Wednesday, August 19th, 2026

News

VCU Students face higher than average tuition increase

August 19, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor Maeve Bauer, Executive Editor VCU in-state undergraduate students are now paying 3.9% more on their tuition this academic year.  In-state undergraduate students enrolled in 15 credits per semester are now paying $17,963 in tuition and mandatory fees, according to VCU News. Virginia’s average increase in tuition for in-state undergraduates is 3.2%, according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. VCU had the second highest percentage increase in the state, behind Old Dominion University. Almost 80% of registered voters in Virginia’s July 2026 Commonwealth Poll believe that cost is too high to attend college in Virginia, reflecting a 10% increase since the winter poll. VCU cited that the tuition increase covered mandated costs, which includes salary increases, student internships, security and service contracts, graduate stipends and military tuition waivers, per a previous CT report. “VCU has the highest percentage of VMSDEP-eligible students among Virginia’s public institutions, with approximately 6% of our in-state undergraduate population participating in the program,” Brian McNeill, a VCU spokesperson, stated in an email. “As a result, VCU also has the highest VMSDEP waiver costs in the state.” McNeill stated that VCU’s average net price has stayed flat for families earning under

Unionized workers reject contract offer from Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

August 19, 2026

Harshini Kanala, Contributing Writer Workers at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden rejected their employer’s final contract offer after unionizing for increased wages and benefits since November 2024. The LGBG Workers United are the second group of LGBG workers in the US to unionize.  Eligible staff voted to organize for “living wages, safer working conditions, better benefits, and a seat at the table where the decisions that affected our well-being are made,” LGBG Workers United stated in a social media post. “We are wrapping up a 2-year-long, $31 Million Expansion at the garden, but union-eligible garden staff (everyone but the managers) haven’t seen a raise in 2 years,” LGBG Workers United stated. As of Aug. 13, LGBG Workers United announced that they chose to reject the employer’s “last, best and final offer” and will “go through internal procedures and notifications before details and next steps are released.” The LGBG Workers United declined a request for comment from The Commonwealth Times due to time conflicts. Singer-Songwriter Jesse Welles, known for his folk protest songs, moved his concert at the garden to the National on July 15 in solidarity with the union. He offered refunds for participants who could no longer attend. “To the

New VCU office looks to turn work experience into college credit

August 19, 2026

Maddy Thurber, Contributing writer VCU’s Office of Prior Learning began an initiative that offers non-traditional students the option to turn professional experience into college credit.  Students who may have worked in a professional sphere prior to the enrollment at VCU have the option to use that as credit toward an Interdisciplinary Studies diplomat.  “Credit for prior learning pathways are built for nontraditional students, which VCU defines as students who are married/widowed/divorced, have children/dependents or who are military-affiliated), who have an abundance of professional experience that may be equivalent to some of the courses they would take at VCU,” Associate Director Mia Liadis stated in an email.  Credit is available to adult learners with years of experience who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. Mariah Crilley, VCU Assistant Vice Provost for University Interdisciplinary Programs stated in an email she quickly learned the value of adult learners. They challenged me to be a better teacher by considering the deep expertise that all students, nontraditional or otherwise, bring to the classroom, and inspired me to develop a space that honored that expertise,” Crilley stated. Transfer Coordinator for Adult and Nontraditional Students, Tori Kesling said prior learning helps recognize when students have

ELECCIONES 2026: LO QUE HAY QUE SABER SOBRE LAS PRÓXIMAS ELECCIONES ESTATALES

August 19, 2026

Kayla Muñecas, editora asistente de noticias  Los habitantes de Virginia votaran por quien ocupará los escaños del estado en el Congreso, junto a tres enmiendas propuestas a la constitución de Virginia el 3 de Noviembre.  CANDIDATOS DEL SENADO El senador demócrata Mark Warner se postula al Senado por cuarta vez este año. Warner ocupó el puesto de gobernador de Virginia entre 2002 y 2006, y ahora está cumpliendo su tercer periodo como senador.   Las promesas de campaña de Warner incluyen reducir costos de vivienda, garantizar atención médica universal, y preparar para la “próxima crisis laboral causada por IA,” según su sitio web de campaña.   Warner se enfrentará al republicano Bert Mizusawa, un general retirado del Ejército de EE.UU. Sus principales propuestas incluyen reducir la deuda nacional, establecer un código fiscal con menos códigos impositivos, y proteger la Segunda Enmienda. Mizusawa también apoya simplificar el proceso migratorio, pero sostiene que los inmigrantes que llegan legalmente deben estar preparados para integrarse a la cultura estadounidense.  Mizusawa anteriormente trabajó como asesor principal del director de la CIA y también como asesor de política exterior para la campaña presidencial de Donald Trump en 2016. En 2018, intentó postularse para desafiar al senador Tim Kaine,

