The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its first projections for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season Thursday. Officials say now is the time to prepare for the fast-approaching season.

If you’ve driven or walked through Blacksburg or Pulaski recently, you may have seen hundreds of green tubes sticking out of the dirt along creeks and fields. These are trees and shrubs planted by the New River Conservancy.

Republican Congressman John McGuire – who represents much of Central and Southside Virginia – has a bill he says will help federal law enforcement crack down on local crime.

“We in the state government can dictate where federal agents can come — that’s not a promise we can keep," Spanberger told the press Wednesday.

This summer, Charlottesville marks the 50th anniversary of its Downtown Mal— inviting people from all over the state to celebrate.

“We were all hoping that under a Democratic governor, it would not be a question of whether we would have a retail marketplace, but when we would have a retail marketplace,” Petersburg Senator Lashrecse Aird told Radio IQ Tuesday. “And today’s veto is evident that those expectations were false hope.”

“I’ve already lost a marriage, traveling, for 15 years, trying to feed my family,” said Richmond IBEW 666 member Dorian Hargrave. ‘I’d like to have this economy bolstered and stay like it is, right here in Virginia.”

A team from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science is in the middle of a three-year study of two of the Chesapeake Bay’s iconic trophy fish-- red drum and striped bass.

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.