Contact your members of the Board of County Supervisors and encourage them to fully fund our public schools!

A new law will make it easier to build a tiny house in your back yard, starting next year • Virginia Mercury Amid a shortage of housing supply and noted affordability issues, ADUs have emerged as a way to boost affordable housing options in some areas or a way to meet the specific needs of some families. But...

Virginia will make it easier to build tiny homes in your backyard starting next year, as a new law clears zoning hurdles and expands options for accessory dwelling units amid the state’s housing crunch.

virginiamercury.com/2026/04/16/a...

Valley Health changes staffing contracts, trims service citing ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ • Virginia Mercury Mark Nantz, president and CEO of Valley Health, attributed the changes as a response to how health care is evolving nationally. A rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services late last yea...

Valley Health is cutting services and changing staffing contracts, citing financial pressure tied to the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

The health system says the move reflects broader strain on hospitals as federal policy shifts impact funding and operations.

virginiamercury.com/2026/04/17/v...

I remember NBC4 in DC covered the same issue in Maryland.

Office of Elections | 9250 Lee Ave, Suite 1, Manassas, VA 20110

Brentsville Courthouse | 12229 Bristow Rd, Bristow, VA 20136

Dumfries Community Center | 17757 Main St, Dumfries, VA 22026

Haymarket Gainesville Library | 14870 Lightner Rd, Haymarket, VA 20169

Today through April 18th, early voting offices are open countywide.

Weekdays: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Until 7 PM on Wed. Saturdays: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday 4/12: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

AJ Ferlazzo Building | 15941 Donald Curtis Dr, Woodbridge 22191

Woodbridge DMV | 2731 Caton Hill Rd, Woodbridge

Stop Trump Vote Yes in Virginia

Trump directed several red-state legislatures to gerrymandered their congressional maps to give Republicans an unfair advantage to win Congress.

Virginia Democrats passed a temporary, emergency measure to counter the unfair advantage. Vote YES on redistricting referendum!

He is Risen. Jesus has risen.

Happy Resurrection Sunday! #HeisRisen

The SAVE Act would make it harder for millions of Americans to vote. Here’s how we can fight back:

✅ Contact your representatives at (202) 224-3121
✅ Inform your friends, family, and community
✅ Help people you know register to vote
✅ Stay informed about the bill at naacpldf.org/saveact

U.S. hate group MassResistance linked to anti‑lgbtq+ crackdowns in Senegal and Ghana A U.S.-based Christian nationalist organisation, MassResistance, has acknowledged working directly with anti‑LGBTQ+ activists in Senegal and Ghana to support sweeping new laws aimed at criminalising q...

U.S. hate group MassResistance linked to anti‑lgbtq+ crackdowns in Senegal and Ghana

Sen. Lisa Murkowski R-AK opposes the SAVE Act from the GOP, calls it 'federal overreach' on election administration

Trying to keep up but I wonder how many bills got axed or continued.

Virginia lawmakers seek ban on toxic chemicals used in cosmetics • Virginia Mercury House Bill 122 seeks to bolster consumer protections by banning toxic ingredients used in the beauty industry.

Virginia lawmakers have introduced the Humane and Toxin-Free Cosmetics Act to ban toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, mercury and PFAS from beauty products sold in the state.

virginiamercury.com/2026/02/03/v...

What to Do if ICE Invades Your Neighborhood With federal agents storming the streets of American communities, there’s no single right way to approach this dangerous moment. But there are steps you can take to stay safe—and have an impact.

With federal agents storming the streets of American communities, we decided to write a guide on what to do if ICE invades your neighborhood. There’s no single right way to approach a dangerous moment, but there are steps you can take to stay safe. www.wired.com/story/what-t...

A flyer with the text Celebrating Black History Month with Red, Yellow, and Green splash of colors with a black background with Democrat Idris O’Connor Coles District Supervisor logo.

Happy Black History Month ! ❤️🖤💚

Call your Member of Congress and tell them to vote NO on the MEGA Act (202) 224-3121

The arrests of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are a test for every MSM member with a platform. If you are not voicing your outrage at this blatant violation of the First Amendment, you are utterly discredited as a journalist.

Thank you @salimvasenate.bsky.social ! We have to hold them accountable on the State and Local level.

Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Year-End 2025 Update - Council on Criminal Justice With homicide down 21%, the 2025 homicide rate may reach the lowest level ever recorded in law enforcement or public health data going back to 1900, CCJ’s year-end analysis finds.

A new report from the @counciloncj.org shows a 21% decline in murder from 2024-25 and drops in other forms of violent crime. It provides strong evidence of continuing, nearly across-the-board declines in crime and especially violent crime. Some quick notes & context. counciloncj.org/crime-trends...

