A clearer picture has emerged of the four development teams that are vying for Richmond’s City Center project; The region’s largest local bank is joining over a dozen former clients and contractors in seeking to claw back money from defunct home renovator Fabling Built; and after nearly 60 years in business, Varina’s only waterpark is up for grabs.

The federal government’s new bipartisan debt agreement could pave the way for the Mountain Valley Pipeline to be completed; A VCU School of Pharmacy professor is encouraging eligible people to get a COVID-19 booster following the ending of the Public Health Emergency earlier in May; The Commonwealth Transportation Board recently approved dozens of regional projects, but there’s one more step in the process before work can begin.  

Governor Glenn Youngkin is sending the Virginia National Guard to the Texas-Mexico border; Richmond is evaluating four teams for the mixed-use City Center project; The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is donating almost 600 items to The Historic American Building Survey; and other local news stories.

More than 100,000 people rode Amtrak in the commonwealth during April, setting a record in a year-over-year comparison; Environmentalists say they’re surprised to see approval for permits enabling the completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline included in the debt ceiling agreement; Virginia’s new political boundaries have made for some unusually competitive General Assembly primaries; and other local news stories.

Henrico officials say construction on the Cobbs Creek Reservoir is nearing completion; Virginia State University is still assessing the damage after a person reportedly stole a bulldozer and drove it into several campus fixtures over the weekend; Several Virginia newspapers will soon move to publishing only three times each week; and other local news stories.

Chesterfield County’s transportation department is moving ahead with applications for federal funding on several pedestrian-focused projects; When a high school student dies before graduation, it can be difficult for a family to obtain a posthumous diploma.

Richmond’s version of Red Rocks is ready to rock on; VCU’s real estate division remains in deal-making mode with a new acquisition around its Monroe Park campus; A double play of sorts for Henrico recreation and sports tourism played out over the course of four hours Tuesday; and a restaurant building in Short Pump is set to be revived with a new-to-market tenant.

Transfers to an immigrant detention center in Farmville have been paused after three people detained there tested positive for COVID-19; Members of Richmond City Council received an update on the city’s Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Policy earlier this week; A Henrico County plan to improve traffic congestion issues on Interstate 64 has been approved by The Virginia Department of Transportation and forwarded to the Federal Highway Administration; and other local news stories.

The Virginia Department of Motor vehicles has created a new license plate to honor The Richmond Planet; Workplace safety in Amazon warehouses recently has caught the attention of Congress and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; A Charlottesville judge won’t let a private foundation sign on to a lawsuit to stop a Robert E. Lee monument from being melted down; and other local news stories.

The Buckingham County Electoral Board is in turmoil after a judge postponed a hearing on nominations to the panel; Richmond officials are moving to place a new casino referendum on the ballot this November; Governor Glenn Youngkin announced the resignation of Robert Mosier as Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security on Monday; and other local news stories.

A panel examining the city charter is asking Richmonders for feedback; A self-described whistleblower at the Virginia Department of Corrections was fired last week; The average wait time for admission to Virginia’s nine state-run psychiatric hospitals is almost two days; and other local news stories.

Seabirds that were displaced by the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion have been living on Fort Wool. WHRO’s Katherine Hafner reports on how that’s going and what comes next.

As momentum builds for a long-sought slavery museum and commemorative campus in Shockoe Bottom, a yearslong effort to create a guiding blueprint for the neighborhood’s growth has culminated with the release of a draft area plan; A clearer picture has emerged of what healthcare giant HCA has in mind for its proposed Hanover hospital, as the project approaches a planning commission hearing this summer; After more than a decade out of the game, Emilio Peiro is getting back into the Richmond restaurant scene; and other local business stories.

The Chickahominy Tribe of Virginia will receive a $500,000-dollar federal grant to expand its high-speed internet; Democratic Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner are co-sponsoring a bill to increase funding for childhood cancer research; An animal rights group says a Virginia farm that raised chickens for Tyson Foods mistreated its animals; and other local news stories.

Richmond Public Schools has received four construction grants from the state, including $5.6 million dollars to help rebuild William Fox Elementary School; The Food and Drug Administration has asked a Virginia district court for more time to respond to a lawsuit filed by abortion providers; The Virginia Commonwealth University Health System has posted operating losses for 14 consecutive months; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has removed Democratic State Senator Mamie Locke from a nonpartisan education advisory board; One lane on the main route through Chesapeake toward the Outer Banks will be closed until further notice; Richmond City Police officers selected a union to represent them in the collective bargaining process ; and other local news stories.

State election officials are working on a new system to replace Eric; U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education visits CodeRVA; Basic City Beer Wins Gold; and other local news stories.

Savanna Baber has been named Virginia’s new Coordinator for Virginia Indian Programs for the state humanities council. She’ll be responsible for helping to tell the stories of tribal nations throughout the commonwealth. Baber recently spoke to VPM News Morning Edition host Phil Liles about her new position. 

VCU Health System’s about-face on a downtown development project that relied on its lease as the master tenant cost the health system nearly $73 million; Former governor Doug Wilder called for the firing of VCU President Michael Rao and a state investigation in light of that payment; and final terms for what’s being touted as the biggest economic development project in Richmond’s history were approved by City Council this week.

Henrico is partnering with Richmond-area nonprofit Capital Trees, to expand green space throughout the county; A judge has ruled that seven Henrico County sheriff’s deputies and three Central State Hospital employees cannot be tried together in Irvo Otieno’s death; Virginia Commonwealth University might be looking at a budget shortfall next year of up to $25 million dollars; and other local news stories.

Richmond residents will see an increase in utility bills now that the city has passed its yearly budget; VCU’s new arts building will cost $72 million dollars more than previously expected; Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner are reintroducing legislation that could help upgrade aging school buildings; and other local news stories.

Former Governor Doug Wilder is calling for Governor Glenn Youngkin to oust his Chief Diversity officer over recent comments; Abortion providers in three states, including Virginia, filed a lawsuit Monday aimed at preserving access to the abortion pill mifepristone; Richmond City Council approved next year’s budget Monday; and other local news stories.

Former Hewlitt-Packard CEO and Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina will serve as honorary chairperson for the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission; Dominion Energy earned 99 cents a share in the first quarter of 2023; VCU Health paid $73 million dollars to get out of its lease tied to a redevelopment of the old Public Safety Building in downtown Richmond, and other local news stories.

The new historical novel “The House is on Fire” by local writer Rachel Beanland, is about a tragedy in Richmond in 1811 that destroyed a theater and killed more than 70 people. The event and its aftermath unfold through the eyes of four real-life characters, who through their actions tell a bigger story about life in early America. Beanland will be speaking about her book Thursday at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Ian Stewart from VPM News recently sat down with the author.

The new owners of a Scott’s Addition cidery are preparing to replant their venture in Henrico County; A new fast-casual restaurant is en route to Manchester; VCU held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week for a new STEM building; and other local business stories.

Richmond is looking for a location in Shockoe Bottom to build a museum that tells the history of the city’s slave trade; Organizers are planning a series of town hall meetings to discuss how Virginia’s mental health system could better protect people who are in crisis; The Virginia Department of Elections has planned 10 sessions for groups interested in holding voter registration drives; and other local news stories.

With state officials reviewing Medicaid rolls for the first time since the pandemic began, some doulas are concerned about their patients’ coverage; The pedestrian bridge to Texas Beach will be closed this summer due to structural issues; Ahead of the Diamond District redevelopment, the city of Richmond will pay $25 million dollars to replace the Sports Backers Stadium; and other local news stories.

The Richmond Police Department held a Vigil for Peace at George Wythe High School this week in response to a recent shooting outside the school; Richmond’s toll prices will likely increase later this year to offset revenue that was lost during the COVID-19 pandemic; The Richmond planning commission pushed forward the $2.4 billion dollar Diamond District redevelopment project Monday; and other local news stories.

The Virginia Education Association is alleging that lab school planning grant money sent from the state to private colleges violates the law; RVA is celebrating Bike Month with several events; Richmond International Airport logged its highest traveler total for the month of March; and other local news stories.

Millions of dollars meant for keeping sewage out of the James River is held up in state budget negotiations. VPM News reporter Jahd Khalil explored how all that money could be used.

The City of Richmond has reached final terms with developer RVA Diamond Partners for their $2.4 billion Diamond District project; Richmond City Council followed the lead of other metros across the country in doing away with parking requirements in favor of a more permissive, market-driven approach to providing parking in the city; Chick-fil-A has cut the ribbon on a new location in the city, while also plotting further expansion in the counties; and other local news stories.

The commonwealth’s Chief Diversity, Opportunity & Inclusion Officer spoke last week to faculty and staff during a Virginia Military Institute training on "inclusive excellence"; George Wythe High School was put on lockdown Thursday, after two students were shot near campus; The Newport News School Board is requesting the dismissal of a civil lawsuit filed by the elementary school teacher who was shot in a classroom; and other local news stories.

Richmond City Council approved an agreement to redevelop Creighton Court earlier this week; The Virginia Department of Historic Resources this week approved 5 new historical markers; Hanover County school board chairperson John Axselle will retire at the end June, after serving the school system for more than two decades; and other local news stories.

The city’s fire chief says his department inspected every Richmond public school building this academic year, and cleared them of code violations; The City of Richmond and RVA Diamond Partners have finalized an agreement to build a new baseball stadium for the Flying Squirrels; City Councilmembers eliminated parking requirements for new development in a seven to zero vote on Monday; and other local news stories.

Virginia Democrats are outraising Republicans ahead of the General Assembly election this fall; Virginia’s top elections official attended a February conference sponsored by conservative groups aiming to tighten voting laws; More than 30 locally owned restaurants in the Richmond region are participating in Restaurant Week to raise money for the non-profit Feed More; and other local news stories.

Children’s book author Gail Morin offers tools for young kids to identify and respond to bullying. The Virginia author’s latest book, The Magical Adventures of Detective Sam helps teach kids to break the cycle of violence. Morning Edition host Phil Liles recently spoke to Morin.

The stage is being set for Feed More’s pending move to Henrico, as the regional food bank recently closed on a seven-figure deal for the site of its future home near St. Joseph’s Villa; Providing a baseline number of dedicated parking spaces could soon no longer be a requisite for doing business or developing real estate in Richmond; and Triple Crossing Beer is teaming up with a group of local real estate agents to develop that uphill land with 20 modern-design, “chalet-style” townhomes.

To address an uptick in car crashes in Richmond, city officials held a “Speed Symposium” this week for residents; GRTC bus drivers will soon see a 40 percent increase in their hourly wages; Arlington Public Schools will allow students to carry their own Narcan; and other local news stories.

VPM News is continuing its new series this week: Unchecked: Inside RPS fire inspections. The investigation reveals long standing fire code violations and spotty record-keeping in Richmond schools; The Chesapeake Walmart where six people were shot and killed in November reopened Wednesday morning; Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears canceled a visit to Maggie Walker Governor’s School yesterday, where students had planned to protest her scheduled appearance; and other local news stories.

Delays in passing the state budget are affecting the city of Richmond’s spending plan for the coming year; At least one of the torch-wielding protesters who participated in the 2017 Unite the Right rally has been charged with felony burning with intent to intimidate, a class 6 felony; The General Assembly abruptly denied early release last summer for hundreds of people incarcerated in Virginia prisons; and other local news stories.

VPM News reporters Megan Pauly and Connor Scribner speak with VPM Editor Whittney Evans about their investigation into the fire at Fox Elementary last year; A Virginia corrections officer accused of choking an incarcerated person was promoted last year; The City of Petersburg is mourning the loss of Richard Stewart; and other local news stories.

Virginia author Kenneth Nixon says America’s mental health system is in crisis – and he should know. Nixon’s mother suffered from severe mental illness. His memoir, Born into Crisis, describes how his family became stuck in an enduring cycle of trauma, but also some strategies and solutions for creating change. Morning Edition Host Phil Liles recently spoke to Nixon.

Richmond’s bustling development scene is facing the most formidable foe it has seen in recent years: rising interest rates. 

Richmond City Council introduced legislation during a Wednesday meeting to officially accept state money to help purchase Mayo Island; A proposal to site a new Richmond Fire Department training facility on existing Southside green space has led to disagreements among city leaders and community members; A federal judge in North Dakota has temporarily blocked federal regulations in Virginia and 23 other states intended to protect thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways; and other local news stories.

A group attempting to unravel what happened at the Enrichmond Foundation has obtained the nonprofits’ financial records; Hemp retailers will have to take some intoxicating hemp products off their shelves under legislation passed by the General Assembly Wednesday; A class action lawsuit has been filed against the United Network for Organ Sharing; and other local news stories.

Laura K. Drewry is now Richmond’s city attorney, Richmond Public Schools is in the process of renaming four of its buildings; Governor Glenn Youngkin is pushing for parents to have a final say in whether their teenage child can use websites and apps that collect people’s data; and other local news stories.

State considers changes to school accreditation; Norfolk officials consider changes to flood wall project after residents voice concerns; Democratic Senator Tim Kaine other senators requested an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas; and other local news stories.  

Betty Migliaccio has been a firefighter for the City of Richmond for 9 years. Like many other first responders, she has a lot of stories to tell. Migliaccio’s experience is the focus of one of four new one-act plays at Firehouse Theatre in Richmond. The show, called First Responses, ends this Sunday.  Morning Edition Host Phil Liles recently spoke to Migliaccio.

