Virginia
Governor amends Virginia's budget bill to increase rainy-day reserves over changes in Washington
RICHMOND, Va. — Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Monday that he hoped to bolster Virginia’s rainy-day fund by $300 million in light of economic uncertainty surrounding the White House’s overhaul of federal jobs and its impact on the state’s workforce.
At a news conference, Youngkin announced he had more than 200 amendments to a bipartisan budget bill adopted last month by the Virginia General Assembly, including trimming state spending to add additional funds to Virginia’s coffers.
The $300 million would be on top of nearly $295 million already slated to be set aside over the biennium. Youngkin said the reserved revenue would give Virginia a cushion of $5 billion.
“It enables us to feel confident that if there is a bump in the road, we can deal with it,” he said.
Youngkin’s announcement comes after a mix of roughly 1,000 Virginian federal workers and contractors have filed claims for unemployment since the end of January after President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk began cutting jobs and programs in Washington, state officials have said.
In addition to the budget amendment, Youngkin’s administration has created a job website and encouraged impacted workers to explore other opportunities in Virginia.
“President Trump has been very, very clear, and he has not shied away from the fact that there could and may be economic disruption in the short term,” Youngkin said. “As he resets things in Washington, I agree with him that we will have long-term opportunity, and that is going to be good for Virginia.”
Before 2025, Virginia was home to roughly 315,000 federal workers, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government. In the past few years, the state has done well economically — its state budget had a multibillion-dollar surplus, and more people were moving to the state than moving away, officials have said.
But, as the Democratic-led legislature gaveled out of its session, some acknowledged they may need to revise the budget in light of the fiscal cuts. Lawmakers announced they would expand a previously established special session so that they could reconvene later this year.
Following Youngkin’s announcement, Democratic Virginia House Speaker Don Scott blasted the governor for not protecting residents.
“We need a governor who will support Virginians,” Scott said in a statement, “not cave to Trump and Musk.”
Youngkin has until just before midnight on Monday to either sign, veto or seek amendments to all legislation sent to his desk after passing the statehouse earlier this year — including the budget bill, which amends the last year of the state’s two-year spending plan.
Lawmakers will then take up his revisions and vetos on April 2.
In his original budget presented in December, Youngkin proposed providing permanent relief by ending taxes on tips and cars for lower- and middle-income earners. The Virginia House of Delegates and Senate nixed his idea. Instead, they passed a budget that would give each taxpayer a $200 rebate.
On Monday, Youngkin said he would support the rebates, which had bipartisan support among lawmakers.
In the budget bill, lawmakers also scrapped Youngkin’s proffer to cut off funds toward local entities that do not fully comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Further, Youngkin originally allotted money for a $50 million “Opportunity Scholarship” program, which would provide low-income families with vouchers to send their children to private schools. Lawmakers tossed out that idea, too.
In his amendments, Youngkin added versions of those provisions back into the budget bill.
“I pared back my request: Let’s take $25 million, and let’s provide lower-income Virginia families an opportunity to pursue an alternative education path that might fit their family and their children’s best opportunities,” he said of the scholarship program. “Why not try it?”
Youngkin also said he added an amendment authorizing the consideration of establishing Oak Hill, the home of former President James Monroe, as a state park. A bill to that effect failed in the legislature during the session.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (AP) — Virginia Sen. L. Louise Lucas has carved out a reputation as a fierce and outspoken advocate during her political career. One issue, in particular, has been at the forefront of her agenda: legalization of marijuana, which she says disproportionately affects members of the African American community.
She felt so strongly about the issue, she sponsored a legalization bill and opened her own cannabis shop. Now, she’s under the microscope as federal law enforcement appears to have raided that business. It wasn’t immediately clear what they were looking for but it’s drawn attention to Lucas and her 34-year career in politics.
In 2019, she became the state’s first Black woman to hold the leadership post of Senate president pro tempore after Democrats seized the majority.
The next year, she appeared at a protest of a Confederate monument that led to felony charges against her. A judge later dismissed the charges.
