After months of standoff over how to handle the data center boom, lawmakers approved a two-year, $205 billion budget Monday in special session — the Senate 23-16, the House 71-22. The plan funds 4% teacher raises, 3.5% pay bumps for state employees, a RGGI credit for residential customers and small businesses, and the long-promised retail cannabis marketplace, while hedging against federal cuts in what Gov. Abigail Spanberger called the "One Big Beautiful Bill." The package now sits with Spanberger, who can sign it, recommend amendments, or veto line items — and lawmakers have been told to keep June 29 open to return to Richmond for any changes. Everything must be finalized by July 1, when the new budget takes effect, so watch what the governor does with the data center provisions in the next several days.

The budget compromise taxes data centers $0.011 per kilowatt-hour of monthly energy use, capped at $600 million a year — with anything collected above the cap returned to the industry at year's end. It's a fraction of what the Senate could have raised by ending the sales-tax exemption it chased for two years, and it drops the environmental standards the House wanted, but it does require Eastern Groundwater Management Area facilities to use air cooling, recycled water, or closed-loop systems after July 1, 2027, and directs DEQ to write noise rules by 2029. The change rewrites the project math for the Loudoun–Prince William corridor that carries the bulk of global internet traffic, and per The Alexandria Brief, could push siting toward localities like Caroline and Pittsylvania with friendlier zoning. Spanberger called the budget a step toward making Virginia "a national leader on data centers" — but Senate Democrats who wanted a harder line will be watching her veto pen closely.

About one-third of Virginia is under extreme drought — the driest the state has been since 2002 — and Spanberger is urging residents to conserve. Here's the wrinkle: when local water authorities impose restrictions, there are no carve-outs for data centers, which guzzle hundreds of thousands of gallons to cool their servers; they're treated exactly like every household and business. The DEQ Drought Monitoring Task Force meets today, and the agency is reviewing whether its director can alter permits under extreme circumstances. The pressure point is on the horizon: the Western Virginia Water Authority is weighing new policies once a Google data center near Roanoke — authorized for up to 8 million gallons a day — starts drawing water in 2028.

Virginia rejoins the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative — the interstate cap-and-trade program it left at the end of 2023 — on July 1. New analysis from Resources for the Future finds the re-entry could actually reduce household electricity bills, an outcome that cuts against the usual assumption that climate programs cost ratepayers more. Spanberger's budget statement tied a RGGI credit for residential customers and small businesses directly into the package now on her desk. The real test arrives when the credit shows up on bills and the program's auction proceeds start flowing — watch how that money gets allocated for energy efficiency and flood resilience.

The budget expands a 1% local sales tax option for school construction statewide — a tool that, until now, only nine localities including Danville, Gloucester, and Pittsylvania could use. Over five years those nine raised just $119 million, with Danville alone collecting $30 million in three years, and House Education Chair Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, says the modest totals only underscore how badly aging buildings need help; a 2021 state survey found over half of Virginia's schools were more than 50 years old. Now every county and city can put a referendum to voters to add up to 1% for school capital projects. That means some Virginians could be voting this November on whether to raise their own sales tax to fix their schools.

The Supreme Court of Virginia heard arguments over whether a sentence that amounts to life without parole for a man convicted as a juvenile violates constitutional protections. At issue is how far recent U.S. Supreme Court limits on juvenile life sentences reach in Virginia — specifically whether long aggregate sentences stretching past a person's life expectancy count as unconstitutional "de facto" life-without-parole terms. A ruling could reshape how Virginia courts sentence serious crimes committed by minors and force resentencing for others in similar situations. Watch for the opinion, which will set the boundary for every comparable case in the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Parole Board approved new regulations narrowing the criteria for discretionary parole and geriatric release. Advocates warn the changes will keep more people incarcerated longer and fall hardest on older and medically vulnerable prisoners, while board supporters argue they better prioritize victim input and public safety. Opponents are now urging the governor and General Assembly to intervene through legislation or budget language. The signal to watch: whether this lands as a 2027 session fight or draws an executive response sooner.

• Kena Shriners debut new transportation fleet for children's medical care. The Kena Shriners in Prince William County launched a new fleet of ADA-compliant vehicles to transport local children to specialized medical care, replacing aging vans and expanding access to out-of-area treatment. Prince William Times

• UVA Haymarket and Prince William Medical Centers earn national praise. UVA Haymarket Medical Center and UVA Prince William Medical Center received high marks from national evaluators for patient safety and quality of care. Prince William Times

• Dumfries secures $7 million for Route 1 corridor redevelopment. The Town of Dumfries will receive $7 million in state funds to support infrastructure upgrades, streetscape improvements, and private investment along the U.S. Route 1 corridor near the Quantico gateway. Potomac Local News

• NTSB finds bus did not slow before deadly I-95 crash in Stafford County. A preliminary NTSB report on the fatal charter bus crash on I-95 in Stafford County found the bus did not reduce speed before impact; fire and rescue crews from Stafford and neighboring jurisdictions were praised for their rapid triage response. Potomac Local News

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Workhouse Arts Center Annual Fireworks & Community Festival. Saturday, June 27, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM; Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton. The Workhouse does this better than most: a sprawling campus celebration with live music, carnival games, food trucks, and a fireworks.

