t Virginia is finally escaping cannabis purgatory. Thanks to a high-stakes budget compromise, legal retail weed is officially coming to…
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The Cultural Current
The Pulse of RVA.
What’s in the water? What we know and don’t know about data center water discharge in Virginia
by Shannon Heckt, Virginia MercuryJune 1, 2026Data centers require a massive amount of water to cool their systems, which heat…
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Virginia Still Has Legal Marijuana — But No Legal Marketplace
Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s veto of legislation creating a regulated recreational marijuana marketplace leaves Virginia in a familiar position: marijuana possession…
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Proposed WIC cuts could strain low-income Virginia families, advocates warn
Advocates warn proposed cuts to the WIC program could place additional strain on low-income Virginia families who rely on nutrition…
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New state law mandates review of Dominion’s load forecasting, as data centers raise concerns
A new Virginia law requires regulators to scrutinize how Dominion Energy forecasts electricity demand, as surging data center growth raises…
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Virginia Cannabis Retail Launch Delayed Again by Gov. Abigail Spanberger
Virginia’s cannabis rollout faces another delay as Gov. Abigail Spanberger proposes pushing retail sales to July 2027. The move raises…
Read MorePowering the Cloud: How Data Centers Are Reshaping RVA… and Who Pays the Price
Richmond’s fast-growing data center industry is transforming the region’s infrastructure and economy—but rising energy demand, water usage, and policy battles…
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As power demand rises, Virginia passes laws aimed at stabilizing electric bills
New Virginia energy laws aim to protect customers from rising electric bills by limiting cost-sharing with large energy users and…
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Richmond Civil Rights Case Ends With Damages Against Patriot Front Members
A federal judge has ordered damages against members of a white nationalist group for their role in vandalizing an Arthur…
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United States Among the Only Three Nations Rejecting UN Measure on Chattel Slavery’s “Gravest Crime” Designation
The United States joined just two countries in opposing a UN resolution declaring slavery the gravest crime against humanity, highlighting…
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