This Week's Top Stories

schools

Staunton Voters to Decide on 1% School Sales Tax at November Election

A referendum on the November 3 ballot would authorize an additional penny on every retail dollar to fund up to $168 million in deferred school repairs.

Staunton voters will face a direct question on the November 3 general election ballot: whether to authorize the city to levy an additional local retail sales tax of up to 1% dedicated exclusively to school capital projects. The measure is the result of a statewide shift — amendments to the Virginia state budget effective July 1, 2026 expanded authority to all Virginia cities and counties to place a school sales tax referendum on local ballots, and 47 localities statewide, Staunton among them, submitted questions for the November vote.

healthcare

Residents Rally Outside Staunton Health Department Over Valley Clinic Closures

Community members gathered Wednesday at three Shenandoah Valley sites, including one outside the Staunton Health Department, to protest Augusta Medical Group clinic closures they link to federal Medicaid cuts.

With Election Day three weeks away, community members rallied Wednesday at the Staunton Health Department at 1414 N. Augusta St., as part of a coordinated series of demonstrations across Staunton, Churchville, and Buena Vista over six hours. The rallies followed Augusta Medical Group's consolidation of three practice sites — Weyers Cave Urgent Care, Buena Vista Primary Care, and Churchville Primary Care — that affected patients say has pushed them farther from basic medical care.

history

Two Historical Organizations to Merge as Shea House Restoration Nears Completion

SACAARS will fold into the Augusta County Historical Society by year's end, preserving decades of African American historical research as the society's founding director retires.

The Staunton-Augusta County African American Research Society (SACAARS) is set to merge with the Augusta County Historical Society, announced this week alongside news that the multi-year restoration of the historic Shea House at Fairview Cemetery is nearly complete. Augusta County Historical Society president Andrew Phillips said the collaboration was announced shortly after SACAARS Director Susie King decided to retire following the near-completion of the Shea House project.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, October 17

Queen City Word Fest

📍 The Book Dragon Shop area, 110 W. Beverley St. and Silver Line Theatre Exchange, 211 N. Lewis St., Downtown Staunton · 12:00 PM–4:00 PM · Verify · The Book Dragon Shop

Saturday, October 17

Staunton Pride Festival

📍 Gypsy Hill Park bandstand, 600 Churchville Ave., Staunton · 12:00 PM–5:00 PM · Verify · Staunton News Leader / Yahoo News

Thursday, October 22

City Council Work Session & Regular Meeting

📍 Rita S. Wilson Council Chambers, City Hall, 116 W. Beverley St., Downtown Staunton · 5:00 PM (Work Session) / 7:00 PM (Regular Meeting) · Verify · City of Staunton

Saturday, October 24

City Council & School Board Candidate Forum

📍 Booker T. Washington Community Center, 1114 W. Johnson St., Staunton · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM · Verify · Staunton News Leader / Yahoo News

Saturday, October 31

Booker T. Washington Community Center Listening Session

📍 Booker T. Washington Community Center, 1114 W. Johnson St., Staunton · 10:00 AM–12:00 PM · Verify · City of Staunton Newsroom

More from the Community

New Public Works Director Starts October 19

Brennen Duncan will join Staunton's city government on October 19 as the new Public Works Director, the city announced October 8.

Early Voting Underway Through October 31

Early in-person voting for the November 3 general election is open through October 31 at the Staunton Registrar's office at City Hall, 116 W. Beverley St.

Community Directory

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