Virginia
How impossible-to-explain events led Virginia woman to owning a home: 'I have peace'
POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. — A house on Dogwood Road in Powhatan County, buzzing with the chatter of friends and neighbors, is not something Rachel Tomlin thought she’d ever have.
For the past few years, Tomlin, an office associate with the county’s Department of Social Services and single mother of two, has been commuting from Tappahannock to Powhatan to work, about an 80-mile drive one-way.
“Housing in Powhatan is scarce, as a county employee, I can’t afford to live here,” Tomlin said.
WTVR
Tomlin says her story is not a rarity for other county employees who cannot afford to live in the place that they serve.
According to Habitat for Humanity Powhatan, the median average home price in the county is above $440,000.
“Right now, in Powhatan County, because land is so expensive, the need for affordable housing is tremendous,” said Susan Winiecki, Habitat for Humanity Powhatan’s Executive Director. “We are in desperate need of finding our next two lots to build on. Until we find those, we really can’t take applications.”
WTVR
However, Tomlin’s new home in the county is.
It was considered a “women’s build,” with a majority of the work done by women volunteering or offering construction services.
It’s also the county’s first Habitat for Humanity home that was done as a whole home renovation, meaning that the home was not built from scratch like many of the others.
WTVR
And, without knowing it, Tomlin helped the past owner get help through Habitat about six years ago, through her work with Powhatan DSS.
“I fielded a call, the person that called, needed some resources for a gentleman who didn’t have any resources. Basically, as she was explaining his situation, I was like, ‘Oh, Habitat for Humanity,’” Tomlin explained.
WTVR
Tomlin suggested using Habitat’s home-repair program.
A few years later, she would come to learn that the gentleman she had helped had passed, and his home was to be sold to Habitat for Humanity.
It was around the same time she took it upon herself to apply for Habitat’s home-ownership program.
In May, she found out she’d be the one to get the keys.
“If it wasn’t for her calling that day, and for me answering the phone and remembering, ‘Hey, Habitat has this incredible program that can help anyone that needs some assistance with fixing a ramp or some steps, like all those types of things,’ I would not possibly be standing in my home. This was his home,” Tomlin said.
WTVR
Sunday’s dedication ceremony at the home was a full circle moment for the social services worker who lent a hand to a stranger and got a home in return.
“Because of that call, I now have a home in the county where I work,” Tomlin said. “And I don’t have to commute, I have peace. I have peace because of him.”
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EAT IT, VIRGINIA restaurant news and interviews
West Virginia has added another key piece on the offensive front with a commitment from Atlanta (Ga.) Tucker 2027 offensive lineman Jajuan Graham.
Graham, 6-foot-4, 300-pounds, picked the Mountaineers over offers from North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Memphis, USF and a number of others.
West Virginia initially offered in late April and the connection between the two only continued to blossom with offensive line coach Rick Trickett serving as the lead recruiter.
Graham made the trek to Morgantown over the weekend for an official visit and that proved to be enough to seal the deal on his recruitment with a commitment.
The versatile offensive lineman can fill several different roles for the Mountaineers up front.
Graham becomes the 20th commitment for West Virginia in the 2027 class and the second along the offensive line in this current recruiting cycle.
WVSports.com will have more with Graham in the near future.
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A large tent collapsed during a Virginia church’s 20th anniversary celebration on Friday evening, killing one person and injuring nearly two dozen others, officials said.
Heavy rain, lightning and strong winds tore through Moneta, a small community about 124 miles (200 kilometers) southwest of Richmond, as the EastLake Community Church was holding an outdoor service, Shelley Basinger, a spokesperson for Bedford County, said in a statement.
The group was in the process of leaving the event tent when it collapsed, according to Abbey Johnston, acting chief of Bedford County Fire and Rescue.
Eleven people were taken to the hospital and 11 others had minor injuries and were treated at the scene, Basinger said.
“Initially, I’m told it was a very chaotic scene, trying to account for the individuals,” Johnston told reporters.
Officials rushed to rescue everyone inside the tent behind the church and move them to safety as the strong thunderstorm raged on, she said.
Troy Keaton, the non-denominational church’s senior pastor, said he had just walked up to the stage to tell the group to go to their cars when a gust of wind picked up the tent.
“Sadly one of our dear brothers suffered a fatal injury,” he said in a statement on social media. “Our hearts are broken for his precious family.”
The tent had seating for 1,500 people, according to officials, but it was not immediately clear how many were inside when it collapsed.
No details were provided about the conditions of the people in the hospital.
Officials are gathering evidence as they investigate the collapse, Johnston said.
The tent had passed an inspection by the county’s building inspections division three days earlier, according to Basinger.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger said her team has been in close contact with the response crew on the ground.
“I am praying for the EastLake Community Church and all who are impacted, and we will continue to support the community during this difficult time,” she said in a statement on social media.
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 June 13, 2026, results for each game:
Powerball
Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
03-13-44-50-53, Powerball: 02, Power Play: 4
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Monday, June 15, 2026
Pick 3
DAY drawing at 1:59 p.m. NIGHT drawing at 11 p.m. each day.
Night: 0-4-4, FB: 9
Day: 0-6-2, 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: 5-8-6-7, FB: 3
Day: 1-3-3-6, FB: 2
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: 4-2-9-7-6, FB: 9
Day: 0-2-5-6-7, FB: 3
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: 09
After Hours: 06
Prime Time: 13
Rush Hour: 12
Lunch Break: 12
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Cash 5
Drawing every day at 11 p.m.
12-28-38-41-42
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Bank a Million
Bank a Million draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
07-15-19-35-39-40, Bonus: 02
Check Bank a Million payouts and previous drawings here.
Millionaire for Life
Drawing everyday at 11:15 p.m.
03-05-11-13-49, Bonus: 01
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.
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