By Peter J. Smith | Old Dominion Watchdog ALEXANDRIA — Republicans and Democrats are waging the 2011 election cycle’s most expensive state political battle in one of the poorest Virginia districts in a fight for control of the state Senate.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — Candidates running for the General Assembly in Nov. 8′s election are steering clear of talking about Virginia‘s underfunded public pension system.

By Peter Smith | Old Dominion Watchdog ALEXANDRIA — Fairfax County Sheriff Stan Barry’s decision to apply for a lucrative county pension meant for career public employees caused an uproar among local Republicans, leading one lawmaker to propose changes to state pension law.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — Payday lender and title loan companies have launched a full-court press ahead of the upcoming General Assembly session to protect their businesses statewide.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND – Toll companies are donating to political campaigns this elections season hoping to take advantage of $1.5 billion in public-private investments for roads, bridges and tunnels.

Bill McMorris | Old Dominion Watchdog ALEXANDRIA — The City of Alexandria’s threat to seize a parking lot owned by a local boat club has led one state lawmaker to reconsider his position on eminent domain.

By Peter J. Smith | Old Dominion Watchdog ALEXANDRIA — Virginia volunteered to lead the way in developing a TurboTax-type system for processing veterans’ disability claims, but delays and a lack of progress have forced the state to abandon the project.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — Virginia Republicans are so optimistic they will win two new state Senate districts that they are setting their sites on other districts in the quest to capture a slim majority in the General Assembly‘s upper chamber.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — In a move to save tax dollars, state officials are working to cap the number of paid time-off hours state employees can bank.

By Amanda Iacone | Virginia Statehouse News RICHMOND — State officials have launched initiatives to curb fraud, abuse and errors in the state’s most expensive social program, Medicaid.