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4 days ago · Nonprofit. Nonpartisan. No paywalls. Fair and tough reporting on the policy and politics that affect all of us is more important than ever. The Mercury brings you coverage of the commonwealth's biggest issues from a team of veteran Virginia journalists.
We suspected data centers were creating an energy crisis for …
3 days ago · Moreover, the new generation and transmission will have to overcome local opposition. On the gas side, Dominion Energy’s plans for a new plant in Chesterfield County face fierce resistance from the local community, which argues it has been burdened by fossil fuel pollution for too many years already.. Clean energy also struggles at the local level.
Social Security benefits boosted for millions in bill headed to …
23 hours ago · WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved a broadly bipartisan bill early Saturday that would increase Social Security benefits for millions of Americans with pensions by ending two of the program’s policies in place for decades — the windfall elimination provision and government pension offset. The legislation, which would cost more than $195 billion over 10 […]
News - Virginia Mercury
Dec 20, 2024 · U.S. House at the last minute passes bill to avert government shutdown; Senate next BY: Jennifer Shutt - December 20, 2024 WASHINGTON — Congress finally approved a stopgap spending bill early Saturday that will keep the government open for a few more months, after a raucous 48 hours that served as a preview of what President-elect Donald Trump’s second term in office might look like.
Trump’s plans pose dilemma for Virginia governor
Dec 20, 2024 · Gov. Glenn Youngkin emerged from this fall’s campaign as one of Donald Trump’s most enthusiastic supporters. But the incoming president’s plans have the potential to create major challenges for Virginia’s present governor. Youngkin is pitching a tax cut, and cites a hefty state budgetary surplus as justification. But surpluses can evaporate in a …
Virginia lawmakers renew push for legal cannabis marketplace
Dec 20, 2024 · Virginia lawmakers are preparing to reintroduce bipartisan legislation aimed at creating a regulated and taxed adult-use cannabis marketplace in the state. The renewed push comes after Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a similar proposal earlier this year. Del. Paul Krizek, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Aaron Rouse, D-Virginia Beach, are once again spearheading the effort, planning to bring […]
Energy policymakers convene for Virginia Clean Economy Act …
Nov 19, 2024 · Virginia’s spiking appetite for electricity is fueled by the continued development of data centers here, which funnel about 70% of the world’s internet traffic, said Kate Smiley, director of Virginia government affairs for the Data Center Coalition. There are about 11,000 data centers in the world, with about 500 in Virginia, or 4.5%, she said.
Workforce housing directive to bolster economic development …
Nov 15, 2024 · A Virginia Housing and Community Development study from 2022 noted how the state’s fastest growing regions over the previous decade were Northern Virginia, the Northern Shenandoah Valley and central Virginia’s Richmond. Conversely, rural areas of the state saw job losses. Those numbers could change in future census data as economic developments in rural areas attract or retain populations.
Trump calls into Youngkin's Chesterfield rally to boost Va. GOP ...
Oct 26, 2024 · “We’re going to take this all the way to the Supreme Court,” he said and was met with cheers from the crowd. Youngkin and the state face two lawsuits over the voter roll removals, one from the Department of Justice, which have placed Virginia at the center of national dialogue about voter access and election security ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
About - Virginia Mercury
The Virginia Mercury is an independent, nonprofit online news organization covering state government and policy. The Mercury launched in 2018 to bring a fresh perspective to coverage of the state’s biggest political and policy issues and fill the gaps in statehouse reporting created by a shrinking media industry. The Mercury is an affiliate of States […]