Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Winners of The Gauntlet receive cash prizes, like what Candace Monaghan received in 2021. (The Gauntlet)

By Aila Boyd

Here’s what you need to know: Starting or scaling a business can be a daunting task, but women entrepreneurs in Virginia don’t have to go it alone, thanks to a network of organizations designed to offer guidance, capital access, and community. 

Our top picks: 

• The Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity operates to empower small, women, and minority-owned businesses within the Commonwealth. It provides certification, financing, business development and outreach, and sourcing and compliance services.

• The Virginia Small Business Development Center is a one-stop shop for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. Importantly, it provides no-cost individualized advising. Programs on how to acquire capital are also offered.

• The Women’s Business Center of Northern Virginia at George Mason University seeks to empower women to achieve success in small business ventures. Potential and existing small business owners from such localities as Fairfax and Alexandria are welcome to attend the center’s classes or view its on-demand webinars.

Seeking opportunities near you? We’ve got a dozen at the link below. 

Thomas Jeffpurrson (left) consistently poses for the most interesting photos with Edgar Allan Purr. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

Usually, I’m buying little knick-knacks that I can’t wait to tell y’all about—but this month, the “fun stuff” has taken a bit of a back burner to much more important needs. Case in point: 2-year-old Thomas Jeffpurrson. 

But, hey, it’s a great opportunity to highlight a huge asset to the Southside community: Cherrystone Veterinary Hospital. I’ve been taking my pets to visit Dr. Kay Geyer, the founder, since before I could drive (and when she was still practicing out of the Brosville Animal Clinic, one of several area vets that have my absolute trust). 

Kay truly treats each and every animal with care and compassion—as well as their owners, too. There’s never been a single time I’ve felt dismissed or rushed or like an exam wasn’t thorough. So when Tom-moo-may started feeling bad a few weeks ago, my husband took him straight to Cherrystone. 

Within a couple hours, he was back home, equipped with a diagnosis, shot of medication, and well wishes from the staff. That visit might’ve cost us nearly half as much as the MacBook Neo I’ve had my eye on, but I’d trade that any day for a happy, healthy kitty (who’s now back to wreaking havoc and causing destruction around our home). So yeah, if that’s what I’m buying, then it’s well worth the price. 

“I paid $125 to fill up my gas tank in Charlottesville when it normally costs me $80.” — Anjoleigh 

“About $15 more a tank and I’ve got a new hybrid. I call it the ‘Trump war tax’—pay at the pump.” — Chip M.

These are just a couple of the responses we received this week when we asked how gas prices were in your part of Virginia. That’s really tough to hear—especially when everything else sure feels like it’s going up in price as well. 

If you’d like to talk more about the prices at the pump near you, my inbox is open: amie@couriernewsroom.com.

No Kings protests are happening all over the country on Saturday. (Barbara Silversmith)

By Ava Edwards

There are plenty of Virginians with reasons to protest these days. Whether you’re against the war in Iran, the illegal takeover of Venezuela, or ICE’s operations in Virginia and throughout the United States, you can join your community this Saturday, Mar. 28, for more No Kings protests. 

Happening across VA:

• No Kings Chesapeake: 100 Volvo Parkway, 10 a.m.
• No Kings Vienna/Fairfax Metro: 9550 Saintsbury Drive, 10 a.m.
• No Kings South Boston: 3220 Halifax Road, 11 a.m.
• No Kings Abdingdon: 180 W. Main St., 11:30 a.m.
• No Kings Richmond: 801 E. Canal St., 12 p.m.
• No Kings Harrisonburg: 228 S. Liberty St., 12:30 p.m.

We’ve got dozens of locations at the link below.

• Gov. Abigail Spanberger has until April 13 to decide whether to enact, veto, or amend legislation passed by the General Assembly during its 2026 regular session. Here’s what’s going to her desk. (Read more)

• A shadowy group opposed to Virginia Democrats’ redistricting push is out with a misleading new mailer and text message ad featuring former President Barack Obama, who supports redistricting. (Read more)

• “The Medicaid and SNAP cuts Rep. Jen Kiggans supported will leave families scrambling to pay for health care, and cuts to the Veterans Affairs are increasing veterans’ wait times for everything from basic primary care to surgery—all to pay for tax breaks for the very wealthy,” wrote Frankie from Virginia Beach in a recent opinion piece shared with Dogwood. (Read more)

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