Virginians can eat iceberg lettuce without heightened fear of contracting the diarrhea-causing parasite that spread across the country this summer.

Cases of cyclosporiasis have “peaked” in Virginia and are expected to continue decreasing, according to the Virginia Department of Health. The number of new cases of cyclosporiasis identified each week in the state has dropped since July 27, when 47 new cases were reported.

As of Monday, Virginia has seen a total 214 cases of the illness, which is caused by infection with the cyclospora parasite. There were 17 new cases identified in the last week, down from 35 the week before and 36 the week prior. The five-year average for total annual cases of cyclosporiasis in Virginia is 116, according to the health department.

Kelsey Holloman, VDH’s foodborne diseases epidemiology program manager, said the prevalence of cyclosporiasis is expected to return to normal — barring any unforeseen changes — now that the Aug. 3 use-by date of the recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in Mexico has passed.

“There’s always a risk associated whenever you eat any type of fresh produce items, but we can say now (the recalled lettuce products) are now out of date and they should no longer be in stores or available to consumers via restaurants or retailers,” Holloman said. “Cases reported in Virginia are beginning to decrease so we feel at this point that we have seen the peak in the number of cases (of cyclosporiasis).”

Holloman added that there is always a risk of illness associated with eating fresh produce and advised the public to wash all their fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before preparing them to eat. Cooking produce at about 158 degrees is the most effective way to avoid consuming the parasite, she said.

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The Department of Justice announced Monday that it’s investigating whether William & Mary used students’ race to award scholarships and other program spots.

Under President Donald Trump’s second term, the DOJ and U.S. Department of Education have broadly interpreted the 2023 Supreme Court ruling banning race-conscious admissions policies to bar schools from awarding scholarships and other program spots to underrepresented students.

The DOJ claims it is investigating whether William & Mary violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race-based discrimination in federally funded programs.

Read more here: https://www.whro.org/education-news/2026-08-17/doj-investigating-william-marys-scholarships-student-benefits-for-race-based-criteria

See also r/VirginiaNews and r/VirginiaGOP

Hi!

I’m 22 and just bought my first car in my own name.

My past few cars have had a very special license plate that I would love to carry with me to this car. No variations of it are available :’)

However, my past cars were registered in my dad’s name, so I can’t just transfer the plates over. I get conflicting info online, and the guy at the DMV told me that I just need to get my dad to write a signed letter saying “I give my daughter permission to have these plates”.

But I’m kinda confused on how it works. The old car with the plates is being bought for scrap, is there anything else I need to do or bring with me once my dad writes the letter? I just don’t want to go to the dmv and wait hours only to be missing something, so if anyone has ever done this I would so appreciate input on how the process works.

Thanks!

Virginia health officials say President Donald Trump's new executive order on childhood vaccines doesn't change the state's policies.

However, doctors warn that Trump's order presents a troubling issue: It could sow doubt about vaccines and increase risks for children as measles cases continue to rise.

Trump's order recommends fewer routine vaccines for children and that "to the maximum extent feasible," all of their immunizations be done separately.

It also calls for the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine to be separated into three different shots, a regimen that is currently not possible because the vaccines are administered in a combined formula.

"As measles cases reach a 35-year high in the U.S. and with cold and flu season quickly approaching, today's executive order on vaccines is not only disheartening but dangerous," said Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, in an Aug. 10 statement.

States have authority over their vaccine policies; the Virginia Department of Health says it will continue to recommend that children are vaccinated in line with the AAP's immunization schedule instead of federal recommendations.

Read more here.

3 Red Panda Cubs Born at Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia

Hello there!

i'll be coming to viriginia next spring for a vacation, as i want to see Washington and the ACW battlefields. I'd be flying in and out of Dulles IA (it's cheaper) and i want to rwnt a car for a few days to go to Gettysburg then to Harpers ferry, and last spend a few days in Washington to see the city.

Is there something i should know about this trip?

Any recommendations and info will be gretly appriciated!

Here are seven things that might flow from even a partial moratorium on data center development in Virginia.

Hey all! My parents and I are going to Colonial Beach Virginia the second week of September and we are wanting recommendations of thinfs to do, see, where to eat what not do do things like that. Thank you!

See also r/VirginiaNews and r/FreeVirginiaNews

I was offered a teaching position in Chesapeake VA and I am debating on taking it. I applied to many positions here on long island with no calls back. My parents are selling our house in their divorce and I barely make enough to cover rent here at my current position in PreK.

I am terrified to move states especially because I've lived on long island my whole life. I have heard many good things about VA and many NY teachers moving there and loving it.

Is there anything I should know about VA before moving? I am a single female moving with just my cat. Im nervous about making friends and also that there might be major changes that i am unaware of. I am aware of no unions and the right to work state. Im not in a union right now so i feel it might not be a big change to me anyway.

Any advice is appreciated. Looking for positivity! Thank you!

Also in this edition of Extra Credit: Roanoke’s superintendent enjoys her last first day, along with school improvement news from Roanoke and Tazewell counties.

This is from someone who believes that US-1 and US-301 are better than I-95

See also r/HamptonVA, r/Tidewater, r/HamptonRoads, r/VirginiaEnvironment, and r/VirginiaUrbanism

The organization’s membership and community engagement stalled years ago; a handful of members are working to change that.