Virginia to consider joining states creating volunteer cyber civilian corps • Virginia Mercury A proposal to create a volunteer cybersecurity incident response team, investigating and troubleshooting threats targeting digital systems around the commonwealth, will be considered again in this yea...

Virginia lawmakers are moving to create a volunteer cyber civilian corps — a team of trained volunteers to help respond to cybersecurity threats and strengthen defenses — joining several other states with similar programs as cyber risks rise.

virginiamercury.com/2026/01/26/v...

Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colle...

Trump administration drops legal appeal over anti-DEI funding threat to schools and colleges. This leaves in place a federal judge's ruling that the anti-DEI effort violated the First Amendment and federal procedural rules. (Via AP) apnews.com/article/dei-... #ncpol #nced

In Tarrant County, a Hub for the Far Right, a Democrat Seeks a Major Upset In a runoff election for Texas Senate District 9, which has not elected a Democrat since 1991, Taylor Rehmet is betting his pro-labor message can flip disillusioned voters.

Union-backed Dem Taylor Rehmet nearly pulled off a stunning upset in November — almost winning a deep-red TX Senate seat over two billionaire-funded Republicans. He's now in a runoff with a fixture of the Texas far right. My latest, from Tarrant County, a bellwether and hub of Christian nationalism:

I'm going to miss listening to you on the Politics Hour! Will you do a career change in Europe?

Price-gouging law activates in Virginia after state of emergency declared • Virginia Mercury As Virginians prepare for this weekend’s winter storm that is forecast to blanket the region with inches of snow, freezing rain and sleet, consumers are being asked to report suspected cases of price…

Spanberger’s declaration of a state of emergency due to the anticipated severe winter weather triggered Virginia’s anti-gouging statutes, which protect consumers from paying “outrageously high prices” for essential goods like water and food during an emergency. virginiamercury.com/briefs/price...

Voting board shows 10 yeas and 0 nays on motion to report HB96

House Education K-12 subcommittee unanimously reports out @ebpforva.bsky.social bill to provide free breakfast to every student in our public schools.

Abigail Spanberger along side her family taking the oath of office to be the 75th Governor of Virginia on the steps of the Virginia Capitol Building.

Ghazala Hashmi along side her family taking the oath of office to be the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia on the steps of the Virginia Capitol Building.

Jay Jones along side his family taking the oath of office to be the Attorney General of Virginia on the steps of the Virginia Capitol Building.

It's a new day Virginia! We have our Democratic Executive Branch. Abigail Spanberger @abigailspanberger.com is our 75th Governor of Virginia, Ghazala Hashmi @senatorhashmi.bsky.social is our Lieutenant Governor, Jay Jones @jonesjay.bsky.social is our Attorney General. 💙💙💙

Verizon Outage Knocks Out US Mobile Service, Including Some 911 Calls A major Verizon outage appeared to impact customers across the United States starting around noon ET on Wednesday. Calls to Verizon customers from other carriers may also be impacted.

A major Verizon outage appeared to impact customers across the United States starting around noon ET on Wednesday. Calls to Verizon customers from other carriers may also be impacted.

Senator Warren is spot on! The Democratic Party has to be for everyday Americans and fight for them.

What to watch as Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly returns to Richmond • Virginia Mercury With Spanberger taking office, lawmakers reconvene this week to tackle abortion, voting rights, redistricting and a new state budget amid fiscal headwinds.

The Virginia General Assembly convenes for the 2026 session on Wednesday. Lawmakers will debate hundreds of bills, including a new state budget, and are expected to advance constitutional amendments on abortion, voting rights and redistricting. Key info to know: virginiamercury.com/2026/01/12/w...

Margaret Angela Franklin and Idris O'Connor knocking doors to support Margaret's campaign for the Virginia House of Delegates

Margaret Angela Franklin, Congressman Eugene Vindman and volunteers meeting up to knock doors for Margaret Angela Franklin's campaign for Virginia State Delegate.

Local elected officials, Margaret Angela Franklin, Congressman Eugene Vindman and volunteers meeting up to knock doors for Margaret Angela Franklin's campaign for Virginia State Delegate.

Margaret Angela Franklin, Congressman Eugene Vindman and volunteers meeting up to knock doors for Margaret Angela Franklin's campaign for Virginia State Delegate.

Had a great time this afternoon knocking doors with @gene4va.bsky.social and my friend Margaret Franklin who is the Democratic Nominee for Virginia's 23rd House District. If you live in Woodbridge, Dumfries, Triangle, Quantico and Stafford go vote for Margaret this Tuesday ! #Virginia #Election2026