FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news: * * * Rocket Day is a Blast at Flint Hill * What could capture the attention of 50 kindergarteners, inspiring them to leave a playground behind and sit still in a straight line, and pay close attention? These students were attracted to the excitement of Rocket Day at Flint Hill Elementary School on Thursday, October 9. Students at Flint Hill built rockets earlier in the week and tested them on th  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news: * * * "That's Not Discrimination": Sears' Opposition to Gay Marriage, Support for Firing People for Being Gay Becomes Story of Debate * During the Virginia gubernatorial debate last night, Winsome Sears shockingly doubled down on her opposition to gay marriage and reiterated her support for firing Virginians for being gay, saying that it's "not discrimination." Virginians are speaking out against Sears a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following news release: * * * IN THE STATES: Democrats Are On Offense Across the Country The DNC launched a new ad and organizing campaign that targets vulnerable Republicans in Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and Michigan and holds them accountable for refusing to extend the ACA tax credits. Through this campaign, the DNC is making sure voters know that Republicans are to blame for this health care crisis. * Nati  more

FAIRFAX, Virginia, Oct. 10 (TNSjou) -- The George Mason University College of Public Health issued the following news: * * * The changing importance of sex after 50 By Katie Pearce For many Americans over 50, sex remains an important part of life, even as health challenges and shifting relationships reshape priorities. A new study led by Lucas Reyes Prieto, assistant professor of social work at George Mason University, examines how disability and other factors influence the importance of sex  more

FAIRFAX, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- George Mason University issued the following campus news: * * * Career Influencers Network guides career-ready students toward success By Lauren Reuscher The Career Influencers Network at George Mason University empowers faculty and staff to provide career development support to students throughout their academic journey. The network is open to instructors, advisors, success coaches, supervisors, and any others across campus who are positioned to help students a  more

FAIRFAX, Virginia, Oct. 11 -- George Mason University issued the following research news: * * * Engineering professors develop human-AI colorization tool for cartoonists By Shayla Brown and Nora McDonald George Mason University Information and Sciences (IST) Associate Professor Sungsoo Ray Hong has always loved cartoons. Now he's helping the artists who make them. Drawing on his expertise in human-computer interaction (HCI) and artificial intelligence (AI), Hong and colleague Yotam Gingold,   more

FAIRFAX, Virginia, Oct. 11 -- George Mason University issued the following campus news: * * * Powerful community partnerships help combat public health challenges By Taylor Thomas The Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics' Empowered Communities program's success is driven by dynamic partnerships between George Mason University and community organizations that are transforming public health outcomes in underserved communities. Initiatives convene networks of nurses, peer specialists, community h  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * Meet-a-Ram: Andrew Alli's path to James River Park System leadership came through VCU * By Madeline Reinsel Meet-a-Ram is an occasional VCU News series about the students, faculty, staff and alumni who make Virginia Commonwealth University such a dynamic place to live, work and study. Andrew Alli didn't always want to work in parks. The Henrico County native enrolled at VCU as a mechanical e  more

FALLS CHURCH, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- Fairfax County Public Schools issued the following news: * * * October 9, 2025 School Board Meeting Highlights * Public Hearing At 6:30 p.m., the School Board Public Hearing was called to order. This public hearing was on Fairfax County Public Schools' 2025 biennial VDOE Comprehensive Plan. Each local school board must adopt a divisionwide comprehensive, unified, long-range plan that will be utilized to improve classroom instruction and student achievem  more

