Bus Crash Kills 5 on I-95

Five people are dead and 34 others were hospitalized after a passenger bus failed to reduce speed as traffic slowed and struck six vehicles on Interstate 95 southbound in Stafford County near Quantico yesterday morning.

All five who died were occupants of vehicles the bus struck, not bus passengers. Three of those hospitalized are in critical condition, according to Virginia State Police.

The preliminary investigation indicates traffic was slowing ahead of a work zone near Exit 148 when the bus did not reduce speed. Southbound lanes were shut for several hours as investigators worked the scene.

The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending, state police said.

Virginia’s Gun Ban Faces Legal Revolt

At least seven Virginia commonwealth’s attorneys have announced they will not enforce the state’s ban on certain semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity magazines, which takes effect July 1.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed the law on May 15, and pro-gun groups including the NRA immediately sued to block it before it takes effect. Gun rights organizations also asked a circuit court to hold State Police in contempt after the agency resumed private-sale background checks that an active injunction had blocked.

Prosecutors from counties including Powhatan, Pulaski, and Spotsylvania cite Supreme Court Second Amendment rulings as grounds for refusing to prosecute. Spotsylvania Commonwealth’s Attorney Ryan Mehaffey said the ban is unconstitutional and reflects what his constituents want.

The Spanberger administration disputes the contempt claim, and the attorney general’s office has filed to dissolve the injunction that blocked the background check requirement. No ruling has come ahead of July 1.

Virginia Slowdown Forecast Grows Grim

UVA’s Weldon Cooper Center is now forecasting Virginia will lose 17,800 jobs this year, with some economists describing the outlook as a “small recession.”

The quarterly forecast projects unemployment rising to 4.8% by year’s end—one of the Commonwealth’s highest rates in a decade outside the pandemic. Northern Virginia has been hit hardest, as federal workforce reductions and slashed government contracts ripple through the state’s largest economic region.

Professional services and government sectors are bearing the brunt of the losses, with higher borrowing costs and weakened consumer confidence compounding the slowdown statewide.

Forecasters say Virginia should begin recovering in 2027, but the near-term outlook marks a sharp departure from the strong job growth the Commonwealth posted just two years ago.

➤ Arlington: Waymo confirmed it is mapping streets in Alexandria and Arlington as the driverless car company prepares for a potential robotaxi service—pending Virginia legislation that currently prohibits fully driverless vehicles. (More)

➤ Norfolk: Virginia health officials report congenital syphilis cases dropped 25% across the Eastern region over the past year, with Hampton Roads seeing measurable improvements after a sustained public health campaign. Sentara Health reported a 42% jump in testing orders. (More)

➤ Roanoke: Isaiah 117 House, a nonprofit offering temporary shelter for children entering foster care, is opening a new facility in Roanoke—giving families a stable place during the often-chaotic first hours of a child’s placement. (More)

➤ Richmond: A petition urging the city to cap or eliminate monthly “pet rent” fees is gaining traction, joining a nationwide movement after Washington, D.C. passed similar restrictions. Advocates say fees of $50–$100/month price pet owners out of rentals. (More)

➤ Fairfax: Rising housing costs and voracious data center demand are straining Northern Virginia’s energy infrastructure, according to a new regional report that otherwise finds the Commonwealth’s economic engine on solid footing. (More)

➤ The Washington Nationals fired their director of community relations, Sean Hudson, three days after a hidden-camera video allegedly showed him saying the team excludes pitcher Trevor Williams from social media promotion because of his Catholic faith. (More)

➤ JACKALOPE returns to Virginia Beach’s Neptune Park this weekend with over 300 athletes competing in skateboarding, BMX, skydiving and more. The event is free. (See Schedule)

➤ Virginia Tech named a search committee this week to find their next athletic director after Whit Babcock’s decision to step down. Hokies head football coach James Franklin is among the committee’s core members. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | MLB | Soccer | NCAASB | WNBA | Golf

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China’s 60% Grip on Lithium Is Breaking

A domestic lithium producer backed by General Motors just announced plans for its second U.S. facility. This Utah project will sit atop approximately 2.4 million tons of lithium. Now, investors can claim an early-stage stake. 

Here’s the bigger picture.

China controls 60% of the world’s lithium. But as demand for high-tech innovations like AI and EVs continues to grow, America needs its own reliable supply fast. The window to profit from what comes next is open.

America holds the world’s 5th-largest lithium reserves, and they’ve barely been touched. EnergyX is changing that with patented technology that recovers up to 3X more lithium than conventional methods.

In a world reliant on lithium for batteries, electric vehicles, and grid storage, a domestic lithium supply is critical. Invest in EnergyX today.

➤ The ¿Qué Pasa? Festival marks its 25th year at CarMax Park on Saturday, May 30, noon to 8 p.m.—free and family-friendly, celebrating Hispanic and Latin American culture with food, music, and vendors. (More)

➤ IllumiNATION, a block-long 18,000-square-foot video projection at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, debuts June 25–28 as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. (More)

➤ Hampton Roads is loading up on summer shows—John Mulaney brings his tour to Chrysler Hall on Sunday, Ari Lennox plays The Dome on June 3, and Journey has a date on the calendar too. (More)

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➤ Elon Musk’s latest venture is making headlines nationwide after reportedly receiving White House clearance and expanding across all 50 states. Some analysts believe this new currency initiative could surpass the impact of Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI combined. Discover why investors are calling it one of the biggest opportunities of the decade — before the rollout gains even more momentum.

UVA or Virginia Tech — who are you rooting for in the NCAA baseball tournament this weekend?

1. Go Hoos! (UVA)
2. Let’s go Hokies! (VT)
3. Root for all four Virginia teams
4. I don’t follow college baseball

Yesterday’s Results:

Which word trips you up the most?

1. Spaghetti – 15%
2. Separate – 16%
3. Through – 13%
4. Niece – 13%
5. Other – 22%
6. Spellcheck handles it – 21%

Virginia is the birthplace of more U.S. presidents than any other state. How many presidents were born in Virginia?

Show me the answer