Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1732, Richard Henry Lee was born in Westmoreland County. He made the motion to declare independence from Britain, signed the Declaration of Independence, and served as one of Virginia's first two U.S. senators.

The year is off to a fast start in the Commonwealth with much more to come as we ramp up to the celebration of the country's 250th birthday this summer, including recognition of Virginia's pivotal role in the nation's beginnings.

One event this spring will be the Stars, Stripes & Spurs military appreciation weekend, scheduled for April 24-26 in Virginia Beach. The event promises live concerts, a beach rodeo, and an exposition of military equipment.

Do you have any plans yet for America250? Hit reply to let us know.

Later today: If you've been thinking about getting into silver, watch for a partner message from GoldCo breaking down why interest is rising right now.

Today's sponsor is FemiCore, a women's health solution featuring a doctor-backed restoration technique that supports bladder control and confidence without traditional exercises.

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Redistricting Amendment Goes to Voters

State lawmakers in both houses passed—on party-line votes—HJ4, a proposed amendment to Virginia's constitution that would allow the Democrat-controlled legislature to redraw congressional districts before the 2030 census.

Democrats said they will draft a new map and publish it before the proposal goes to voters. The amendment may be voted on as soon as April, and a new map could potentially be used for November's elections.

"The goal of it is to have a 10-1 or 9-2 Democratic map so that the general election is just a formality," Republican State Senator David Suetterlein warned. "It's gerrymandering on steroids what they're talking about doing."

The last time a redistricting amendment went to voters was during the high-turnout 2020 presidential election, when almost two-thirds of voters approved creating a redistricting commission to replace partisan legislative action. Virginia's current congressional delegation consists of six Democrats and five Republicans.

Feds Sue for Voter Rolls

The U.S. Department of Justice sued Virginia election officials for allegedly failing to turn over the state's full voter registration lists. Virginia is the 24th state that the Trump administration has sued over this issue.

A federal judge recently dismissed a similar lawsuit against election officials in California.

"When states attempt to hide information they are required to disclose, they undermine public trust and violate the law," Lindsey Halligan said in a news release.

Halligan is listed as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, although District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ruled in November that Halligan had been unlawfully appointed to that position.

Last year, former Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order that instructed the state Department of Elections to coordinate with federal agencies, including Homeland Security. He also ordered the Commonwealth to remove ineligible voters.

Winter Returns

Forecasters warn that a winter storm could blanket much of the Commonwealth this weekend.

A powerful Arctic high-pressure system is expected to deliver cold temperatures later this week, allowing snow to accumulate when precipitation arrives on Saturday. As of Monday, there's a 50% chance of more than 3 inches of snow and a 30% chance of more than 6 inches in some areas.

Crews from the Virginia Department of Transportation are already pretreating roads and will have plows and salt trucks available if needed.

Forecasters warn that temperatures will remain cold into next week, so that any snow could remain for several days.

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Millions of women experience bladder leaks, urgency, or discomfort. Recent scientific research is uncovering a new piece of the puzzle: the urinary microbiome.

Recent medical studies have found that the balance of bacteria in the urinary system is closely linked to bladder symptoms and overall comfort. When helpful bacteria are out of balance, it may contribute to irritation, sensitivity, and leaks.

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➤ Richmond: The Virginia legislature passed a draft amendment that would add language to the state constitution guaranteeing access to abortion, contraception, and fertility treatments. The measure will be on the ballot in November. (Details)

➤ Roanoke: The city council will vote today on a proposal to change how schools are funded. The city would use the previous year as a baseline and could invest more if tax revenue increases. (More)

➤ Henrico: Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were seen operating in the county last week but reportedly did not coordinate with local officials. (Details)

➤ Montgomery County: The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services granted $150,000 to help local farmers supply food to seven charitable organizations. (More)

➤ Accomack County: The state provided a $35,000 planning grant to support the development of agricultural and seafood facilities on the Eastern Shore. (More)

➤ Prince William County: Christopher L. Downs, Jr. was charged with three felonies after he allegedly led police on a two-county chase in a stolen U-Haul. His passenger was also arrested as a "fugitive from several local jurisdictions." (Details)

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➤ UVA is ranked No. 14 in this week's AP men's basketball poll. The Cavaliers host No. 22 North Carolina on Saturday. (See Poll)

➤ The Washington Wizards lost their annual MLK Day game at home against the Clippers, 110-106. (Score)

➤ The Washington Capitals fell to the Avalanche 5-2 in Colorado. (More)

➤ Virginia Union men's basketball beat Virginia State 65-37 in the Freedom Classic this weekend—the fewest total points in a VUU-VSU matchup since 1941. (More)

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➤ The average price of a gallon of gas increased six cents over the last week. The tracking site GasBuddy said the price was $2.75 yesterday, 3.7 cents more than last month and 32.4 cents less than last year. (Details)

➤ The Kalahari resort in Spotsylvania County, which will be the largest indoor waterpark in the Commonwealth, is expected to start welcoming guests later this year. (More)

➤ Virginia Beach Restaurant Week runs through Jan. 25 and features nearly 70 eateries. (Details)

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Researchers are discovering that bladder health isn't just about muscles—it's also about bacteria.

Studies show the urinary microbiome plays an important role in comfort and urgency. When that balance is off, leaks and irritation may follow.

FemiCore is designed to support this balance with carefully selected probiotics and botanicals that promote urinary health.

Learn about the science behind it and how women are using it as part of their daily routine.

➤ Dave Matthews was back in Richmond to perform over the weekend. The Charlottesville-based singer belted out six songs at Gov. Abigail Spanberger's inaugural ball. (Details)

➤ A segment of the Virginia Capital Trail in James City County reopened after VDOT completed work on a bridge. (More)

➤ Rocky Mount erected Virginia's first monument to black Civil War soldiers. It honors 70 black men from Franklin County who fought for the Union in the Civil War. (Details)

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