Lucas was born in Portsmouth and worked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard earlier in her life, where she was the first female ship fitter, according to a biography in the state library.
She has been the CEO of a Portsmouth business that runs residences, day programs and transportation for intellectually disabled adults. And in 2021, Lucas opened a store in her hometown of Portsmouth, The Cannabis Outlet, that sells legal hemp and CBD products.
“Let’s talk about pot,” Lucas said in a social media post on X in 2022. “Yes, we legalized it and I even opened the Cannabis Outlet after we did! But the job isn’t done. People are still in jail for something that is legal today.”
An armored FBI vehicle and several agents were seen outside Lucas’ cannabis store on Wednesday. The FBI would say only that it was conducting a court-authorized search warrant in Portsmouth.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Virginia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 5, 2026, results for each game:
Mega Millions
Mega Millions drawings take place every week on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.
12-22-50-51-55, Mega Ball: 10
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 7-9-6, FB: 8
Day: 5-3-5, FB: 9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 1-3-3-1, FB: 0
Day: 4-7-2-7, FB: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 5
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 8-4-0-4-0, FB: 2
Day: 1-7-6-6-7, FB: 5
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash Pop
Drawing times: Coffee Break 9 a.m.; Lunch Break 12 p.m.; Rush Hour 5 p.m.; Prime Time 9 p.m.; After Hours 11:59 p.m.
Coffee Break: 02
After Hours: 03
Prime Time: 04
Rush Hour: 13
Lunch Break: 01
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash 5
Drawing every day at 11 p.m.
30-31-37-39-42
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawing everyday at 11:15 p.m.
14-20-23-30-55, Bonus: 02
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Center for Community Journalism (CCJ) editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Berkley, CA — Virginia Tech won their third consecutive ACC series and have won 9 of their last 12 matchups on the diamond. Despite dropping game three in 9-4 fashion, the Hokies needed this series win and got it, putting themselves firmly on the bubble this week.
There’s plenty of takeaways from the series, so here’s my top three.
No. 1: The Hokies are peaking at the right time
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column on what the Hokies would need to do to put themselves in position on the bubble, and they have followed that blueprint to a tee.
I stated that the Hokies would need a 15-4 run going down the stretch, and they’re within striking distance, needing to go 6-1 from here on out with four games against non-conference opponents.
They couldn’t afford another series loss in conference, and they haven’t taken one.
With that run, the Hokies — who sat outside of the top 45 — have moved themselves up to 36th in RPI — a firm bubble position — with a three big ACC games remaining and four must-win non-conference games.
No. 2: Brett Renfrow has found it
What is ‘it’ exactly? Well, he’s the only one that knows.
Over Brett Renfrow’s first two starts in the month of April against Miami and Boston College, he surrendered 12 runs in 11 innings, striking out 10 batters and hurling over 200 pitches in the short time span.
Since then, he’s arguably been the best pitcher in the conference. In his recent three starts, Renfrow has allowed the following statline:
21.0 IP
3 ER
10 H
6 BB
27 K
Those numbers bring an ERA of 1.29 and a K/9 of 11.57.
For those of you who are familiar with the K%-BB% stat, Renfrow’s is sitting at 25.9%. For context, Tarik Skubal — who won the AL Cy Young last year — had a rate of 27.8%.
Brett Renfrow getting back to those strong, consistent starts that we’ve seen in the past is something that Virginia Tech desperately needed from it’s ace, and it will be crucial for the Hokies down the stretch.
No. 3: The Bullpen has been much more consistent
Earlier this season, the Virginia Tech bullpen had a huge issue with blowing leads and losing games.
Against Cal, the Virginia Tech bullpen surrendered just a pair of runs in 10 innings of work.
The highlight of the bullpen as of late has been Chase Swift, who hasn’t given up a run since March 3rd against Marshall. He’s made nine appearances in that time and has posted the following stat-line:
13.1 IP
0 ER
4 H
6 BB
18 K
Much like with Renfrow, consistency from the Virginia Tech bullpen is going to be key down the stretch, and the Hokies are headed in the right direction.
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