ELECTION 2026: What to know about the upcoming state election

August 19, 2026

Virginians will vote to decide who fills the state’s congressional seats, along with three proposed amendments to the state’s constitution on Nov. 3. SENATE CANDIDATES Democrat Sen. Mark Warner is on the ballot for the fourth time this year. Warner served as Virginia’s governor from 2002 to 2006 and is finishing his third term as senator.  Warner’s campaign promises include lowering housing costs, ensuring universal healthcare and preparing for the “coming AI jobs crisis,” according to his campaign website.   Warner is up against Republican Bert Mizusawa, a retired major general of the U.S. Army. Mizusawa’s campaign prioritizes reducing the national debt, implementing a tax code with fewer brackets and protecting the Second Amendment. Mizusawa supports simplifying the immigration process, but encourages legal immigrants to prepare for assimilation to American culture. Mizusawa formerly served as senior advisor to the CIA director and worked as a foreign policy advisor for President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. In 2018, he attempted to campaign by challenging Sen. Tim Kaine, but did not make the ballot.   DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES Shannon Taylor, a Henrico County prosecutor, is the democratic nominee for the first congressional district. Taylor plans to propose a ban on congressional stock trading, 12-year

VCU POLL: Virginians believe data center are not ‘good neighbors’

August 19, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs released a new Commonwealth Poll on July 15 with results showing Virginians are concerned about data centers. Nearly 8 in 10 registered voters in Virginia believe data centers should pay additional fees to compensate for increased electricity demands from facility operation, according to the poll. Over 70% of registered voters oppose data centers receiving sales tax exemptions that incentivize facilities in the state. Virginia leads the country in the most planned data centers, according to Pew Research Center. There are future facilities planned for Chesterfield, Henrico, Petersburg and Goochland. Mary Finley-Brook, Professor of Geography and Global Studies at the University of Richmond and member of Data Center Defiance, said that Google, Meta, QTS, Chirisa and Tracts are all well-known entities in the data center landscape building in the Richmond area. DCD is a coalition in Central Virginia with a mission to protect people and the environment from the harms of data centers in the region. “They’re trying to squeeze as much as they can out of every locality, and it is always a sense of ‘If you don’t go along with what’s being demanded, we will

How much every VCU employee makes (UPDATED)

August 17, 2026

Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor Emeritus Heciel Nieves Bonilla, News Editor Emeritus Last April, The CT obtained VCU and VCU Health’s payrolls for active employees through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request. A new version of the payroll is now available. The data is publicly available information. Click here to view the VCU payroll via Google Sheets — organized by name, title, department, salary, earnings and bonuses. Click here to view the VCU Health payroll.  The CT originally requested “a comprehensive list of Virginia Commonwealth University/VCU Health System Authority’s payroll, to include employee names, titles, departments and salaries” in spreadsheet form.  The salary data was pulled in April 2026. The CT received the contents of the requests on April 22, 2026. Additional information, including exact earnings and bonuses, was received in May 2026. The data provided is an exact copy of what VCU sent to The CT.  Who isn’t on the payroll Employees earning a salary of less than $10,000 or less per year are not included, pursuant to Virginia state code. People exclusively employed by MCV Physicians, VCU Health’s nonprofit wing, are also not included. Nonprofits are not considered public bodies subject to FOIA requests, thus The CT could

Widespread heat wave forecasted to bring ‘significant risk’ to Richmond

July 1, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor Dangerously high temperatures are forecasted for the Richmond area this week, potentially being the region’s worst in several years, according to the National Weather Service. The projected temperatures, set to break 100 degrees, are being caused by a weather phenomenon called a “heat dome,” where high atmospheric pressure traps hot air. Temperatures are expected to peak around 3 p.m. each day from Wednesday to Sunday. Overnight temperatures will drop to the 70s, providing little cooling relief. Richmond is under elevated risk for extreme heat on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The risk increases on Thursday and Friday, causing possible heat exhaustion or heat stroke with prolonged exposure. Residents are advised to take caution when working outside, rest often in cooler locations and drink plenty of water during the heat wave, according to the NWS. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headaches, muscle cramping, shortness of breath and nausea, according to the Centers for Disease Control. People who are pregnant, people 65 years or older, young children and those with underlying health conditions like heart disease and asthma are at elevated risk of heat-related illness. Over 4,000 Virginians received health care for heat-related illness last summer, the highest it