The area around Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s downtown taproom continues to draw developer interest; The next piece of Westchester Commons is in the works; The clock has expired on a longtime Short Pump restaurant, but a new, mystery addition to the area’s dining scene is in the works within eyeshot; and other local business stories.

Chesterfield County’s Board of Supervisors adopted a $1.94 billion dollar budget Wednesday; Robious Landing Park in Chesterfield has new safety signs warning of its proximity to Bosher’s Dam on the James River; Flood insurance is a complex issue in Hampton Roads. But Norfolk nonprofit RISE Resilience Innovations is investing in some ideas to improve it; and other local news stories.

04/06/2023 The state is investigating the Enrichmond foundation; Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s political team say he’s raised nearly $3 million over the first quarter of this year; All 55 seniors in Cristo Rey Richmond's are graduating; and other local news stories. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and CNN Anchor Jim Acosta met earlier this week at James Madison University in Harrisonburg; Glenn Youngkin is set to lead his first international trade mission as governor; The governor's office has decided not to hold special elections to fill the seats of two Democrats in the House of Delegates; and other local news stories.

State medical examiner rules Irvo Otieno’s death a homicide; The teacher allegedly shot by a 6-year-old student files a $40 million dollar lawsuit against the school system; What has Gov. Youngkin's Office of Transformation been up to?; and other local news stories  

Norfolk is weighing whether to move forward with a massive federal agreement that includes building a floodwall around much of the city. Katherine Hafner with partner station WHRO breaks down what’s in it, and why some people are concerned. 

Local home remodeler abruptly closes, leaving clients and subcontractors in limbo; In ‘call to action,’ city leaders declare housing crisis in Richmond; New Rocketts Landing section welcomes first residents; and other local business stories.

Earlier this week, the second person this year died while in custody at Richmond City Justice Center; Last week, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates, despite concerns about the banking industry after two midsized banks collapsed; The Chesterfield Department of Transportation is asking for input on changes to Route 60; and other local news stories.

Mourners congregated at First Baptist Church of South Richmond in North Chesterfield on yesterday to mark the life of Irvo Otieno; Shakia Gullette Warren will become the executive director of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia on May 1st; A federal judge in Richmond heard arguments Wednesday in the case of an 18-year-old man fatally shot by Virginia State Troopers during a traffic stop in 2021; and other local news stories.

Voters in Central Virginia cast ballots in the race for the vacant ninth district state senate seat Tuesday; The Reverend Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy at the funeral of Irvo Otieno, who died while in police custody earlier in March; Richmond’s poverty rate has been going down during the past decade, according to a new annual report from the city’s Office of Community Wealth Building; and other local news stories.

Funding is coming for improvements to public housing in Richmond; Special election to fill Sen. Jennifer McClellan's seat; State lawmakers put pause on the budget; and other local news stories. 

A vigil was held last week for Richmond middle school student Marquan Mitchell-Nash, who was fatally shot earlier this month while handling a firearm. Seventeen students have been shot so far this school year according to the district’s unofficial count. That includes students who were injured, as well as those killed. Given these staggering figures, we’re airing an excerpt from a conversation that VPM News education reporter Megan Pauly had with Richmond Public School’s Angela Jones last summer. Jones is the director of culture, climate and student services. She spoke about how the district responds to these events. VPM News has a list of resources for those impacted by gun violence. You can find them at vpm.org/another-way.

A panel will discuss potential improvements to the Richmond intersection where VCU student Mahrokh Khan was killed in January by a car as she was trying to cross the street; A program used to help the state evaluate the effectiveness of transportation projects is being reviewed; A Virginia Tourism Video late last year raised concerns over Glenn Youngkin’s roles as both governor of Virginia and as a political figure. A new video mixes public universities and politics; and other local news stories.

Teachers, parents and students are giving mixed grades to an updated draft of Virginia’s history standards prepared by the Youngkin administration; Lisa Coons will become Virginia’s next superintendent of public instruction; Emails obtained by VPM News show that Virginia Commonwealth University has made changes to its debt collection policies; and other local news stories.

The demolition of Spring Rock Green shopping center on Midlothian Turnpike in North Chesterfield began Tuesday; The Richmond Planning commission delayed a vote that would have authorized a 260-unit apartment complex in the Museum District; A grand jury in Dinwiddie has returned an indictment charging 10 people with killing a man as he was being admitted into a state mental hospital; and other local news stories.

03/21/23 Youngkin calls for patience in Otieno murder case; Richmond’s planning commission green lights a new George Wythe High School; Local band Deau Eyes wins the second-annual Newlin Music Prize; and other local news stories 

Virginia lawmakers considered a package of bills this winter to crack down on antisemitism. There was a lot of debate and not all of the bills passed. PolitiFact Virginia editor Warren Fiske talked with VPM News editor Whittney Evans about his latest article, which breaks down the controversy. 

A total of 10 people, including 7 Sheriff’s deputies and three Central State Hospital employees, are facing 2nd degree murder charges in the death of Irvo Otieno last week; Richmond’s city attorney resigned Thursday after being charged with driving while intoxicated earlier in March; A spokesperson for Governor Glenn Youngkin says legislation passed by the General Assembly accomplishes his goal of banning intoxicating hemp products, but retailers say the restrictions go too far; and other local news stories.

An ongoing controversy over Richmond’s funding of affordable housing is playing into the budgeting process; Early voting in the race for Virginia’s 9th Senate District is underway and runs through March 25th; Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Don Beyer are renewing a push to set aside federal resources for Americans suffering from long COVID and for research into the condition; and other local news stories.

A Virginia Army veteran is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to force the Department of Veterans Affairs to pay him a years’ worth of education benefits; The selection process for a developer to oversee the City Center project took a small step forward Monday; Seven Henrico County sheriff's deputies are being charged with second-degree murder, following the death of a 28-year-old Richmond man who was in their custody; and other local news stories.

Richmond Public Schools connect with Challenge U; VDOE holds public meeting on history standards; John Marshall High School boys basketball team wins again; and other local news stories.

A recent study conducted in Richmond provides evidence that urban greenspaces may make taking a ten-minute walk even better for your health. Patrick Larsen with VPM News looks at the study – and how parts of the city that lack greenspace have a more fundamental problem.

Richmond’s proposed budget includes $200 million for school construction projects; The city attorney for Richmond has been charged with driving while intoxicated; Shamrock the Block is returning to Leigh Street, marking the beginning of festival season in Richmond; and other local news stories.

Virginia's federal bench now has no vacancies; A ransomware group says it’s stolen and posted 350 gigs of data from the city of Waynesboro; Twice as many people in central Virginia were experiencing homelessness without shelter this year; and other local news stories.

The first woman and the first Jewish person to serve as Speaker of Virginia’s House of Delegates says she won’t run for re-election in the General Assembly; A class-action lawsuit filed by Kroger employees in Virginia and West Virginia alleges the company’s new payroll software is resulting in missed pay; Virginia Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner are cosponsoring legislation called the “Disclosure Act"; and other local news stories.

RPS is recommending that the school board approve an extended school year for one elementary school; Mayor Levar Stoney unveils new $3Billion budget; Altria looks to purchase another e-cigarette company; and other local news stories

Legislation this year passed to provide more training for teachers about how to recognize and address signs of childhood trauma; Richmond City Council set personal property tax relief rates at its meeting last week; Virginia’s lax campaign finance system will remain mostly unchanged for another year; and other local news stories.

Virginia’s forensic scientists and medical examiners are one step closer to getting a new state crime lab; More than 50 restaurants, caterers and food trucks are gearing up for next week’s Richmond Black Restaurant Experience; A grassroots group in Richmond ratcheted up pressure over affordable housing at a city council meeting this week; and other local news stories.

Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow submitted her resignation to Governor Glenn Youngkin Wednesday; Easter on Parade is set to return to Monument Avenue after a pandemic pause; Some major transportation projects in Richmond are being considered for state grant funding; and other local news stories.

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed President Joe Biden’s nomination of Virginia’s first openly gay federal judge; The Richmond Police Department is investigating a towing company for actions that could be fraudulent; The Virginia General assembly has directed state regulators to set performance standards for Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power; and other local news stories.

02/28/2023 VCU unveils plaque honoring student hazing viction Adam Oakes; Henrico County will begin offering educators an annual bonus next year; VPM News State politics reporter Ben Paviour gives wrap of the GA  

Was the historic 1954 Brown versus Board of Education case about parental rights? Not desegregating public schools? Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears says so. But an irrefutable source contradicts her. PolitiFact Virginia editor Warren Fiske talked with VPM News editor Whittney Evans about this latest fact check. 

A spokesperson for the University of Virginia says a member of the school’s board showed a“disappointing disregard” for faculty and staff in newly-released text messages; A special election is set for March 28th to fill Jennifer McClellan's seat in the Virginia Senate; A legislative proposal to establish a process for reviewing – and sometimes capping – certain prescription drug prices in Virginia failed to pass this year; and other local news stories.

Officials from Richmond Public Schools gave an update about the status of William Fox Elementary School’s rebuild Wednesday; The city of Richmond has appointed a new human resources director; Two Richmond city council members want to explore acquiring a pair of historic Black cemeteries; and other local news stories.

Democrat Jennifer McClellan became the first Black woman elected to represent Virginia in Congress; Democratic Delegate Jeff Bourne, who has represented Richmond since 2017, says he will not be seeking reelection; The City Planning Commission heard about progress that’s been made on Richmond 300; and other local news stories.

General Assembly votes to compensate man wrongly imprisoned for 23 years; Democrats look to close U.S. House gap in Benjamin vs. McClellan matchup 

There have been a few bills taking aim at China this General Assembly session. One would ban the country from buying land in Virginia. So Jahd Khalil from VPM News asked: How much land does China actually own in the state?? 

Governor Glenn Youngkin won’t commit to signing legislation during his term that would create a legal recreational marijuana marketplace for adults; A House of Delegates subcommittee killed a bill Tuesday that would’ve required the state to disclose who’s using credit cards paid off with state tax revenue; Richmond City workers just took a crucial step in unionizing; and other local news stories.

An attempt to divorce Virginia from California’s progressive vehicle emissions standards failed in the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources committee Tuesday; Earlier this week, it was announced that ASM Global would operate the planned 17,000-seat arena in Green City; Henrico County property owners could be getting a tax rebate for the second consecutive year; and other local news stories.

New legislation could require VMI to extend immunity to students who report a sexual assault; A bill proposed by Democratic Senator Jennifer Boysko that would have made phone calls and digital communications free for incarcerated people was spiked in committee this week; The General Assembly approved a measure Tuesday to ban the use of solitary confinement in Virginia prisons; and other local news stories.

02/14/23 Virginia schools are still struggling with teacher shortages; Green City Arena in Henrico lands manager; Some Virginia public schools may have to pay back leftover Covid-19 Pandemic funds; and other local news stories.

 Towing companies have become a major player in Virginia’s General Assembly, where lawmakers set the maximum fee towers can charge drivers. Now they’re looking to increase those rates, but it’s a tough sell from an unloved industry.

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine wants to end two wars that are still technically ongoing; Virginia’s economic development agency says it has about 1,700 emails and documents related to the scuttled Ford battery plant proposed for a Danville-area megasite, but it won’t share any of them under the state’s public records law; Advocates for legal recreational marijuana sales in Virginia are losing hope that lawmakers will take action this year; and other local news stories.

A House bill that would allow small breweries to sell their beer directly to restaurants and local retailers without going through distributors is headed to the Senate; Deadlines are approaching for voters in the 4th U.S. House District; Legislation aiming to create separate pathways to an advanced studies diploma — with and without a world language requirement — has cleared one chamber of the General Assembly; and other local news stories.

Sunday, committees in the House and Senate approved very different budgets. Those budgets hit legislators’ desks yesterday; The commonwealth’s 20.6% recidivism rate is the second lowest in the country, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections; Virginia’s General Assembly hit the half-way point in its regular session Tuesday with a flurry of votes on hundreds of bills; and other local news stories.

GOP lawmakers in GA kill bill regarding insurrectionists; Democrat lawmakers propose funding for state programs with no tax cuts; VSU offers free tax help; and other local news stories

Have Virginia tax revenues risen by 50 percent over the last four years, as Governor Glenn Youngkin says? PolitiFact Virginia Editor Warren Fiske spoke with VPM News reporter and editor Whittney Evans about his fact checks of the governor’s claim.

The General Assembly is considering a bill that would keep localities from banning natural gas connections in new buildings; The Virginia Board of Education voted to advance its latest history standards draft Thursday afternoon; Virginia law enforcement officers would no longer be able to make false statements while interrogating children under a bill from Democratic Delegate Jackie Glass; and other local news stories.

At least a thousand anti-abortion protesters marched in Richmond’s Capitol Square Wednesday; The U.S. Department of Transportation announced recipients of its $5-billion dollar Safe Streets and Roads grant program; Mayor Levar Stoney gave his state of the city speech; and other local news stories.

Virginia’s Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would ban the sale or possession of AR-15-style weapons manufactured after July 1st; An error by the Virginia Department of Education will result in local school districts receiving less funding than anticipated; As some school districts struggle to hire teachers, former and retired military personnel are being pointed to as potential recruits; and other local news stories.

