A report and data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show that African American and Hispanic students are vastly underrepresented among students identified as gifted by the state’s public schools.

Virginia’s only middle and high school for advanced students is challenging the way traditional gifted education is taught.

Here is the data used in this news article. You can access the data as a series of Web pages or view it below.

The spotlight continues to stay on Gov. Bob McDonnell and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli over their dealings with Star Scientific Inc., which has been accused of trying to curry favor with state officials.

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced Friday that he will be appointing outside counsel to the Star Scientific case.

Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed into law legislation to expand the list of prohibited chemicals used in making synthetic marijuana and other designer drugs. McDonnell announced Wednesday that he had signed House Bill 1941, which included an emergency clause making it effective immediately.

The oldest occupied governor’s residence in the United States opened an archaeological exhibit to mark its 200th anniversary.

Parents of Virginia public school students will be given educational information about eating disorders under a bill passed by the General Assembly.

State legislators and lobbyists exchanged their suits and ties for T-shirts and shorts and headed from the halls of power to the basketball court to raise money for cancer research.

The Senate on Monday unanimously joined the House in passing a bill that requires women to be notified of dense breast tissue in mammogram results.

Legislation that would grant a provisional teaching license to Teach for America participants is moving toward passage in the General Assembly.

The House and Senate are headed in different directions when it comes to repealing Virginia’s “King’s Dominion law,” which generally prevents public schools from opening before Labor Day.

The House has passed a bill requiring Virginia school boards to give students’ parents information about eating disorders.

Lawmakers from across Virginia are pushing a half-dozen bills this legislative session to let public schools start classes before Labor Day.