Editor's Note: The views expressed are those of the author. Lisa Vedernikova Khanna ran for Congress in Virginia's 1st Congressional District and previously served as Chief of Staff at the Democratic National Committee. This essay reflects her perspective and personal...
As Sunshine Week wrapped up, Richmond picked up a distinction that’s less celebration and more indictment. The city was named a 2026 recipient of the “City of Darkness” Award, part of The Foilies, an annual project from the Electronic Frontier Foundation and MuckRock that calls out the worst offenders when it comes to government transparency....
With a major cannabis bill now awaiting Governor Abigail Spanberger’s decision, Virginia hemp retailers, farmers, and small business advocates are urging her to step in before it becomes law. The Cannabis Small Business Association (CSBA) and a coalition of hemp businesses are calling on the governor to use her amendatory authority to revise key...
Walking into this exhibit, it’s hard not to think about the moment it’s opening into. Immigration isn’t some abstract issue right now. It’s at the center of national conversation again, shaping policy, headlines, and how people talk about who belongs and who doesn’t. It’s one of those topics that gets reduced quickly, turned into something...
Two months ago, Adam Dunigan had no public digital footprint. Today, the former Marine and CIA case officer has built a social media following that exploded to more than 180,000 people in just a few weeks, fueled largely by a series of detailed video breakdowns of the growing conflict with Iran. In one viral stretch, Dunigan’s audience jumped...
Virginia lawmakers have approved legislation that would create a legal retail market for recreational cannabis in the Commonwealth, ending years of uncertainty after possession was legalized but sales remained illegal. The bill passed the General Assembly on the final day of the 2026 legislative session, with the House voting 64–32 and the...
Editor’s note: Redfern Hemp Co. is a current sponsor of RVA Magazine. This story was produced independently and without editorial control or influence. Richmond vape and smoke shop owners are pushing back against the city’s enforcement campaign known as Operation Vaporize, saying the crackdown has forced businesses to close and left many...
A political mailer referencing Jim Crow and the Ku Klux Klan is circulating in Virginia ahead of the April 21 redistricting referendum, prompting criticism from state lawmakers and members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. The mailer urges voters to oppose the referendum and return their ballots immediately. One side reads, “Our ancestors...
Editor's note: Updated with new information. Richmond’s ongoing No Kings movement will return to the streets later this month, with two rallies planned across the region on Saturday, March 28. A gathering is scheduled for 1–3 pm at Monroe Park rganized by RVA Indivisible. On March 28, organizers say they hope to bring Richmonders...
Virginia voters will head to the polls this spring to decide the future of the state’s redistricting process after the Supreme Court of Virginia confirmed that the April 21 referendum election will move forward as scheduled. The court rejected efforts to block the election, writing that “issuing an injunction to keep Virginians from the polls is...
