Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Are you as tired of the cloud coverage as I am this week? It’s been cold and dreary for too long, which means we’re in need of some good news. Well, luckily, I happen to have a bit.

Do you remember “Storage Mountain?” For those who’ve joined us since April, that’s what we’ve called my unhealthy addiction to storage bins, which piled up beside our staircase over the spring and summer. Despite great ambitions to move them to actual storage, they sat, and the mountain got taller.

On Sunday, my husband announced a grand plan to move not one or two, but all of them. I don’t know if I’ve ever been more in love with that man than I was that day. Lifting heavy stuff and cleaning our home? Swoon. It’s really amazing how decluttering can bring on the biggest sigh of relief. If there’s a project you’ve been putting off, this dreary week’s a great time to get it done. I’m so glad you’re here.

Demonstrators on a downtown Richmond street corner calling on Republicans to support affordable health care policies on Oct. 27, 2025. (Michael O’Connor/Dogwood).

By Michael O’Connor

Starting Nov. 1, Virginians along with other Americans will be able to sign up for health care plans on the federal ACA exchange as part of what’s called the open enrollment season.

The monthly payments, known as premiums, for these different plans are going to be significantly higher than they were last year. Most insurers in Virginia have proposed an average increase of 20% for individual and small group health plans.

In addition, federal tax credits that lower the costs of these plans are scheduled to expire at the end of this year, which is expected to drastically increase the costs of these plans. 

84% of Virginians who obtain coverage via the ACA marketplace get tax credits amounting to $405 per month to make their plans more affordable. 

Without these credits, many could see premiums double or even triple. 

Don’t let election deadlines creep up on you—Dogwood’s free voter hub has everything you need to make a plan and cast your ballot with confidence. 

Stay informed, empowered, and make your voice count. Tap the link below to finish strong today.

University of Virginia alumna and renowned comedian Tina Fey. (Lev Radin)

By Dorothy Scott

Tina Fey is easily one of the most recognizable names in showbiz, and as it turns out, she attended the University of Virginia. She graduated with a drama degree in 1992 before becoming an unstoppable force in the entertainment industry. Just five years later, she made her first appearance on “SNL,” and the rest truly feels like history, as she went on to appear in more than 180 episodes afterward (via IMDb).

Not an “SNL” viewer? Don’t worry—you’ve still seen her, and more than you probably think. Avid Netflix watchers will remember that she starred in the comedy “The Four Seasons” in summer 2025. The series saw her play the exhausted but playful Kate, who spent eight episodes trying to figure out not only her marriage but also her friendships, which were ever-changing around her. Other notable credits for Fey include “30 Rock,” “Mean Girls,” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”

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