Newsroom
Where we get the news
The list we actually check. Regulators first, because when a primary source disagrees with anyone else on this page, including us, the primary source wins.
We report facts in our own words and link out to whoever did the reporting. We do not republish anyone's copy, and attribution is not a license to. If you run one of these and want something corrected or removed, tell us.
Regulators and primary sources
Where the rules actually live. When these disagree with anyone else on this page, including us, these win.
License definitions, the MBAR, tobacco permits, the legislative update page, and the hearings dockets and final board orders. Blocks automated requests, so check it by hand.
Dockets and final board orders. Public, FOIA-able, and nobody aggregates them. This is the enforcement beat.
Took over hemp regulation from VDACS in August 2026 and now holds cease-and-desist and civil penalty authority.
Still the agency for agriculture and food safety, and the historical record on hemp retail registration.
Liquid nicotine licensing, which transfers to Virginia ABC on October 1, 2026.
Every agency rulemaking action before it takes effect. The most underused source on this list by a wide margin.
Bill text, status and history. The authority behind every row in our bill tracker.
Title 4.1 for alcohol, 3VAC5 for ABC regulation, 15.2-2288.3 for farm wineries.
Trade associations
Industry bodies. Fast on what changed and openly partisan about whether it should have.
Restaurant, lodging and travel association. Session recaps, the Ordinary Awards, and the industry position on most bills.
- Virginia Craft Brewers Guildno feed
Craft Beer Cup results, Craft Beer Month, and guild advocacy. Active blog, no working feed found.
- Virginia Spiritsno feed
Virginia Spirits Board news and events. No working feed found.
Distillery industry news and legislative positions. No working feed found.
- Virginia Wineno feed
The state wine marketing office. Wine Board reports, Governor's Cup, industry data.
Governor's Cup administration and winery industry advocacy.
Growers rather than producers. Useful for the farming side of the farm winery beat.
- Virginia Retail Federationno feed
Convenience and grocery retail. Best early warning on tobacco and nicotine rule changes.
Statewide news
General Virginia news outlets that cover policy and business seriously.
State government and policy. Consistently ahead on cannabis legislation.
Southwest and Southside Virginia, which almost nobody else covers. Strong on rural business.
Statewide business news. Deals, expansions and ownership changes.
Food, drink and travel across the state.
Regional and local
Where openings, closings and ownership changes surface first. Local reporters beat everyone on their own market.
- Richmond Magazine food newsno feed
Weekly Richmond openings, closings and operational items. The single best source for Richmond restaurant churn. No working feed found.
- Eat It, Virginia (WTVR)no feed
Richmond food coverage with real reporting behind it rather than listicles.
Richmond business, real estate and leases, filtered to restaurants. Often has a closing or an ownership change before the food press does, because it watches the lease.
Richmond culture and politics, with reliable coverage of ABC and cannabis changes.
NoVa openings, closings and ownership changes. Site-wide feed works; the food-news category feed blocks bots.
Fairfax, Prince William and Loudoun local news. Feed shown is the Fairfax section.
Fairfax County, including zoning and land use decisions that hit restaurants and wineries.
Loudoun County openings and closings. Fast, and often first in that market.
Arlington and Alexandria restaurants.
Covers Northern Virginia as part of the DC market. Filter for Virginia items.
Broadcast. Good on ABC law changes and enforcement stories.
Shenandoah Valley. Reliable on new-law explainers and farm business.
National trade press
National context, and occasionally a Virginia story the local press missed.
National restaurant trade. Picks up significant Virginia ownership changes.
National beer business. Useful for distribution law and franchise disputes.