As Virginia deals with the opioid addiction crisis, some state lawmakers want to increase penalties for distributing any controlled substance that contains fentanyl ; Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is set to give the State of the City address tonight; The Virginia Board of Education will consider a new draft of state history standards on Wednesday; and other local news stories.

For one Henrico County woman, the recent attempt to ban abortion in Virginia after 15 weeks is personal. Martha terminated a pregnancy she desperately wanted, at 23 weeks. VPM News is only using her first name because she fears retaliation from her employer for speaking about her abortion.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives is demanding cuts to federal spending amid the debt ceiling debate; The James Beard Awards announced its 2023 semifinalists for best chef in the mid-Atlantic, and 2 Virginia chefs are competing for the title; A Democrat-controlled Virginia Senate committee struck down three GOP bills Thursday that would have restricted access to abortion; and other local news stories.

Republicans in the House of Delegates advanced legislation today that would undo Virginia’s connection to California’s vehicle emission standards; A Republican-sponsored bill that would remove Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative was voted down Tuesday in a Senate committee; The nonprofit Homeward is recording the number of people in the Richmond area who are experiencing homelessnes; and other local news stories.

Earlier this week, City Council asked Richmond’s planning commission to consider significant changes to the city’s master plan; The next issue of the Chesterfield Observer will be its last; The Library of Virginia is opening a new exhibit, and other local news stories.

A school shooting involving a 6 year-old and his teacher earlier this month is reverberating in Virginia’s General Assembly; The Greyhound Bus Station along Arthur Ashe Boulevard, which was sold in January, is back on the market; Legislation to extend eligibility of the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship to include the descendants of those locked out of school during Massive Resistance advanced Monday; and other local news stories.

PolitiFact Editor Warrne Fiske looks at claims that President Biden is planning to send the IRS after middle-class Americans; US Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke to VPM about plans to reduce traffic fatalities; Senator Tim Kaine finally announced his plans to run for a third term; and other local news stories.

A House of Delegates subcommittee has advanced a bill that would study how to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in Virginia; Richmond Public Schools has released its proposed budget for the year; The family of a 6-year-old boy accused of shooting his teacher at Richneck Elementary in Newport News says the gun he used had been secured; and other local news stories.

The state stopped collecting taxes on groceries on January 1st, after lawmakers eliminated part of their collection during 2022, but taxes on groceries at the city and county level still exist; Monticello has begun the search for new leadership; the Virginia Senate swore in its newest member on Wednesday; and other local news stories.

A jury ruled Tuesday that one Windsor Police Officer used excessive force, and another illegally searched the car of a Black Army Lieutenant when he was pulled over in 2020; The cost of plans on Virginia’s health insurance marketplace dropped 17 percent since last year; In November, a hand full of Gen Z candidates ran for federal office; and other local news stories.

General Assembly's Lobby Day; Henrico County School Board has its first Black woman in leadership; Results of Survey for GRTC's Pulse Line to Short Pump Released; and other local stories.

Former directors of Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building spoke Sunday at the Institute of Contemporary Art; A lawsuit claims voters have been disenfranchised by the quick-turnaround special election to fill the seat of the late Congressman Donald McEachin; A new roof is slated to be installed on Fox Elementary starting next month, after a fire partially destroyed the building about a year ago; The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach is about 40 years old. And both plans to renovate the city-owned space come with a significant price tag; The Great Dismal Swamp could become a National Heritage Area.  

Virginia State Police have begun using a new service that allows them to access cellphone location data without a warrant; The YMCA of Greater Richmond president and CEO will soon be part of the organization’s national leadership; Governor Glenn Youngkin wants to ban Chinese companies connected to the Communist Party from purchasing farmland in Virginia; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin outlined his agenda for the year in the State of the Commonwealth Address Wednesday; The Richmond City Sheriff’s Office has announced a death at the city jail; National plane travel ground to a halt early Wednesday for hours due to a safety system being down; and other local news stories.

New legislation could return electrical ratemaking power to state regulators; Four swastikas were spray painted on a Waynesboro mural depicting a Black father and daughter this past weekend; Virginia’s politically divided legislature enters its session today deeply divided on issues like abortion and gun control; and other local news stories.

There were almost a thousand traffic fatalities in the state during 2022, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation, and some are looking to the General Assembly for a solution; The city of Richmond is surveying child-care providers to figure out what next steps might look like in implementing universal preschool; Newport News police haven’t said what kind of charges, if any, will be filed against the 6-year-old student who’s suspected in the Friday shooting of a teacher; and other local news stories.

With the General Assembly gearing up for a battle this winter over Virginia’s abortion laws, many are watching a Jan. 10 special election for an open Senate seat in Virginia Beach. 

Richmond City Council wants legislators from around the area to fight for more infrastructure project funding and enable another ballot initiative on bringing a casino to the city; Chesterfield County’s Board of Supervisors has two new leaders; Union organizers say most grad students whose stipends were delayed by a University of Virginia filing error in December have been paid; and other local news stories.

The artist who will design a statue of Barbara Rose Johns that will reside in the U.S. Capitol was announced Wednesday; To meet standards set by Major League Baseball, a new stadium that will be part of the Diamond District needs to be complete by the 2025 season; A group of Chesapeake citizens filed a voter petition as part of their fight against a proposed mega-site; and other local news stories.

In Virginia, jurors get paid $30 a day, but one lawmaker is looking to change that; Richmond City Councilmembers chose Mike Jones as their new council president Monday afternoon; Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is asking Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate the leadership of a high-profile magnet school in Northern Virginia; and other local news stories.

At least 40 graduate student workers at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville received late stipend payments during the holidays and some are still waiting to be paid; A wider road, new bike and pedestrian paths, and more than 30 bus shelters are in the works for Henrico County; Tensions are high around Hampton Roads between officials who want to build industrial warehouses and the communities they want to build in; and other local news stories.

Virginia is drawing closer to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s goal of having a law enforcement officer in every public school in the Commonwealth. Last year, the governor and state lawmakers earmarked a record amount of grant funding – more than $20 million dollars – to help localities hire full-time school resource officers, known as SROs.  

The number of travelers across the state this holiday season is expected to rival pre-pandemic figures; A project to widen Interstate 64 in New Kent County is getting funding from the federal infrastructure bill; The minimum wage in Virginia is going up in the new year; and other local news stories.

Last month, the state board of education unanimously rejected taking up history standards presented by Governor Glenn Youngkin’s education team. The Department of Education said a new draft of the proposal would be released sometime this week; Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority announced this week that it acquired the Grace Place Apartments building; Inflation is slowing, but Virginia could soon be looking at an economic downturn; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin wants to consolidate 1,500 state workforce programs into a single agency; Youngkin also proposed a $200 million dollar investment in Virginia’s new flood prevention loan fund; Two Louisa County Sheriff’s deputies are on administrative leave after a fatal shooting; and other local news stories.

Richmond councilmember Katherine Jordan discusses what will happen to the sites where A.P Hill and Robert E. Lee statues formerly stood; A parking lot near the Fan district in Richmond could be the site of new town homes; Virginia Democrats are set to hold a firehouse primary today to fill the 4th District seat left open after Representative Don McEachin’s death in November; and other local news stories.

With the current political focus on transgender kids, Randi B. Hagi with partner station WMRA sat down with two adult community leaders and asked them to reflect on their gender journeys. This is the second of those two conversations.

Governor Glenn Youngkin is seeking major new tax cuts as part of his budget proposal for 2023; There’s one less Democrat vying for the open Fourth District US House seat; Dominion Energy could roll out small nuclear power stations across Virginia within the next decade; and other local news stories.

Mayor Levar Stoney gave an update on Richmond’s three-pronged approach to road quality and safety at city hall Wednesday; The Virginia Department of Transportation released its first-ever resilience plan; Petersburg City Council selected the Cordish Companies Tuesday to develop a proposed hotel and casino; and other local news stories.

Central Virginia Democrats have less than a week until they choose a candidate to fill the vacant 4th district congressional seat; Virginia Delegate Ronnie Campbell died of cancer Monday night; Governor Glenn Youngkin recently announced $20 million for crime-fighting programs around the commonwealth; and other local news stories.

It’s been more than two years since Richmond started removing confederate monuments on city land. But one remained standing at the intersection of Hermitage Road and Laburum Avenue. It came down on Monday; Richmond Delegate Lamont Bagby announced Monday he’ll enter the race to replace former Congressman Donald McEachin, who passed away last month; Another glitch hit the Virginia Department of Elections; and other local news stories.

With the current political focus on transgender kids, Randi B. Hagi with partner station WMRA asked two adult community leaders to reflect on their gender journeys. Here's the first of those two conversations. Please note this story does include mentions of suicidal ideation. If you or someone you love are experiencing suicidal ideation, there are people you can call. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 988. 

Witnesses in last month’s deadly University of Virginia shooting are expected to testify during a preliminary hearing in March; Virginia State Police found that a previous employee who is a suspect in a triple homicide didn’t divulge information that would have disqualified him from employment; Virginia State Police is seeking state funding to grow its workforce by about 10 percent; and other local news stories.

State Senator Ghazala Hashmi plans to reintroduce her legislation from last session to prohibit public colleges from withholding student transcripts over unpaid debt; An executive order signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday requires state officials to gather a list of fines and suspensions levied on businesses that violated COVID-19 rules; Criminal charges have been filed against the owner and administrator of Fillmore Place, a Petersburg assisted living facility that was recently closed due to poor living conditions; and other local news stories.

City of Richmond tax revenue has gone up so much, the city has millions more than it expected; Charlottesville City Council announced it hired a new police chief during a Monday meeting; Chesapeake school officials sent a letter to families last week about a new club called the After School Satan Club; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Commission to Combat Antisemitism released its final report Monday; The Virginia Department of Education has released a full list of those who had input during the development of a controversial draft of state history standards discussed last month; While many localities around the country have taken down Confederate statues in recent years, one Virginia county is meeting Tuesday to protect theirs; The 13-member Virginia Crime Commission will not recommend bills to set a legal limit on blood THC levels or to allow roadside saliva screenings for drivers who are suspected of being high; and other local news stories.

A play premiering in Harrisonburg this month tells the story of the people who once lived in what is now Shenandoah National Park

The Virginia Tourism Corporation spent up to $11.8 million dollars on contracts that didn’t include a public bidding process, according to public records obtained by VPM News; The first death in Virginia connected to m-pox — which was previously known as monkeypox — has been reported; Representative Abigail Spanberger is vying for a new position within the national Democratic party that will focus on winning battleground districts; and other local news stories.

A recently launched oral history project called “Chesterfield Remembers” is gathering stories from residents that include a journey from Columbia to the county and about being a Black race car driver at Southside Speedway; About nine months after a fire gutted Fox Elementary, all of Richmond Public Schools’ prior fire violations have been cleared; Congress is on the cusp of approving legislation that would protect same-sex and interracial marriage at the federal level; and other local news stories.

The Virginia Chapter of the NAACP released documents on Attorney General Jason Miyares' election integrity unit that it received through a Freedom of Information Act request; A final decision from the Virginia Department of Education on draft model policies for transgender students is still pending more than a month after the open comment period closed; Virginia flags are flying at half-staff after 61-year-old Congressman Donald McEachin passed away Monday; and other local news stories.

The holiday season is in full gear, and inflation means Christmas trees will cost more this season; Law enforcement units across the country designed to investigate voter fraud so far have not turned up major problems with this year’s midterms; Replacing Central State Hospital in Dinwiddie County could cost up to $400 million and run a year behind schedule; and other local news stories.

The toll that gun violence takes on local communities goes beyond the recent shootings in Charlottesville and Chesapeake. Randi B. Hagi with Partner station WMRA looks at some of the root causes of gun violence and potential solutions.  

COVID-19 and the flu aren’t the only respiratory viruses Virginians should be mindful of this holiday season; New research from Old Dominion University shows Hampton Roads is nearly evenly split on the political spectrum; University of Virginia alumni have created a fund to honor the victims of last week’s fatal shooting on campus grounds; and other local news stories.

Both University of Virginia students who were injured in last week’s fatal shooting have been discharged from the hospital; The Virginia General Assembly will now have to fill two seats on the state corporation commission; Unemployment in Virginia went up slightly in October from September; and other local news stories.

A recent analysis found a long list of reasons why The Eastern Shore is facing a housing crunch, including poor infrastructure and demographic changes. But one small community in Exmore has become a unique model for affordable housing. Katherine Hafner with partner station WHRO News takes us to the historic New Road neighborhood.

Richmond opened two seasonal shelters for people experiencing homelessness this week, but details on permanent shelters remain unclear; Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares will look into the events surrounding Sunday’s shooting at the University of Virginia; Pharrell Williams' Something in the Water festival is set to return to his hometown, Virginia Beach, in 2023; and other local news stories.

University of Virginia Police say Christopher Darnell Jones Junior was required to disclose to the school his prior criminal convictions, but he never did; A single juvenile is a suspect in all of the January bomb threats made to historically black colleges and universities; Virginia’s Attorney General Jason Miyares says the state could receive $60 million of a three-billion-dollar national settlement with Walmart over the retailer’s alleged connection to the opioid addiction crisis; and other local news stories.

UVA canceled class again Tuesday to give students time to process Sunday’s shooting and lockdown; Aaron Rouse, a Virginia Beach City councilperson, announced Monday that he will run in a special election for the state’s 7th Senate District seat; NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton played a significant role in the development of the Artemis 1 rocket; and other local news stories.

