Virginia Coverage

Virginia authorities investigating home explosion as authorities were executing a warrant

Police are investigating the circumstances of the explosion, which tore through the home as law enforcement were trying to make contact with the man inside, who they suspect had been firing a flare gun from his home earlier in day, according to Arlington County Police Department spokesperson Ashley Savage.

Caught on cam: Home explodes in Virginia

Officers had responded to reports of shots fired near the home shortly before 5 p.m. and obtained a search warrant for the residence after determining the suspect had discharged the flare gun about 30 to 40 times from his home into the surrounding neighborhood, according to a police statement released early Tuesday.

A home near Washington, DC, exploded as police responded to reports of more than 30 flare-gun shots fired

A home exploded in Arlington, Virginia, Monday night as police were trying to execute a search warrant, sending the building up in flames with a suspect still inside and prompting the evacuation of several nearby houses, officials said.

Rob Frehse and Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN

Man shares his profound grief after his daughter, grandaughter died in plane crash

John Rumpel said his daughter and grandaughter were among the four victims of a plane crash Sunday afternoon in rural Virginia.

Man arrested in Knightdale for child sex crimes, held on $3.5 million bond

A Virginia man was arrested by Knightdale police for child sex crimes and is being held on a $3.5 million bond.

Virginia teacher shot by 6-year-old files lawsuit against school

Months after Abby Zwerner was shot in her classroom by her first grade student, her attorneys have filed a lawsuit against the school board and three former administrators at the school. They allege the incident was a "personal" attack on Zwerner that could have been prevented.

Fact check: Is gun violence 23 times higher in the U.S. than the EU?

The day after six people died in a mass shooting at a Chesapeake, Virginia, Walmart, Del. Cliff Hayes Jr., D-Chesapeake, said: "When you compare us here in this country to the European Union, we're something like 23 times more likely for these incidents to occur here." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Warren Fiske, PolitiFact reporter

Forensic experts: Blood, bullets, cleaning supplies found inside of Range Rover after Raleigh man killed in botched Craigslist sale

Justin Merritt's defense team admitted he shot Andy Banks in September 2020 during a botched Craigslist transaction over a Range Rover. Merritt's lawyer said the murder was not premeditated.

Chelsea Donovan, WRAL reporter

Murder trial begins: Man killed after Craiglist car sale

A close friend of Andy Banks spoke Tuesday in the murder trial for Justin Merritt, a Virginia man charged with killing Banks when the two connected over a car sale in Raleigh in September 2020.

Trial resumes for man charged in 2020 Craigslist murder in Raleigh

Opening statements started Tuesday in the murder trial for Justin Merritt, who is charged with killing Andy Banks in Raleigh in 2020 when the two met near the Village District after connecting online through an SUV ad on Craigslist.

Friend describes seasoned Craigslist seller as trial begins for man suspected of his murder

A close friend of Andy Banks spoke Tuesday in the murder trial for Justin Merritt, a Virginia man charged with killing Banks when the two connected over a car sale in Raleigh in September 2020.

Chelsea Donovan, WRAL reporter

Fact check: Youngkin says Virginia laws protect same-sex marriage

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was elusive when recently asked if he would take action to guarantee same sex-marriage under Virginia law, saying: "In Virginia, we actually do protect same-sex marriage." PolitiFact checks his claim.

Warren Fiske, PolitiFact reporter

Virginia opens second time capsule

For the second time this month, conservation experts in Virginia's capital city are set to open an apparent time capsule found in the remnants of a pedestal that once held a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. State officials hope Tuesday's opening of the aged copper box, which was discovered and carefully extracted from the monument site a day earlier, will mark the end of a long search for an elusive 1887 time capsule.

Fact-checking Biden's claim about Virginia governor's race

During a press conference on Nov. 3, President Biden said: "No governor in Virginia has ever won when...he or she is the same party as the sitting president." PolitiFact checks that claim.

Warren Fiske, PolitiFact reporter

Both parties await result in Virginia, and what it bodes for partisan battles ahead

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- During one of the most hectic weeks of her speakership -- as she sought to unite her fractious party and corral two sweeping pieces of legislation -- Nancy Pelosi made time for a meeting in her Capitol suite with a group of Democratic lawmakers from New Jersey and Virginia bearing an urgent message of their own.

Jonathan Martin, New York Times

Man wanted on Virginia murder charge killed himself outside Durham school, police say

A man being sought in connection with a Newport News, Va., homicide shot and killed himself outside Eastway Elementary School in Durham, police said Friday.

Eric Miller, WRAL multimedia journalist

Family, friends come together to remember Raleigh man killed during Craigslist meetup

Friends and family are remembering a Raleigh man who died one year ago this week.

Keely Arthur, WRAL reporter

Marijuana will soon be legal Virginia, but it remains outlawed on college campuses there

Virginia has legalized recreational use of marijuana, but it remains off limits on college campuses in the state, which must comply with federal drug laws to maintain funding for financial aid and research.

Couple rescued from car trapped in rushing floodwaters

Crews rescued a couple who were stranded in their vehicle that was trapped by rushing floodwaters on Friday.

EF-2 tornado causes serious damage in northern Virginia

The National Weather Service confirms a tornado was the source of storm damage reported in Northumberland County, Virginia on Monday afternoon.

South Hill, Va. cam

The South Hill cam is located on the town office on South Mecklenburg Avenue in South Hill, Virginia. It is hosted by the Town of South Hill.

Elizabeth City residents want Virginians to get vaccinated at home and not in NC

The state has shifted its policy on vaccinating people from across state lines, saying vaccine providers no longer have to offer coronavirus inoculations to people who don't live, work or spend "significant time" in North Carolina.

NC shifting policy on vaccines for visitors from out of state

Roughly 3 percent of people vaccinated in North Carolina came from out of state, in line with neighboring Tennessee.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Virginia expected to become first southern state to legalize marijuana

A state study found that the sale of marijuana is expected to raise around $300 million in tax revenue.

Virginia state senator dies at age 60 after contracting COVID-19

Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin Jr. has died after contracting Covid-19, according to a statement from his office. He was 60 years old.

By Ganesh Setty, CNN