VCU Students face higher than average tuition increase

August 19, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor Maeve Bauer, Executive Editor VCU in-state undergraduate students are now paying 3.9% more on their tuition this academic year.  In-state undergraduate students enrolled in 15 credits per semester are now paying $17,963 in tuition and mandatory fees, according to VCU News. Virginia’s average increase in tuition for in-state undergraduates is 3.2%, according to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. VCU had the second highest percentage increase in the state, behind Old Dominion University. Almost 80% of registered voters in Virginia’s July 2026 Commonwealth Poll believe that cost is too high to attend college in Virginia, reflecting a 10% increase since the winter poll. VCU cited that the tuition increase covered mandated costs, which includes salary increases, student internships, security and service contracts, graduate stipends and military tuition waivers, per a previous CT report. “VCU has the highest percentage of VMSDEP-eligible students among Virginia’s public institutions, with approximately 6% of our in-state undergraduate population participating in the program,” Brian McNeill, a VCU spokesperson, stated in an email. “As a result, VCU also has the highest VMSDEP waiver costs in the state.” McNeill stated that VCU’s average net price has stayed flat for families earning under $110,000 per year since 2019, McNeill stated. “In 2024-25, the average financial aid awarded to full-time undergraduate students seeking assistance was $20,105,” McNeill stated. “That year, more than $328 million in financial aid was disbursed to approximately 17,788 undergraduate students at VCU.” VCU recently expanded the Transforming Federal Work-Study program, now admitting 150 students this year, according to VCU News. The Federal Work-Study aid program provides jobs to students with financial needs for school-related and living expenses. Participants can earn up to $2,000 dollars a semester. Valerie Sutton, VCU Federal Work-Study Internship Coordinator, stated in an email that VCU maximizes its FWS allocation annually. “Reductions from the Department of Education in Federal Work-Study funding to VCU have occurred annually since Fiscal Year 2025, which impacts the overall pool of funds,” Sutton stated. “VCU is committed to FWS remaining a critical option to boost student access to career experiences, and has committed institutional funds in addition to the federal allocation for Fiscal Year 2027.” The Transforming Federal Work Study program aims to double the number of  positions over the next three years, according to Sutton. “Eligible students who apply fill positions at an exceptionally high rate,” Sutton stated. “The TFWS program

Unionized workers reject contract offer from Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

August 19, 2026

Harshini Kanala, Contributing Writer Workers at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden rejected their employer’s final contract offer after unionizing for increased wages and benefits since November 2024. The LGBG Workers United are the second group of LGBG workers in the US to unionize.  Eligible staff voted to organize for “living wages, safer working conditions, better benefits, and a seat at the table where the decisions that affected our well-being are made,” LGBG Workers United stated in a social media post. “We are wrapping up a 2-year-long, $31 Million Expansion at the garden, but union-eligible garden staff (everyone but the managers) haven’t seen a raise in 2 years,” LGBG Workers United stated. As of Aug. 13, LGBG Workers United announced that they chose to reject the employer’s “last, best and final offer” and will “go through internal procedures and notifications before details and next steps are released.” The LGBG Workers United declined a request for comment from The Commonwealth Times due to time conflicts. Singer-Songwriter Jesse Welles, known for his folk protest songs, moved his concert at the garden to the National on July 15 in solidarity with the union. He offered refunds for participants who could no longer attend. “To the

New VCU office looks to turn work experience into college credit

August 19, 2026

Maddy Thurber, Contributing writer VCU’s Office of Prior Learning began an initiative that offers non-traditional students the option to turn professional experience into college credit.  Students who may have worked in a professional sphere prior to the enrollment at VCU have the option to use that as credit toward an Interdisciplinary Studies diplomat.  “Credit for prior learning pathways are built for nontraditional students, which VCU defines as students who are married/widowed/divorced, have children/dependents or who are military-affiliated), who have an abundance of professional experience that may be equivalent to some of the courses they would take at VCU,” Associate Director Mia Liadis stated in an email.  Credit is available to adult learners with years of experience who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. Mariah Crilley, VCU Assistant Vice Provost for University Interdisciplinary Programs stated in an email she quickly learned the value of adult learners. They challenged me to be a better teacher by considering the deep expertise that all students, nontraditional or otherwise, bring to the classroom, and inspired me to develop a space that honored that expertise,” Crilley stated. Transfer Coordinator for Adult and Nontraditional Students, Tori Kesling said prior learning helps recognize when students have

