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Here's an interesting Guardian story with details of how the group Leaving Maga can help people who are ready to take that step. Encouraging. And here's one about four individuals who did leave Maga -- four very different experiences. Thought-provoking. Both are worth reading.

Today's Cardinal News has detailed descriptions of the current process in Russell County Virginia. Lots of details, including the partnership between the Russell County Industrial Development Authority and Oasis Digital Properties, which is also proposing/marketing a data center for Wise County. And quite a few references to NDAs (non-disclosure agreements). Read the article here.

I am so grateful to the people who attended the hearing on Data Center zoning in Scott County, Virginia. ⭐️ The Board voted to table the Data Center zoning proposal for consideration another day. ⭐️ I was fortunate enough to be in the room and the way people showed up to represent our informed electorate encouraged me! Congratulations to posterity and may we continue advocating for informed decisions in our local government. 🙌

Joyce Vance publishes Civil Discourse, a Substack column on the intersection of law and politics in our society. Today’s column reminds us just how inhumane – inhuman? – U.S. policy is. She writes about Liam Ramos with his blue bunny hat and Spiderman book bag and recalls her experience with another little boy, named Javier. Quoting from today’s column: “In February of 2021, as the Biden administration began to grapple with the long term impact of first term Trump’s fa

Today's front page of the Kingsport Times-News has a story on increases in pediatric cancer in the area. An official from the American Cancer Society reports an alarming number of pediatric cancer cases - 15 in the last two years. She says, “I wasn’t sure how to explore clusters such as this.” She specifically cites the “ongoing investigation of community claims of elevated pediatric cancer rates just across the border in Scott County, Virginia.” Here's a link to subscribe to

Dear Readers, I made a mistake in a recent post. The upcoming September hearing about data centers will not address nuclear power. Although nationally these two issues are strongly linked, the published announcement for this particular hearing does not specify any planned discussion about nuclear power. Please accept my apology for this mistake and feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. You may reach us at contact@scvadems.org Sincerely, Benjamin

Here's the Kingsport Times News article on Senator Mark Warner's lunch and meeting with Scott County business leaders. If you have anything to say to Senator Warner about the issues mentioned in the article, now is the time! Contact him here.

"Do rural residents have the power to say no?" This article from Barn Raiser likens the data center push we're facing to the promises that brought concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to rural spaces decades ago. The article describes how the American Legislative Exchange Council's state legislation, called "right-to-farm" laws, brought CAFOs to rural areas. Now data center hyperscalers are copying that playbook. But according to the authors, data center projects th

Scott County residents deserve clear answers before decisions are made that could affect our natural resources and quality of life for decades. That is why the upcoming Scott County public hearing, announced by the county and available here through the Scott County notice, should be treated as a must-attend event. Text of the notice is as follows: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is given that on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as may be heard,

Virginia voters are set to decide three proposed changes to the state constitution this fall, according to reporting from The Center Square. The measures deal with some of the most debated issues in state politics: reproductive rights, voting rights for people with felony convictions, and marriage equality. 3 Amendments Comparison Table Each proposal has already cleared the legislative steps needed to reach voters. The final decision now moves from the General Assembly to th

Community Works Logo Building trust among neighbors is a challenge many communities face today. In Scott County, Virginia, a group called Scott County Community Works is making strides to address this challenge by partnering with local civic groups, churches, schools, and other organizations. Their latest newsletter highlights ongoing efforts to meet concrete local needs and strengthen the bonds that hold the community together. How Scott County Community Works Builds Trust S

This Cardinal News opinion piece corrects some inaccurate stereotypes about our region. The details about our schools are particularly satisfying, but the whole thing is worth reading.

Not many of us read The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 (I plead guilty) and have regretted that. Now we're living it. Jess Piper's latest post in her Substack column The View From Rural Missouri gives us a second chance at one of Project 2025's recommendations. Jess writes about a new Heritage report entitled, “Title IX’s Failed Experiment: Why Accommodating Sex Differences Beats Engineered Parity.” And even better, we can read her analysis.

Virginia could become one of the six states holding Democratic primaries before Super Tuesday in 2028. This would bring presidential candidates, campaign spending and national attention to Virginia if a proposal by the Democratic National Committee is affirmed by the full DNC during its summer meeting in August and if the Virginia General Assembly changes the state's presidential primary.

Here's a collection of articles on what happens when a data center comes to town. Or plans to. The Construction Phase: this article describes one family's experience when an Amazon data center began construction across the road from their house. Water Use: this commentary discusses one data center's detailed plans for water use in Louisa County. Permit or No Permit: here's how some Goochland residents reacted to one data center developer's plans for their area. And even

The Southern Environmental Law Center has an in-depth article on the causes of our rising energy costs, particularly in the Southeast. The article details four specific reasons we're seeing these increases: data centers, fossil fuel risks, utility business model and, last but not least, the Trump administration. The article includes an intriguing map showing Virginia tied for Alabama in the competition for average rise in electricity bills. Not the competition we want to wi

Our Congressman, Morgan Griffith, has introduced legislation to end birthright citizenship in U.S. territories. His July 16, 2026, newsletter describes his concern over what he calls “the so-called ’birth tourism’ industry that is taking place in the American territories.” In support of his bill H.R. 9724, Mr. Griffith states that the recent SCOTUS ruling in Trump v. Barbara “does not address the birthright citizenship process in the U.S. territories.” This is our congre

I talk to myself more than I should, I guess. Sometimes I pretend I'm talking to the dog or the cat. And even when I'm not talking to myself, I sometimes find myself nodding along with whatever I'm reading on the screen. That's what happened as I read Jess Piper's latest commentary on her home state of Missouri. See if you agree.

Looking for reasons for optimism? Today’s post on The Existential Republic (Christopher Armitage’s publication on Substack) lists ten of them. Armitage and his team write especially about actions the individual states can take, for example, charging ICE agents under state law or addressing campaign finance reform. Today’s list describes specific actions taken or inspired by recent articles. We’re not alone and we can learn from each other!

This opinion piece in the July 14 issue of Cardinal News describes a database listing details of federal immigration enforcement in Virginia jails. The Deportation Data Project at the University of California includes data from around the country. The Cardinal News article includes analysis of why some jails are less cooperative than others. (Hint: civically involved citizens make a difference.) Check it out!!