Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed legislation “banning the manufacture, sale, and possession of untraceable firearms without serial numbers that law enforcement cannot track, commonly known as ‘ghost guns.'” “As a former federal law enforcement officer and someone who comes from a law enforcement family, public safety is personal to me,” Spanberger said. “We are taking concrete steps to make sure Virginia’s law enforcement has the support they need to keep our communities safe,” she added. “She has also signed bills that her office says will allow ‘firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices contribute to gun violence,'” Virginia State Capitol reporter Tyler Englander said. New: @GovernorVA has signed several bills, including ones that ban the sale and possession of so-called "ghost guns." She has also signed bills that her office says will allow "firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices… pic.twitter.com/U0EEqEbATm — Tyler Englander (@TylerEnglander) April 10, 2026 WTKR confirmed: Four bills recently signed by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger aim to curb gun violence within the commonwealth, her press office said Friday. The governor has signed hundreds of bills in recent days. Previous batches of bills focused on Spanberger’s agenda to create a more affordable Virginia. The recently-signed gun laws were highlighted in a press release put out by her office addressing public safety across the commonwealth. The following descriptions for the four bills were taken from the press release sent by Spanberger’s office: HB19 — “Closing the ‘intimate partner loophole’ by prohibiting intimate partners convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes from possessing a firearm.” HB21 — “Allowing firearm manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable when negligent business practices contribute to gun violence.” HB40 — “Banning the manufacture, sale, and possession of untraceable firearms without serial numbers that law enforcement cannot track, commonly known as ‘ghost guns.'” HB93 — “Specifying that a person subject to a protective order or convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes who is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm may transfer their firearm to a person who is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, who is 21 years of age or older, and who does not live in their home.” “Preventing gun violence is an issue of public safety — both for the officers who protect our streets and the children and families they work to keep safe. Whether you’re a first responder or a survivor seeking justice, these laws reflect a simple commitment: the Commonwealth of Virginia will always have your back,” Spanberger said in a statement, according to the outlet. “@SpanbergerForVA is on notice: 2A rights SHALL NOT BE infringed. We are closely watching—in the event any unlawful legislation is enacted, we will sue. @CivilRights will protect the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens in Virginia. 2A Section Lawyers are standing by,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said. @SpanbergerForVA is on notice: 2A rights SHALL NOT BE infringed.  We are closely watching—in the event any unlawful legislation is enacted, we will sue. @CivilRights will protect the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens in Virginia. 2A Section Lawyers are standing by… pic.twitter.com/h2DfXwgaKC — AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) April 10, 2026 More from Virginia Mercury: While many of the bills had bipartisan support, some had previously been vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican. Such was the case for a proposal by Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, to ban “ghost guns,” or guns that can’t be traced because they were not made by weapons manufacturers. Often 3-D printed, Ebbin has tried for several years to outlaw them in Virginia. Still pending, however, are bills to ban assault-style weapons. Such bills have been historically carried by Democrats and opposed by Republicans. Spanberger has until April 13 to take action on those bills and hundreds of bills that advanced the legislature and made it to her desk. Her choices are to sign bills as they are, seek amendments or she can veto them. When lawmakers reconvene in Richmond later this month to finalize the state budget, they can also take up any amendments Spanberger may seek on bills. In the meantime, she signed a slew of bills Friday to support safety in a variety of ways from gun regulations to support for public responders.

