Feeling hungry? Check out these Virginia eateries that have built up a social media buzz.

Below, I report on the union election underway in Prince William County.

And, I share the Virginia connection to one of the best comedic actors working today.

Want to get in touch, or have stories you want me to cover? Reply to this email or reach out to me directly at michaeloconnor@couriernewsroom.com.

Michael O’Connor

Reporter, Dogwood

Labor supporters rally in Richmond on March 11, 2026. (Michael O’Connor/Dogwood)

While most local government workers around the state are legally barred from sitting at the negotiating table, others are taking advantage of working in localities where they are allowed to do so.

Voting began this week for about 2,000 Prince William County government workers on whether they want Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Virginia 512 to represent them in contract negotiations.

For today’s story, I share what I heard from two of these workers who support joining SEIU Virginia 512: Patrice Summers in the Department of Finance and Melinda Vaikasiene in the Department of Community Services.

They both expressed their desire to win the right to push their employers for better pay and fair working conditions.

Summers shared that while there is excitement about the election, she’s also had to address concerns about the possibility of going on strike, which is illegal for local government workers in Virginia. Summers has also heard more generalized fears about unions, which for many Virginians are an unfamiliar concept.

“They still have to learn what the ins and outs of being in the union is about,” Summers said. “And basically we are the union—your coworkers—we are going to be your representation, you are going to be your representation. It’s still a learning curve for a lot of folks who are just getting on board.”

The labor union representing newsroom employees of the Richmond Times-Dispatch raised concerns about the paper’s sales pitch for a paid content deal with the city government.

Albemarle County supervisors are considering a pilot program that would offer down payment assistance and rental assistance to county employees, Jay Hart at Cville Right Now reports.

Walmart workers in Canada won a union contract. It’s the first time Walmart workers have done so in North America, Adam D.K. King at The Maple reports.

(Photo provided by IAM Union)

Today, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) held a one-day strike.

IAM Union organizer, Bridget Fitzgerald, tells me the reason for the strike was that management at the garden has still refused to offer a fair pay increase as part of contract negotiations for about 60 workers.

“These workers have not received pay increases in two years,” Fitzgerald told me. “They’re already behind the eight ball.”

I reported earlier this month that these workers were ready to strike. Fitzgerald said the goal of today’s strike, which is considered an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike, is to try to get the company to offer raises that bring garden workers’ pay closer to a living wage.

Lewis Ginter workers will also form a picket line this evening from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 1800 Lakeside Ave., in Richmond. The workers are circulating a petition in support of their fight.

A spokesperson for Lewis Ginter pushed back on IAM Union’s claims about negotiations.

The spokesperson told me Lewis Ginter has raised wages from a $10 an hour starting wage in 2020 to $16 today, includes wages in job postings “so that applicants can make an informed decision,” and gives workers an average of 11 paid days off a year.

“Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden remains committed to the bargaining process with the IAM Union and continues to negotiate in good faith,” the spokesperson said in an email. “Discussions are ongoing, and we are focused on working toward a resolution that serves the best interests of all parties involved.”

HBO/YouTube

I learned some important Spotsylvania County lore this week.

Danny McBride grew up there.

And, as he explains in an interview with The New York Times, he got the idea for his show “Eastbound & Down” while working as a substitute teacher in Spotsylvania.

McBride explains:

“There was a brief moment where all was lost in Los Angeles, so I moved back home and I was substitute teaching by day and bartending by night. That’s where I got the idea for ‘Eastbound & Down,’ just sitting in these local high schools in Spotsylvania, Va., trying to convince these kids that I’m not like the rest of the teachers, that I’m trying to do something with my life, trying to be famous in Hollywood. The kids don’t care. All the kids cared about then was what kind of car you drove. The moment I told them it was a Hyundai Elantra, I think I lost all of their respect.”