Spanberger presses Congress for AI guardrails as states forge ahead

Good morning from The Mercury.

By Markus Schmidt

Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Tuesday called on Congress to set national rules for artificial intelligence, warning that its rapid development could threaten jobs, privacy and public resources if oversight remains largely in the hands of the companies building it.

In a letter to congressional leaders, the Virginia Democrat urged federal action while pledging to pursue measures within the state’s authority. She sent the letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. 

By Shannon Heckt

Clean Virginia, a clean energy policy advocacy group and an intervenor in the Dominion Energy-NextEra Energy merger case, told the State Corporation Commission in a Tuesday hearing that NextEra’s past political ties and attempts to acquire utilities deserve scrutiny in regulators' review of the proposed $67 billion merger.

Ahead of the evidentiary hearings beginning later this year, involved parties are working through the discovery portion of the merger case, as legal teams develop their strategy and dig up relevant information to support arguments for or against the approval of the merger. 

By Cyrus Baird

If you enjoy seeing a bald eagle soaring over the James River, hearing a turkey gobble in the spring woods, watching whitetail deer cross a field at dusk, catching a bass on a summer morning or simply knowing that wild places still exist in Virginia, there is someone you should thank:

A hunter or angler.

That may sound surprising to some people. But for more than a century, sportsmen and women have played an outsized role in advancing wildlife conservation, not only here in the commonwealth, but across America.

By Christine Condon

Seven federally recognized Native American tribes are ending their bid to formally join the Chesapeake Bay cleanup, saying they have been disappointed by the response from Bay Program leaders.

The Virginia-based tribes began their quest last January, hoping to be added as a single signatory — the status awarded to each of the state governments surrounding the bay — when elected officials in the Chesapeake Bay region approved a new agreement for restoring the bay in December.

By Virginia Mercury staff

Early voting is underway in Virginia for the 2026 midterm election, when the state's next slate of congressional representatives and local leaders will be elected.

If you're planning to vote, what are the top issues that will motivate you to cast a ballot? From rising energy prices and data centers, to unaffordable housing and fewer healthcare options, to costlier groceries and gas, we want to pinpoint the top-of-mind concerns Virginians are facing. This information will inform our reporting leading up to Election Day on Nov. 3, so please share your responses here.

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