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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George Mason caught up in Trump assault on diversity efforts
In its bid to scare universities into compliance with its right-wing policies, the Trump administration is putting pressure on a Northern Virginia university over the school’s efforts to be more welcoming to historically oppressed minorities.
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Spanberger calls for ‘strongest public schools’ in country as she files for governor
Candidates across Virginia today filed the necessary paperwork to get on the ballots for statewide and local elections on March 17, 2025.
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Virginia leaders brace for impact of federal cuts
The stress of hundreds of thousands of federal workers who live in Virginia is also being felt by local leaders as they put together their budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.
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What to know about Hung Cao, Trump’s pick to serve as No. 2 Navy official
The former Virginia Senate candidate and loyal MAGA foot soldier has a history of saying outlandish things about health care, gender, and witchcraft.
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Far-right GOP candidate for Virginia Gov. not pro-Trump enough, draws far-right challengers
The presumptive Republican nominee for governor this fall, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, faces a brewing primary battle as she fades in the polls. Two far-right Virginia Republicans are making moves to challenge Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears to be the Republican nominee for governor this fall. Amanda Chase, a former Virginia state senator, and Dave LaRock,…
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Virginia Republican blames, attacks fired federal contractors as ‘not very smart’
The Virginia Senate advanced legislation that would give emergency assistance to federal independent contractors fired in President Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s purge of the federal government. The debate over legislation that would offer emergency relief to Virginia federal independent contractors fired as part of the Trump administration’s purging of the federal government has given…
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How another Trump trade war could hurt Virginia
President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has meant tariffs are back in the news, raising fears about how the levies on foreign goods will impact Virginia’s economy with its robust international trade.
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Virginia House Republican admits most Virginians support abortion rights before voting against them
In a rare moment of candor, a Virginia Republican acknowledged the unpopularity of opposing abortion rights before voting against adding them to the Virginia constitution.
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Cannabis market bill heading to Youngkin’s desk, veto expected
Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a staunch opponent of marijuana, will likely once again block the creation of a retail marijuana market in Virginia.
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Musk, Trump funding chaos force Virginia community health centers to close
Some of Virginia’s community health centers have had to close locations because of the Trump Administration’s federal funding freeze.