FRONT ROYAL, Virginia, Oct. 9 -- Christendom College posted the following news: * * * Poet James Matthew Wilson Delivers Lecture on the Power and Nature of Poetry at Christendom * Christendom College welcomed acclaimed poet and critic James Matthew Wilson back to campus as part of the college's Collegiate Lecture Series, with Wilson delivering a thought-provoking lecture titled "The Part the Muses Give Us: Poetry as First Art." The lecture explored the power and nature of poetry, with Wilson  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release: * * * Rob Wittman's Constituents Are Starting to See Their Health Care Premiums Skyrocket for 2026 * Virginia's insurance marketplace is already showing price hikes for next year Insurance companies are starting to reveal next year's premium rates through Virginia's insurance marketplace - and the price hikes are staggering because Republicans have failed to extend ACA tax credits.   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- The Virginia Democratic Party posted the following news release: * * * Sears Campaign Tries, Fails to Explain Away Sears' Position Opposing Gay Marriage: "Not Discrimination" Sears on firing Virginians for being gay and opposing gay marriage: "that's not discrimination" *  VIRGINIA - During last night's debate, Abigail Spanberger slammed Winsome Earle-Sears for her " moral opposition " to same-sex marriage and support for letting Virginians get fired for bein  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- The Virginia Democratic Party posted the following news release: * * * Sears Refuses to Call on Trump to Stop Firing Virginians as He Begins More Mass Layoffs Amid Government Shutdown When asked directly during last night's debate, Sears refused to call on Trump to reopen the government *  VIRGINIA - As Donald Trump makes good on his threat to enact more mass layoffs of federal employees amid a government shutdown, Winsome Earle-Sears still refuses to call on  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news: * * * Sears Stands by Trump as He Fires Virginia Workers with DOGE 2.0 * New Polling Shows 57% of Virginians Oppose Trump Firing More Federal Workers Because There is a Shutdown Today, the Trump administration continued gutting Virginia's workforce after Winsome Sears refused to tell Donald Trump not to fire more Virginians when asked directly multiple times. Sears has downplayed the impacts of Trump a  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- Virginia Commonwealth University issued the following news: * * * The 2026-27 FAFSA is open - here's what you need to know * By Elinor Frisa The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid became available Sept. 24, earlier than its traditional release date of Oct. 1. This was a welcome change for applicants and schools, as recent years were marked by federal delays and scrambling as the application process was overhauled. VCU News caught up with Sandr  more

BLACKSBURG, Virginia, Oct. 11 -- Virginia Tech issued the following news: * * * Virginia Tech working group establishes framework for responsible, ethical use of AI By Dave Guerin Establishing a framework and guidelines for the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) at Virginia Tech is the focus of a report drafted by an AI working group charged by Executive Vice President and Provost Cyril Clarke and Chief Operating Officer Amy Sebring. The comprehensive "Responsible   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 9 -- The Virginia Democratic Party posted the following news release: * * * Virginians Call Out Sears Following Atrocious Debate Performance and Declaration that Opposing Gay Marriage "Is Not Discrimination" * VIRGINIA - As Winsome Earle-Sears flopped and flailed at tonight's gubernatorial debate, Virginians took notice, calling her out and naming Abigail Spanberger the clear winner. In a key moment, Sears said that her opposition to marriage equality or her support   more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- The Virginia Democratic Party posted the following news release: * * * When Asked About Her Support for an Abortion Ban, Sears Says We Need to "Figure [It] Out" Confirming She Would Change Virginia Law * # Abortion is currently legal in Virginia - Sears' answer confirms she would change this if elected VIRGINIA - During last night's debate, when asked about her support for an abortion ban, Winsome Earle-Sears said "my position is that the Commonwealth need  more

RICHMOND, Virginia, Oct. 10 -- The Virginia Democratic Party posted the following news release: * * * WINSOME, LOST THE DEBATE: Sears Flailed, Fibbed, and Flopped on the Debate Stage * VIRGINIA - At last night's debate, Winsome Earle-Sears flailed, fibbed, and flopped as she proved to Virginians once again that she will always put her loyalty to Trump and her extreme and dangerous agenda ahead of the Commonwealth. In a key moment, Sears said that her opposition to marriage equality and suppo  more

BUCKHANNON, West Virginia, Oct. 10 -- West Virginia Wesleyan College posted the following news: * * * WVWC Exemplary Teaching Award Presented to Dr. Tamara Bailey * BUCKHANNON, West Virginia - Recognizing an educator whose challenging expectations and steadfast support of students enable them to reach their highest potential, the 2025 Exemplary Teaching Award was presented to Dr. Tamara Denmark Bailey by Provost Lynn M. Linder at Founders Day. Linder said, " Each year, West Virginia Wesley  more