Government ‘It’s outrageous’: Spanberger navigates budget fight, Democratic unrest six months into governorship Virginia’s first woman governor defends her vetoes and cautious approach as lawmakers race towards a shutdown deadline Click here to read more , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury June 15, 2026
Government Spanberger defends wave of vetoes as frustrated Democrats push back Five months into unified Democratic control in Richmond, the governor’s vetoes and centrist approach have exposed tensions inside her own party Click here to read more , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury June 12, 2026
Government Virginia revenue forecast jumps by $1.5 billion as budget talks continue Spanberger administration says stronger-than-expected revenues could help lawmakers break ongoing budget impasse before the June 30 deadline Click here to read more , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury June 3, 2026
Government Another year, another Va. retail cannabis market veto leaves businesses, the public with few options Governor Abigail Spanberger’s veto shocked advocates for an adult-use market Click here to read more , and Virginia Mercury June 3, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Virginia lawmakers are set to return to Richmond as budget deadline nears Special session resumes June 18 with data center tax incentives still at the center of a standoff between Spanberger, House Democrats and Senate Finance Chair Louise Lucas Click here to read more , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury June 1, 2026
Government Kratom product sales to be regulated in Virginia , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury May 27, 2026
Government Virginia class action proposal dies after Spanberger veto , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury May 26, 2026
Government Spanberger vetoes cannabis bill, stalling legal sales again , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury May 21, 2026
Education Spanberger: ‘Value’ will be guiding factor for Virginia’s use of national education assessment , and Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury May 20, 2026
Government Henrico legislators tout 'historic progress' with passage of housing, energy bills; call on Spanberger to pass cannabis bill , and Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter May 19, 2026
Government Spanberger signs assault weapons ban, package of criminal justice and energy bills , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury May 16, 2026
Government Spanberger vetoes bills allowing public employees to collectively bargain working conditions, wages , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury May 16, 2026
Government Virginia becomes first Southern state to mandate paid family and medical leave for workers , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury May 12, 2026
Government Va. hemp growers worry about the future of their industry amid state and federal shifts , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury May 8, 2026
Government Gov. Spanberger signs wetlands, PFAS and flooding bills , and Shannon Heckt, Virginia Mercury May 8, 2026
Government Spanberger weighs legislation to allow class action lawsuits in Virginia courts , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury May 4, 2026
Government Spanberger signs rideshare safety bills tightening driver-checks, in-app protections , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury May 1, 2026
Education Gov. Spanberger surprises school bus drivers in Henrico for Bus Driver Appreciation Day , and WTVR CBS 6 April 28, 2026
Government Spanberger marks first 100 days with focus on healthcare, housing and energy affordability , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury April 28, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Virginia cannabis retail plan in limbo after lawmakers reject Spanberger changes , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury April 27, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Va. lawmakers OK governor’s tweaks to major energy bills, reject health and labor bill amendments , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury , and Shannon Heckt, Virginia Mercury , and Samantha Willis, Virginia Mercury April 23, 2026
Government Henrico Democrats and Republicans make final campaign pushes ahead of redistricting referendum , and Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter April 17, 2026
Government A new law will make it easier to build a tiny house in your back yard, starting next year , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury April 16, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Spanberger amends, signs sweeping gun legislation reshaping Virginia’s firearm laws , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury April 15, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Governor pitches amendments to Prescription Drug Affordability Board bill that some say ‘nullify’ it , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury April 14, 2026
Government Spanberger joins other governors in push for PJM to prioritize ratepayer protections , and Shannon Heckt, Virginia Mercury April 13, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Slate of new Virginia laws address health care and housing affordability , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury April 10, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Spanberger signs bills to aid low-income utility customers, manage power demand , and Shannon Heckt, Virginia Mercury April 9, 2026
Government Gov. Spanberger addresses ICE, misinformation, and her Virginia poll numbers , and WTVR CBS 6 April 9, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Gov. Spanberger signs legislation to raise minimum wage, invest in workforce , and WTVR CBS 6 April 9, 2026
General Assembly 2026 New Virginia laws target school construction and classroom cellphone use , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury April 8, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Spanberger signs bipartisan bills tied to billions in business investment across Virginia , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury April 7, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Spanberger signs first wave of bills targeting health care, housing and energy cost , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury , and Shannon Heckt, Virginia Mercury April 1, 2026
Government Four weeks before April 21 referendum, early voting shows stronger turnout in GOP-leaning areas , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury March 25, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Here’s how Va. lawmakers suggest the next state budget handle federal health care funding fallout , and Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury March 21, 2026
Government Spanberger names Henrico supervisor, county author to state boards , and Citizen Staff Reports March 10, 2026
Business Richmond National Group to expand Glen Allen operations, create 75 jobs , and Citizen Staff Reports March 4, 2026
Government In Democratic rebuttal, Spanberger accuses Trump of driving up costs and chaos , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury February 25, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Proposed laws would restrict some ICE operations in Virginia , and Alessandra Caceres Mendoza, Capital News Service February 23, 2026
Government Virginia Gov. Spanberger to deliver Democratic response to Trump’s State of the Union address , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury February 20, 2026
Government How Henrico’s congressional districts would change if Democrats’ redistricting plan takes effect , and Tom Lappas, Citizen Publisher February 17, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Affordability or tax hikes? Spanberger agenda caught in political crossfire , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury February 7, 2026
General Assembly 2026 Spanberger urges action on democracy, costs in first address to Virginia lawmakers , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury January 20, 2026
Government What does new Virginia Gov. Spanberger’s ICE executive order actually do? , and WTVR CBS 6 January 20, 2026
Government Full text of Spanberger's first address to joint session of Virginia General Assembly , and Citizen Staff Reports January 19, 2026
Government Spanberger sworn in as Virginia’s first woman governor, moves swiftly to set agenda , and Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury January 19, 2026
Government PHOTOS: Henrico's Spanberger inaugurated as first female governor in Virginia history , and Dave Pearson, Citizen Contributor January 19, 2026
Education Tucker High School band to perform at gubernatorial inauguration for alum Abigail Spanberger , and WTVR CBS 6 January 16, 2026
Education Spanberger names new education leaders to ‘strengthen’ state’s schools , and Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury January 14, 2026