Michael is an award-winning journalist who started covering Virginia news in 2013 with reporting stints at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia Business, and Richmond BizSense. A graduate of William & Mary and Northern Virginia Community College, he also covered financial news for S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Michael O’Connor
Latest from Michael O’Connor
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Hampton Roads, Stafford County road improvements coming thanks to Biden’s infrastructure law
As of April 2024, there has been $10 billion in Biden’s infrastructure law funding announced in Virginia for 353 projects, with $6.9 billion for transportation improvements and $1.8 billion for high speed internet.
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Youngkin vetoes bill protecting birth control access
“The governor has shown yet again how extreme the Republican Party in Virginia has become,” said Sen. Ghazala Hashmi on a call with reporters Monday.
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Jen Kiggans voted in 2020 against reforms for predatory payday lenders who target military members
Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans is seeking a second term representing a competitive congressional district in Hampton Roads that is home to many service members and veterans. But while serving in the Virginia Senate, she voted against reforms for payday lenders that target members of the military.
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Leading Virginia Republican US Senate candidate downplays health care importance
“No one in the US is like, ‘Oh my gosh, I will die if I don’t have health care,” Hung Cao, the leading candidate in Virginia’s Republican US Senate primary, told a right-wing media outlet on May 15.
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Youngkin signs compromise budget into law, Dems largely secure education funds
After months of sparring between Democrats in the General Assembly and Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Virginia localities can breathe easier now that the state has finalized its budget.
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State budget compromise reached by Youngkin, General Assembly leaders
The General Assembly is expected to vote on a new state budget on Monday after Youngkin and Democratic legislators reportedly struck a compromise.
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Federal funding coming to help Virginia’s affordable housing problems
The federal government has awarded Virginia millions of dollars to help localities address its ongoing housing crisis.
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Congressional races to watch in Virginia in 2024
A competitive race in Hampton Roads is attracting national attention as Democrats and Republicans prepare for a November Election Day that will determine control of the narrowly divided US House of Representatives.
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Race for Virginia Attorney General in 2025 taking shape
Jay Jones got endorsed by a Fairfax attorney previously seen as a possible rival this week in the Democratic primary for attorney general.
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VIDEO: Sen. McPike weighs in on Virginia’s environmental priorities
On Earth Day, the White House held an event at Prince William Forest Park to announce $7 billion in grants through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All grant competition and the launch of the American Climate Corps. Local Virginia leaders were on hand, including state Sen. Jeremy McPike, (D-Prince William), who shared his thoughts…