The University of Virginia looked into former football player Christopher Darnell Jones Jr. several times prior to his arrest in Henrico County on Monday; After the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting, schools created safety measures to keep campuses safe from gun violence. But according to Tom Kapsidelis, author of “After Virginia Tech: Guns, Safety, and Healing in the Era of Mass Shootings,” more needs to be done; The Virginia Department of Education issued an updated draft of the state’s history standards on Friday; and other local news stories.

It’s been 10 months since former Governor Ralph Northam handed over the keys to the Executive Mansion to Glenn Youngkin. A new book by former Virginian-Pilot reporter Margaret Edds takes a deeper look at Northam’s tenure. Edds’ book focuses on how the discovery of a racist photo on Northam’s medical school yearbook page nearly cost him his job — but, instead, led to an unusual rebound. VPM News reporter Ben Paviour spoke to Edds about the book. 

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears said Thursday she won’t support former President Donald Trump if he makes a third run for president; School boards in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake will look different after this week’s election; A Republican delegate from Virginia Beach has proposed a constitutional amendment that would introduce term limits for members of the General Assembly; and other local news stories.

Virginia’s two state-funded grant programs are supposed to benefit the neediest college students, but that’s not always the case; Students from Virginia’s historically Black colleges and universities will tutor and mentor children in K to 12 schools; Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is set to propose a onetime real estate tax rebate on Monday; and other local news stories.

Democrats were re-elected in two out of three close Virginia Congressional races Tuesday; Some voters in the City of Richmond and Chesterfield County faced issues while trying to cast their ballot; It will probably be next week before we know how many Virginians registered the same day they voted; and other local news stories.

Three close Congressional elections in Virginia could give a hint of whether election night will bring a red wave; Nonpartisan state auditors say the COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on K through 12 students; A second G-R-T-C rapid bus transit route, similar to the Pulse, is in the works; and other local news stories.

In the past two elections, Virginia poll workers had to wear masks and keep their distance from voters because of the pandemic. This year, officials are turning their attention to poll worker safety for another concern – potential interference from people who don't trust the election process.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s tip line for parents is no more; The Cordish Companies is considering a Wagner Road location for a potential casino in Petersburg; The Chesapeake Bay Foundation recently released a report on the economic benefits of fighting agricultural pollution in the Bay; and other local news stories.

The number of eviction hearings in Virginia is up since the middle of the year, and advocates fear it could get worse; A Richmond city council member has withdrawn a proposal to rename the Robert E. Lee Memorial Bridge; A section of a popular hiking and biking trail now belongs to the Capital Region Land Conservancy; and other local news stories.

State Senator Amanda Chase says she’ll introduce a bill designed to ban all abortions in Virginia; Latino voters drifted away Democrats in 2020. The abortion issue could bring them back; Some call center employees staged strikes across the country on Tuesday; and other local news stories.

The Virginia Department of Elections says they’ve found nearly 150,000 unprocessed voter registration records that were caught in limbo due to an IT glitch; The Supreme Court of Virginia will consider today whether an unannounced gathering of Prince William County supervisors was illegal; The process for college admissions might be different in the wake of the pandemic; and other local news stories.

Research shows young Americans on both sides of the aisle are more likely than older Americans to think the government isn’t doing enough to protect the climate. Patrick Larsen spoke with two young clean energy advocates about what they want to hear from candidates this election.

Community groups that cared for many of Richmond’s well-known parks say they can’t operate in the wake of the dissolution of the Enrichmond Foundation in July; Bon Secours began work this week on an $80 million expansion to its Harbor View facility in North Suffolk; Representative Bob Good and Democratic challenger Josh Throneburg met Wednesday for a candidate forum ahead of the November Election; and other local news stories.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney won’t say whether he asked for Chief Gerald Smith’s resignation; The former Colonial Heights Police Chief can no longer serve as a police officer after being decertified earlier this month; The Inspector General of Virginia is looking into whether the Virginia Tourism Corporation broke state procurement rules; and other local news stories.

Today is the final day to submit online comments related to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposed model policies regarding transgender students; New test data released this week from the National Center for Education Statistics illustrates the scope of pandemic-related learning loss for Virginia students; Chesterfield County voters can now cast their early ballots in person at multiple places; and other local news stories.

Starting Monday, 40 locally owned restaurants are participating in Richmond Restaurant Week; Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC has suspended eminent domain proceedings for about 70 tracts of private land in North Carolina; The ACLU of Virginia has filed a lawsuit against the Hanover County school board over its policies for transgender students; and other local news stories.

Henrico County is asking voters to authorize $511 million in bonds to pay for investments like a replacement for the middle school. In Chesterfield County, a $540-million bond authorization is on the ballot.

Mayor Levar Stoney supports keeping the city’s real property tax rate unchanged, instead favoring a three-percent rebate; A nonprofit and the Wells Fargo Foundation are partnering to expand home ownership in Black and brown communities around Richmond; Petersburg City Council approved The Cordish Companies as its preferred developer for a proposed casino in the city; and other local news stories.

Virginia’s superintendent of public instruction wants another delay in approving new history standards for the K-12 curriculum; College enrollment is down nationally, but Virginia State University is seeing its highest enrollment numbers in three decades; Charlottesville is putting new personnel policies in place after a city employee attended the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol building; and other local news stories.

Historically, the stereotype of younger voters is that they’re apathetic, disinterested or disengaged with voting and don’t show up at the polls, but a University of Virginia professor says that’s not the case; A nonpartisan commission is recommending a single state agency oversee gambling in Virginia; The organizers of a planned forum on Friday between Representative Abigail Spanberger and Republican Yesli Vega say the event won’t happen; and other local news stories.

The City of Richmond planning commission gave first approval for the city to buy an abandoned right of way from freighting giant CSX on Monday; Governor Glenn Youngkin was in Southwest Virginia last week to further sketch out his vision for the state’s energy plan; Richmond police say they’re investigating eight shooting incidents over the weekend in which two people were killed and 10 were injured; and other local news stories.

Members of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration pressed officials to cancel a no-bid state contract awarded to the ad firm he used during his campaign; and a group of teenagers in Norfolk have transformed a vacant lot into a “green oasis."

Jackson Ward residents are seeking reparations after Interstate 95 split the neighborhood in the 1950s; The Richmond Folk Festival entertained a record number of attendees last weekend; Many colleges across the country started a new type of grading system early in the pandemic, and some are keeping that system around for this school year; and other local news stories.

Abortion continues to be a major concern across Virginia; Gas prices are rising in Virginia following OPEC’s announcement that it is cutting oil production by 2 million barrels per day; Congressman Donald McEachin is asking Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and city council president Cynthia Newbille to initiate a flood wall climate resiliency study; and other local news stories.

There’s been a rise in reports of antisemitism in Virginia, according to data from the Anti-Defamation League; A new report from the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services says Black and Latino drivers are more likely to be stopped by police than their white counterparts; The pandemic has intensified a shortage of school bus drivers across the state, but in Richmond Public Schools, all driver vacancies have been filled; and other local news stories.

A February trial date has been set in a lawsuit over plans to melt down the statue of Robert E. Lee that was taken down in Charlottesville last year; It’s been nearly a century since a statue of Christopher Columbus was unveiled in Richmond’s Byrd Park, and a little over two years since protesters tore it down; Researchers at the University of Virginia are getting more than three and a half million dollars to help treat Crohn’s disease; and other local news stories.

Election Day in Virginia is less than a month away; The candidates running to represent Virginia's sixth district in the U.S. House of Representatives recently met on the debate stage; Richmond City Council may take up a final vote on legislation to create a civilian review board tonight; and other local news stories.

Local registrars in Virginia are getting a late start updating voter rolls, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch; The Virginia Department of Education is refusing to release more than 300 pages of documents related to recently proposed policies for transgender students; Several roads will be closed near Brown’s Island in Richmond starting Friday afternoon because of the Richmond Folk Festival; and other local news stories.

FEMA has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Buchanan and Tazewell Counties, where extreme rainfall caused floods and landslides in July; Virginia Democrats are calling for an investigation into a state contract awarded to an ad agency connected to Governor Glenn Youngkin; For the second month in a row, Amtrak ridership in Virginia hit record highs; and other local news stories.

Richmond school leaders will soon be convening workgroups to review curriculum materials; A new state report shows the number of people working remotely for the commonwealth of Virginia has nearly tripled from pre-pandemic levels; Organizations in Virginia are providing support in the wake of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin outlined the 2022 Virginia Energy Plan yesterday during a press conference in Lynchburg; Yesterday, parts of Hampton roads were preparing for significant tidal flooding in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian; The Menokin Glass House Project in Warsaw is getting $1 million from the state; and other local news stories.

The Navy met its retention goal last year. But whether the military is keeping people with the skills it needs is a bigger question. Anthony Cordesman is a national security analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He spoke with Paul Bibeau with our partner station WHRO about the challenges.

Over the past four months, VPM News reporters have explored ways Virginians are trying to curb the devastating effects of gun violence in our communities and how survivors and their families are learning to heal. This edition of the VPM Daily Newscast includes all of the stories from our special series “Another Way: How one Virginia city reckons with gun violence,” hosted by Sara McCloskey. To read more about this coverage head to VPM.org/gun-violence.

In Virginia, there were more eviction hearings scheduled in September compared to any month since October 2017; GRTC has approved a new plan that would improve over half of its bus stop locations; On Thursday, a Richmond court heard arguments in a case regarding the city’s last standing confederate monument; and other local news stories.

Two years since the city started removing its own confederate monuments, one still stands in a Richmond neighborhood; Central and Southeast Virginia should expect several days of wind and rain starting Friday as Hurricane Ian moves north; The Virginia DMV has issued roughly 5,600 IDs with a nonbinary gender designation; and other local news stories.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney called on federal officials to investigate a hospital on the city’s east side, which was the focus of a recent New York Times report; Virginians are sounding off on Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposed rollback of protections for transgender students. The proposal prompted several school protests yesterday; State officials are looking into why maternal mortality rates have more than doubled in Virginia; and other local news stories.

Students are planning to walk out of close to 100 Virginia schools today to protest the Youngkin administration’s draft policies on the treatment of transgender students in school; The Navy is ramping up staffing to deal with a backlog of discharge papers; Bon Secours and Richmond Community Hospital are allegedly using a program to buy discounted medication available to nonprofit hospitals and being reimbursed at a much higher rate by insurance companies; and other local news stories.

This week, VPM News is exploring ways Virginians are trying to curb the devastating effects of gun violence in our communities and how they’re learning to heal. Our special series, “Another Way,” starts with the story of a 17-year-old student from Richmond’s George Wythe High School. Samiyah Yellardy was shot and killed in her own home in April. VPM News reporter Megan Pauly spoke with her mother, who reflects on her daughter’s life, loss and hopes for the future. 

Richmond city council is ready to select RVA Diamond Partners LLC for a $2.4 billion redevelopment project near Scott's Addition; Virginia Union University may get to keep its bell tower logos, but at a cost; Virginia’s Executive Mansion will get an extra layer of security; and other local news stories.

Virginia Beach helped a nonprofit access state financing for a proposed community for people with developmental disabilities; The new General Assembly building will not be finished this fall as originally planned; Construction has started on a new GRTC bus transfer station in Richmond’s downtown; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration has rolled out a new draft policy regarding the treatment of transgender students; Gov. Youngkin is set to campaign next month for Kari Lake, who has leaned into election conspiracy theories as a candidate in the Arizona governor's race; This Friday is the first day of in-person early voting in Virginia for the November 8th election; and other local news stories.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced new policies last week regarding transgender students in public schools; Community members marched to the John Marshall Court building on Sunday to call for the gun violence to stop; Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith is continuing a series of community conversations he says are intended to rebuild community trust; and other local news stories.

Volunteers with Mennonite Disaster Service are deployed all over the country to help communities rebuild after floods, fires, and storms.  Randi B. Hagi, from partner station WMRA, spoke with volunteers from the Shenandoah Valley about the support they provide to other communities when disaster strikes.

A new report from Old Dominion University puts a dollar figure on how much coastal Virginia could lose from flooding and sea level rise; The newest form of protection against COVID-19 became available this week at the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts; Hanover County’s Board of Supervisors is considering whether to remove the county’s school board chair; and other local news stories.

Richmond City officials picked a developer this week to oversee revitalization of the area dubbed The Diamond District; Governor Glenn Youngkin left Virginia a dozen times for personal or political travel between March and August; U.S. Representative Elaine Luria will have additional security while she is home in Norfolk; and other local news stories.

Virginians will soon find out if they can get a tax rebate from the state; Governor Glenn Youngkin was a featured guest at a national anti-abortion group’s annual fundraiser last night; Richmond city officials are pushing to choose RVA Diamond Partners LLC to develop a large piece of land surrounding the Diamond baseball stadium; and other local news stories.

Lunenburg County closed all four of its schools yesterday after the Sheriff’s office located a school shooting threat on social media Sunday afternoon; Citizens gathered on Sunday at the Virginia War Memorial in remembrance of civilians and first responders killed in the September 11th terror attacks; Veterans will see some relief on their taxes under new legislation signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin; and other local news stories.

