Virginia Rising

The ACLU of Virginia and more than a dozen other groups concerned about voting rights today sent a letter to Governor Bob McDonnell urging him to veto legislation that imposes stricter identification requirements at the polls, which the groups expect will limit eligible voters’ access on Election Day. Read more here.

By Tom Jackman, It looks like a series of misunderstandings has brought Spa World in Centreville a spate of fast, intense publicity in recent days, mostly bad. But it has also shined a spotlight on the fact that Fairfax County and Virginia have no laws prohibiting discrimination by businesses against members of the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgendered community. Read more here.

By John Riley, A Korean-style spa in Centreville, Va., popular with many D.C.-area residents, including members of the LGBT community, continues to receive heat from activists who feel the spa has much further to go than a recent statement of nondiscrimination and miscommunication if it’s to atone for an incident in which a woman was asked to leave the venue, …

By Gregg MacDonald, When California resident Riya Suising was in town on business late last year, she decided to go to Spa World in Centreville. As a Chinese-American and a marathon runner, Suising frequently attends spas and is well-versed in the Asian spa culture of communal bathing pools. Read more here.

By Jerrita Patterson, Virginia lawmakers are gearing up to debate Senate Bill 1256, also known as the Photo ID bill. The legislation has already been approved by the Senate and is now up for vote by the Virginia House of Delegates. Read more here.  

By Markus Schmidt, Ambar Pinto is a young Virginian with big dreams. She’s smart, articulate and ambitious. After college, she plans to run her own hotel. And later, add a chain of boutiques all over the country. Read more here.

By Errin Haines, A bill that would require Virginia voters to show photo identification to cast a ballot is headed to Gov. Robert F. McDonnell after passing along partisan lines Wednesday in the House of Delegates. The Senate proposal passed the House by a vote of 65 to 34. While Republicans maintained that the measure was needed to protect the …

By Todd Allen Wilson RICHMOND – Democratic lawmakers continued to bash their Republican colleagues over voting rights legislation Monday saying the GOP has gone out of its way to kill measures to deal with long lines at the polls while pushing ahead with stricter voter identification requirements. Read more.

By Khalil Abdullah, NAM ARLINGTON, VA — The Virginia legislature is debating a unique opportunity this legislative session. If the state participates in the Medicaid expansion made possible by the Affordable Care Act, an estimated 400,000 Virginians could gain access to healthcare through their ability to afford health insurance. Read more.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The patient had been managing his high blood pressure with medicine prescribed by his doctor until he lost his job and his insurance. As a childless adult, he did not qualify for Medicaid under Virginia’s formula, so he cut his medications in half to extend his supply. What happened next is one example of why the legislature’s …