GOP Calls for Gas Tax Holiday 

Republicans in both houses of the General Assembly called for a 90-day suspension of the state’s gas tax. The state collects about 32 cents per gallon of gas sold, and the proceeds fund highway maintenance.

The average price of gas jumped more than a dollar per gallon in March. According to AAA, gas averaged $3.87 per gallon in the Commonwealth this weekend, up from $2.81 at the end of February when the United States and Israel launched a joint operation against Iran.

“Each 30 days will cost about $125 million,” House Republican Leader Terry Kilgore said of the proposed gas tax holiday. “We have the money to do it.”

Gov. Abigail Spanberger blamed President Trump’s policies for the price increase. “Virginians are feeling the brunt of the President’s actions at the pump and grocery store,” she said. 

Crowds Gather for No Kings Protests

Tens of thousands of Virginians took part in the nationwide No Kings rallies on a chilly Saturday, the third round of peaceful mass protests against the Trump administration.

In Virginia Beach, Army veteran Danitta James explained she was attending her first such protest. “It really continues to show younger generations that this is what we fight for,” she said.

Richmond’s turnout was split between two gatherings about a mile apart: one at Kanawha Plaza and the other on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

There were dozens of smaller protests in Northern Virginia, and organizers said more than 3,000 people rallied in Roanoke and 2,000 in Blacksburg. “I felt obliged to come out and do whatever I can to encourage this,” a protester in Roanoke said.

Deadly One-Car Crash

Three Spotsylvania High School seniors died in a car crash on Friday, just weeks before they were scheduled to graduate.

Authorities have identified one of the three victims as 17-year-old Kyle Derby, adding that another 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were in the car.

The three were in a 2002 Mercedes coupe, which slammed into a tree. Authorities think speed was a key factor in the accident.

“Our thoughts are with the families, and we are respecting their privacy during this very difficult time,” the school district said in a statement.

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➤ Statewide: Almost half a million Virginians cast a ballot during the first three weeks of early voting in the ongoing redistricting referendum, a higher turnout than during the same time period in last year’s gubernatorial elections. The final day to vote on the constitutional amendment is April 21. (Details)

➤ Warrenton: Authorities ordered a ground stop at Dulles and Reagan National Airports last week after a strong smell inside the Federal Aviation Administration facility that manages their radar systems. The odor was blamed on an overheated battery backup in a breakroom. (More)

➤ Botetourt County: Google announced it remains committed to building a data center project here. “We are dedicated to growing in a way that provides clear, long-term benefits to the families and businesses of Botetourt County,” a spokesman for the high-tech giant said. (Details)

➤ Caroline County: A landowner on an ATV discovered a body near U.S. Route 301 in Sparta last week. The body may be Jaden McComber, an 18-year-old Hopewell resident who has been missing. (More)

➤ Statewide: Virginia state police seized more than half a million dollars’ worth of illegal drugs in the week ending March 24. State troopers also recovered eight firearms in the course of their operations. (More)

➤ Fairfax County: School leaders are considering a proposal to sell naming rights to county facilities such as football stadiums and other athletic facilities. The system is seeking ways to raise funds to address a $400 million maintenance backlog. (Details)

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➤ UVA women’s basketball’s Cinderella run ended with a 79-69 loss to TCU in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament on Saturday. (Details)

➤ Virginia Tech softball picked up its ninth straight win and moved to 31-4 by hammering Boston College 17-3. The Hokies are ranked No. 12 in the nation. (Stats)

➤ UVA baseball will drop from its No. 9 ranking after losing two of three on the road at Boston College. The Cavs salvaged a 3-1 come-from-behind win yesterday. (More)

➤ Chase Elliott sped to his first win of the season, edging out Denny Hamlin to take the checkered flag at the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville. (Details)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | MLB | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA | Tennis | NASCAR | F1

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➤ Chuck Kuhn, the owner of Virginia-based JK Land Holdings, paid $90 million for the 240,000-square-foot Redstone Industrial Park in Manassas. (Details)

➤ Forest-based ice cream shop Mister Goodies announced it will move from the Backyard to another location. (More)

➤ Wanchese Fish Company of Suffolk accepted nearly $250,000 from the Commonwealth to allow it to process invasive blue catfish into food. (Details)

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The Next $435B Energy Empire Is Being Minted

In today’s dollars, John D. Rockefeller would be worth $435 billion. But “oil money” is old news, and what’s next might surprise investors in 2026: a $2.1 Trillion opportunity in “clean” coal. 

Now is the “Rockefeller” moment for Frontieras as they reform coal into hydrogen, diesel, and other valuable commodities (just as Rockefeller did with oil). With a White House that favors domestic energy, the NASDAQ ticker FASF reserved, and land officially purchased for their flagship coal reformation plant, Frontieras is positioned for potential valuation impact. 

➤ The Wildlife Center of Virginia released a bobcat into the wild after nursing it back to health. The animal lived at the center for 196 days. (Details)

➤ Jamelle Wilson, a dean at the University of Richmond, was named to Virginia’s Board of Education by Gov. Spanberger. (More)

➤ Cargo ships spotted off Virginia Beach recently appeared to hover above the ocean. Experts said the optical illusion is known as a Fata Morgana, and occurs when a temperature inversion bends light in unusual ways. (Details)

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Should the state suspend its 32-cent-per-gallon gas tax for three months?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet

Friday’s Results:

Have you been to a race at Martinsville Speedway? 

1. No: 56%
2. Yes: 25%
3. Not yet!: 19%

When did the name Newport News first appear?

Show me the answer