Gov. Abigail Spanberger has declared a state of emergency ahead of this weekend's snowstorm, which is expected to bring power outages along with heavy accumulation throughout Virginia. The newly inaugurated governor signed an executive order today declaring an emergency "due to severe winter weather,

A state of emergency is often declared ahead of major winter storms. This explainer breaks down what it does, how it helps officials prepare and what it means for the public.

Virginia officials are urging residents to brace for a potentially dangerous winter storm after Gov. Abigail Spanberger declared a State of Emergency ahead of snow and ice expected to blanket much of the Commonwealth this weekend.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s declaration of a state of emergency Thursday triggered Virginia’s anti-price gouging protections, which prohibit consumers from charging excessively high prices for essential goods and services during a state of emergency.

Consumer Reports explains how to winter-proof your car, plus a cold-weather concern affecting electric vehicles.