r/swva

Here’s a guide to how fire departments are funded in Virginia, in eight FAQs gathered from Cardinal readers.

Virginia is allowing 100 micro business licenses to small time cannabis growers and I am considering applying and was wondering how the community of SWVA would feel about having a fully legal operating cannabis farm in the area.

I recently put my two weeks in due to a hostile work environment, (I work from home but the company is in NoVA). This company is notorious for cutting people off the second they put their two weeks in so I put language in my resignation letter to the effect of my last date is ___ anything before that will be considered termination by (company ). I just got my check and noticed it was short. I contacted Payroll and they stated I my last day was the day before that date. Can I file for unemployment?

The commentary about the event churned up some old stereotypes about Appalachia. Here are some facts instead.

A Florida company has a preliminary permit from the federal government for one site and is pursuing another.

In 2026, Virginians are voting on whether to make three changes to the state's constitution. Voters will decide the future of felon voting rights, marriage equality and reproductive rights in the commonwealth.

To help you better understand the proposed changes, VPM News' State Politics Reporter Jahd Khalil is speaking to advocates who support and oppose each of the constitutional amendments.

You can hear the arguments for and against each of the measures in the VPM News limited series Amending Virginia. In this episode, we're talking about reproductive rights.

Click the link above to watch the second episode of Amending Virginia, or check it out on VPM's YouTube channel.

And keep an eye out for the next two, which will drop before early voting opens on Sept. 18

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Our award-winning work is made possible with your support. Visit vpm.org/givenow to support local journalism. If you’d like to learn more about our news coverage and meet the team, visit https://www.vpm.org/newsroom 

Plus: A new Lynchburg mentorship project seeks volunteers, and students will be able to take the SAT during the school day.

People certainly need to make a living in such an economically depressed region as far-SWVA. The problem is that these companies have ALWAYS taken advantage of the folks in this region. Most still vote GOP because Trump promised coal was coming back [from a steady decline over the past 30 years]. In fact, the truth is, people who support coal mining in this region do so even though it's physically killing them. They also tend to vote for other harmful policies and GOP Congress members that crafted the Big Beautiful (gross) Bill that is responsible for lost healthcare and hospital closings in the same region. It's almost like they love to be smashed in the face and then ask for more. It's a very depressing region to live.

Join the next StarCitySWUG (SOLIDWORKS User Group) Meeting.

Date: 09/09/2026

Location: Virginia Western STEM Building Room ST117.

Time: 6:00p-8:00p

This event is FREE and open for all ages and experience levels.

Click HERE to RSVP.

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Fifty years ago this week, 100,000 revelers arrived for Stompin 76. It was a logistical nightmare, but it created a lasting impact on other music festivals and drew a whole new demographic to Southwest Virginia.

The expansion of the reentry program to Red Onion State Prison was announced by the Virginia Department of Corrections in June.