Michael is an award-winning journalist who started covering Virginia news in 2013 with reporting stints at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Business, and Richmond BizSense. A graduate of William & Mary and Northern Virginia Community College, he also covered financial news for S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Michael O’Connor
Latest from Michael O’Connor
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Virginia Democrats win Northern Virginia special elections, keep General Assembly control
State Democrats won two special elections in Northern Virginia on Tuesday to keep their narrow majorities in the General Assembly.
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Warner to US House Republicans: ‘You’re playing with people’s lives’
As Republicans push the federal government to the brink of a shutdown, Virginians are bracing for the impact.
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Youngkin again looks to cut assistance for abortions for severe fetal diagnoses
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is trying to again block state funding for low-income people seeking abortions when faced with severe fetal diagnoses.
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Youngkin unveils Virginia budget proposals
The Youngkin Administration said Virginia has a multibillion dollar surplus and strong economic outlook for the next two years. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin presented today budget proposals to take advantage of a rosier economic outlook for the state that would increase funding for schools, hospitals, and offer tax relief. “Virginia is roaring,” Youngkin said in…
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Voting begins in Virginia special elections to decide control of General Assembly
Narrow majorities in the Virginia House and Senate raise the stakes of a trio of special elections where turnout will be key.
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Youngkin targets Virginia ‘sanctuary’ cities, backs Trump’s anti-immigration policies
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Thursday unveiled an anti-immigrant budget proposal targeting localities that do not cooperate with federal immigration officials.
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Dogwood’s most-read Virginia politics stories of 2024
Economic policy, voting rights, and reproductive freedom dominated the headlines of The Dogwood’s most read Virginia politics stories in 2024.
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Virginia advocates, lawmakers look to address high Black maternal mortality rate
Black Americans face a US health care system still impaired by structural racism and implicit bias. The situation is especially dire for Black people going through pregnancies.
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Virginia inmates are burning themselves to get transferred from a state prison
A number of inmates at a western Virginia state prison have intentionally burned themselves in response to alleged abuse, prompting state lawmakers to call for immediate action and an investigation.
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What to watch on reproductive rights in Virginia’s 2025 legislative session
For this year’s upcoming General Assembly session in Virginia, there will be a lot of focus on advancing an abortion-care state constitutional amendment, but legislators are also working on bills to bolster women’s reproductive rights in other ways.