ELECCIONES 2026: LO QUE HAY QUE SABER SOBRE LAS PRÓXIMAS ELECCIONES ESTATALES

August 19, 2026

Kayla Muñecas, editora asistente de noticias  Los habitantes de Virginia votaran por quien ocupará los escaños del estado en el Congreso, junto a tres enmiendas propuestas a la constitución de Virginia el 3 de Noviembre.  CANDIDATOS DEL SENADO El senador demócrata Mark Warner se postula al Senado por cuarta vez este año. Warner ocupó el puesto de gobernador de Virginia entre 2002 y 2006, y ahora está cumpliendo su tercer periodo como senador.   Las promesas de campaña de Warner incluyen reducir costos de vivienda, garantizar atención médica universal, y preparar para la “próxima crisis laboral causada por IA,” según su sitio web de campaña.   Warner se enfrentará al republicano Bert Mizusawa, un general retirado del Ejército de EE.UU. Sus principales propuestas incluyen reducir la deuda nacional, establecer un código fiscal con menos códigos impositivos, y proteger la Segunda Enmienda. Mizusawa también apoya simplificar el proceso migratorio, pero sostiene que los inmigrantes que llegan legalmente deben estar preparados para integrarse a la cultura estadounidense.  Mizusawa anteriormente trabajó como asesor principal del director de la CIA y también como asesor de política exterior para la campaña presidencial de Donald Trump en 2016. En 2018, intentó postularse para desafiar al senador Tim Kaine,

ELECTION 2026: What to know about the upcoming state election

August 19, 2026

Virginians will vote to decide who fills the state’s congressional seats, along with three proposed amendments to the state’s constitution on Nov. 3. SENATE CANDIDATES Democrat Sen. Mark Warner is on the ballot for the fourth time this year. Warner served as Virginia’s governor from 2002 to 2006 and is finishing his third term as senator.  Warner’s campaign promises include lowering housing costs, ensuring universal healthcare and preparing for the “coming AI jobs crisis,” according to his campaign website.   Warner is up against Republican Bert Mizusawa, a retired major general of the U.S. Army. Mizusawa’s campaign prioritizes reducing the national debt, implementing a tax code with fewer brackets and protecting the Second Amendment. Mizusawa supports simplifying the immigration process, but encourages legal immigrants to prepare for assimilation to American culture. Mizusawa formerly served as senior advisor to the CIA director and worked as a foreign policy advisor for President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. In 2018, he attempted to campaign by challenging Sen. Tim Kaine, but did not make the ballot.   DISTRICT 1 CANDIDATES Shannon Taylor, a Henrico County prosecutor, is the democratic nominee for the first congressional district. Taylor plans to propose a ban on congressional stock trading, 12-year

VCU POLL: Virginians believe data center are not ‘good neighbors’

August 19, 2026

Sal Orlando, News Editor The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs released a new Commonwealth Poll on July 15 with results showing Virginians are concerned about data centers. Nearly 8 in 10 registered voters in Virginia believe data centers should pay additional fees to compensate for increased electricity demands from facility operation, according to the poll. Over 70% of registered voters oppose data centers receiving sales tax exemptions that incentivize facilities in the state. Virginia leads the country in the most planned data centers, according to Pew Research Center. There are future facilities planned for Chesterfield, Henrico, Petersburg and Goochland. Mary Finley-Brook, Professor of Geography and Global Studies at the University of Richmond and member of Data Center Defiance, said that Google, Meta, QTS, Chirisa and Tracts are all well-known entities in the data center landscape building in the Richmond area. DCD is a coalition in Central Virginia with a mission to protect people and the environment from the harms of data centers in the region. “They’re trying to squeeze as much as they can out of every locality, and it is always a sense of ‘If you don’t go along with what’s being demanded, we will

How much every VCU employee makes (UPDATED)

August 17, 2026

Andrew Kerley, Executive Editor Emeritus Heciel Nieves Bonilla, News Editor Emeritus Last April, The CT obtained VCU and VCU Health’s payrolls for active employees through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request. A new version of the payroll is now available. The data is publicly available information. Click here to view the VCU payroll via Google Sheets — organized by name, title, department, salary, earnings and bonuses. Click here to view the VCU Health payroll.  The CT originally requested “a comprehensive list of Virginia Commonwealth University/VCU Health System Authority’s payroll, to include employee names, titles, departments and salaries” in spreadsheet form.  The salary data was pulled in April 2026. The CT received the contents of the requests on April 22, 2026. Additional information, including exact earnings and bonuses, was received in May 2026. The data provided is an exact copy of what VCU sent to The CT.  Who isn’t on the payroll Employees earning a salary of less than $10,000 or less per year are not included, pursuant to Virginia state code. People exclusively employed by MCV Physicians, VCU Health’s nonprofit wing, are also not included. Nonprofits are not considered public bodies subject to FOIA requests, thus The CT could