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After four years of bloody fighting, the war that had torn apart the United States and Virginia finally reached its conclusion in the commonwealth. In one of the most eventful and fateful months in American history, April 1865 would see the fall of Richmond to Union troops, Gen. Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House, the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the end of the Confederacy, the Civil War and slavery.

RICHMOND - The Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would limit police retention of license plate data to seven days in an attempt to restrict government stockpiling of personal information. Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, proposed Senate Bill 965 as part of a broader effort to clamp down against government overreach into personal lives, an […]

RICHMOND - The Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would limit police retention of license plate data to seven days in an attempt to restrict government stockpiling of personal information. Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax, proposed Senate Bill 965 as part of a broader effort to clamp down against government overreach into personal lives, an […]

Dozens of robots gathered at Virginia Commonwealth University's Siegel Center in late March with their high school creators, competing in Virginia's largest youth robotics tournament. Celebrating its 15th anniversary, VirginiaFIRST held its annual FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition, inviting students from high schools all over the Atlantic coast to compete in the "varsity sport of the mind," with all the flash of an NCAA sporting event. Teams composed of either single or combined high schools had students in their respective robotics clubs making highly sophisticated robots for this year's game. The student-constructed robots can be up to 120 pounds and 5 feet tall, built with no assembly instructions and only minor assistance from team mentors.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would limit police retention of license plate data to seven days in an attempt to restrict government stockpiling of personal information.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would limit police retention of license plate data to seven days in an attempt to restrict government stockpiling of personal information.

RICHMOND - The Virginia Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would limit police retention of license plate data to seven days in an attempt to restrict government stockpiling of personal information.

The House Education Committee approved a bill delaying the implementation of a new grading system for schools this past week, but some delegates are questioning if the new system meets the needs of Virginia schools, parents and communities. This past November, the State Board of Education approved a new A-to-F grading system for individual state schools to supplement the current accreditation system.

"Marvin Anderson, a Henrico native who was wrongfully convicted of rape, spent 15 years in prison before being exonerated with help from the Innocence Project. He shared his story with an audience of about 400 people at Tuesday night's lecture. Photo courtesy of VCU Libraries"

Two abortion-related bills were passed this past week by The Virginia Health and Education Senate Committee a day after the House of Delegates struck down a pair of identical measures in committee. The issue has the state legislature split, as both measures attempt to overturn laws that were passed in 2012 and 2013 under a Republican-controlled General Assembly.

Two abortion-related bills were passed this past week by The Virginia Health and Education Senate Committee a day after the House of Delegates struck down a pair of identical measures in committee. The issue has the state legislature split, as both measures attempt to overturn laws that were passed in 2012 and 2013 under a Republican-controlled General Assembly.

A clear purpose, patience, inspiration, sense of humor, timeliness, perseverance, respect and love of my neighbor, my body and soul, these are the principles that will guide me on the long journey ...

RICHMOND - Last year around this time, Virginia was in the spotlight: Newspapers and talk show hosts, like comedian Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show," ripped state legislators for passing a bundle of laws targeting abortion.

RICHMOND - Every senator has had a voice in a committee this legislative session except one - Sen. Kenny Alexander, D-Norfolk. Alexander, who succeeded the late Yvonne Miller in representing the 5th Senate District, was not assigned to a committee for the first 13 days of the General Assembly's session. But on Thursday afternoon, the Senate finally appointed Alexander to fill three of Miller's four committee assignments.

RICHMOND, Va. - Del. Kaye Kory, D-Fairfax, accepted the American Association of University Professors' Michael S. Harris Award on Thursday for her "exemplary service in support of higher education." The award is presented each year in memory of Col. Harris, who served as president of the Virginia Conference of the AAUP.

A bill to delay and possibly change the proposed A-F grading scale for public schools is making its way through the General Assembly. The House of Delegates Education Committee approved a bill last week that would delay implementation of the A-F school grading system that ranks schools based on SOL performance. A school that gets an "A" receives full accreditation and a school that receives an "F" can lose accreditation.

A divided House of Delegates this week passed a bill formally declaring that parents have "a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control" of their children.

Legislation protecting Virginians reporting drug overdoses was introduced earlier this month after years of lobbying by a Virginia Commonwealth University student organization, but the bill will have to wait to be heard during next year's General Assembly. Students for Sensible Drug Policy was the VCU group instrumental in helping introduce House Bill 557, Safe Reporting of Overdoses. The legislation sought to provide limited legal amnesty to anyone reporting a drug overdose.

"Virginia's Republican-dominated House of Delegates and Democratic Senate both passed competing versions of a two-year, $96 billion state budget bill this past week"

RICHMOND — Both houses of the General Assembly unanimously passed legislation  that would protect the right of mothers to breast-feed in public.

Mothers across Virginia can rejoice now that both houses of the General Assembly have unanimously passed legislation that would protect the right of mothers to breast-feed in public.

RICHMOND - Both houses of the General Assembly unanimously passed legislation that would protect the right of mothers to breast-feed in public.

Profile story of House Delegate Joseph Preston of Petersburg