Virginia Headlines 

Youngkin: Virginia agencies eliminating higher-ed degree requirements for some state jobs

The state of Virginia is set to make a big change in a hiring practice by eliminating the requirement or preference that applicants for many executive branch jobs have a higher-education degree.

Kershaw disagrees with Dodgers' decision to reinstate gay 'nun' group for Pride Night award

Clayton Kershaw says he disagrees with the Los Angeles Dodgers’ decision to welcome a satirical LGBTQ+ group called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at the team’s annual Pride Night.

New Jersey prosecutors announce murder charge against Virginia man in fatal shooting of councilwoman

New Jersey prosecutors announce murder charge against Virginia man in fatal shooting of councilwoman.

New Jersey prosecutors announce murder charge against Virginia man in fatal shooting of councilwoman

New Jersey prosecutors say they have arrested a Virginia man on murder and gun charges in the February killing of a local councilwoman who was found fatally shot in her SUV outside her home.

LGBTQ+ activists call for new strategies to promote equality after Target backlash

Activists in the LGBTQ+ community are calling for new ways to mobilize against threats to their long fight for equality.

Biden marks Memorial Day nearly 2 years after ending America's longest war, lauds troops' sacrifice

President Joe Biden has lauded the sacrifice of generations of U.S. troops who died fighting for their country as he marked Memorial Day with a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Two men killed, two hospitalized after shooting at home in Virginia

Police said two men were killed and two others were hospitalized after a shooting at a home in Virginia.

Virginia man sentenced to decades in prison for 2-year-old's scalding death

A Virginia man has been sentenced to decades in prison for the 2018 death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, delaying medical help for hours after she had been scalded severely.

Reform-minded prosecutors in northern Virginia face primary challenges

Three northern Virginia prosecutors who took office four years ago as progressive reformers are facing primary challenges in next month's elections.

From the Civil War to today's mattress sales, Memorial Day is full of contradiction

Memorial Day is supposed to be about mourning the nation’s fallen service members.

Judge to sentence 2 Oath Keepers members after handing down punishment for group's founder

A judge is poised to sentence two members of the Oath Keepers who stormed the U.S. Capitol in a military-style formation with other members of the far-right extremist group during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.

Pennsylvania doctor sentenced in West Virginia to 6 months in pain pill scheme

A Pennsylvania doctor who pleaded guilty in a pain pill prescription scheme in West Virginia has been sentenced to six months in prison.

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes faces sentencing for seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 attack

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes is facing his sentencing after a landmark verdict convicting him of spearheading a weekslong plot to keep former President Donald Trump in power.

Delaware taps artificial intelligence to evacuate crowded beaches when floods hit

Delaware officials are hoping an influx of federal infrastructure money means that future evacuations of crowded beaches during floodwaters can happen automatically through artificial intelligence.

Woman who fled US to keep child custody more than a decade ago says her lawyer encouraged flight

A Virginia woman who fled the United States for more than a decade to avoid sharing custody of her daughter with her former partner says her lawyer suggested she flee.

Police: Man who said he was headed to CIA arrested at nearby preschool with AK-47 rifle in car

A Florida man who police say had an AK-47 rifle in his car has been arrested outside a northern Virginia preschool after he told officers he was headed to CIA headquarters nearby.

1st seditious conspiracy sentences in Jan. 6 attack to be handed down for Rhodes, other Oath Keepers

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and members of his extremist group will be the first Jan. 6 defendants sentenced for seditious conspiracy in a series of hearings beginning this week that could forecast the punishments coming for top Proud Boys leaders convicted of the same charge.

Amazon workers upset over layoffs and return-to-office mandate plan walkout

A group of Amazon workers upset about recent layoffs, a return-to-office mandate and the company’s environmental impact is planning a walkout at its Seattle headquarters next week.

Appeals court upholds admissions policy at elite Virginia high school

A divided federal appeals court has upheld the constitutionality of a new admissions policy at an elite Virginia high school that critics say discriminates against Asian Americans.

A lifetime of racism makes Alzheimer’s more prevalent in Black Americans

Black Americans are more likely than white Americans to develop Alzheimer’s disease.

FACT FOCUS: Fake image of Pentagon explosion briefly sends jitters through stock market

A fake image purportedly showing an explosion near the Pentagon has been widely shared on social media, sending a brief shiver through the stock market.

Meet the influential new player on transgender health bills

A nonprofit that describes itself as a collection of doctors and others uniting to “protect healthcare from a radical, divisive, and discriminatory ideology” has become a significant presence in statehouses.

Ratepayer advocates, business interests want Youngkin, lawmakers to act on key regulatory vacancies

A coalition that includes influential business and advocacy groups wrote this week to Virginia lawmakers and Gov. Glenn Youngkin, asking them to take action to fill two long-running vacancies on the state’s powerful regulatory panel that oversees interests ranging from utilities to insurance.

Police officer charged with lying about leaks to Proud Boys leader

A police officer has been arrested on charges that he lied about leaking confidential information to a leader of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group and obstructed an investigation after group members destroyed a Black Lives Matter banner in the nation's capital.

Agreement with watchdog agency allows Virginia State Police to investigate itself

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said last year he requested a full investigation from the state’s watchdog agency after authorities said a former Virginia State Police trooper kidnapped a 15-year-old girl and killed three members of her family.

Train engineers union reaches first sick-time deal with Norfolk Southern railroad

The union that represents railroad engineers has finally secured its first deal for paid sick time with Norfolk Southern.

Navy probe prompted by suicides condemns conditions at shipyard: 'We let our people down'

A Navy investigation triggered by a series of suicides is recommending widespread improvements in housing, food, parking and internet for sailors, as well as changes to mental health and other personnel programs.

Johnny Depp on his Cannes return and finding 'the basement to the bottom'

Just a year ago, the image of Johnny Depp smiling and waving atop the Palais steps at the Cannes Film Festival would have been unthinkable to most — including to Depp, himself.

Youngkin endorses 6 candidates in contested Republican primaries

Gov. Glenn Youngkin is set to issue a third round of endorsements in Virginia legislative races, backing 19 more Republican candidates, including six who are in contested primaries.

Jill Biden touts efforts to bring better internet to Alaska Native villages

Alaska Native villages have long been caught on the wrong side of the digital divide with no internet connections or a sluggish link at best.

Man accused in baseball bat attack of congressional staffers now facing federal charges

A northern Virginia man charged with assaulting two congressional staffers in their Virginia office with a baseball bat is now facing federal charges as well.

Animal rights group says chickens were abused, but Tyson Foods cut ties with the farm on its own

An animal rights group says a Virginia farm that raised chickens for Tyson Foods mistreated the animals.

Spread of abortion restrictions in South puts pressure on Virginia

As more Southern states pass new restrictions on abortion, Virginia is poised to become an outlier in the region for its relatively permissive laws.

Virginia legislators say budget talks hinge on US debt limit standoff

Virginia finance staffers are warning state lawmakers that even a short-term breach in the federal debt limit would rattle an already fragile state economy.

Gas pipeline gets new permit to build in Appalachian national forest

The U.S. Forest Service has reissued approval to build a controversial natural gas pipeline through national forest land in Virginia and West Virginia.

Recalled Gerber baby formula was sent to US retailers after recall began, wholesaler says

A Gerber infant formula was recalled earlier this year over potential contamination of Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacteria that could cause life-threatening infections in infants.

Authorities: Mentally ill man who attacked congressional staffers has violent history

A man charged with attacking two congressional staffers with a metal baseball bat is being held pending an initial court appearance.