Tag: Virginia News

Virginia Supreme Court tosses out congressional map that favored Democrats

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aerial view of virginia state capitol in richmond

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday tossed out a congressional redistricting referendum passed by Virginia voters last month, striking a blow to Democrats hoping to gain a more favorable map and increase their number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The decision overturns voters’ approval of a new congressional map that would have given Democrats an advantage in 10 House districts, leaving just one safe Republican seat. Although both of Virginia’s U.S. senators are Democrats, its House delegation is split with six Democratic representatives and five Republicans.  “We hold that the legislative process employed to advance this proposal violated Article XII, Section 1 of the Constitution of Virginia,” the opinion says. The court found that the commonwealth had “submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Virginia voters in an unprecedented manner that violated the intervening-election requirement.”  “This violation irreparably undermines the integrity of the resulting referendum vote and renders it null and void,” the court ruled. Under Virginia law, before a constitutional amendment can be put before the voters, it must be approved by the General Assembly twice, with an election for the House of Delegates between the two votes. In this case, the court noted, voting in the general election for the House of Delegates began on Sept. 19, 2025, and ended on Election Day, on Nov. 4, 2025. The General Assembly’s vote on proposing the redistricting amendment to Virginia voters took place on Oct. 31, and by then, about 40% — or more than 1.3 million Virginians — had already cast their ballots. The court determined that the redistricting amendment process in this case deprived those 1.3 million voters of their constitutionally protected “opportunity to elect the House of Delegates that will participate in the second legislative vote on the proposed amendment.” 

Source: Virginia Supreme Court tosses out congressional map that favored Democrats – CBS News

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8

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Judge blocks Virginia from using new congressional maps, 1 day after redistricting vote passes

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road signage near the flooded road

A state court judge on Wednesday blocked Virginia from moving forward with a redistricting effort that passed in a referendum a day earlier, a roadblock in Democrats’ efforts to redraw the state’s congressional maps and tilt as many as four House districts away from the GOP.   The order from Judge Jack Hurley of Tazewell County Circuit Court declares all votes for and against Tuesday’s referendum “ineffective,” and bars state officials from certifying the results or taking any actions to put the new maps passed by state lawmakers into effect.   In a brief order, Hurley found that the referendum violated several clauses of the state constitution, arguing it skirted a 90-day public notice requirement and calling the question that was presented to voters “flagrantly misleading.” 

Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, a Democrat, said he will immediately appeal the ruling. “Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People’s vote,” Jones wrote in a statement on X. “We look forward to defending the outcome of last night’s election in court.” The Republican National Committee, one of several GOP groups that sued over the referendum, called the ruling “a major victory for Virginians.”  “Democrats attempted to force an unconstitutional scheme to tilt congressional maps in their favor, but the court recognized it for what it is — a blatant power grab,” RNC Chair Joe Gruters said in a statement. The ballot measure, which voters approved by a 3-point margin on Tuesday, sought to amend Virginia’s constitution so that lawmakers could redraw the state’s House map, overriding a 2020 amendment that created a bipartisan commission to handle redistricting.

The state’s Democratic-controlled General Assembly passed a new map earlier this year. Virginia will return to its old redistricting system after the 2030 election.

Source: Judge blocks Virginia from using new congressional maps, 1 day after redistricting vote passes – CBS News

That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.
Romans 15:32

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Recent Abortion News (March 11 – March 18, 2026)

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Abortion policy continued to evolve at the state level this week, with new restrictions signed into law, high-profile legislative failures, court victories on religious-freedom grounds, and ongoing preparations for 2026 ballot battles. Both pro-life and pro-choice groups remained active, framing developments around fetal protections versus access and health impacts. Here are the major stories:

1. Wyoming Enacts 6-Week “Heartbeat” Ban

  • Governor Mark Gordon signed HB 126, banning most abortions once a heartbeat is detectable (around six weeks), with exceptions only for medical emergencies. Wyoming becomes the fifth state with such a law. The state’s sole abortion clinic reported turning away roughly a dozen patients in the days following the signing. Pro-life advocates hailed it as a major step forward; reproductive-rights organizations criticized the early cutoff and warned of increased travel burdens for Wyoming women.