It’s been 100 years since Virginia lawmakers created the Virginia State Board of Censors. The all-white board required edits to over 2,000 movies from the 1920s through ‘60s, and were especially concerned about depictions of race. Melissa Ooten with the University of Richmond wrote a book about the board. She sat down with VPM News reporter Ben Paviour to discuss her research.

Queen Elizabeth the Second, who died yesterday at the age of 96, visited the commonwealth several times during her reign; It's been a year since crews removed the Robert E Lee monument in Richmond. Now plans are in the works to reopen the site; A Petersburg assisted living facility is facing the loss of its license; and other local news stories.

History was made one year ago today in the former capital of the Confederacy with the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument; Virginia Democrats say Glenn Youngkin was wrong to attend a fundraiser for Maine Republican Paul LePage last night; Pro-abortion rights advocates gathered at the Virginia Capitol yesterday to rally against any changes to the commonwealth’s abortion laws; and other local news stories.

Virginia lawmakers are returning to Richmond today for a short session; Dominion Energy threatened to pull the plug on its offshore wind project if state regulators don't shift risk to ratepayers for unexpected fuel costs; Attorney General Jason Miyares announced yesterday that Virginia is set to receive more than $16 million dollars as part of a multi-state agreement with e-cigarette maker JUUL; and other local news stories.

Tonight, Richmond City council members are going to be briefed on an ongoing controversy regarding police transparency; Carytown locals say now is the time to close the area to cars; Virginia ranked 13th among states where COVID-19 is spreading the fastest on a per-person basis; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office has rejected VPM News’ public record request to see his calendar; The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority has a new CEO; Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney withdrew legistlation that would have created a civilian review board for police, but is set to introduce a new proposal; and other local news stories.

The Youngkin administration told the state Air Pollution Control Board yesterday that the process to leave a regional carbon emissions market will begin in the coming weeks; The Environmental Protection Agency recently updated the status of two sites in the region with contamination; Federal officials announced this week they’re giving $310,000 to a marsh restoration project on Virginia’s Eastern Shore; and other local news stories.

City officials in Charlottesville are asking a court to dismiss the wrongful termination lawsuit filed against them by former police chief RaShall Brackney; A Virginia Beach judge threw out a lawsuit that would have prevented book sellers and libraries from selling or lending minors two books without parental consent; Food pantries in the region are serving more people because of rising costs for food and gas caused by inflation; and other local news stories.

The death of a cyclist earlier this month is renewing attention across central Virginia to road design and safety; A Virginia Beach judge will decide today whether kids would have to get a parent’s permission to buy or rent two books some call ‘obscene'; Petersburg’s first Black woman mayor has died; and other local news stories.

More than half of all college graduates in Virginia will be affected by the White House's announcement to forgive between 10 to 20-thousand dollars-worth of federal student loans. Mechelle Hankerson, from partner station WHRO, spoke with Scott Kemp, the Student Loan Advocate from the State Council of Higher Education, about the plan. 

Parents attending a backpack giveaway hosted by Attorney General Jason Miyares yesterday say school safety remains a top concern in the aftermath of school shootings; After filing a public information request, VPM News has obtained more details from the City of Richmond about the gun buyback event last weekend; The Virginia Department of Health is expanding eligibility for the monkeypox vaccine; and other local news stories.

In May, Governor Glenn Youngkin quietly offered a controversial conservative a post in his administration, and is downplaying talk that he’s interested in running for president in 2024; City officials say Richmond’s latest gun buyback event was a success; The number of naloxone kits, also known by the brand name Narcan, are being rationed by the Virginia Department of Health due to a funding shortage; and other local news stories.

NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton has played a big role in the development of the Artemis 1 rocket, which is the first step in sending Americans back to the moon; The city of Petersburg began demolishing the Ramada Inn along Interstate-95 this week; Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC has requested federal approval for a pipe stabilization plan in the Jefferson National Forest; and other local news stories.

A new freshman class at the Maggie Walker Governor’s School is the first class admitted under a new admission policy; When middle and high school students return to class in Chesterfield County this week, they’ll find a book on library shelves that was almost removed by the school district; A sixth former member of the Delta Chi fraternity at Virginia Commonwealth University pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges connected to the death of student Adam Oakes; and other local news stories.

Democrats' newly enacted Inflation Reduction Act includes about $80 billion dollars for the Internal Revenue service. Some Republicans are criticizing the new money as a tool for the Biden administration to target small businesses and the middle class. PolitiFact Virginia Editor Warren Fiske spoke with VPM News Legal Reporter Whittney Evans about how one Virginia Congressman is adopting that theory.

While Virginia students made gains in most topics this year, standardized test results remain below pre-pandemic levels; NASA will soon launch the Artemis 1 rocket into space; The State Board of Education delayed taking up new history and social science standards for K through 12 students this week; and other local news stories.

The city of Richmond has backed out of a proposed casino referendum, at least until next year; Higher education institutions can soon begin applying for $5 million in state funding to prepare applications for laboratory schools; Family members say the cyclist who sustained life-threatening injuries in a crash that killed her friend is recovering; Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith spoke at length about the alleged mass shooting plot at the Dogwood Dell July Fourth celebration; and other local news stories.

One of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s top education officials wants to push back a first review of new history and social science standards for K through 12 students; The ACLU of Virginia is suing to force the state to release a man from prison; A new report says the city of Hopewell, the Richmond-area and much of eastern Virginia will be dealing with even more scorching temperatures in the coming decades; and other local news stories.

Representative Donald McEachin says he’s declined invitations to debate his Republican opponent; Activists opposing the Mountain Valley Pipeline gathered less than a mile from its path over the weekend; Dulles International is set to join dozens of other airports across the country developing solar and battery capacity that could power 37,000 homes in Northern Virginia; and other local news stories.

Photojournalist Amos has a new exhibit "The story of us” features Charlottesville residents who were at the Unite the Right Rally and includes QR codes that link to short recordings of those featured in the pictures.

Five years after Unite the Right, Charlottesville grapples with its identity; Virginia Department of Education reviews standards for teaching history; VCU loses half a million dollars in email scam; and other local stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin signals a desire to change a recently adopted statewide transgender model policy; VPM News Director speaks with Pulitzer prize winning photographer about Unite the Rite anniversary; Hanover School Board considering new bathroom access policy; and other local stories.

The Hanover County school board began discussing a new draft policy around transgender facility uses; Social justice protesters have been paid more than $1 million by the City of Richmond; Sixty-six patients died in state-operated behavioral health facilities during fiscal year 2021; and other local stories.  

Richmond Police Chief shut down questions about an alleged July 4th mass shooting plot; Richmond names a new street sweeper after late Hip Hop artist; Virginia Beach high schooler wins who runs a tree-planting nonprofit wins national award; and other local stories.

08/08/22 Richmond muralist covers walls across the world 

The first of three phases in a project to replace Creighton Court in Richmond concluded last month; VDOE is near finalizing model policy on explicit material; North Carolina Gov visits VA's wind turbines; and other local stories.

Prosecutors present no evidence of planned Dogwood Dell shooting, toss gun charges; Hanover schools removes controversial T-shirt; Update on traffic stop in the town of Windsor that made national headlines; and other local stories.

Richmond judge decides today on trail around July 4th mass shooting plot; A Charlottesville city employee who attended the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol will remain on the payroll; Windsor police officer won't face criminal charges over controversial stop; and other local stories.

Richmond Public Schools has many unfilled vacancies as the new school starts soon; A House of Delegates redistricting lawsuit has been tossed; Youth Crimes are on the rise in Hampton Roads; and other local stories

After years of discussion with industry leaders, Old Dominion University has started a brand-new school to train people for the maritime industry. Elspeth McMahon, a long-time maritime educator and U.S. Navy Reserve officer, recently took the job to lead the new school. Ryan Murphy from partner station WHRO sat down with her to talk about the school's priorities

Richmond is researching what it would take to provide free preschool to all 3 and 4 year olds in the city; More than a dozen public figures and LGBTQ advocacy groups want the Virginia Supreme Court to uphold a decision that says requiring teachers to use a student’s preferred pronoun is not in violation of their rights; A new poll released on Thursday from VCU’s Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs shows that about 50% of Virginians are satisfied with current abortion laws and that they shouldn’t be changed; and other local news stories.

FEMA will help state officials determine the extent of flood damage in Buchanan County; This week, Virginia’s Attorney General joined a coalition of 21 other Republican attorneys general in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture; A federal appeals court has sided with Virginia Beach in a case about how the city conducts local elections; and other local news stories.

Attorney General Jason Miyares says Virginia law enforcement agencies recognize the bungled response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas and they’re taking notes; Former Virginia Tech Football player Isi Etute will be enrolling at Iowa Western Community College for the 2022 football season; A new discount airline is coming to the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport; and other local news stories.

The Richmond Police Department says they’ve compiled a list of about a hundred potential perpetrators of gun violence in the city; Deaths among teen drivers increased by more than 55 percent in Virginia last year; The public can now get a behind the scenes look at Richmond Police communications before officers teargassed protesters at the former Robert E. Lee monument during protests in 2020; and other local news stories.

Last Month, Richmond’s Branch Museum unveiled its Re(Framing) protest exhibit, which takes a look at the positive community outcomes that resulted from the racial justice protests in the summer of 2020 through the photography of Regina Boone and Sandra Sellars. VPM News intern Davis spoke with both of them recently.

The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts are doing additional outreach to provide Monkeypox vaccinations to people who are more likely to be exposed to the illness based on certain risk factors; Unity Day in Charlottesville is cancelled for the third year in a row; Hanover County is in the process of replacing John M. Gandy Elementary School in Ashland. The new building will include non-gendered, single-occupant bathrooms; and other local news stories.

Adult Protective Services is investigating a Petersburg assisted living facility after residents reported never receiving federal stimulus money; Yesterday, the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts started vaccinating people at high risk of contracting monkeypox; According to the Virginia Department of Health, more than 96 percent of abortions in the state have taken place during the first trimester since 2016; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has now appointed majorities on the state boards regulating education and air pollution; State regulators signed off on Appalachian Power’s latest renewable energy plan, as well as a rate increase to help cover some of the costs; As summer temperatures are expected to settle in the high 90s through the rest of the week, local health officials want to remind residents of the dangers of heat-related illnesses; and other local news stories.

Flooding in Buchanan County last week destroyed 33 properties and caused major damage to 32 others; 36 people in Central Virginia have been arrested on charges-related to sex trafficking; Norfolk’s City Council will vote on a resolution today that aims to refocus Hampton Roads Ventures’ money back to Hampton Roads; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin caused a stir with some comments he recently made on NBC’s “Meet the Press” about same-sex marriage laws in Virginia. Politifact Virginia Editor Warren Fiske spoke with VPM News Legal Reporter Whittney Evans about the comments.

A new report shows exactly where people in Virginia prisons and jails come from; Attorney General Jason Miyares called the people who vandalized a pregnancy center in Lynchburg quote “cowards” who carried out an act of “political violence"; Last month was Norfolk International Airport’s busiest month in its 80 year history; and other local news stories.

Virginia was bumped from its coveted ranking as CNBC’s “Top State for Business” - a spot it's held since 2019; Home sales in Virginia are slowing, but experts told lawmakers yesterday they don’t expect things to get much cheaper; 4,000 beagles in Virginia are looking for new forever homes; and other local news stories.

A grand jury investigation into the Loudoun County School District’s handling of two sexual assaults is moving forward; Bomb threats prompted evacuations and police investigations at multiple college campuses around Hampton Roads yesterday; Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, which is the final resting place for thousands of Confederate soldiers and leaders, has banned the display of Confederate flags; and other local news stories.

More than two hundred families are facing eviction from an apartment complex in Henrico County next month; Another presumed case of monkeypox has been identified in Virginia, making the total number of cases in the state 27 as of yesterday; The second of two suspects police say were allegedly planning a mass shooting on July 4th in Richmond is being held in custody without bond; and other local news stories.

COVID-19 has been impacting people across the world for three summers. So, at what point will we call it an endemic — instead of a pandemic?   VPM News Morning Edition Host Phil Liles spoke with Chtaura Jackson, an epidemiologist with the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts about where we are now with COVID-19.  

State officials said last week they plan on cracking down on the sale of hemp products that can get you high, like Delta-8 gummies; Governor Glenn Youngkin’s PAC broke a fundraising record, bringing in more than $1.5 million dollars between April 1st and June 30th; The Enrichmond Foundation, a nonprofit that's been overseeing the restoration of two historic Black cemeteries, is officially no more; and other local news stories.

Yesterday Richmond Police shared details of an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting on July 4th; The Virginia DMV is launching a new way to save money for drivers who use less gas; Portsmouth Senator Louise Lucas was barraged with racist and homophobic tweets, after voicing support for abortion rights; and other local news stories.

An organization that owns two historic Black cemeteries in Richmond has apparently ceased to exist; Richmond Police announced there was no need to tear gas hundreds of people at the former Robert E. Lee Monument during protests in 2020; Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced four appointees to Virginia Military Institute’s Board of Visitors; and other local news stories.

The cause of a February fire that partially destroyed Richmond’s William Fox Elementary School has been deemed “undetermined,” according to a 31-page partially-redacted report; Virginia legislators have pushed back a statewide commitment to ban polystyrene foam to-go containers by five years; Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration is warning federal officials about the negative impacts of an offshore wind energy project; and other local news stories.

