YORKTOWN, Va. — The cost of living was the topic Wednesday evening at a panel discussion in Yorktown organized by Freedom Virginia. Local legislators, other leaders, citizens, and advocacy groups met to discuss affordability concerns.

“It has become a really stressful time in the economy, and people are just planning and really watching their bills," said Delegate Shelly Simonds, who represents the 70th district in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Simonds spoke on the panel, marking three major areas of concern: healthcare, energy and housing.

“Their health insurance bills are going to go way up next year, and people are really concerned. Health care is definitely number one, and then also just energy costs are a huge concern, and then housing and rents just keep going up, because of a

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