Jessica F. Simmons is a Reporter & Strategic Communications Producer for COURIER, covering community stories and public policies across the country. Featured in print, broadcast, and radio journalism, her work shows her passion for local storytelling and amplifying issues that matter to communities nationwide.
Jessica F. Simmons
Latest from Jessica F. Simmons
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Virginia lawmakers warn—contraception fight is far from over as Trump officials push to destroy $10M supply
When the Trump administration announced that it had destroyed nearly $10 million in contraceptives abroad, falsely labeling them “abortifacients,” Virginia Delegates Joshua Cole and Joshua Thomas said they weren’t surprised.
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At a Virginia roundtable, advocates warn contraception rights are at risk
At a Monday panel in the Commonwealth, doctors, advocates, and candidates warned that misinformation and new laws could strip away access to birth control for thousands of Virginians.
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New Google data center near Richmond sparks fears over higher bills, water, and climate
Google’s $9 billion expansion brings growth to Virginia—but a lack of regulations on Big Tech mean communities could pay the price.
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Virginia’s next governor could decide the future of our democracy
Virginia will elect a new governor in November 2025, and the outcome could decide whether the state remains a Southern safe haven for abortion access, how its public schools recover from years of political fights, and whether families see new investments in wages, housing, and childcare.
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‘Everybody’s getting something, except us’: VA debate over AI heats up in the Commonwealth
Two GOP bills want to ‘modernize’ the VA with blockchain and AI. But doing so could turn veterans into Big Tech’s test subjects.
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Virginia elders lost over $100 million to scams last year. Spanberger says ‘bad actors’ must be held accountable
As elder fraud surges, the FBI is urging vigilance—and Virginia’s Democratic candidate for governor is calling for broader actions against the platforms enabling scams.
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Spanberger makes reproductive rights a cornerstone of her run for governor
Virginia remains the last Southern state without an abortion ban. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger says she wants to keep it that way.
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Virginia passes two landmark bills to protect pregnant people behind bars
With bipartisan backing and pressure from formerly incarcerated women, Virginia lawmakers have banned shackling during labor in jails—and made it easier for pregnant people to await trial at home.
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House GOP fast-tracks budget bill that would cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood
Abortion is already excluded from coverage—the new bill is going after all health care services the clinics provide for low-income Americans.
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As southern states ban abortion, thousands of patients head north—to Virginia
With abortion bans tightening across the South, Virginia is absorbing a growing number of out-of-state patients—straining clinics, stretching support networks, and raising the stakes for future protections.