If you drive by the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, you’ll see 12,000 small American flags lining the property. The display is called the “Hill of Heroes,” and it honors the lives of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country. The installation will be available for public viewings until July 8.   VPM News Morning Edition Host Phil Liles spoke with Dr. Clay Mountcastle, the director of the Virginia War Memorial, about how the project got started.

It’s been one week since the U.S. Supreme Court removed the constitutional protection for abortion, and Christian faith leaders are divided on the issue; After a contentious General Assembly session this year, a range of hard-fought new laws take effect in Virginia today; Yesterday, the Virginia Department of Health launched a new dashboard to track firearm injuries reported by hospital emergency departments statewide; and other local news stories.

As the holiday weekend approaches, inflation continues to drive prices; Norfolk’s Ohio Creek Watershed Project is nearing completion; Plans are in motion for the Shenandoah Rail Trail, but advocates and lawmakers say it will still be some time before the trail is open to the public; and other local news stories.

A number of bills introduced this year attempted to roll back protections for LGBTQ Virginians, but those measures won’t become law this week; A state lawmaker says he will propose a bill during next year’s legislative session that will quote “protect life at conception"; An abortion provider in Bristol, Tennesse is planning to move across the border to its sister city in Virginia; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s order requiring state employees to return to the office is adding to tensions at the Virginia Department of Health; Abortion is still legal in Virginia despite the Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade last Friday; Researchers at UVA Health helped pen new guidelines to minimize the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome, also known as SIDS; and other local news stories.

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe V. Wade last week, we are revisiting a conversation VPM News reporter Megan Pauly had with Daniel Williams, a professor at the University of West Georgia. They spoke about what the abortion debate has historically looked like in Virginia. Williams is the author of two books: God’s Own Party: The Making of the Christian Right – and Defenders of the Unborn: The Pro-Life Movement before Roe v. Wade.

Virginia health commissioner Dr. Colin Greene was formally reprimanded by the State Board of Health yesterday; Goochland High School hosted a screening of a film promoting the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen on Thursday night; U.S. Senator Tim Kaine says he’s hopeful the next vote he casts will make gun control a priority in America; and other local news stories.

A Regent Law School graduate is suing the U.S. Department of Education to end religious exemptions to Title IX; Two years after being toppled during protests, the statue of Jefferson Davis is now on display in the designer's museum; The Norfolk Botanical Garden is launching a major expansion, with an emphasis on so-called green building; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin once again condemned comments made by Virginia health commissioner Colin Greene; Governor Youngkin signed the two-year budget yesterday, which included $100 million towards funding new lab schools; Virginia State University has extended the contract of the school’s president until 2029; and other local news stories.

Republicans in Virginia are heading to the polls today; The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors is accepting applications through Thursday to fill a vacant seat; The state health commissioner is walking back dismissive comments he made about the role of structural racism in public health; and other local news stories.

Structural racism and sexism at Virginia Military Institute were heavily scrutinized in 2020 and 2021, leading to leadership changes at the school. In Sounds Like Hate, a podcast from the Southern Poverty Law Center, Jamila Paksima and Yvonne Latty explore how VMI’s confederate roots are felt by the students and graduates of today.

State Health Commissioner Colin Greene has been the subject of controversy after the Washington Post quoted him downplaying the role of racism in public health; The Virginia Department of Health is adjusting COVID-19 exposure guidelines;Governor Glenn Youngkin has proposed an amendment to the state budget that bars the use of taxpayer dollars for abortion-related services; and other local news stories.

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the federal law that banned sex discrimination in education; Data from the University of Virginia shows that roughly 10% of people charged with assaulting a police officer have a history of mental illness; The Hanover County School Board narrowly voted to keep the book “A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal the Heart” on elementary library shelves following a parent complaint; and other local news stories.

Republicans in two closely watched Virginia Congressional districts are making their final pitch to voters ahead of the June 21st primary; This weekend is Juneteenth, the anniversary of when the last enslaved people were freed after the Civil War, but some are upset about Norfolk's plans to mark the holiday; Richmond will offer a gun buyback program later this year; and other local news stories.

State lawmakers want Virginia’s economy to become more innovative, but a state report released yesterday says incentives designed to push the change aren’t working; Researchers with the nonprofit Climate Central found that Virginia could lose up to 42 percent of its tidal wetlands by 2100 due to sea level rise; Big local cities do a lot of work on flood resilience, but it’s even harder for smaller localities in coastal Virginia that have fewer resources; and other local news stories.

2022 is a special time for the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond as it celebrates its centennial anniversary. This also marks 10 years after the discovery of its infamous black cat sibling duo, Edgar and Pluto.

A top state lawmaker says the Virginia General Assembly won’t vote this month on a plan to give the Washington Commanders tax breaks to build a stadium; A part of the state budget proposal excludes private colleges and universities from funding for lab schools; A proposal to create a fund for victims of mass violence didn’t make it into the budget this year; and other local news stories.

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine wants to bring gun control legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020 to a national level; Authorities have been investigating the possible drownings of two women, who went missing during a float trip down the James River on Memorial Day weekend; The state is investigating the City of Petersburg’s fire department after allegations were raised by the local firefighter’s union; and other local news stories.

The Richmond school board has approved an emergency procurement route to award a contract for the design of a new Fox Elementary; The Chesapeake Bay watershed received a C+ on its latest report card; Former Representative Denver Riggleman says he’s no longer a Republican; and other local news stories.

A virtual committee meeting of the Virginia LGBTQ+ Advisory board in May was interrupted by a flood of racist and homophobic messages from anonymous accounts; This month marks 50 years since Title IX was signed into federal law; The Richmond Fire Department has recovered the body of a woman in the James River who they believe went missing on Memorial Day; and other local news stories.

A federal judge issued a restraining order last month against the dog breeding facility Envigo in Cumberland County for repeated violations of the Animal Welfare Act, and the deaths of hundreds of beagle puppies.

COVID-19 cases are rising in Virginia, with Richmond and surrounding counties at a high community spread level; Richmond Parents and guardians of infants can soon apply for emergency funding from the city to help pay for the cost of baby formula; Students at Petersburg City Public Schools will be taught what to do if they encounter an unattended gun; and other local news stories.

Virginia’s two-year budget deal includes a new penalty for marijuana possession; Democrats in Virginia’s House of Delegates have chosen a new leader; Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has formed a new working group to combat organized retail crime; and other local news stories.

Virginia lawmakers reconvene today to approve a state budget; Governor Glenn Youngkin says his team is still combing through the state budget agreement released on Sunday; The Supreme Court of Virginia will hear arguments from Hanover residents against a planned Wegmans distribution center; and other local news stories.

A ceremony to honor members of the armed forces who died while serving in the United States’ military was held yesterday at the Virginia War Memorial near downtown Richmond; Democratic and Republican lawmakers have come to an agreement on the state budget following over two months of delays; Virginia Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears addressed an annual meeting of the National Rifle Association on Friday, three days after a shooter killed 21 people at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas; and other local news stories.

City Employees from the Virginia Beach Municipal Center create a memorial to honor gun victims from a shooting three years ago.

First monkeypox case identified in Virginia; Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the NRA’s annual conference; Free bus rides on G-R-T-C will continue into next year; and other local news stories.

New efforts to tackle gun violence in limbo as Virginia lawmakers negotiate state budget; Parents, teachers concerned about increased police at Richmond schools; Medical examiner, police take stand in first day of Etute trial; and other local news stories. 

 Law banning 'gay panic' defense tested as former Tech football player goes to trial in slaying; Charlottesville Library considers name change; Equitable transportation guidelines adopted by Richmond City Council; and other local news stories

Lawmakers are heading back to Richmond next week.  The clerk of the state Senate told VPM News that they’re set to take up a new two-year budget on June 1st.; Several Democratic lawmakers from the Richmond area want Gov. Youngkin to hold off on implementing his new telework policy until after Labor Day; Employees at a Newport News Starbucks say they’ve become the first unionized location in Hampton Roads; and other local news stories

The issue of abortion wasn’t always as politically polarizing as it is today.  VPM News reporter Megan Pauly spoke with University of West Georgia professor Daniel Williams about what the abortion debate has historically looked like in Virginia. Williams is the author of two books: God’s Own Party: The Making of the Christian Right – and Defenders of the Unborn: The Pro-Life Movement before Roe v. Wade.

A new report from Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office is filled with statistics that state education officials say paint a “sobering picture” about public education in Virginia; Attorney General Jason Miyares is asking the Virginia Supreme Court for access to sealed records related to the suspension of a controversial judge and former parole board chair; Local pediatricians are warning parents and guardians not to take drastic measures as a national shortage of baby formula worsens; and other local news stories.

As infections continue to rise in Virginia, local health officials say they’re preparing for a likely surge in COVID-19 cases; Kids and teens will have to be home an hour earlier under new curfew rules in Petersburg; In the last year, 10 sailors on the carrier U.S.S. George Washington have died, at least 5 by suicide; and other local news stories.

The issue of abortion today is politically polarized. But it wasn’t always that way, including in Virginia; State officials say more than 4,500 people housed in Virginia prisons are scheduled to be released early this summer; State regulators are reviewing Dominion Energy’s proposal for its long-touted Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project; and other local news stories.

Next month, taxes on personal property are due in Virginia. That includes used cars, a tax that normally decreases as a vehicle ages. That’s not the case this year; Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is calling on Governor Glenn Youngkin to declare a state of emergency in the commonwealth to help families struggling to access baby formula; Governor Youngkin is creating a new task force to fight violent crime in Virginia; and other local news stories.

VPM’s Morning Edition Host Phil Liles spoke with entomologist and host of “What’s Buggin’ You?,” Dr. Art Evans, to find out what pollinators are native to Virginia – and what we can do to attract them in our gardens. 

Experts say recent events in Virginia show the commonwealth still struggles to address hate crimes against Muslims; Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration is adding religious concepts to its mandatory diversity training for state employees; Virginians will have a difficult time challenging any new state laws that would restrict abortion, if the U.S. Supreme Court decides to overturn Roe v. Wade; and other local news stories.

Senator Joe Morrissey could be the deciding vote on any new proposals to restrict abortion access in the state; A sailor at Fort Story in Virginia Beach has died after a helicopter experienced a “hard landing” during training exercises last week; The housing market in Hampton Roads is breaking records as prices continue to surge; and other local news stories.

Virginia Capitol Police is increasing patrols around the capitol complex, after a bullet pierced the window of the Attorney General’s office in Richmond Monday night; Electric bills are rising across the country, including here in Virginia; The search begins again for a new head of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles after reports that the incoming commissioner was accused of inappropriate behavior at his previous job; and other local news stories.

Democrat Danica Roem is aiming for a new post in Virginia’s closely divided Senate next year; Over the past two years, 23 Virginia public school districts have taken at least one book off their shelves due to content reasons; The City of Norfolk is looking to get rid of library late fees; and other local news stories.

Richmond City Council is reviewing two proposals that would give city employees the right to collectively bargain; Fox Elementary teachers moved their things into Clark Springs Elementary school last week, where students will finish out the academic year; It’s unclear when the Virginia Appeals Court will decide whether a man convicted of murdering a Waverly Police officer nearly 25 years ago will be exonerated; and other local news stories.

Today, the Virginia Court of Appeals will consider exonerating a Virginia man convicted of murdering a Waverly police officer nearly 25 years ago; Arlington will now be home to Boeing’s global headquarters; The Jamestown settlement is becoming more and more threatened by climate change; and other local news stories.

The long-awaited Office of the Children’s Ombudsman is now up and running; Virginia Senator Tim Kaine says a U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade would threaten longstanding law on privacy and equal protection; Two pieces of land in King William County have been put into a trust to benefit the Upper Mattaponi Tribe; and other local news stories.

A leaked draft of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe versus Wade has supercharged a debate over abortion access in Virginia, which will likely have an effect on the mid-term elections; As the struggle to complete the state budget continues, negotiators say there are no plans to hold public meetings for the foreseeable future; Completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline has been delayed again to the second half of 2023, and the estimated price tag for the project has risen to about 6-point-6 billion dollars; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s top education official says state schools are not producing good outcomes; V-DOT is hosting the first of two meetings tonight to gather community input on the Fall Line Trail; Some employees at a Newport News Starbucks announced they will try to unionize; and other local news stories.

This week starts an awareness week for children’s mental health.   To share insights on ways adults can help children who are struggling -- VPM News Morning Edition anchor Phil Liles spoke with Dr. Karen Kochel, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Richmond.  

Environmental advocates are concerned that Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney's budget proposal isn't keeping up with previous commitments to make the city more resilient to climate change; Richmond public safety officials report more coyote sightings in the area this spring; Petersburg leaders are looking for ways to respond to a recent increase in gun violence; and other local news stories.

Fairfax Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn was voted out of a leadership role by her Democratic colleagues in the House of Delegates yesterday; A Virginia Senate panel has rejected Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proposal to temporarily suspend the gas tax; The Richmond and Henrico health districts have set up an email alert system to let community members know when there are spikes in opioid overdoses in their neighborhoods; and other local news stories.

Democrats in Virginia’s Senate are threatening to reject changes Governor Glenn Youngkin wants to make to cannabis laws; Lawmakers are heading back to the state Capitol today to consider Governor Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes and changes to legislation; The visitor’s center at the Virginia Capitol will be closing next week due to construction; and other local news stories.

