The Virginia Mercury

The Virginia Mercury is a nonprofit online news platform that operates independently, focusing on Virginia's state government and policy matters. As the state undergoes significant changes—such as the removal of Confederate statues and transformations in healthcare and energy—The Mercury seeks to offer a unique viewpoint on these critical issues. This news organization employs four experienced journalists from Virginia’s newspaper industry, who work full-time to deliver original content and guest opinions on various subjects. Funding for The Mercury comes from the Hopewell Fund, a 501(c)(3) public charity that aids donors, social entrepreneurs, and other innovators in quickly initiating new and impactful projects.

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From trash to takeoff: Virginia eyes sustainable fuel future for aviation

2 days ago | virginiamercury.com | Nathaniel Cline

As President Donald Trump’s administration scales back national climate initiatives, local leaders in the Washington Metropolitan region are stepping up to push for cleaner skies — with jet fuel made from trash, crops and forest waste. At the heart of the push is Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF, a biofuel derived from sources like corn grain, municipal solid waste, wet waste, and agricultural residues.
Virginia’s federal lawmakers want to make childbirth free

2 days ago | virginiamercury.com | Charlotte Woods

by Charlotte Rene Woods, Virginia Mercury June 5, 2025 Childbirth can cost thousands of dollars, with certain conditions also posing extra costs for parents-to-be who have private health insurance. New legislation proposed by Virginia’s Capitol Hill lawmakers and their colleagues could prevent cost-sharing for prenatal, childbirth, neonatal, perinatal and postpartum care, keeping families from being saddled with big bills after birth. U.S. Rep.
‘A smack in the face:’ Vouchers holders fear federal housing cuts

3 days ago | virginiamercury.com | Charlotte Woods

As budget talks heat up in Washington, Southside Richmond resident Dana Wyatt is bracing for impact. After years of waiting for a housing choice voucher — a federally-funded program that operates like a rent coupon for qualifying tenants — she now fears she could lose it and once again become rent-burdened.
Loudoun schools accused of misusing Title IX in transgender locker room case

4 days ago | virginiamercury.com | Nathaniel Cline

A locker room incident at a Loudoun County high school has reignited controversy over student privacy, free speech, and school policy — now drawing scrutiny from Virginia’s top law enforcement office. On Monday evening, the Office of the Virginia Attorney General confirmed that Loudoun County Public Schools launched an investigation against three male students who said they felt “uncomfortable” when a biologically female student changed clothes in a boys’ locker room and recorded the event.
Va. education department plans to launch Office of Excellence and Best Practices

4 days ago | virginiamercury.com | Nathaniel Cline

by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury June 3, 2025 The Virginia Department of Education is preparing to launch a new Office of Excellence and Best Practices by hiring an executive director who will be responsible for fostering innovation, highlighting high-performing schools, and directing resources toward initiatives with a proven track record of improving student outcomes. The agency posted an advertisement for the opening last week.
State probe into Black communities’ displacement surges forward with infusion of funds

5 days ago | virginiamercury.com | Brandi Kellam

As more states reckon with the history of Black land loss, the Virginia General Assembly has been taking a rare, state-sanctioned approach: formally examining how the creation or expansion of public university campuses has displaced Black communities. A 19-member legislative commission met last month, its first convening since a mandatory hiatus during the 2025 legislative session was lifted. Enacted last year, the commission received an additional $200,000 in the state budget signed by Gov.
‘Care is resistance.' Va. free health clinics strategize survival after state, federal funding cuts • Virginia Mercury

5 days ago | virginiamercury.com | Charlotte Woods

Amid federal and state funding cuts, freezes and delayed payments, the outlook is grim for free clinics in Virginia that have had to trim or halt some services, but there is hope, Health Brigade executive director Karen Legato said Thursday evening. “Care is resistance,” she reiterated during a speech outside of the clinic’s Thompson Street location in Richmond.
After contributions to Virginia, international students face uncertainty due to Trump's visa changes • Virginia Mercury

1 week ago | virginiamercury.com | Nathaniel Cline

by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury May 30, 2025 Virginia’s colleges and universities could lose millions of dollars and thousands of jobs after the federal government froze international student visa interviews on Tuesday, mounted efforts to require all foreign students to undergo social media vetting and announced plans to “aggressively revoke” Chinese students’ visas.
Boil advisory holds as Richmond water crisis shows signs of improvement

1 week ago | virginiamercury.com | Markus Schmidt

The first round of water sample tests following Tuesday’s boil water advisory in Richmond has come back clean, city officials announced late Wednesday evening — a promising sign amid the second major water crisis to hit the city in less than six months. “I’m encouraged that the first round of water sample results has come back with a negative result,” Mayor Danny Avula said in a statement.
Richmond clears water advisory after latest crisis exposes system flaws

1 week ago | virginiamercury.com | Markus Schmidt

Richmond’s boil water advisory has officially been lifted after two consecutive rounds of water tests came back clean, city officials announced Thursday afternoon, ending a three-day disruption that once again exposed vulnerabilities in the city’s aging water system. At 2:30 p.m., Mayor Danny Avula announced that the Virginia Department of Health had cleared the city’s water as safe for consumption following negative results from required compliance samples.