Curated News from The Virginia Council 9/6/26

Virginia Government updates:

Gov. Spanberger orders state offices to close early Friday ahead of Labor Day | WRIC ABC 8News By John Eldridge

Spanberger Intervening in Merger: Wise or Not, It Is Good Politics – Virginia Free Press By Richard Meagher

Virginia Democrats request special session to review proposed Dominion, NextEra merger | 13newsnow.com By Leila Cox & Taylor Brokesh

Spanberger taps Daniel Young to lead government watchdog office • Virginia Mercury By Markus Schmidt

(1) Libs of TikTok on X: "BREAKING: Outspoken LGBTQ activist and prominent Virginia Democratic party official Randon Sprinkle, sentenced to 10 years in prison for child p**n Why does this keep happening https://t.co/XJkjUna62d" / X

The 5th Congressional District is now Virginia's energy capital. Will McGuire and Perriello talk about what that means? - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey

(2) Luria files lawsuit against Department of Elections questioning validity of Independent candidates’ signatures By Brandon Jarvis

Elaine Luria Wants to Raise Your Taxes, but She Doesn't Pay Her Own on Time By Amy Curtis

INTERVIEW: Rep. Rob Wittman lays out an affordability agenda for Virginians and explains how to counter China, Iran, and other threats abroad – Washington Reporter

Virginia Rep. says phone calls monitored by FBI as part of Sen. Louise Lucas investigation By Winston Rogers

(7) ((( charlottesville ))) on X: "🚨Virginia state Delegate & antisemite Sam Rasoul is speaking at CAIRcon ➡️Florida designated CAIR a Foreign Terror Organization 💥Rasoul appears with radical DSA & Islamists -- who want to dismantle the US & usher in Sharia -- a day after 25th anniversary of 9/11 terror https://t.co/oYUi1HyrwL" / X

Spanberger has a beef with Trump over beef imports. So do some Virginia farmers. - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey

Guilty Byof Parenting: Virginia Just Criminalized a Walk to the Pond - The Daily Signal By Jay Rogers

(8) Brett Shumate on X: "Virginia’s mask and identification laws for federal agents remain ENJOINED after the Fourth Circuit denies Virginia’s request to stay the injunction pending appeal. https://t.co/JpJgykhBnh" / X

Virginia health leaders, lawmakers share enhanced healthcare resources for rural communities • Virginia Mercury By Charlotte Rene Woods

Why have Virginians’ health insurance premiums increased? - VPM By Jahd Khalil

Virginia law requires school districts to submit a mold plan. Only 15 have. By Victoria A. Ifatusin

(3) ((( charlottesville ))) on X: "🚨Charlottesville Homeless Camp: As of 9/5, only scraps & ash remain at Free Bridge after City finally cleared it 📹Left: Aftermath of 9/2 arson 📹Right: Cleanup - 80-90 tons of trash removed It took viral videos to spur City to open a shelter -- costing $3.2M to operate for https://t.co/GlatXRIBjT" / X

Driving while streaming is now illegal in Virginia | WVTF By Brad Kutner

A New School Year With Fewer Devices in Schools By Rich Tucker

Fairfax and Loudoun Schools Have a Results Problem - The Daily Signal By Stephanie Lundquist-Arora

(4) Natalie Winters on X: "EXCLUSIVE: A Chinese LLC quietly bought 492 acres less than five miles from a U.S. continuity-of-government complex in Virginia. The $3.35 million deal was made through GHJ Associates LLC. @USDA lists the LLC under China—but its actual owner remains hidden. https://t.co/OVMbBpEPIv" / X

Virginia targets grid costs holding up public solar projects – Virginia Free Press By Shirleen Guerra

Adoptee gains access to birth certificate under new Virginia law after years of roadblocks By Rachel Tillapaugh

The Rising Cost of Electricity in the United States By Cody Good

These States Are Leading the Electricity Generation Boom - Inside Climate News By Dan Gearino

History, Tradition, & the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence:

Adam Smith and The Importance of Capitalism in the Founding and the Future of the American Republic – JONATHAN TURLEY

George Washington’s New York Minute By Barry Strauss

Leftists Tear Down Statues To Destroy Southern Heritage By Hayden Daniel

Virginia removes Confederate memorials from Richmond's Capitol Square | AP News

New genetically engineered American chestnut will help restore the decimated, iconic tree | The American Chestnut Foundation By Claire Dunn

Remains to be seen: St. George's unveils another chapter of church history - Fredericksburg Free Press By Lindley Estes