A group of Hanover County students spent last Friday in silence as part of a national day of LGBTQ advocacy; Sen. Bernie Sanders came to Richmond this weekend to celebrate the recent unionization of seven Starbucks locations in Virginia; The top Democrat in Virginia’s House of Delegates is facing a challenge from within her own ranks; and other local news stories.

For almost 70 years, Virginia has been waging a crusade against litter through campaigns, roadway signs, and fines; The Scott Road Bridge in Henrico may soon be replaced with one that won’t allow cars; Next month, the Virginia Rent Relief Program will no longer accept new applications from community members in need of financial assistance; and other local news stories.

The Virginia Department of Education voluntarily handed over a file on Tuesday that it previously blocked from public release; A Charlottesville-based medical company has received emergency use authorization for a new rapid test for COVID-19; City officials released a draft plan this week on the methods Richmond wants to use to tackle climate change; and other local news stories.

More than 220 places of worship in Hampton Roads are at risk of serious damage from persistent flooding and sea level rise; The Virginia Court of Appeals has ruled that a man found guilty in 1994 of sexually abusing his children is innocent; Governor Glenn Youngkin is ordering a review of security and safety at Virginia’s state mental health hospitals; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 17 directs state officials to bring new recycling technology to Virginia, but not everyone is convinced the tech is as effective as advertised; Large-scale solar farms in Virginia will soon have stricter water quality standards; Regional transportation officials will soon decide how to spend nearly $280 million dollars on projects over the next four years; and other local news stories.

At Richmond's George Whythe High School a vigil was held for a 17-year-old gun shot victim; Russia issues sanctions against some members of U.S. House or Reps, including some in Va; The number of house fires in Chesterfield County is up compared to last year; and other local news. 

Richmond’s two homeless shelters to close this month; Virginians can apply to state program to protect their ash trees; Water bills were recently paid off for Petersburg residents; and other local news stories 

04/13/22 Gov. Glenn Youngkin Vetoes Target Sen. Ebbin; Gov. Youngkin signals support for facial recognition technology; Richmond City Council and School Board appear to come to agreement on George Wythe High School, and other local news stories. 

Gov. Glenn Youngkin signs new legislation; Youngkin appoints former former Trump official to be Virginia’s Deputy Secretary of Education; Richmond Mayor proposes new ordinance around George Whythe; and other local news stories.

A VPM News public records request shows a Richmond city official attempted to get an independent city auditor to update an audit on school construction costs over a year after it was published; Governor Glenn Youngkin signed a new executive order yesterday recognizing the value of recycling and waste reduction in Virginia; Fairfax County’s top prosecutor has launched a new program that aims to provide people accused of nonviolent crimes with programs and services instead of a criminal record; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has offered a slate of new appointees to fill vacancies on the Virginia Parole Board after Senate Democrats rejected his first picks; A permanent exhibit honoring the lives of the one and a half million Jewish children who died in the Holocaust is opening in Richmond; Three national civil rights organizations have teamed up to launch a new campaign in response to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s tip line to report so-called inherently divisive concepts; and other local news stories.

In Southwest Virginia, there’s a new store that needs no price tags. That’s because everything on the shelves is completely free; To-go cocktails and alcohol deliveries are here to stay in Virginia for two more years; A statewide campaign launched this week to raise awareness about safe driving practices for teens; and other local news stories.

The Virginia General Assembly reconvened yesterday to finish work on the state budget and almost fifty bills; State lawmakers are back to negotiating the thorny politics of seating two new justices to the Virginia Supreme Court; Two out of three judges on a federal appeals panel have agreed to allow a Fairfax County governor’s school to continue with its current admissions process, at least for the next incoming class of students; and other local news stories.

Most parts of Central Virginia were advised to find shelter yesterday afternoon; Some Richmonders say the mayor’s Civilian Review Board proposal threatens to weaken the board’s power and its independence from police; Regulations have yet to take effect that are aimed at “fast-tracking” the review process for new Civil War signage in Virginia; and other local news stories.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin met with stakeholders yesterday to talk about legislation he is deciding whether to sign into law; A federal court dismissed an appeal by Mountain Valley Pipeline in an Air Pollution Control Board case; Students at Atlee High School in Hanover County have been suspended for a school walkout a couple of weeks ago; and other local news stories.

The Virginia Education Association, an advocacy group and union, has announced plans to publish recently rescinded state education equity guidelines on their own website; A group called the Alliance Defending Freedom, or ADF, has been asked to review the equal opportunities policy for Hanover County Public Schools. But the Southern Poverty Law Center has deemed ADF an anti-LGBTQ hate group; The board who manages the historic Montpelier home of James Madison will no longer share authority with a group of people descended from Africans once enslaved there; and other local news stories.

A proposed natural gas project would double the size of a pipeline that runs through Hampton Roads; Six buildings on the University of Richmond campus will be renamed, including two that were the focus of student and faculty protests last year; It’s now optional to wear face masks in classrooms at the University of Virginia; and other local news stories.

For the first time in over 100 years, Mattaponi women will be able to vote for their next chief; Governor Glenn Youngkin’s executive order making masks in schools voluntary cannot be enforced in some school districts; The contentious Supreme Court confirmation hearings this week have highlighted the lack of professional diversity on the nation’s highest court; and other local news stories.

Resources for Richmond families who need housing can’t keep up with pandemic spikes in homelessness; Virginia lawmakers will be called back to Richmond on April 4th to finish work on bills and the state budget; Lashrecse Aird plans to run for the state Senate seat in 2023; and other local news stories.

Hampton University is offering free room, board, and tuition for up to 100 students this summer whose education was disrupted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine; A federal district court in Richmond is weighing whether a lawsuit to force Virginia to hold another House of Delegates election can go forward; Federal legislation named after a physician from Charlottesville has been signed into law by President Joe Biden; and other local news stories.

Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears kicked off Virginia Women Veterans Week yesterday at the Virginia War Memorial; Yesterday, a state health panel revoked Virginia’s workplace standards on preventing the spread of COVID-19; The U.S. Naming Commission has released 90 options to rename Fort Lee and eight other military bases originally named after Confederate leaders; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin shared a report this week recommending Virginia leave the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; Roads around the state capitol are closed through next month due to construction; Virginia lawmakers want to deter and crack down on catalytic converter thefts; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin proposed a gas tax holiday to help deal with rising prices at the pump; Virginia Senator Tim Kaine says Congress will offer more military aid to Ukraine; A new round of solar energy projects is coming to Virginia; and other local news stories.

The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts started their emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic nearly two years ago to the day; A Richmond judge says VCU cannot be held liable for age-based discrimination; A bill heading to the governor’s desk will allow some smaller localities in Virginia to opt-out of the “MARCUS Alert” law; and other local news stories.

The Virginia General Assembly closed out the 2022 legislative session, but only temporarily; Virginia’s future in RGGI is still uncertain; Virginia State University will offer the state's first public all-online undergraduate degree program next fall; and other local news stories.

Virginia Democrats are calling on Governor Glenn Youngkin to issue a state of emergency because rising gas prices due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine; A state law aimed at getting problem police officers off the streets has resulted in dozens of cops losing their badges in the last year; The General Assembly has passed legislation this year to require evidence-based literacy instruction in Virginia schools; and other local news stories.

Virginia education officials estimate it will cost around $25 billion to replace all school buildings that are over 50 years old; It may soon be easier for students and small businesses to participate in internship programs; Virginia lawmakers are working behind closed doors to finalize a bill that would restrict some criminal investigation files from public records requests; and other local news stories.

The General Assembly is set to vote on a slate of judges today; State and national bills are being proposed to increase funding for black cemeteries; Lawmakers are considering a plan to restore freshwater mussel populations; and other local news stories.

As more than a million Ukrainians seek safety in countries bordering their own, the United States is helping more than 76,000 Afghan refugees to resettle here; Governor Glenn Youngkin says Virginia may see an uptick in defense spending, a major piece of the state’s economy; Advocates and local officials are concerned about the effects eliminating the state’s grocery tax may have on Northern Virginia roadways; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration is blocking attempts to see who made public records requests and how they were handled; The Virginia Department of Education will have to draw up statewide guidance on heat-related illness this summer for coaches, student athletes and parents; A group of Virginia delegates killed a bill this week that would have changed the timeline for the City of Richmond to finish a major sewage and storm water project; and other local news stories.

The General Assembly blocked a bill this week that would have changed a law barring people with a criminal history from becoming counselors; A House of Delegates committee led by Republicans spiked legislation yesterday that would set limits on using campaign money for personal expenses; A new survey released by Roanoke College shows a strong partisan divide among Virginians on how the Youngkin Administration is doing so far; and other local news stories.

Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction recently issued a report about several statewide equity-related initiatives that have been rescinded, but experts say the definition of “inherently divisive concepts” is flawed; Proposals to amend Virginia’s constitution are officially off the table this year; A Virginia Senate committee has interrupted Republican efforts to repeal the state’s recently adopted “red flag” gun law this week; and other local news stories.

Virginia continues to react to the invasion of Ukraine; Governor Glenn Youngkin seeks emergency funding to protect HBCUs, Marijuana reform fails in the General Assembly; and other local news stories.

The actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin are coming under the scrutiny of elected leaders across the country, including in Virginia; Lawmakers are hashing out the specifics of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s first budget; If a regular car is parked in a spot with an electric vehicle charging station, the driver could soon be fined in Virginia; and other local news stories.

State lawmakers want to set aside money in this year’s budget to hire more nurses to examine people who have been sexually assaulted; Governor Glenn Youngkin signed two election related bills into law yesterday; Richmond may be blocked from having a second chance at a casino, if part of the Senate’s budget proposal is passed; and other local news stories.

The GOP-controlled House of Delegates has failed to confirm 11 Northam appointees to various state boards, including 3 members of the State Board of Education; A bill now on Governor Glenn Youngkin’s desk would bring back a requirement for principals to report low-level offenses that happen on school property to law enforcement; Some lawmakers support rolling back overtime protections they initially voted for; and other local news stories.

A new poll of registered Virginia voters finds the electorate is mixed on Governor Glenn Youngkin’s approach to taxes; The General Assembly’s finance committees are proposing big spending increases for public schools in the state budget, including a $2 billion dollar program to update schools; Virginia lawmakers made a major change to a bill aimed at combating hazing on college campuses; and other local news stories.

Community members are rallying around students, parents and staff at William Fox Elementary School to help ease their transition back online; A redevelopment project in Richmond’s Diamond District has attracted solicitations from over a dozen developers; One of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s campaign promises was boosting school choice. A legislative proposal to do that would create lab schools; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin signed legislation yesterday that would allow parents to opt their kids out of local mandates starting March 1st; Construction crews have unearthed a metal box at the former site of the Jefferson Davis monument in Richmond; Cyclists may have to adjust their riding style again after the state Senate approved changes to a law that’s barely a year old; and other local news stories.

Adults in Virginia will be able to buy cannabis in September under legislation passed by the state Senate yesterday; Governor Glenn Youngkin has made a few changes to a bill that would allow parents to opt their children out of wearing facemasks at school; The House of Delegates and state Senate have both accepted bills that would change how state pollution control boards operate; and other local news stories.

School construction is top-of-mind for school leaders after William Fox Elementary school caught fire this weekend; About 80 Richmond City Public School teachers may lose their jobs next year if the school district’s proposed budget is approved; The first bill signed into law by Virginia’s new governor aims to support dairy farmers; and other local news stories.

The Attorney General has decided the state will not support overturning the case of two men convicted of murdering a Waverly police officer in 1998; Virginia Commonwealth University Athletics is apologizing after a radio broadcaster from a competing school says he was prevented from working at a men’s basketball game this week; The new GOP majority in Virginia’s House of Delegates is trying to roll back voting access laws passed by Democrats over the last two years; and other local news stories.

More than 3,000 people, including Gov. Glenn Youngkin, attended Wednesday's memorial service honoring the officers killed at Bridgewater College last week; President Joe Biden will be visiting Culpeper today; The Virginia Senate is set to take up a bill that would require local registrars to sort absentee votes by precinct; and other local news stories.

House Republicans have put a stop to two proposed constitutional amendments that Democrats had been fighting for; In a party-line vote, the Virginia Senate rejected the nomination of Andrew Wheeler for Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources; An Albemarle County parent filed a complaint with the attorney general, saying their school district’s COVID policies are discriminatory; and other local news stories.

The Supreme Court of Virginia dismissed a lawsuit from a group of Chesapeake parents trying to undo Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order on school mask mandates; Legislative proposals to make it easier for charter schools to open in the state are facing stiff opposition in the General Assembly; The Virginia Senate has rejected a bill that would eliminate every mandatory minimum criminal sentence; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin's office has been denying FOIA requests for emails from the new teacher tip line; Gov. Youngkin’s administration is joining a lawsuit filed by Loudoun County parents over the school district’s mask mandate; Virginia voters could opt-in to a new photo ID program under a bill that passed the House of Delegates yesterday; and other local news stories.

Large, destructive, semi-aquatic rodents called nutria are inching northward along Virginia’s coastal wetlands; Virginia will not make restaurants and bars liable for overserving alcohol to customers who cause injury or property damage while intoxicated; Capitol Police are investigating an incident involving state Senator Joe Morrissey and the president of the Petersburg NAACP; and other local news stories.

