r/swva 9h ago

News Upper half of Virginia Creeper Trail, destroyed by Hurricane Helene, set to reopen March 31

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21 Upvotes

The rebuilt trail, which is expected to be completed in December, will have three months over the winter to “settle.”


r/swva 1d ago

Discussion Would you be interested in a Preparedness-focused land cooperative?

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1 Upvotes

r/swva 2d ago

News Southwest Virginia artist: "By rejecting mural with ethnically diverse musicians, Galax sends a message that some aren’t welcome"

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83 Upvotes

Galax rejected a mural that shows an ethnically diverse group of musicians on the grounds that it didn’t represent the city.


r/swva 2d ago

News Virginia's fastest-growing nonprofit news organization, Cardinal News, adds 9 staff, with more on the way.

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58 Upvotes

The new Cardinal News staff include four reporters, an editor, and people experienced in fundraising, administration and community engagement.


r/swva 2d ago

News 9th district candidate forum in Tazwell, Virginia.

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11 Upvotes

If you were unable to attend the democratic candidates forum in Tazwell, here is a full video with timestamps of each question and answer from each candidate.

The candidates are:
Doug Crockett: Crocketnow.com
Adam Murphy: Murphy4va.com
Joy Powers: Joyforcongress.com
If you live in Tazwell County,and want to join the local democratic comittee, check out tazewellvademocrats.org.

You can support more local news coverave by supporting the story of kody at:
patreon.com/thestoryofkody
https://ko-fi.com/thestoryofkody

my car hit a deer, and I will need new wheels soon. your donation helps me get closer to a working car and more frequent news updates.
ty.


r/swva 2d ago

News Merger talks for Appalachian School of Law continue amid Buchanan County leadership turmoil

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6 Upvotes

Local funding for the financially strapped school has been a point of contention between the board of supervisors and the county IDA.


r/swva 8d ago

News Spanberger: $7.3 million to be disbursed to rebuild housing damaged by Helene

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20 Upvotes

The commonwealth received the money in 2025 through a federal Housing and Urban Development Department disaster relief block grant program.


r/swva 9d ago

News Study says Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center generates $30 million annually for local economy

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20 Upvotes

r/swva 11d ago

News Eight school-based health clinics close in Southwest Virginia as federal funding pressures mount

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12 Upvotes

r/swva 12d ago

News Coalfields Expressway gets another $10 million for widening work

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9 Upvotes

The timeline to bid and complete the project is about three years. It will focus on the section of road that connects Buchanan County to eastern Kentucky.


r/swva 12d ago

News As firefighters in Southwest and Southside spend most of their time responding to EMS calls, training evolves

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5 Upvotes

r/swva 13d ago

News Who defines a city’s image? A proposed mural celebrating Galax’s old-time music roots divides local leaders.

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21 Upvotes

The city council voted 4-3 to nix the design for a mural depicting a multiracial group of four musicians.


r/swva 15d ago

News 2 pumped storage hydroelectric stations could be located just miles apart in Wise County

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12 Upvotes

A Florida company has a preliminary permit from the federal government for one site and is pursuing another.


r/swva 21d ago

News Rural King to invest $40 million in Henry County, add 150 jobs

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12 Upvotes

r/swva 24d ago

Meta AMA request: a former SWVA public school teacher

16 Upvotes

Hello!

I am one of the moderators of the r/Virginia subreddit, and the primary person who coordinates AMAs (Ask Me Anything) events for that subreddit. The other day I made a post requesting AMA suggestions, and one person suggested I put together an AMA with multiple teachers from different school districts in Virginia.

The initial suggestion was a teacher from a rural district and a NoVA-based teacher. I am modifying this to (at least ideally) try to put together an AMA with public school teachers from a rural, a suburban, and an urban area, which brings me to the point of this post:

If you are a former teacher in one or several SWVA-based school districts, and you would be interested in taking questions from the internet about your experiences teaching, please let me know at this link:

https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=/r/Virginia

If you know someone who would fit the bill, please send them my way! If it's something that they would need more information about I would be happy to provide it.


r/swva 25d ago

Question Paranormal / Urban Exploration/ anything historical

4 Upvotes

Hey i was wondering if anyone would possibly have any recommendations for spots to test out new equipment in or around the huntington area that don't require prior authorization or trespassing?


r/swva 26d ago

News Special prosecutor named in investigation of Buchanan County elected official

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2 Upvotes

The assistant commonwealth’s attorney from Bland County who is handling the case said he doesn’t yet know the target of the investigation.


r/swva 27d ago

News Appalachian Power proposes seasonal rates, budget billing alternative

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7 Upvotes

As the electric utility seeks regulatory approval to increase its rates, it’s also proposing measures to address the sticker shock of high bills during the winter or when settling up a fixed-payment budget plan.


r/swva 28d ago

Event Anti-fascist punk show in small town Virginia tonight. Stopping in Bristol on the way south. Swing by 🤝

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34 Upvotes

r/swva 29d ago

News Three Democrats vie for nomination to challenge Griffith in the 9th District

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11 Upvotes

r/swva Jun 20 '26

Question How best to get from Abingdon to Beckley - part of longer road trip?

5 Upvotes

We're going on a road trip from Abingdon up to Pittsburgh. On the way, we'd like to take a day to see some of swva and are trying to decide how best to do that.

What route should we take from Abingdon to Beckley?  It’s difficult to tell from Google maps what the road conditions are. 

We are two 75-year-olds and are concerned about a too-long day driving on twisty two-lane road roads, but we also want to learn about the area, not just get from point A to B. Advice?

Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!


r/swva Jun 19 '26

News Southwest Virginia Field Notes: Bristol’s Hard Rock Casino had a record-breaking May

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12 Upvotes

Plus: Appalachian Power installs new poles and equipment in Smyth County, and a raffle with $250,000 worth of prizes will benefit the country music museum.


r/swva Jun 18 '26

News Southwest Virginia museum gets a makeover with help from volunteers -- This summer, volunteers have been helping preserve the Settlers Museum, a historic farmstead from the 1800s in Smyth County.

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8 Upvotes

r/swva Jun 18 '26

Question Moving to the Tri-Cities area - what’s the vibe for people in their mid 20s to early 30s?

10 Upvotes

Hi there! My husband recently got moved for work to Abingdon, VA. We’ll be moving from Minneapolis, but we’re originally from a small, rural, conservative town in Illinois about the same size as Abingdon so we’re no strangers to “small town living”. We were wondering what the vibe is for people in their late mid 20s-early 30s? We’re both pretty introverted but obviously want to make friends. Any help, advice, or anything would be appreciated! TYIA

Some additional context:
-We’re looking at Bristol and Abingdon, literally anywhere within 30 minutes of Abingdon.
-We fully know that it will be a transition. We are used to small town living, it’s how we grew up!
-We know the area is largely conservative. We are definitely NOT. 😅


r/swva Jun 17 '26

News Plans for new hospice in Southwest Virginia halted by federal Medicare freeze

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32 Upvotes

After investing over $100,000 and securing a state license, the founder of a Wytheville nonprofit hospice shut it down before it could serve its first patient.