It’s almost time, Virginia. Tomorrow, the General Assembly kicks off for the season, bringing several new—and some former—legislative ideas to the table. Dogwood’s political reporter, Michael O’Connor, will be keeping up with the twists and turns during the session, so be sure to keep an eye on our website and social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok) for the latest updates.
I’m excited and hopeful to see how agreements unfold to produce positive outcomes with Virginians being top of mind. And I’m so glad you’re here.
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A group of people playing instruments during a mountain jam session at the Floyd Country Store in 2013. (Senator Tim Kaine/PDM 1.0)
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By Sam Cohen
Here’s what you need to know: When most people think of country music, they think of Nashville—and while we’re all for celebrating Tennessee, Southwest Virginia is also closely connected to country music history.
Top fun facts:
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The Floyd Country Store, which has been around since 1909, has a stage at the back of the shop where weekly performances, dances, and jamborees are held for locals and visitors. There are Americana Afternoons and Tuesday Tunes scheduled on the store’s website, and there’s also a cafe and soda fountain on site.
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Southwest Virginia has been home to countless Crooked Road legends, and the first of those to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Tennessee was the Carter Family. The original group was composed of A.P. Carter and his wife, Sara, along with Sara’s sister, Maybelle. For more Carter Family history, visit the Carter Family Fold located in Hiltons.
- The Birthplace of Country Music Museum is located in Bristol, TN-VA, which is known as “the town that country music built.” The first-ever country music tunes were recorded there in 1927 during the Bristol Sessions.
Is this music to your ears? Learn more about Virginia’s fascinating history at the link below.
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A crowd of job seekers at a job fair at the George Mason University campus in Manassas on Aug. 15, 2025. (Michael O’Connor/Dogwood)
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By Michael O’Connor
Forthcoming legislation aims to bring greater transparency in the hiring process and combat wage discrimination in Virginia. Two Democratic state lawmakers plan to file bills to address gender and racial pay disparities.
State Sen. Jennifer Boysko (D-Herndon) and state Del. Michelle Lopes Maldonado (D–Manassas) are working on legislation to require employers to post salary ranges in their job listings and prevent them from asking applicants about their salary histories.
Applicants could volunteer their salary histories, but the legislation would make it so applicants could not be required to share what they’ve made at other jobs.
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People gathered in Southwest Virginia to protest ICE. (Callie Heitala)
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Peaceful protesters make a stand
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A group of protesters peacefully gathered in Martinsville over the weekend. Battling 30-mile-per-hour wind gusts, attendees made their message clear by using the hashtag #ICEOutForGood.
The protest took place on Franklin Bridge, which crosses over Commonwealth Boulevard in the Southwest Virginia city.
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles with reporting by Sam Cohen and Michael O’Connor. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves Pokémon. This edition was edited by Paula Solis.
Dogwood is free to read for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.
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