Breaking News

Delegate Michelle Lopes Maldonado (D-Manassas) announced her resignation from the Virginia House of Delegates effective May 31, 2026, after more than four years representing House District 20.

In a formal letter dated May 4, 2026, and shared publicly on May 5, Maldonado tendered her resignation to the Speaker of the House. She described her service as “a profound honor” and expressed gratitude to constituents, fellow delegates, leadership, and community partners.


Politics

House Bill 900, a far-reaching proposal to overhaul Virginia’s sales tax system and transportation funding, was introduced this month and is now pending in the House Committee on Finance.

Key Takeaways


Politics

“Control over drawing congressional district lines shifting temporarily back to the Virginia General Assembly is in a proposal from a Democratic state lawmaker,” The Center Square reported. “House Bill 1384, carried by Del. Luke Torian, D-Prince William, would set April 21 as the date for a statewide referendum on a proposed constitutional amendment tied to congressional redistricting.”

The proposal would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia’s congressional districts once before the 2030 census, even though current maps were drawn by the Virginia Supreme Court after the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission failed to reach an agreement following delays in the 2020 census. If approved by voters, the change would be temporary, with the commission resuming its role after the next census.


Prince William

Margaret Franklin has resigned from her seat as Woodbridge District Supervisor on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors following her election to the Virginia General Assembly.

The Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to accept the resignation of Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin and to begin the process of filling the vacancy through a special election.


News

A Manassas-area lawmaker has introduced legislation that would allow Virginians to sue police officers and other government officials in state court for alleged civil rights violations.

House Bill 1314, filed by Del. Michelle Lopes Maldonado, would establish a new section of Virginia law creating a state-level civil cause of action for people who say their constitutional or legal rights were violated by officials acting under government authority.


Traffic

OmniRide officials outlined which transit-related legislation they are monitoring as the Virginia General Assembly prepares to convene for its 2026 session.

This one’s for the people who really care about local news.

Locals Only members get deeper reporting, more context, and fewer shortcuts.

Think that’s you?
👉 Join Locals Only
Already a member? Sign in


Business

 

“Repealing Virginia’s right-to-work law could lower the state’s economic output by tens of billions of dollars over the next decade,” The Center Square reported. “The report, prepared by Mangum Economics and commissioned by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, projects that Virginia’s gross state product would be about $36.8 billion lower over 10 years if the law were repealed.”


Prince William

“It’s the same bill, different year,” Virginia Mercury reported. “The entire point of it is to reduce FOIA fees, so that the fees that are being charged are actually being used simply to cover the actual costs associated with pursuing FOIA requests in the first place, instead of being used as a deterrent for the public to not pursue FOIA requests.”

“Public documents are public, your tax dollars have already paid for these documents in the first place,” Roem said. “Therefore, you should have the lowest barrier possible to accessing them.”


View More Stories