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.

Brenden McHugh | Staff Reporter
Brenden McHugh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Thomas Edison State University. The local government beat he covers, as a reporter for Royal Examiner, is in his mind the best way to use that background.

Malcolm Barr, Sr. | Staff Reporter
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.

Mark Williams | Staff Videographer
Mark Williams is a seasoned camera operator and media expert, with a sharp eye for storytelling and decades of visual design experience.

Duane “Dok” Henderson | Staff Photographer
Dok Henderson is a Front Royal–based photographer with a lifelong interest in photography. He has spent the last five years pursuing the craft seriously, with the past three years working professionally. You will rarely catch him without his camera, focusing his work on people, community, and real moments through honest, natural storytelling.
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.
Wind: 3mph S
Humidity: 49%
Pressure: 29.89"Hg
UV index: 0
81°F / 52°F
57°F / 45°F
Skyline High School Celebrates the Class of 2026
L. Allen Neal Says Smart Growth and Town-County Cooperation Are Key to Front Royal’s Future
Supreme Court of Virginia Strikes Down Redistricting Amendment, Keeps Current Maps In Place
Business Growth Series: Where Are People Seeing Your Business Right Now?
Shenandoah River State Park Announces Junior Ranger Camp Dates
Public Health Officials Warn of Rise in Measles, as Virginia Hantavirus Patient Under Monitor
Warren Coalition Brings Back ‘Let’s Get Cheesy’ for a Night of Food, Laughter and Community Support
Save the Date: Wild Night at the Museum
Nadene Joyce Thomas Murphy (1941 – 2026)
Virginia Hemp Growers Worry About the Future of Their Industry Amid State and Federal Shifts
Gov. Spanberger Signs Wetlands, PFAS and Flooding Bills
Brian Ruffner (1969 – 2026)
County Approves Adjusted Riverbend Farm Campground Proposal in Panhandle Road Area, Considers Staffing Issues
In Favor of Permeable Surface, Town Planning Commission Advances Reduction of Divisibility Per Lot
New Market Battlefield to Mark 162nd Anniversary of Civil War Battle
‘Killing Our Vote’: GOP States Rush to Break Up Black Districts After US Supreme Court Case
Warren County High School Celebrates the Class of 2026
Warren County Addresses Chester Gap Emergency Services Response Coverage Changes Effective July 1st
Warren County High School Awards Over $750,000 in Scholarships to Class of 2026 at Academic Honors Night
Paul Anka to Perform at Shenandoah University on Aug. 15
VDOT Releases Statewide Plan to Expand Multiuse Trails Across Virginia
Warren County DSS to Host Community Resource Fair at Samuels Library
Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Common Five-lined Skink
Trump Proclaims May as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month