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Our mission is simple: to help you understand what's happening in our community. Our newsroom is working every day to keep you informed about the stories that matter most to life in the region:

• The University of Virginia Cavaliers got off to a stunning start to the football season this year, sending the NC State Wolfpack packing last weekend with a 34-8 victory. Will their performance hold up at next week's match against Norfolk State University? You'd be the first to know if you subscribed and followed along with college sports reporter Greg Madia's real-time coverage. And because of our partnership with the Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, if you're a Dukes fan, then you're still in luck; we'll have every game-day story and day-after analysis of James Madison University football available for you too. 
• These sorts of regional partnerships are not unique to our sports department. As many of our subscribers already know, The News Virginian has a partnership with the News Leader now too that means readers also have access to everything the newspaper of record in Staunton covers, whether it be chef Laura Fonner's recent win on Food Network's "Guy's Grocery Games" or the tragic shooting at Westwood Hills Elementary School this past Wednesday. It's a reminder that our industry is not always about competition; it can be about collaboration. Furthermore, it is a reminder that we are obligated, as journalists, not to serve ourselves but you, our readers. We're with you, through the highs and lows.
• And there's going to be plenty of highs and lows this election cycle. While The 6th Congressional District, now held by Republican Ben Cline, didn't get redistricted as Democrats in Richmond had hoped, that doesn't mean it won't be a fascinating race with significant impacts for Waynesboro and the entire Shenandoah Valley. Cline has a Democratic challenger this year unlike any he has ever faced before: journalist and author Beth Macy, best known for her book-turned-miniseries "Dopesick." Macy has the sort of name recognition Cline's prior opponents simply didn't, and that will matter a lot as Republicans seek to keep the 6th red and the House in their control. Will Cline be able to hold on? Will Macy be able to turn a historically Republican district blue for the first time in years? The News Virginian and our partner newspapers in the district will have all the on-the-ground reporting and insightful analysis to keep you in the know as you decide where you fall before Election Day.

Of course, that's only part of what you'll find here. The News Virginian delivers breaking news as it happens, in-depth reporting on the issues affecting our community, local business coverage, dining and restaurant reviews, arts and entertainment, outdoors, opinion, obituaries, photo galleries and calendars filled with things to do throughout the region. And if you're looking to unwind, you'll also find crosswords, Sudoku and other daily puzzles.

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Thank you for spending part of your holiday weekend with us. And thank you for reading.