At the Kwanzaa celebration, Sarno thanked the organizers for educating people about the meaning behind the African-American holiday started in 1966 as part of the civil rights movement and conferred awards to six people recognized for making Springfield a better place.

Coinciding holidays beg for a joint Kwanzakkah observance this year — as long as you can find red, black and green candles.

As 2024 comes to a close, some laws in Virginia will start to take effect next year, here's how they might affect you.