Virginia’s largest utility – Dominion Energy – has surprised the state with plans to merge with Florida’s main electric utility. The two companies promise efficiencies that will drive consumer prices down, but some observers are skeptical – urging regulators to turn thumbs down on the deal as Sandy Hausman reports.

“Virginia schools succeed when teachers are supported, when buildings are ready, when every student has access to opportunity, and families are part of the conversation," Gov. Abigail Spanberger said.

Now that the United States Supreme Court has ended the effort to redraw Virginia's congressional map, Democrats and Republicans are refocusing on the existing map.

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a former assistant principal in Virginia accused of ignoring warnings that a 6-year-old student brought a loaded gun to school that was later used to shoot his first grade teacher.

The combination will create the world’s largest regulated electric utility business, with operations in Virginia, the Carolinas and Florida.

35,007 people from Southwest Virginia received a letter recently, informing them that their medical debt had been erased, after a nonprofit in the New River Valley paid off their bills.

About 1,500 people recorded themselves — and their Appalachian accents — in an effort to create a snapshot of how the region’s name is pronounced.

A dispute over the cost of replacing utility poles remains unsettled as Virginia looks to continue expanding broadband internet access. Comcast and Appalachian Power share the cost of replacing poles that can't support broadband infrastructure. In February, the FCC said APCO was charging Comcast too much for pole replacement. Now, Comcast says it's still being overcharged.Cardinal News reporter Tad Dickens is covering this story and he spoke with Fred Echols.

“And all this artistic brilliance was inseparable from imperial power at a court that positioned itself right at the center of this cosmopolitan and interconnected world," Hannam said.

The court order Friday leaves in place a 4-3 ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court, striking down a constitutional amendment redrawing districts that voters narrowly approved in April.