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  • Last-minute VA day trips to make before summer ends

    Plus: Virginia SNAP enrollment down 100K Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Last Saturday, we packed our bags for a single night. While we don’t live forever and away from Galax, we really didn’t want to be pulling in front of our home at midnight after enjoying an awesome concert at…


  • Recent breakthroughs in infamous Colonial Parkway Murders 👀

    Plus: A year after layoffs, workers are still fighting for accountability Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Did y’all miss me yesterday? It felt so strange to not write a newsletter, but there’s a good reason. While we’re still squarely in the summer months, I’d like to bring some more free…


  • Want to get into VA State Parks for free? 👀

    Plus: Here’s your chance to get civically engaged in Virginia this week Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Do you know how nice it is to have good friends? I messaged one of mine on Friday morning and told her—panicking—there was no possible way I could get this newsletter put together…


  • Your guide to making ‘Good Trouble’ in Virginia ✅

    Plus: VA fired federal workers rally for their jobs back Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Are you as ready for the weekend as I am? I feel like things have been go-go-go around here lately. I’m looking forward to breathing in some fresh mountain air this weekend (well, as fresh…


  • Virginia has 44 state parks. These are our top 3 🏆

    Plus: How Virginia’s new laws could impact you Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. One of my favorite, favorite—did I mention favorite?—things to do is head to a Virginia State Park. It’s fun. It’s relaxing. It’s adventurous. And if you know about this hack we recently found through our local library,…


  • Experience Virginia’s first alpine coaster ride 🎢

    Plus: Volunteer opportunities at a park near you Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. I feel like we blinked and July was halfway over—or should I say “half-baked” with all of the heat we’ve had this month? I, for one, am a creature of autumn (the two weeks we get of…


  • Virginia’s best summer picnic spots 🧺

    Plus: Loudoun’s data centers could be a target Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. It wasn’t really about the sliced deli turkey tucked between two pieces of Sunbeam bread, complete with a quick spread of mustard. Or about the delicious Midtown Market chicken salad. Nor was it about the Dr. Pepper…


  • Virginia’s hidden gem waterfalls you can swim in 🏊‍♀️

    Update: Dogwood readers add new entry to hamster name list Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. For our little family of three, there’s nothing more refreshing than being by the water. While we’re admittedly not “beach people,” we are “mountain people”—and with mountains often come streams, waterfalls, and fresh pools of…


  • Where is Virginia’s ‘Data Center Alley’? 👀

    Plus: 6 FIFA World Cup athletes with Virginia ties Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Have you been watching the FIFA World Cup? I’m admittedly not a huge sports fan, so it’s come as quite the shock that I’ve started planning my days around game schedules this month. American football? Too…


  • Readers, help me name my hamster 🐹

    Plus: Pamper your four-legged friend at NOVA’s best pet hotels Share with a friend     Hey, y’all. It’s Amie. Did you know that just about every time I mention a longer story about our pets, I get pictures of yours? That’s right! I love it when Dogwood readers email me at amie@couriernewsroom.com with photos…