RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) - Early voting for the June 18 primary election will begin on Friday, May 3 and continue through June 15. In the primary, voters will choose Democratic and Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Virginia Voter Resources View upcoming elections View candidates in upcoming elections Register to vote Locate your polling place Learn about in-person voting Request an absentee ballot Learn about accessible voting Find your local voter registration office File a complaint with the Virginia Department of Elections You can vote early, in-person ..read more

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — As the current war in GAZA between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups enters its seventh month, tensions at several universities here in the U.S. have steadily increased. Early morning on Friday, April 26, a group of protestors was reported to have gathered with signs and tents on the campus of Virginia Tech. The university’s website states the event is currently being held by a small group of the “university community and others not affiliated with Virginia Tech” at the Graduate Life Center. There are currently no reports of violence or any injuries. In ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginians are invited to the Virginia State Capitol in Downtown Richmond on Thursday, July 4 for an Independence Day celebration. According to the organizer, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, Capitol Square "will transform into a vibrant hub of activity, bursting with the sights and sounds of Virginia’s diverse communities" on the night of the event. The event starts at noon on July 4 and ends at 11 p.m. and is free and open to the public, but those interested in attending are asked to RSVP. The link to RSVP to the event can be found here ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia’s U.S. Senators have introduced a bill in Congress they say could reduce gun violence in America. Included in their proposal is a provision commonly known as “Lucia’s Law.” In 2021, 13-year-old Lucia Bremer died in her mother's arms after being shot nine times in Henrico County. Her killer was a fellow teenager with documented mental health problems, who used a loaded handgun he found in his home. ‘We had that tragedy in Central Virginia where a caregiver frankly should have been aware that they were giving a gun to someone that could be in harm's way,” Senator ..read more

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will head to Europe as a part of his international trade mission at the end of April. This will be Youngkin's third international trade mission as governor. Virginia Gov. Youngkin to meet with Taiwan’s president on first overseas trade mission From April 28 through May 3, Youngkin will meet with President Stubb of Finland, as well as various other government officials, strategic business associations, company executives and global industry leaders throughout Germany, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland. This economic development trade mis ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Department of Energy will receive over $156 million in federal funding as part of the "Solar for All" program, from which around 50% of the Commonwealth's households will be eligible to benefit. According to the department, funding will be available for the next five years, starting in 2025 for Virginians interested in residential rooftop or shared solar programs. Funding will focus on low-income residents and residents of communities that are designated as underserved, but developers can submit proposals for larger projects such as solar panels for communi ..read more

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia Senator Aaron Rouse has announced Tuesday morning he is running for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. The announcement comes shortly after Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney also announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor. "With extreme Republicans fixated on stripping our fundamental freedoms and funding corporate tax breaks on the backs of everyday Virginians, and Donald Trump on the ballot again, there is no margin for error," Rouse said. "Democrats must retake control of our statewide offices in 2025." Rouse, born in Norfolk, has been a member of the Sena ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has announced that he will be running for lieutenant governor instead of governor. This comes after Stoney announced his candidacy for governor on Dec. 4. "After careful consideration with my family, I believe that the best way to ensure that all Virginia families do get the change they deserve is for our party to come together, avoid a costly and damaging primary and, for me to run instead for lieutenant governor," Stoney said in a release to media during the morning on Tuesday, April 23. Stoney continued to explain what he felt was at ..read more

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) -- All Virginia drivers will be required to have vehicle insurance starting on July 1, ending the Uninsured Motorists Fund. Currently, Virginia drivers are able to register and drive a vehicle uninsured, as long as they pay a $500 fee at the time of registration. The change, sponsored by former Virginia Senator Frank Ruff, will require drivers to buy and have proof of insurance. According to Virginia Code § 46.2-706, anyone who refuses or neglects to submit the liability insurance information within 30 days will have their license suspended. The change makes New Ha ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Despite the General Assembly recently rejecting his amendments to a bill meant to legalize skill games in Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin said there could still be a path forward.  Youngkin told reporters that he still has “serious concerns” about the bill currently sitting on his desk, but said he wants to keep the dialogue going. Youngkin said he is willing to re-think his amendments prohibiting skill games within 35 miles of a casino and within 2,500 feet of a school or place of worship.  “I think the unintended consequences of that are real and we can ad ..read more