About Us
The Royal Examiner provides news and information for Front Royal and other communities in or near Warren County, Virginia.
Launched in November 2016, the Royal Examiner values collaboration and transparency. It serves as a “public square” for Warren County and the surrounding region.
Community contributed content forms the heart of the Royal Examiner. We encourage fair, responsible and true contributions from all members of the greater Warren County community. The Royal Examiner’s staff also covers news and produces multimedia content. The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics guides us in our work.
Based in Front Royal, Virginia, the Royal Examiner is updated constantly.
We welcome suggestions, contributions and criticism. We want to improve every day and seek your help in doing so.
Royal Examiner
A service of National Media Services, Inc
613 N Commerce Avenue | Front Royal, VA 22630
540-635-4181 ext 246
Meet the Staff:

Mike McCool | Publisher
news@royalexaminer.com
Mike McCool, owner of National Media Services, Inc., established the Royal Examiner in the summer of 2016 to provide detailed coverage — "The News Behind The News" — of important local stories.

Roger Bianchini | Staff Reporter; Editorial Consultant
rogerb@royalexaminer.com
Roger Bianchini, a multiple VA Press Assn. award-winning journalist, was managing editor and co-founder of Warren County Report. He served as a reporter on Rebecca Poe’s Warren Times, and as reporter and editor at The Warren Sentinel and The Front Royal News. A native of Washington, D.C., and graduate of VCU, Roger has lived in the Shenandoah Valley for 30 years.

Malcolm Barr, Sr. | Staff Reporter
news@royalexaminer.com
Malcolm Barr, Sr. has worked for newspapers in the U.K., Canada, and the U.S., and for The Associated Press in Wash., DC. He was press secretary to U.S. Sen. Hiram L. Fong (R-Hawaii) in the 1960s, and a director of public affairs in the departments of Labor, Justice, and Commerce, retiring from the federal government in 1996.
Contributed content:
Stories, opinions, calendar listings, photographs and videos from the community form the heart of RoyalExaminer.com.
Our Terms of Service govern contributions and their use. But, we want to be clear: You give us permission to use and share contributed material on RoyalExaminer.com, as stipulated in the Terms of Service. We will not, however, sell your photos or other contributions. You retain ownership, and we will refer to you anyone who wishes to buy a photo reprint, for example.
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Commentary: Transparency Can’t Be the First Casualty of a New Term
Storing Medication: Are You Making These Common Mistakes?
Is the Parent PLUS Loan Right for You? Here’s How to Decide
VDOT: Warren County Traffic Alert for January 5 – 9, 2026
Roy Albert Lamb Jr. (1942 – 2025)
Entrusting Your Tax Return to a Professional: A Winning Choice
USPS Says Mail-In Ballots Might Not Get Postmark on Same Day They’re Dropped Off
Commentary: Midcycle Redistricting Deepens America’s Divide
Freida Mae “Punkie” Soaper (1944 – 2026
Music Lessons: Undeniable Benefits at Any Age
Is Travel Insurance Worth the Extra Cost? Here’s What to Know Before You Fly
Light Fight 2025: Keeping the Spirit of Christmas Alive and Bright
Searching for Offense in a World Desperate to Find It
David Eugene McDermott (1962 – 2025)
Cheryl Ann Gomilla Kreitzer Kennedy (1955 – 2025)
Federally Qualified Health Centers in Virginia Sue State for Low Medicaid Reimbursements
January Shines a Light on Glaucoma, the “Sneak Thief of Sight”
Commentary: When the Law Is Made in the Dark, Democracy Suffers
Your 401(k): A Simple Guide to Growing Your Retirement Savings
Celebrity Birthdays: Who’s Blowing Out Candles This Month?
Beat the Frost: How to Keep Your Windshield Clear This Winter
POLICE: 14 Day FRPD Arrest Report 12/15/2025
New 8th Street Bridge Opens Early in Front Royal — A Symbol of Progress and Smart Planning
Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: American Coot