The Constitution, Bill of Rights, & Liberty:

Freedom is Never Guaranteed – Wilder Visions By Gov. L. Douglas Wilder

The First Amendment Doesn't Protect Church Invasion By Tyler O'Neil

States challenging federal data access shared similar voter info with nonprofit | Just The News By Steven Richards

DHS Asks DOJ To Investigate Voter Roll Group For Sharing Personal Data By Breccan F. Thies

(3) Virginia News Vanguard on X: "💯WHY is ERIC collecting sensitive voter data & potentially sharing it with private organizations? Why did Virginia's Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger rejoin ERIC? @AAGDhillon, we support a DOJ legal review of how this sensitive information is collected, used & transferred." / X

Arlington police’s use of Google search data raises privacy questions - VPM By Dean Mirshahi

(3) Apple Lamps on X: "The Last Midterm Before Constitutional Capture" / X

BREAKING: Michigan Sec of State Replies To Justice Kavanaugh—Gives Laughable Response About Why It’s Not Fair For Supreme Court To Review Citizens Only Vote Petition Case * The Gateway Pundit * by Patty McMurray

Homeland asks DOJ to probe transfer of private state voter data to Zuckerberg-tied nonprofit | Just The News By Steven Richards

Court Forbids Mom to Take Daughter, 13, to Normal Christian Church – Used the Word ‘Cult’ in Official Docs * The Gateway Pundit * by Randy DeSoto, The Western Journal

Report: DHS Launches Voter Fraud 'Surge' Probes In Nine States By M.D. Kittle

Judge once again blocks Trump's effort to limit mail-in voting as early voting begins | Just The News

Kavanaugh declines to hear application on Michigan citizens-only voting ballot measure | Just The News By Misty Severi

Asst AG Harmeet Dhillon Threatens State Officials With Prosecution: “If You Knowingly Allow Non-Citizens to Vote in Elections, You are Committing a Federal Crime!” [VIDEO] * The Gateway Pundit * by Patty McMurray

The Folly of Court-Packing - by Michael Baharaeen

Professors punished for resisting woke orthodoxy win six-figure settlements, freedom to teach | Just The News By Greg Piper

(7) Apple Lamps on X: "CNN now declares that 63 days before an election is “way too late” to make significant changes. Where was this principle in 2020? That year, politicians, judges, election boards and activist lawyers changed voting procedures across nearly the entire country, sometimes after" / X

Professor Punished by University for Parodying Land Acknowledgments Gets Payday * The Gateway Pundit * by Margaret Flavin By Margaret Flavin

(4) Infodex on X: "Household gun ownership across the U.S. 🇺🇸 Montana — 66.3% 🇺🇸 Wyoming — 66.2% 🇺🇸 Alaska — 64.5% 🇺🇸 Idaho — 60.1% 🇺🇸 West Virginia — 58.5% 🇺🇸 Arkansas — 57.2% 🇺🇸 Mississippi — 55.8% 🇺🇸 Alabama — 55.5% 🇺🇸 South Dakota — 55.3% 🇺🇸 North Dakota — 55.1% 🇺🇸 Oklahoma — 54.7% 🇺🇸 Kentucky" / X

Articles, News & Quotes:

Miyares: The verdict on the Virginia Renaissance isn't in the op-ed page. It's in the data. - Cardinal News By Jason Miyares

The Long, Slow Death of Social Democracy - by Ruy Teixeira

(4) Jan Jekielek on X: "I asked North Korean refugee Grace Jo: What is the most important thing you want people to understand about North Korea? This was her answer: “When I’m meeting people in America… in their mind, the first thing [that] comes is the missiles and the nuclear weapon.” “I would https://t.co/xkkY0YBC82" / X

(1) Down With Freedom! - by Matt Taibbi - Racket News

Ahead of the Game, Miles to Go – Virginia Public Education and AI – Virginia Free Press By Martin A. Davis, Jr.

Smithfield Foods's lobbyist admits Chinese owner's interest in Farm Bill lobbying | Just The News By Kevin Killough

The Independent’s Dilemma - by John Halpin

Exposing where the money flows | DataRepublican Discover how money flows through government grants, charities, and NGOs

College sports are awash in more money than ever, yet a growing number of schools are losing money on intercollegiate athletics - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey

Meet the Retirees Turning Their Virginia Farms Into Wildlife Corridors | Smithsonian Voices | National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Smithsonian Magazine By Emma Montgomery