Curated News from The Virginia Council 7/5/26

Legislative updates:

Gov. Spanberger signs 18 energy bills, including measure to rejoin RGGI By Taylor Locke

Democrat State Lawmakers Vote To Delay Virginia Gun-Carry Ban After Suffering Big Loss In Court | The Daily Caller By Harold Hutchinson

Virginia’s Gas Tax Increase: What Drivers Need to Know By Rich Tucker

Virginia law permits stop sign cameras, starting July, amid privacy concerns and violation reduction claims | wusa9.com By Kelly Vaughen

New Virginia law lets judges put the brakes on extreme speeders - WTOP News By Tracy Johnke

New regulations beef up data centers' required water use reporting in Virginia By Patrick Larsen

Virginia to allow recreational marijuana be sold in retail stores beginning in 2027 - ABC News By Sarah Rankin

Farmers, retailers worry as state and federal regs for hemp, marijuana shift • Virginia Mercury By Charlotte Rene Woods

Virginia budget funds long-awaited research on menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay By Katherine Hafner

Virginia Government updates:

With budget amendments, Spanberger and General Assembly Democrats appear to have achieved peace - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey

10 questions about Virginia's new laws and budget - Cardinal News By Dwayne Yancey

The future of Virginia schools’ locker room policies is uncertain after SCOTUS ruling By Nick Minock

Local counties see disaster declaration after spring freeze devastates crops | 13newsnow.com By Tracy Cooper

Another Fairfax Suspect Faces Rape, Abduction Charges After Failure To Prosecute | The Daily Caller By Derek Vanbuskirk

Nothing in Commonwealth | Bacon's Rebellion - By Joe Thomas

Virginia Task Force 1 conducts rescue missions in Venezuela following earthquakes By John Eldridge & Valenti Govantes

BREAKING: The Digital Gateway dies after last legal challenge is dropped | Localnews | princewilliamtimes.com By Cher Muzyk & Jill Palermo

Article, News, & Quotes:

"God Bless America" Sung by Kate Smith : This is the Army 1943 HD

One Song, Two Wars, and an Enduring American Anthem: The Story Behind 'God Bless America' – RedState By Bob Hoge

(1) NASA on X: "Happy 250th, America! 🇺🇸 Red (Mars), white (Moon), and blue (Earth) brought to you by the solar system. https://t.co/ggjzhkO596" / X

Virginia's Drought Persists Ahead of July 4 Weekend By Rich Tucker

Alito Rips Supreme Court Majority in Ruling on Data Privacy By Fred Lucas

Alito: Nuking Single-Day Elections Opens 'Pandora's Box' Of Voter Fraud By Breccan F. Thies

SCOTUS Doesn't Have The Final Word On Birthplace Citizenship By John C. Eastman

Soros’ Man in Virginia | Bacon's Rebellion - By James A. Bacon

BREAKING: Grand Jury Indicts Former Olympic Canoeist David Hearn on Felony Charges For Vandalizing Reflecting Pool – Faces 10 Years in Prison (PIrro Presser) * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina Laila

Historic Virginia Lighthouse Is Turned Into the Ultimate Off-Grid Retreat By Kellie Speed

Documentary reveals roots of revolution in Southwest Virginia - Cardinal News By Brian Funk

(1) Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 on X: "YouGov poll | 6/30-7/2 Do you have a positive or negative view of the following flags? (By party, net) 🟦Democrats Black Lives Matter +69 American +62 Mexican +54 Ukrainian +54 Gay pride +48 Transgender pride +35 Palestinian +15 Israeli −8 Thin Blue Line −24 Gadsden https://t.co/rFWHQNN7j0" / X

History, Tradition, & the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence:

Tall Ships Have Sailed to America From All Over the World to be Part of Our 250 Celebrations (VIDEO) * The Gateway Pundit * by Mike LaChance

America at 250: Capitalism and the Future of Freedom By Mario Bartiromo

New Poll: Nearly Half of Americans Don’t Know What America’s 250th Is Celebrating | Cato at Liberty Blog

Anti-American Public Schools Are Destroying The Declaration By Jeremy S. Adams

Classic American Icons Roll Into One Of D.C.’s Most Historic Landmarks Ahead Of America’s 250th | The Daily Caller By Ashley Brasfield

Trump unveils 'Spirit of '76' DC exhibit honoring Revolutionary War figures By David Zimmermann

American Patriotic Legends - Compilation

Declaration of Independence: Discussion with Marco Bassani By Dr. Mark Holowchak

The World Cup and Alexis de Tocqueville By Salena Zito

Strange History Cafe on X: "It’s a missed opportunity—and a real shame—that Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello has been absent from the national July 4th celebrations. I’ve visited many times, and the current management seems fixated on the topic of slavery to the near-exclusion of everything else. Tours https://t.co/Fmbg3N0gT0" / X

Proclamation Line of 1763 became a focus of anti-British resentment in Virginia - Cardinal News By Randy Walker

COLUMN: A lesson — a good one! — in ships, shanties and the sea - Fredericksburg Free Press By Jonathan Hunley

Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War Screening & Panel Tickets, Monday, June 29 • 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM | Eventbrite

Episode 415: Emily Sneff, The Many Declarations of Independence - Ben Franklin's World

(5) Time Capsule Tales on X: "For the United States Bicentennial in 1976, the government funded one of the wildest short films ever made. Created by animator Vincent Collins & produced by the United States Information Agency, the film goes on a kaleidoscopic journey through iconic American symbols. https://t.co/26O0lFQue7" / X

The Constitution, Bill of Rights, & Liberty:

A New Deal for Presidents? Supreme Court Overturns Humphrey’s Executor and Reaffirms Executive Power – JONATHAN TURLEY

Supreme Court to Decide Fate of State and Local Gun Bans By Fred Lucas

SCOTUS Will Decide On So-Called 'Assault Weapons' Bans By Luke Miller

Judge stops Philadelphia from enforcing ban against federal law enforcement officers wearing masks | Just The News By Just the News staff

Supreme Court Upholds Fairness in Women's Sports By Tyler O'Neil

Missouri AG Hanaway says eliminating illegal migrants from census could change face of government | Just The News By Katherine Pugh

Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship in Blow to Trump Immigration Enforcement - The Daily Signal By Fred Lucas

Supreme Court declines to halt fine for ex-Fox News reporter | AP News By Lindsey Whitehurst & Eric Tucker

(1) Marc Thiessen on X: "Jefferson’s indictment of King George over slavery that he included in the original draft of the Declaration he submitted to the Continental Congress - and which was removed at the insistence of southern states (ALL CAPS in his original): “He has waged cruel war against human" / X

Covid Tyrants: Never Forget — Kerry: By Kerry Dougherty

(8) Virginia News Vanguard on X: "🚨BOOKMARK: THE U.S. DOJ's Second Amendment Section Report a 2A civil rights violation on this site: "The 2nd, 4th, and 14th Amendments, the Police Pattern or Practice Act, and EO 14206 'Protecting Second Amendment Rights' secure the natural firearm rights of law-abiding https://t.co/MssV0PPqnW" / X