2. Tennessee “Abortion-as-Homicide” Bill Fails

  • A controversial proposal (sponsored by Rep. Jody Barrett and Sen. Mark Pody) that would have classified abortion as homicide—potentially carrying life imprisonment or the death penalty—died in a House subcommittee. No Republican members voted to advance it, surprising some observers and sparking protests outside the capitol. Pro-life hardliners expressed disappointment at the lack of support, while pro-choice groups called the bill’s defeat a “victory for women’s rights and common sense.”

3. Jersey (Channel Islands, UK) Expands Access to 22 Weeks

  • Lawmakers passed legislation raising the abortion limit from previous restrictions to 22 weeks and reducing other barriers. The new law sets a resident fee of £185 through government healthcare. UK pro-choice campaigners welcomed the move as modernizing outdated rules; local faith-based and pro-life voices voiced concern over the extended gestational window.

4. Indiana Court Strikes Down Restrictions on Religious Grounds

  • In a landmark ruling, Judge Christina R. Klineman found that Indiana’s abortion laws violate the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)—the first successful challenge of its kind using religious-liberty arguments. The decision could open new legal pathways for clinics and patients. Pro-life organizations warned it may significantly expand access, while religious liberty and reproductive-rights attorneys praised it as precedent-setting.

5. 2026 Ballot-Measure Battles Heat Up

  • Virginia: A lawsuit was filed to keep a proposed constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights off the November ballot.
  • Missouri: A measure to repeal the state’s 2024 abortion protections advanced in signature gathering.
  • Nevada and several other states remain active fronts, with KFF analysts noting that 2026 could see more voter-driven decisions on both expansion and restriction of access. Both sides are pouring resources into these campaigns.

6. Kansas Protects Crisis Pregnancy Centers

  • The legislature passed a bill shielding crisis pregnancy centers from certain regulatory requirements and advertising restrictions. Pro-life groups celebrated the measure as safeguarding supportive services for women; opponents argued it limits transparency for those seeking abortion information.

7. UK Catholic Leaders Oppose Decriminalization Push

  • The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster and other faith leaders intensified campaigning against clauses in the Crime and Policing Bill that would decriminalize abortion up to birth. A key vote is expected soon. This has reignited national debate on late-term procedures and the role of conscience protections.

8. National Trends and Data Notes

  • Medication (chemical) abortions continue to dominate (now ~63–65% of total procedures per recent tracking). Reports again linked strict state bans to measurable rises in maternal-mortality indicators and interstate travel. Advocacy organizations on both sides released updated statistics and called for federal or state-level action ahead of the mid-year legislative sessions.

The landscape remains highly polarized, with courts, legislatures, and voters all playing pivotal roles. For full details, check state legislative trackers and reports from the Guttmacher Institute and KFF.

Source: Grok on X

A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
Proverbs 11:13

Overnight house fire kills one in central Minnesota

Authorities are investigating what caused a deadly fire in central Minnesota early Sunday morning. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office says it received multiple reports of a large fire in Land Township just after 1 a.m. A deputy driving in the area provided an exact location of the fire and said that a residence and nearby…

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Rare “Deadliest Cat in Africa” Kitten Born at Texas Zoo

While he may look impossibly cute right now, Maverick belongs to a species often called “Africa’s deadliest feline” thanks to its astonishing hunting success rate. And somehow, this fierce little predator will only grow to about three pounds as an adult. The zoo first announced Maverick’s birth several weeks ago, calling him a major conservation…

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Over 50 pigs found at Pittsburgh-area home after complaints about rat infestation: “Pretty horrific”

Police said they found over 50 pigs when they went to serve a search warrant at a home in Rostraver Township after neighbors complained rats from the property were overrunning their homes.  Last week, KDKA-TV captured video of a rat infestation that expanded into a local neighborhood in Westmoreland County. Rostraver Township police said the video…

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Girl reunites with man who saved her from deadly Dallas apartment explosion

Nearly a week after a deadly explosion at the Clyde Apartments in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood, a 10‑year‑old girl who survived the blast has reunited with the man credited with saving her life. Vanessa, who lost her mother, Marisol Perez, and her 18‑month‑old brother in the explosion, met with Rodney Brown on Monday.  The encounter…

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Tasmanian devil named Mary still missing 3 days after escaping wildlife park in Australia: “A mystery”

A Tasmanian devil named Mary successfully eluded searchers equipped with a thermal-imaging drone for a third day on Thursday after escaping from an Australian wildlife park. Keepers discovered the furry, carnivorous marsupial was missing from her enclosure at Paradise Country wildlife park on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Tuesday morning. A dozen wildlife experts backed by…

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