Constitutional: The amendment that could safeguard same-sex marriage in Virginia

Good morning from The Mercury.

By Charlotte Rene Woods

Rachel Leyco had to adopt her biological sons. 

As she and her wife Jenn Jackson sat in their Chesterfield County living room recently, the couple recalled how their marriage and parenthood journey was complicated by state and federal legal landscapes. Their love story is why they are backing an effort to enshrine same-sex marriage protections into Virginia’s constitution. 

“When I tell people I literally had to adopt my genetic children, they’re like ‘what!’” Leyco said. 

By Shannon Heckt

Despite cooling temperatures and repeated rain storms in central and northern portions of Virginia that have eased the drought conditions that were pervasive in the late spring and summer, Roanoke and the surrounding region is still experiencing emergency drought conditions.

According to the latest drought indicators, Campbell, Halifax, Charlotte, and Pittsylvania counties are in the red emergency category for precipitation, groundwater, reservoir levels, and streamflow. Some water systems in the area have had to implement voluntary and mandatory water restrictions to preserve accessible drinking water.

By Nathaniel Cline

Forty-four percent of Virginia schools earned the “distinguished” rating for exceeding state expectations in growth, achievement and readiness, a 21% performance leap from last year, as the state continues efforts to support more than 1,000 schools that fell short.

On Wednesday, the Virginia Department of Education released its accountability results, showing how schools are performing against state expectations. The data will be used to identify schools that need additional support. 

Three hundred and fifty prospective nursing students around Virginia will be able to tap into $1.3 million in scholarships and incentives, new funding that Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Thursday. 

The financial boost stems from the Virginia Nursing Workforce Center, which was created by state lawmakers this year to support the industry and was part of Spanberger’s legislative agenda. 

By Kevin Hardy

Household water bills are increasing faster than inflation and income, according to a new analysis.

The environmental advocacy nonprofit Food and Water Watch analyzed water bill data among the nation’s 500 largest community water providers. Those systems serve a collective 155 million people — nearly half the nation’s population.

Between 2015 and 2025, water bills increased by 62% on average across those water providers. That was faster than the overall inflation rate and more than two times the rate of grocery price increases over the same period. Food and Water Watch found that water bills increased 19% faster than household incomes, meaning people are spending a greater share of their earnings on water.

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