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‘It was not about me’: Halifax County centenarian rejects U.S. House honor she never approved
Edith Younger Edmunds was at home in Halifax County, the same place she has lived for a century, on Tuesday of last week, when her daughter walked into the room with unexpected news. Amy Edmunds told her mother she had just seen a video on Facebook showing U.S. Rep. John McGuire honoring her on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., 160 miles away, for Black History Month. The 100-year-old quilt artist and storyteller had not known it was happening. “At first, I was surprised,” Edith Younger Edmunds said in a phone interview with The Mercury on Monday. “But now, I realized this was not about me, it was about McGuire. It was about him telling my story, his way, on his time. If it were about me, I would have been invited into the process. ...”
Virginia House considers paying Norfolk man $1.3M for wrongful incarceration
A subcommittee within the House of Delegates is considering a bill to pay a Norfolk man $1.3 million for over 20 years of wrongful incarceration. Messiah Johnson, 52, was convicted of the armed robbery of customers inside Recas Hair Salon on 35th Street in Norfolk back in 1997. He maintained his innocence throughout his incarceration. ... In 2018, the work of attorneys with the University of Virginia Innocence Project led to a conditional pardon from then-Governor Terry McAuliffe. McAuliffe wrote that "credible evidence exists that support Mister Johnson's claims of being innocent."
Partin: VMI is a needed national security asset
Recently, two bills were filed this General Assembly session addressing the future of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI). HB 1374 would place VMI under the control of Virginia State University (VSU), and HB 1377 would create a task force to determine whether VMI should receive any state funding. Neither bill is good for Virginia, nor our country. While VSU is an excellent school, the administration does not have experience in running a comprehensive military school. That is no fault or slight to the administration. VSU is a great university with its unique specialties. HB 1374 places VSU in a very precarious situation. Not to mention the question of how VSU would manage a military institute 160 miles away.
Beyer faces challenges on his age and possible redistricting shakeup in reelection bid
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is taking on challenges about his age and the possibility of a dramatically different constituency as he seeks reelection. Beyer, who turns 76 in June, addressed the age issue at last week’s meeting of the Arlington County Democratic Committee. He also discussed potential congressional redistricting in a press release on Friday. Both of Beyer’s Democratic challengers — Daniel Gray and Adam Dunigan — brought up the age issue in their own campaign announcements.
Dickenson County drug treatment center gets conditional license to operate from the state
For more than a year, the new Wildwood Recovery Center in Dickenson County has been completed, equipped and ready to open. Instead, it has remained dark, quiet and vacant. On Friday, county leaders announced a “major milestone” step toward changing that. A license to operate the 112-bed residential treatment center for men has been approved by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the county said in a news release. Although additional steps remain before the drug treatment facility can accept its first patients, county officials and the operator said they hope to open during the second half of 2026.
House debates new proposed 10D-1R congressional map
For the first time, Virginia lawmakers debated Democrats’ new proposed congressional map on Monday. “Literally, we cannot afford to just sit there and let them have the power grab,” said Delegate Cia Price (D-Newport News) on the House floor Monday. “Do your jobs, don’t lie,” said Delegate Tom Garrett (R-Buckingham). “You’re entitled to your own opinions, you’re not entitled to your own facts.”
Earlier teen curfew considered to prevent Virginia Beach spring beach parties
Online posts hyping unsanctioned beach parties this spring are already popping up on social media, much to the chagrin of Paul Neudigate. The police chief has been seeking more authority to rein in unruly crowds. But legislation that would have granted police departments more enforcement authority won’t advance out of the General Assembly this year. He’s hoping that an earlier city curfew for unaccompanied juveniles will help.
Sutton: Our veterans deserve more from Rep. Kiggans
I am a proud Navy veteran who served our country for more than 20 years, including overseas service during the Vietnam War. Enlisting in the Navy transformed my life, giving me purpose, stability and a deep belief in what this country could be. ... This past year, Virginians have experienced an attack not just on our federal government, but on our entire way of life. These range from the DOGE cuts that stripped lifelong civil servants of their jobs, to Medicaid and SNAP cuts that have left families scrambling to access necessities of life, to cuts to Veterans Affairs — all to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy. Today, U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans has stripped her constituents of the hope that is the American dream.
Bill to Discourage Infrastructure in Conservation Easements Advances
Legislation aimed at incentivizing utility companies to avoid building infrastructure through conservation easements will be considered by the full Senate after a committee approved the bill Monday morning. SB 342 would require anyone taking land that is under conservation or open-space easements by condemnation to compensate both the commonwealth and the locality, in addition to any other parties already owed compensation such as the property owner. The bill would also apply to the Virginia Department of Transportation for road projects.
Lucas proposes data centers pay more to lower Dominion customers’ bills
A Senate committee on Monday advanced a bill intended to have Dominion Energy data center customers pick up certain costs in order to lower monthly electric bills for the utility’s other customers. The bill, which Sen. Louise Lucas, D-Portsmouth, presented as a substitute to her SB 253, would allow the State Corporation Commission to decide if Dominion’s biggest users of electricity, primarily data centers, should be required to pick up the tab for expenses known as capacity costs. The utility pays these costs to ensure that power is available during peak demand times, such as the hottest summer days and the coldest winter nights.