r/Virginia

Last weekend, the Democratic National Committee approved its early 2028 primary schedule, which places Virginia in a prime spot: Feb. 29 — the last primary before Super Tuesday.

Ken Martin, Democratic National Committee chair, spoke with VPM News after the vote. He said the primary goal of the committee in overhauling the schedule is “winning the White House in November of 2028.”

“It’s going to make sure that our nominee, whoever they are, has to actually visit with voters from throughout this country, from all walks of life, and that’s going to make them a better candidate as a result,” Martin said.

Martin pointed to a population boom across the South as a reason for making two Southern states part of the early lineup going forward. Future elections “will be determined in the South, not in the ‘blue wall’ of the North, but in the Black Belt of the South,” he said.

Martin said Virginia’s diverse economy and population were part of its draw. Greater Richmond, Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads all present opportunities that will force the candidates to “get out of their comfort zone.”

Read more here.

The police department said that a third-party review of its Flock-related policies and procedures will be conducted.

The outbreak lasted nearly three months and resulted in four hospitalizations, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

A new unit in the Virginia attorney general’s office will focus on wage theft and employee misclassification.

See also r/VirginiaNews and r/VirginiaEnvironment

See also any or all of r/VirginiaNews, r/FreeVirginiaNews, or r/VirginiaUrbanism to boost the number of posts like this one in your feed.

Hello, new to this sub, and new to this state. I got into VT and am going to new river right now. part of the move is I need a new psychiatrist. I reached out to one friend who said they don’t even get their meds in this state, and then another who told me they have a hard time getting ADHD meds from the two Phyces he’s tried over the last few years. Dose anyone else have any experience with this? Dose anyone know any good psychiatrists they can recommend?

Many of the state’s job losses came from retirements, helping soften their blow to the state’s coffers, the governor and Secretary of Finance said.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, August 20, 2026

CONTACT: press@governor.virginia.gov

Governor Spanberger Encourages Eligible Families to Apply for Summer Nutrition Program Ahead of August 31 Deadline

Since June, More Than 628,000 Virginia Children Have Received SUN Bucks

RICHMOND, VA — Governor Abigail Spanberger today encouraged eligible Virginia families to apply for Virginia SUN Bucks, one of the Commonwealth’s summer nutrition programs that helps families put food on the table during summer break.

SUN Bucks offers eligible families a one-time $120 benefit for each eligible school-aged child during the summer months, when most schools close and children lose access to free or reduced-price school meals. More than 628,000 Virginia children have already received SUN Bucks since the program launched in June — but with nearly 705,000 children expected to be eligible statewide, thousands of eligible families may still qualify. Eligible families are able to apply for this summer’s benefit until August 31.

“Virginia families are feeling the strain of rising grocery costs — particularly as a reckless war and chaotic policies are driving up prices and threatening Virginians’ ability to put food on the table. Congress made the largest cuts to food assistance in history last year — but here in Virginia, we are using every tool we have to keep kids fed,” said Governor Abigail Spanberger. “Programs like SUN Bucks and SUN Meals are a crucial way to fill that gap when school is out. Virginia families still have time to apply to receive their SUN Bucks this summer, and my Administration is committed to making sure families can get the help they need as easily as possible.”

SUN Bucks can be used to buy groceries — including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and meat — at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other businesses that accept SNAP EBT benefits. Virginians can also increase the value of their SUN Bucks through Virginia Fresh Match, a network of farmers markets and local food retailers that doubles the value of SNAP purchases on fruits and vegetables.

Virginia is one of 39 states to participate in the federal Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT) program, or SUN Bucks. As part of Governor Spanberger’s commitment to making the Commonwealth more affordable and working better for Virginians, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) introduced a new online application to make it easier for eligible households to access SUN Bucks benefits. Households have three ways to apply: by submitting a new online application, by printing and mailing a paper application, or by calling the SUN Bucks Call Center at 866‑513‑1414 (Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

“No family should have to worry about where their next meal will come from simply because school is out for the summer,” said Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marvin B. Figueroa. “I want every Virginia family to know this: there are resources to help, and thanks to our new online application, it’s easier than ever to see if you qualify for SUN Bucks.”

“Connecting eligible children with SUN Bucks means more Virginia families can afford nutritious meals during the final weeks of summer. SUN Bucks helps stretch grocery budgets by putting healthy food within reach for families who need it most,” said Virginia Department of Social Services Commissioner Duke Storen. “The new online application helps us reach more eligible households while improving the customer experience from start to finish.”

As part of H.R.1, President Donald Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Congress cut $187 billion in federal funding for SNAP assistance over the next decade — the largest reduction in the program’s history. According to new dashboards launched by the Spanberger Administration, nearly 7,000 Virginians are at risk of losing their food assistance due to these federal cuts. Virginia’s biennial 2026-2028 state budget contains nearly $1 billion in investments focused on protecting Virginians from the impacts of H.R.1 — including $135 million to support greater SNAP administrative costs.

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ELEVEN emails from Rob Wittman (R-VA01) in two weeks, on the Bay, healthcare, jobs, and his CV.

NOTHING on the Bay's destruction because of his policies, or the unfolding national defense disaster he's failed to avert.

You need to know what he won't tell you.

Today's newsletter is a Thursday Throwdown!

Adding to the “heat” Virginians are feeling on their power bills following last week’s high temperatures, Dominion Energy notified customers Wednesday morning of a rate increase.

Dominion customers using 1,000 kilowatt hours will see an average increase of about $8 in the fuel portion of their monthly power bill, Dominion said in a news release. Increases may vary based on size of home, energy efficiency and whether it’s during peak usage.

The company said the increase stems from fuel costs and the cost to purchase power from other providers.

The increases went into effect July 1.

Click the link above to read more.