From ‘Dopesick’ to the campaign trail: Beth Macy takes on Ben Cline in Virginia’s 6th District

Good morning from The Mercury.

By Markus Schmidt

Beth Macy never expected to trade journalism for politics. But when protesters outside U.S. Rep. Ben Cline’s Roanoke office began urging her to challenge the Republican incumbent from Botetourt County, she found herself reconsidering her plans for the future. 

“I’m like, no, I’m a journalist,” Macy recalled in a recent phone interview with The Mercury. “I want to write another book or two, become a master gardener and retire. I have a really nice life.” 

But the author of “Dopesick,” whose reporting on the opioid epidemic inspired an award-winning television series, eventually changed her mind. 

By Shannon Heckt

This summer, Dominion Energy rejoined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a carbon market designed to offset carbon emissions. Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin yanked Virginia from RGGI in 2023 and in her first speech to lawmakers in January, Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced the state’s imminent return to the program, a move cemented by legislation that took effect earlier this year. 

At the State Corporation Commission headquarters on Wednesday, the utility debated how to recover the cost of the carbon allowances from customers and how to implement the bill credit lawmakers allocated to offset the impact on ratepayers.

By Bob Lewis

Amid lingering inflation from high fuel prices, 47 Virginia localities are about to ask their residents to vote on Tuesday for a ballot question that will make every retail purchase they make near their homes costlier.

Interesting timing to say the least. But that doesn’t make it wrong.

If voters approve the proposed tax increases, which are capped at 1%, their proceeds would by law be directed toward capital improvements for public schools in those localities. That’s a worthy purpose, ranking right up there with public safety and healthcare.

By David Lightman

Most of the nation returns to standard time Sunday morning, and Congress could decide as early as next month whether it will be the last time people have to change their clocks.

President Donald Trump wants year-round daylight saving time. The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly in July for the change. Lots of Democrats and Republicans are behind the idea.

Yet, any momentum has stalled. The legislation can’t get out of the U.S. Senate, and it looks unlikely there’ll be much progress anytime soon.

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