I canât think of a single person Iâve talked to this week who hasnât felt completely âblah.â Is it the change of the seasons? The state of the world? An overall lack of caffeine? We may never know.
But one thingâs for sureâIâm thankful the weekend is upon us. In our household, weâve got some plans weâre looking forward to, so itâs not looking very restful. It is, however, looking quite fun.
If youâve found yourself in a similar slump, I hope the next couple of days are particularly restorative for you, and that todayâs newsletter starts it off just right. Thanks for reading; Iâm so glad youâre here.
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Winners of The Gauntlet receive cash prizes, like what Candace Monaghan received in 2021. (The Gauntlet)
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By Aila Boyd
Hereâs what you need to know: Starting or scaling a business can be a daunting task, but women entrepreneurs in Virginia donât have to go it alone, thanks to a network of organizations designed to offer guidance, capital access, and community.
Our top picks:
Seeking opportunities near you? Weâve got a dozen at the link below.
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Thomas Jeffpurrson (left) consistently poses for the most interesting photos with Edgar Allan Purr. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)
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Usually, Iâm buying little knick-knacks that I canât wait to tell yâall aboutâbut this month, the âfun stuffâ has taken a bit of a back burner to much more important needs. Case in point: 2-year-old Thomas Jeffpurrson.
But, hey, itâs a great opportunity to highlight a huge asset to the Southside community: Cherrystone Veterinary Hospital. Iâve 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 compassionâas well as their owners, too. Thereâs never been a single time Iâve felt dismissed or rushed or like an exam wasnât 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 mightâve cost us nearly half as much as the MacBook Neo Iâve had my eye on, but Iâd trade that any day for a happy, healthy kitty (whoâs now back to wreaking havoc and causing destruction around our home). So yeah, if thatâs what Iâm buying, then itâs well worth the price.
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Local news is essential for democracy.
Our reporting cuts through false narratives, documents whatâs actually happening in our communities, and provides voters with the clear, factual information they needâespecially when the stakes are high.
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âI paid $125 to fill up my gas tank in Charlottesville when it normally costs me $80.â â Anjoleigh
âAbout $15 more a tank and Iâve got a new hybrid. I call it the âTrump war taxââpay at the pump.â â 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. Thatâs really tough to hearâespecially when everything else sure feels like itâs going up in price as well.
If youâd like to talk more about the prices at the pump near you, my inbox is open: amie@couriernewsroom.com.
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No Kings protests are happening all over the country on Saturday. (Barbara Silversmith)
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By Ava Edwards
There are plenty of Virginians with reasons to protest these days. Whether youâre against the war in Iran, the illegal takeover of Venezuela, or ICEâs 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:
Weâve got dozens of locations at the link below.
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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. Hereâs whatâs going to her desk. (Read more)
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A shadowy group opposed to Virginia Democratsâ redistricting push is out with a misleading new mailer and text message ad featuring former President Barack Obama, who supports redistricting. (Read more)
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âThe 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 veteransâ wait times for everything from basic primary care to surgeryâall to pay for tax breaks for the very wealthy,â wrote Frankie from Virginia Beach in a recent opinion piece shared with Dogwood. (Read more)
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Would you share this newsletter with a friend?
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Amie Knowles. Amie is a lifelong Virginia resident and mom to a fantastic 8-year-old who loves PokĂ©mon. This edition includes stories from Aila Boyd, Ava Edwards, Michael OâConnor, and a sponsored message by Affordable VA. It was edited by Paula Solis.
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