Legendary college basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale on Monday disclosed a new cancer diagnosis. Vitale revealed he has melanoma in his lung and liver cavity and will start immunotherapy soon. “I’ve beaten melanoma. I’ve beaten lymphoma. I’ve beaten vocal cord cancer. I’ve beaten lymph node cancer,” Vitale said in a statement, according to ESPN. “I’m four-for-four and I’m fully confident I’m going to make it five-for-five,” he added. Hall of Fame analyst Dick Vitale has been diagnosed with melanoma again, he announced through @espn. Vitale: "The best news I can share today is this: I feel fantastic." pic.twitter.com/UUd1PBCDDD — Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 13, 2026 ESPN shared further: Following a nearly a two-year break to deal with his health, Vitale returned to broadcasting in February of last year after announcing he was cancer-free. He just wrapped up his 46th year covering college basketball at ESPN. “I am truly overwhelmed by the love, support, prayers and messages I’ve received from so many people” Vitale said. “I’m incredibly blessed to have my family beside me, and my ESPN family — led by Chairman Jimmy Pitaro — has been absolutely terrific. Their support has inspired me to keep fighting and I will do everything in my power to win another battle. “I obviously did not get the report today that I was hoping for when my oncologist called . It has been 10 days of many exams Pet Scan – Cat scan – 2 MRI’s- Biopsy – multiple bloodwork – now at least I know what I face,” Vitale wrote on social media. “The Melanoma Lung & liver cavity cancer will mean I will start IMMUNE THERAPY next week – plan on winning the battle!” he added. I obviously did not get the report today that I was hoping for when my oncologist called . It has been 10 days of many exams Pet Scan – Cat scan – 2 MRI’s- Biopsy – multiple bloodwork – now at least I know what I face. The Melanoma Lung & liver cavity cancer will mean I will… — Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 13, 2026 More from the New York Post: Vitale, who has been with ESPN since its inception in 1979, returned to broadcasting college basketball last year and in his most recent TV appearance, he was part of the First Four broadcast of Texas and North Carolina State. Vitale’s previous bouts with cancer have increasingly motivated him to help raise money for those going through their own battles, which he noted in his statement on Monday. “At 86 years young, I’ve lived a h*** of a life, and I’m more motivated than ever to raise money for kids battling cancer,” he continued. “No child should ever have to go through what I’ve experienced. I am grateful beyond words for all of the support I’ve received, and I’m already looking forward to this year’s annual Gala on May 1. I really feel we will raise $12 million to add to the $105 million we’ve already raised, all for pediatric cancer research.” Vitale underwent a PET scan, a CAT scan and two MRI’s last week, with the results concerning his doctors, and led him to have a biopsy done on Friday. The situation bothered Vitale enough that he had been asking his supporters to “hope & pray for good results” in a post on X. In a post earlier in the day on Monday, Vitale said that he couldn’t sleep because he was “so worried about the report I will get on my biopsy I had on Friday.”

Four city council members in a small Missouri town were voted out of their positions just days after the approval of a controversial $6 billion data center project. In a 6-2 vote, the Festus City Council approved an ordinance to create a “framework of requirements” for the data center developer. Members of the public filled the Festus High School gym to oppose the data center. $6 Billion Data Center Approved In Red State Despite Massive Public Pushback More from the New York Post: Local opposition to the data center, which was set to be built on some 360 acres of land by investment firm CRG Clayco, had been building in the weeks leading up to the March 30 special meeting. At the meeting, council members voted 6-2 to approve an infrastructure, development and funding agreement for the $6 billion project. While city leaders touted the project’s economic benefits, key details — including who would ultimately operate the facility and how it would impact local resources — were unclear, fueling frustration among residents. Locals have fiercely opposed the project, raising concerns about its environmental impact, property values and the prospect of a massive industrial facility being built near homes. Many also argued city officials ignored public input and rushed the approval process despite widespread backlash. Four incumbent council members — Jim Collier in Ward 1, Brian Wehner in Ward 2, Robert “Bobby” Venz in Ward 3 and Jim Tinnin in Ward 4 — were voted out, each losing to challengers who ran on anti-data center and pro-transparency platforms, according to St. Louis Public Radio. "This data center fight has struck this community to the core and really, honestly ignited a community-driven effort here," said Dan Moore, who defeated the Ward 3 incumbent, according to KCUR. "People are awake now, and we're not going to let this continue on anymore," he added. The City of Festus, MO canceled their Council meeting for tonight following last night's election whereby citizens voted out of office every single member who voted for the data center there that the people did not want.Micro to macro, that is how we hold them accountable. — Missi Hesketh for MO 7th (@MissiforMO) April 9, 2026 KCUR has more: Additionally, Karl Weekley unseated Jim Collier in Ward 1, Allen Joseph McCarthy ousted Brian Wehner in Ward 2, and Rick Belleville defeated Jim Tinnin in Ward 4. Wehner voted against the most recent ordinance on the development last week, along with fellow Ward 2 council member Staci Templeton. However, previously the board had unanimously approved several other required steps for the development. The election could serve as a bellwether for elections in areas where data centers are planned, as officials balance the potential for massive tax revenues from the often multibillion-dollar projects with public pushback. CRG Clayco's Festus project is just one of nearly a dozen in the region and is the company's second proposal to meet headwinds from public opposition. Its previous proposal in St. Charles ended with a yearlong moratorium passed by the city. In a previous interview with St. Louis Public Radio, Festus City Administrator Greg Camp described the project as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the city, county and other taxing districts in the area when it comes to revenue. Watch additional coverage below:

The city of Baltimore said it would have to reduce the amount of fluoride in its municipal water system because of supply chain disruptions caused by the Iran war. “These constraints are part of broader national supply chain disruptions, driven in part by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, as well as reduced domestic production and limited output from key international suppliers,” the Department of Public Works said, according to NBC News. “A key supplier based in Israel has experienced significant operational disruptions,” it added. It’s not just gas prices: Some US water utilities are reporting the Middle East war is disrupting their ability to maintain recommended fluoride levels in drinking water. https://t.co/AkkXyKUn2m — The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) April 13, 2026 NBC News explained further: Fluoride will be reduced from about 0.7 milligrams per liter to 0.4 mg per liter at its Ashburton and Montebello filtration plants, the department sad. “Drinking water will remain safe and meet all federal and state water quality standards,” it said. The reduction does not affect the overall safety or quality of the water, as fluoride is not a regulatorily required additive. It’s not just Baltimore. In nearby Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, WSSC Water said it was temporarily reducing fluoride for its 1.9 million customers because of disruptions. It, too, said that hydrofluorosilicic acid, used in water fluoridation, has supply chain problems linked to the war and that a major supplier in Israel “has experienced significant operational impacts.” “This is an adjustment driven solely by supply availability,” DPW Director Matthew Garbark stated, according to The Hill. “We remain committed to providing safe, high-quality drinking water,” Garbark added. Baltimore DPW reduces fluoride in drinking water, citing supply chain disruptions https://t.co/EiEwBqpKEY — The Baltimore Banner (@BaltimoreBanner) April 13, 2026 The Hill noted: There is no federal requirement regarding water fluoridation though the U.S. Public Health Service makes recommendation on what concentration municipalities should aim for. The current recommendation is 0.7 mg/L. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spoken out against water fluoridation, telling reporters last year that he would be directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending it. In January, the Environmental Protection Agency announced an accelerated review of the “public health risks from fluoride in drinking water.”

