Virginia News Roundup: 5 Shot at Virginia State University, Hemp THC Cap Takes Effect, ICE Gun Video Sparks Outcry

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Community · Red Rock Daily staff

Here’s a roundup of recent Virginia news: five people were shot outside dorms at Virginia State University, a federal judge refused to block Virginia’s new hemp THC cap as it took effect, a viral video showed an ICE agent pointing a gun at a woman in a Falls Church parking lot, Virginia regulators ordered Dominion Energy to assign some transmission costs to data centers, Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger was booed at the Old Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax, and more.

Five shot outside dorms at Virginia State University

Five people were shot outside dorms at Virginia State University in Ettrick/Petersburg, near the VSU Quad Annexes on Boisseau Street, prompting a campus lockdown that was later lifted (AP News, Aug. 15, 2026). One victim was critically injured, no arrests had been made, and police were investigating multiple suspects/shooters (WTVR CBS 6, NBC News, Aug. 15, 2026). It happened days before fall classes were set to begin (Scripps News/13News Now, Aug. 15, 2026).

Hemp THC cap takes effect as judge refuses to block Virginia law

A federal judge refused to block Virginia’s new law capping hemp-derived THC at 2 milligrams per serving/packaging, allowing the ban on many hemp products to take effect Saturday, Aug. 15, as hemp businesses braced for the deadline (WTVR CBS 6, WDBJ7, Aug. 14-15, 2026). The judge sided against hemp industry members seeking an injunction (Courthouse News Service, Aug. 14, 2026). Separately, Virginia leaders reached a deal to establish a regulated cannabis retail market (FOX 5 DC).

Viral video shows ICE agent pointing gun at woman in Falls Church

Viral video showed an ICE agent pointing a gun at a woman in a car in a Falls Church, Virginia parking lot after she yelled at agents (NBC4 Washington, Aug. 13-15, 2026). She said the agent pointed the gun at her head and denied trying to run over agents (NBC News, ABC News, The Hill, Aug. 13-15, 2026). The woman is a U.S. citizen, and community members rallied around her (The Washington Post, Aug. 13-15, 2026).

Virginia regulators order Dominion to assign some transmission costs to data centers

Virginia regulators (SCC) ordered Dominion Energy to directly assign some transmission costs to data centers rather than spreading them across all customers, as the state’s data center boom pushes Dominion deeper into a costly power market (Utility Dive, Reuters, Aug. 12, 2026). Dominion separately asked the SCC to recover an additional $922 million in fuel costs over multiple years (Reuters, Aug. 12, 2026; Virginia Mercury).

Spanberger booed at Old Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax

Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger was booed at the Old Fiddlers’ Convention in Galax, Virginia (Cardinal News, Aug. 11, 2026). Afterward, online chatter bashed Southwest Virginia schools, drawing criticism from local officials (Fox News).

For more on the Old Dominion, see the Virginia guide.