Tuesday is National Medal of Honor Day, celebrating the nearly 3,500 service members since 1861 who have been awarded the country's highest military …

From 1980 to 2024, Virginia experienced more than 100 severe weather events, each with losses exceeding $1 billion. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

NOAA cuts forecast trouble for VA weather warnings

One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm…

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has until March 24, to decide whether to veto Senate Bill 813 or sign the legislation into law. (Adobe Stock)

VA bill would regulate frequency of voter roll purges

Legislation in Virginia would prohibit any systematic removals of people from voter rolls at least 90 days before an election. Last August, …

High school students are getting a head start on careers in the

Program trains underserved high school students for 'data economy'

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Virginia News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News…

Support for neutrality agreements comes as more public employees in the Commonwealth unionize following a 2021 bill giving them the right to form a union. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Voters support company neutrality when workers unionize

A recent poll finds that voters in Virginia and around the country view unionization efforts as widely beneficial to workers - and are more supportive…

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has dropped lawsuits against major financial groups, including Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, and Rocket Homes. (Adobe Stock)

VA advocates chart new path without consumer rights watchdog

Consumer advocates in Virginia and around the country are trying to chart a new path forward as a federal consumer rights watchdog is being effectivel…

Grants and other disbursements from the U.S. Department of Education fund about 40% of the annual budget for students with disabilities in Virginia Public Schools. (Adobe Stock)

Possible closure of US Department of Education 'devastating' for VA

Capitol Hill observers said the Trump administration is moving quickly against the federal Department of Education, potentially leaving Virginia …

The bill to establish the Prescription Drug Affordability Board received the support of all Democrats and seven Republicans in the General Assembly. (Adobe Stock)

Youngkin to decide fate of prescription drug cost watchdog

Two-thirds of Virginians over the age of 18 regularly take prescription medication, and - according to ARRP - support establishing maximum prices for …

Agriculture systems constructed before 1998 often have the biggest issues with runoff of animal wastes that can contaminate groundwater. (Adobe Stock)

The state of animal waste regulations in Virginia

Virginia has certain restrictions in place for workers handling animal waste in order to avoid contaminating groundwater sources. But one expert says …

An estimated 60% of Virginians have a valid passport. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Bill would disenfranchise VA rural voters, married women

House Republicans have reintroduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or SAVE Act. Backers say it's meant to ensure only citizens register …

One option states could consider to make up for added Medicaid costs would be to reduce provider payment rates, which many argued are already too low and disincentivize providers from accepting Medicaid patients. (Adobe Stock)

Over half-million Virginians risk Medicaid coverage loss under proposed cuts

As Congress threatens deep cuts to the Medicaid program, a new report from the health policy research organization KFF showed how some of the …

More than 7.5% of the Commonwealth's electricity comes from solar power. (Adobe Stock)

VA clean energy benefits at risk in Capitol budget negotiations

Virginia lawmakers and clean air advocates are closely watching budget talks in Congress. They hope clean energy tax incentives, passed in previous …

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