A federal appeals court has upheld West Virginia’s school vaccination law without offering religious exemptions. According to The Defender, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit overturned a lower court decision that had “temporarily allowed a child who had not received all the state-mandated vaccines to remain enrolled in an online public school.” The court ruled in a 2-1 decision that the “state’s requirement that students be vaccinated against a range of infectious diseases does not violate the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom,” the outlet stated. Appeals court upholds West Virginia vaccine mandate, denies religious exemption pic.twitter.com/saLX1G7Gvz — Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) April 13, 2026 More from The Defender: Anthony and Krystle Perry brought the case on behalf of their daughter, who was enrolled in West Virginia Virtual Academy, an online public school, but was later disenrolled after school officials determined she was not fully vaccinated. The parents, who argued that vaccinating their child conflicted with their Christian beliefs, sought a religious exemption, which West Virginia law does not provide. West Virginia is one of only five states that prohibit religious exemptions for school vaccine mandates. A lower federal court that had previously sided with the family issued a preliminary injunction, which allowed the child to return to school while the case proceeded. The appeals court reversed that decision, ruling that the parents are unlikely to succeed on their constitutional claim. Experts who spoke with The Defender said the court’s decision was out of step with the evolving legal framework on religious exemptions to vaccine mandates. They said the majority decision disregarded key recent U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decisions holding that denials of religious exemption claims must be subject to “strict scrutiny.” “Rights, as important as they are, do not swing free and clear of the larger social Compact,” Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote in the majority opinion, according to West Virginia Watch. “We live in a society that accords its citizens enormous benefits. In return, states can, in a measured way, require certain exactions and accommodations to the broader social interest,” the judge continued. “(West Virginia’s vaccination law) is a legitimate exercise of the state’s power to protect the health and well-being of school children,” the judge stated. “Striking the law down would undermine not just our system of dual sovereignty, but also a long line of Supreme Court precedent,” the judge added. WOW: West Virginia can enforce its school vaccination law without offering religious exemptions, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday. West Virginia is one of only five states that prohibit religious exemptions for school vaccine mandates.https://t.co/POEtfBbbeY — Children’s Health Defense (@ChildrensHD) April 11, 2026 West Virginia Watch explained further: State law allows only medical exemptions to the vaccine requirements. According to court documents, the Perrys’ daughter had been enrolled in a virtual school for 16 months when a school official contacted Krystle Perry about the daughter’s vaccination status. When the mother confirmed the child was not fully vaccinated, the girl was disenrolled from the school. The mother sought a religious exemption, but school officials told her they were not available. Reached Wednesday afternoon, Upshur County Superintendent Christy Miller said, “We’re happy that that (the preliminary injunction] was overturned and that we are going to be able to continue moving forward enforcing the statute as it has been written.” An attorney for the plaintiffs in the case did not respond to an email seeking comment. The lawsuit was filed in 2024, before Gov. Patrick Morrisey issued an executive order directing the state health officer to come up with religious exemptions to the state’s school vaccination requirements. Morrisey’s executive order is based on the state’s 2023 Equal Protection for Religion Act. It’s unclear what, if any, bearing the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling might have on the West Virginia Supreme Court’s consideration of a separate legal action concerning the state vaccination law. The West Virginia Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision at some point in the case of West Virginia Board of Education v. Miranda Guzman. Guzman is suing the state and Raleigh County boards of education to have her child enrolled in a Raleigh County school with a religious exemption issued under the governor’s executive order.