Economy


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6 New Virginia Laws That Take Effect July 1 and How They Affect You

These six laws could have economic implications on the lives of Virginians, boosting their wages, giving them more rights on the job, and a whole lot more.

This aerial view shows Hands Across Middlesex Food Pantry volunteers load packed bags of food into vehicles at their drive up food pantry distribution center Tuesday April 28, 2020, in Locust Hill, Va. AP Photo/Steve Helber)
After legislative limbo, $6M in federal funding for Virginia farmers and food banks released

After months of delay, Virginia on Thursday released over $6 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funds to procure food products from local farmers to distribute to food-insecure populations.

FILE - Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, April 20, 2023. The Democratic president and Republican congressional leader have each tried to assure the public in recent weeks that they don't want the government of the world's largest economy to default. But President Joe Biden has resisted McCarthy's calls for negotiations, while McCarthy is pushing a plan that can't pass the Democratic-majority Senate. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
What Happens if America Defaults on Its Debt?

If the country defaults on its debt, millions of people would lose their jobs, retirement accounts would be decimated, Social Security payments could be delayed, Medicare and Medicaid benefits could be affected, and military members could see paychecks delayed.

Photo by Brandon Byrd via Rural Democracy Initiative
Rural Advocates Want to Take on Monopoly Power and Help Family Farmers

Participants of the 2023 Rural Policy Action Summit spoke about how to expand resources for those in rural communities, among other topics.

SSpeaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., holds an event to mark 100 days of the Republican majority in the House, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, April 17, 2023. McCarthy is hurtling toward one of the most consequential weeks of the new House Republican majority as he labors to pass a partisan package that would raise the nation's debt limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep cuts that some in his own party oppose. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
House GOP Passes Bill That Would Take Food and Healthcare From Virginia Families

An estimated 200,000 Virginians would lose access to food assistance, 4,900 kids would lose preschool and child care slots, and Virginia veterans would lose 162,300 doctors visits for issues like mental health and substance disorder treatment under the bill.

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., center left, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., hold an event to mark 100 days of the Republican majority in the House, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, April 17, 2023. At far right is Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. In a speech Monday at the New York Stock Exchange, the Republican leader accused President Joe Biden of refusing to engage in budget-cutting negotiations to prevent a debt crisis. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
House GOP’s First 100 Days: Few Results, Lots of Unpopular Ideas

House Republicans have spent their first 100 days in power discussing plans to cut social programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and food assistance and conducting half-baked and conspiracy-fueled investigations.

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Judge’s Abortion Pill Ruling Could Have Widespread Consequences On Health Care Access

Access to the abortion medication mifepristone has been called into question following the issuance of competing rulings in Texas and Washington.