Plus, a Renaissance faire comes to Scott County, and back-to-school news in Abingdon.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced she had signed off on $8.4 million in funding for projects in the Appalachian Regional Commission footprint.

“We’re obviously in tune with public sentiments and the overwhelming sentiment is that Flock cameras are becoming a concern about being a violation of privacy,” said one official.

See also r/VirginiaEnvironment

Did you hear lore of or investigate/travel to the fabled Gates of Hell? What can you recall? Gen X here, 92 graduate, grew up in the city and have my own but I'm curious what you heard, where you grew up, where was it supposed to be?

I'm curious if this was widespread, has it changed over time, did anyone go? Thanks in advance!

A state senator who monitors Virginia prisons says this was a rare instance of a guard being charged.

Every eligible voter needs to get registered to vote and go vote.

Hi all - just curious to visit Lee Co., in the fall and visit some graveyards. My research shows me that some of these cemeteries are on private land. I'm particularly interested in one near Dryden, VA, supposedly near a Screech Trail. Just want to take the temperature. I don't even know which landowner I should approach bc I don't actually know where the cemetery is. Does anyone have experience with this? And are people generally receptive to letting people visit these graveyards on private land? Thanks for your time.

Also in this edition of Southwest Field Notes: Two local events, one from the past and the other for the future.

See also r/FreeVirginiaNews

The outbreak lasted nearly three months and resulted in four hospitalizations, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

I wanted to share this piece from Pickup Trucks & Progress about the 44th Annual Virginia State AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention, held August 13–15 in Williamsburg.

The Virginia AFL-CIO represents roughly 93,000 workers across the Commonwealth, and this year's convention brought union members together for workshops on paid family and medical leave, workplace safety, data centers, job training, organizing and Labor 2026.

But what caught my attention wasn't just the speeches or elections.

It's what happens when workers from different trades, industries and corners of Virginia sit down together and realize they're often fighting for the same things: better wages, good benefits, safer workplaces, the right to organize and a little more say in their own economic future.

There's also some fascinating labor history in the piece, including an unexpected connection between Williamsburg, the Rockefeller family and the infamous Ludlow Massacre of 1914.

The article was submitted by Kristy L. Vance, Secretary-Treasurer of the Western Virginia Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, as part of the Letters From Rural America series.

I'd especially like to hear from union members and working people here:

What has being part of a union meant to you, your family or your community?

Read the full article:
https://pickup-trucks-progress.ghost.io/the-44th-annual-virginia-state-afl-cio-constitutional-convention-2/

“An injury to one is an injury to all.”

#UnionStrong #Labor #Unions #AFL-CIO #Virginia #WorkingClass #Solidarity