• Hopewell father charged with homicide in death of 5-month-old son. Hopewell police charged a 25-year-old father with homicide and child abuse after his infant son was found unresponsive and later died, with investigators alleging the child suffered severe injuries while in his care. WRIC

• Chesterfield officer-involved shooting suspect transferred from hospital to jail. The man accused of shooting a Chesterfield K-9 and firing at officers during a domestic-related incident has been released from the hospital and booked into the county jail on multiple felony charges. WRIC

• Richmond releases 2025 spending data with $50 million in redactions. The City of Richmond published its 2025 payment registry showing how taxpayer money was spent, but roughly $50 million in payments were redacted or labeled confidential, drawing transparency concerns from open-government advocates. WRIC

• Severe storms bring flash flooding and power outages across Central Virginia. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for Chesterfield County, Petersburg, Colonial Heights, and Hopewell, while more than 4,000 customers in Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield lost power as strong thunderstorms downed trees and power lines. WRIC

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Annual Festival of Arts at Dogwood Dell. Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, various times; Dogwood Dell Amphitheater, Richmond. The Dell has been doing this since the Eisenhower administration, and it still hits — a free, sprawling weekend of music, dance, and.

• Virginia Beach police safely resolve Strawbridge area barricade situation. Virginia Beach Police Department officers ended a barricade standoff at a home on London Bridge Road without injuries, closing nearby roads during the incident before safely resolving the situation. WAVY

• Vehicle crashes onto Old Dominion University campus sidewalk. A vehicle left the roadway and struck a sidewalk on Old Dominion University's Norfolk campus, prompting a police response; no serious injuries were reported and an investigation is underway. WAVY

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Virginia, Juneteenth Norfolk, & 50th Annual Norfolk Harborfest. Friday, June 19 through Tuesday, June 23; Town Point Park, Norfolk. This is the headliner of the summer, full stop.

• Seven-story student housing project in Fifeville prompts community meetings. Two community meetings are scheduled this week on a proposed seven-story student housing apartment building in the Fifeville neighborhood, giving residents a chance to weigh in on the major development proposal. Cville Tomorrow

• Eight-story West Main luxury student housing project advances despite opposition. Plans for an eight-story luxury student housing building on West Main Street are moving forward despite neighborhood resistance, raising concerns about density and community character near central Charlottesville. Cville Tomorrow

• Charlottesville opens public feedback process on development code. Residents can now submit ideas to improve Charlottesville's development code, with the process shaping future zoning and land-use rules that will affect housing across the city. Cville Tomorrow

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Live Music Weekends. Saturday, June 27, 1:00 PM; Chiles Peach Orchard, Crozet. Peach season is on at Chiles, and the weekend music + peach ice cream combination is one of the most reliably good family afternoons in.

• NTSB: Bus did not slow before deadly I-95 crash in Stafford County. Federal investigators released preliminary findings showing the charter bus involved in the fatal I-95 crash in Stafford County did not reduce speed before impact, while local first responders were commended for their coordinated mass-casualty response. Potomac Local News

• Stafford County survey finds residents satisfied with safety but worried about growth. A new Stafford County community survey shows strong public safety ratings but growing resident concerns about traffic congestion, transportation options, and the pace of development. Potomac Local News

• Fredericksburg pedestrian bridge improvements advance on Canal path. Fredericksburg officials announced that planned pedestrian bridge improvements along the city's Canal path are moving forward, aimed at enhancing safety and connectivity for walkers and cyclists. City of Fredericksburg

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: FXBG Pride Afterparty. Saturday, June 27, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Market Square, Fredericksburg. The festival ends at four; the party doesn't.

• Harrisonburg Councilwoman Monica Robinson calls for independent review of prostitution-related investigation. Councilwoman Monica Robinson requested an independent review of the police investigation that led to several arrests at her home on prostitution-related charges, saying she has not been charged and questioning aspects of the probe. The Harrisonburg Citizen

• Judge dismisses most charges from arrests at Councilwoman Robinson's home. A Rockingham County judge dismissed most charges filed against individuals arrested at Councilwoman Monica Robinson's home, citing insufficient evidence, though some charges remain pending. The Harrisonburg Citizen

• Harrisonburg School Board delays vote on student cell phone ban. The Harrisonburg City School Board postponed a vote on a proposed division-wide cell phone ban to gather additional feedback from parents, students, and staff before finalizing the policy. The Harrisonburg Citizen

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Festival of Concerts. Sunday, June 28, 2:00–4:00 PM; Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton Another installment of the Heifetz showcase — ticketed, matinee ti. ming, classical program.

• Carvins Cove reservoir hits one of its lowest levels in four decades. Roanoke's primary water reservoir, Carvins Cove, has dropped to one of its lowest levels in 40 years, with officials warning that the current drought is driven not only by low rainfall but also by long-term demand trends and shifting hydrologic patterns. Cardinal News

• Roanoke County teacher recognized for classroom opioid prevention program. A Roanoke County middle school teacher is being highlighted at a rural education conference for a program that teaches students about opioid risks, addressing one of Southwest Virginia's most persistent public health challenges. Cardinal News

• Southwest Virginia middle school technical workforce program faces funding cliff. A career and technical exploration program serving middle school students in Southwest Virginia is at risk as its grant funding expires, threatening a pipeline that connects students to high-demand STEM and manufacturing careers. Cardinal News

• Bradshaw Road in Roanoke County closes through July 2 for bridge replacement. Roanoke County announced that Bradshaw Road (Route 864) will be closed to through traffic between Plunkett Road and Havens Trail from June 22 through July 2 while crews replace a bridge over a tributary of Mason Creek. Roanoke County

• Worth doing / ways to get involved: Companionship Hospice Volunteer-FLEXIBLE HOURS. It is a service option around Roanoke for readers who want to give time, not just find another event.

• Northern Virginia: Workhouse Arts Center Annual Fireworks & Community Festival. Saturday, June 27, 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM; Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton. The Workhouse does this better than most: a sprawling campus celebration with live music, carnival games, food trucks, and a fireworks.

• Fredericksburg: FXBG Pride Afterparty. Saturday, June 27, 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM; Market Square, Fredericksburg. The festival ends at four; the party doesn't.