A male suspect has been taken into custody after authorities say he shot and killed who campus officers at Bridgewater College campus; Governor Glenn Youngkin’s pick for the state’s top environmental post was singled out yesterday; Several parents of students with disabilities have filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and other state officials, over the governor’s executive order ending the mask mandate in schools; and other local news stories.

Republicans in the General Assembly are seeking to undo minimum wage increases put in place by Democrats; The General Assembly is also considering a bill that would allow people to sue bars and restaurants if they serve alcohol to an underage customer who goes on to cause an accident or injury; The City of Richmond is currently accepting applications for real estate tax relief for residents who are older or have a disability; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency ahead of a Nor’easter expected later today; The Attorney General’s office announced a change in policy this week that will reduce attorney fees the office charges for the collection of defaulted student debt; A survey from Old Dominion University sheds some light on why some workers have called it quits; and other local news stories.

Democrats in Virginia’s Senate have dealt a blow to a major campaign promise from Attorney General Jason Miyares; A bill is heading to the Senate floor that would give a state commission power to extend Virginia’s oyster harvesting season by a month; and other local news stories.

An education bill supported by Governor Glenn Youngkin that would undo recent efforts by Virginia Governor’s schools to increase student diversity is making its way through the General Assembly; The state Senate has approved a bill that would allow Charlottesville to seek a 1 percent tax increase to fund school construction projects; Andrew Wheeler, the nominee for Virginia’s top environmental and natural resources post, addressed a state senate committee yesterday; and other local news stories.

One of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s executive orders took effect yesterday that seeks to eliminate school district mandates for mask-wearing, but the legality of the directive is in question; Seven school boards from around the state want to stop Gov. Youngkin’s executive order on school mask mandates; Teachers union leaders from Chesterfield, Henrico and Richmond asked their school districts yesterday to step up support for students and staff; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency ahead of winter weather over the next few days; Some Virginia Republicans are attempting to repeal legislation that would combat the school-to-prison pipeline; Chesterfield County’s school board voted yesterday to maintain its masking mandate for students, staff and visitors; and other local news stories.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has chosen a staffer from the conservative Heritage Foundation to lead the state’s diversity efforts; Several Hampton Roads cities are asking the General Assembly to allow state funding to care for historic Black cemeteries; Employees at Virginia Commonwealth University are no longer required to be vaccinated or report their vaccination status to the university; and other local news stories.

Some lawmakers want to mandate that all public schools, including at the elementary level, have a police presence; Supply chain issues are affecting school lunches; Parents in Chesapeake are suing Governor Glenn Youngkin over his move to get rid of local mask mandates in schools; and other local news stories.

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin addressed state lawmakers for the first time yesterday afternoon; Newly released campaign filings show that Dominion Energy and its executives spent more than a quarter of a million dollars funding a secretive political group that attacked Governor Glenn Youngkin during his campaign; Experts examine the pros and cons of the charter school model; and other local news stories.

Republican Winsome Sears will make history when she’s inaugurated as lieutenant governor on Saturday; Republican Jason Miyares promises to put victims before criminals as Virginia’s new Attorney General; An effort to end solitary confinement in Virginia’s prisons is getting a boost from a Republican state senator; and other local news stories.

The Virginia General Assembly kicked off its work yesterday; Governor Ralph Northam gave his final speech before lawmakers and Virginians; Democrat Jackie Glass won the special election for Norfolk’s 89th House District seat; and other local news stories.

Virginia lawmakers return to Richmond today to start working on new laws and the next two-year state budget; Education is one of the top issues facing lawmakers during the 2022 legislative session; Dominion Energy is asking permission to withdraw a proposed rate hike to customers that would cover enrollment in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; and other local news stories.

Governor Ralph Northam declared a limited state of emergency in his final COVID-19 response update yesterday; Orlando Carter pleaded guilty to two charges last week, bu his family says they are still seeking justice for his assault; Officials with Virginia’s court system asked a federal judge in Richmond to dismiss a lawsuit over the state’s limited public access to court records; and other local news stories.

VPM’s Whittney Evans chronicled her search to get a COVID test earlier this week; Nine new community testing centers are opening across the state to increase availability; Crews began treating major roadways overnight, as another winter storm hits parts of the commonwealth; and other local news stories.

Today is the one-year anniversary of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. U.S. Senator Tim Kaine reflected on the attack while speaking with reporters yesterday; A major gun rally won’t be returning to Richmond this year; Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin announced former Environmental Protection Agency head Andrew Wheeler as his pick for Secretary of Natural Resources yesterday; and other local news stories.

Transportation and safety officials in Virginia were still working last night to clear abandoned vehicles from a stretch of I-95 after hundreds of cars came to a standstill following a major chain reaction pileup Monday; Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin has named several key positions in his cabinet; State Senator Amanda Chase has abandoned her bid for the 7th District; and other local news stories.

Starting this week, Virginia residents, including children, who are undocumented can apply for state-issued ID, A prominent Virginia lawyer is joining incoming governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration as an advisor; A proposed change to city law will be voted on later this week that could give Virginia Beach deputies greater police power; and other local news stories.

Politicians and voters in Virginia are pouring over the commonwealth’s new political maps approved by the state supreme court on Tuesday; Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority will lift the freeze on lease enforcements at the end of the month; Chesterfield County Public Library’s current location in Midlothian will officially close today; and other local news stories.

A Confederate time capsule found 20 feet under the pedestal that once held a statue of Robert E. Lee was opened yesterday; The Visual Arts Center of Richmond is filled with pieces of pottery that look like they just left a tattoo shop as part of the "Of Mud and Blood" exhibit; The state is spending more than 700 million dollars to bring broadband access to rural Chesapeake, Suffolk and other localities; and other local news stories.

Virginia’s legislative review agency – JLARC – recently released a comprehensive report on the state’s juvenile justice system; Workers at the former site of the Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond may have found the time capsule reported to have been installed in the statue’s base; Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin has vowed to slash regulations and cut taxes to make Virginia more business-friendly; and other local news stories.

Historic preservationists with the state opened a time capsule discovered under the former site of the Robert E. Lee Monument yesterday; A former senator and Virginia Governor and his wife were injured by a massive house fire Tuesday night; Many local businesses are seeing an upswing in customers, but pandemic related issues are stifling some sales; and other local news stories.

The Chair of Virginia’s Parole Board forwarded a press release to media outlets yesterday with the subject line "setting the record straight"; Representative Abigail Spanberger is considering a run in the new 7th District if proposed legislative maps are approved; Within one week, Richmond health officials have seen a 38 percent increase of new COVID-19 cases in the city; and other local news stories.

Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin has selected an education data consultant to serve as Virginia’s next Secretary of Education; Next month, a federal court in Richmond will hear arguments in a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Virginia over its policy of barring the public from obtaining civil court records remotely; The Chief Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court plans to step down from the position at the end of the year; and other local news stories.

About 900 people living in properties run by the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority could face eviction if they don’t pay rent by the end of the month; Governor Ralph Northam presented a $158 billion budget proposal today as his term draws to a close, but Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin would like larger tax cuts; The last public hearing on the newly drawn redistricting maps is happening this afternoon; and other local news stories.

Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin will soon have authority to reshape the staff of Virginia’s election administration; State officials say there was a second ransomware attack affecting Virginia agencies; Virginia home care workers, immigrants, parents and business owners are calling on U.S. Senate leaders to pass the president’s Build Back Better spending plan; and other local news stories.

Governor Ralph Northam is calling for lawmakers to eliminate the state’s tax on groceries; Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC secured a key permit from the State Water Control Board yesterday; A Central Virginia group has been named a finalist in the one billion dollar Build Back Better challenge from the Economic Development Administration; and other local news stories.

Myotonic dystrophy, known as DM1, is the most common type of muscular dystrophy worldwide, and it has no effective treatment. But a Virginia college student recently became the first participant in a national trial for a drug that targets DM1 at the source; Fairfax County Public Schools has settled a lawsuit with parents and disability rights advocates over the district’s use of seclusion and restraint with students with disabilities; Virginia’s legislative agencies were forced to shut down computer systems and websites due to a ransomware attack; and other local news stories.

This week, the Supreme Court of Virginia shared drafts of what state and congressional voting districts could look like for a decade in the commonwealth. The proposals draw some current legislators out of their districts; Virginia’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities are set to receive nearly 300 million dollars in additional funding; Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin says he wants Virginia out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; and other local news stories.

Virginia’s pandemic rent relief program could run out of funds as early as July of next year; The commanding officer of SEAL Team 8 died Tuesday at Norfolk Sentara General Hospital; Incoming Attorney General Jason Miyares has chosen the next Solicitor General for the Commonwealth of Virginia; Outdoor recreation projects may get a boost as Governor Ralph Northam leaves office; and other local news stories.

State and local law enforcement can look forward to a pay increase under Governor Ralph Northam’s outgoing two-year budget proposal; Richmond City Public Schools became the first district in Virginia to award its teachers and staff collective bargaining rights on Monday; The Virginia Department of Health says it lacks the quote “clear statutory authority” to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for employees; and other local news stories.

The state started the process of dismantling and moving the graffitied pedestal where Richmond’s Robert E. Lee Monument once stood; Teachers in Virginia could see a 10 percent pay increase under a new proposed budget from Governor Ralph Northam; Incoming Governor Glenn Youngkin has put some of his wealth in a blind trust, but ethics experts say that doesn't go far enough; and other local news stories.

The future of abortion access in Virginia is uncertain after the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority signaled it will uphold Mississippi’s restrictive abortion law ; Virginia is expected to get more than $8 billion in federal funds to help with transit and highways; The Federal Aviation Administration may end overnight hours at Richmond International Airport’s control tower; and other local news stories.

Richmond became one of five Virginia regions to implement a Marcus Alert system yesterday; The family of a man fatally shot by Virginia Beach Police have renewed calls for a federal investigation after learning the officer involved won’t face charges; Planning Commissioners in Chesterfield are trying to streamline four parts of the county’s Comprehensive Plan; and other local news stories.

An attorney for two men serving life in prison for killing a Virginia police officer is urging the State Court of Appeals to rush to overturn their convictions; No charges will be filed against the Virginia Beach police officer who fatally shot 25-year-old Donovon Lynch last March during a chaotic night at the oceanfront; Petersburg City Councilor Treska Wilson-Smith expressed concern over a potential casino; and other local news stories.

Some Virginia schools have recently removed certain book titles from school library shelves immediately following parent complaints. But experts warn that this is dangerous and could violate state law; Employers are debating whether going back to the office is necessary; Longtime Virginian-Pilot movie and theater critic Mal Vincent died this weekend; and other local news stories.

Organizers of the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville will have to pay millions of dollars in damages for their involvement; HUD has awarded the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority a $450,000 grant; Tips from VCU Health experts about how to keep your family safe this holiday season; and other local news stories.

The jury will meet behind closed doors for a third day of deliberations, in the civil trial against over a dozen white nationalist leaders and groups connected to the 2017 Unite the Right rally; The City of Richmond is soliciting bids to remove the monument and grave of A.P. Hill; After a more than 40-year hiatus, the Armstrong-Walker Classic will return with a parade this Saturday; and other local news stories.

In a multiple week-long investigation, several candidates in the recent statewide elections told VPM News they experienced both overt and subtle racism, sexism, and Islamophobia while campaigning this year; Jury deliberations will begin today in the trial against white nationalists who planned the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville; Some voters in Chesterfield County woke up yesterday in a soon-to-be new district. That’s because the Board of Supervisors approved a new magisterial map; and other local news stories.

The last Afghan refugees staying on Fort Lee have been resettled; So far this year, there have been a total of 12 infant deaths in Richmond, compared to just five in 2020; Republican State Senator Amanda Chase is making a bid for the U.S. House of Representatives; and other local news stories.

A judge has ordered the Virginia State Police troopers who fatally shot Xzavier Hill to answer most of the questions his mother submitted to the court about the night he died; Attorneys representing the nine Charlottesville residents who sued Unite the Right rally organizers have rested their case; The City of Charlottesville officially has a new comprehensive plan; and other local news stories.

The State Board of Elections finished certifying Virginia’s 2021 results yesterday; Democrats and Republicans in Virginia's House of Delegates elected their caucus leaders over the weekend; In Prince George County, R.W. Vargo won the race for sheriff by six votes; and other local news stories.

Over the past year, VPM News has been looking into a hidden type of debt affecting thousands of Virginia college students. It’s not federal student loans – which dominates most of the headlines. It’s money owed directly to institutions -- called direct-to-school debt. In our series Dreams Deferred - we’ve been exploring how this debt is creating hardships for students… making it difficult for them to complete their degrees and advance their careers. Today we dive into one approach that a Michigan college is taking to help get students back on track.

Virginia's Governor-elect, Republican Glenn Youngkin, will be getting help from four former governors, including one Democrat, as he prepares to take on that job; The Urban One casino project could be getting a second chance in Petersburg; The amphitheater at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond was packed yesterday, as people gathered to honor the commonwealth’s veterans and service members; and other local news stories.

Over the past year, VPM News has been looking into a hidden type of debt affecting thousands of Virginia college students. It’s not federal student loans – which dominates most of the headlines. It’s money owed directly to institutions -- called direct-to-school debt.    In our series Dreams Deferred, we’re exploring how this debt is creating hardships for students - making it difficult for them to complete their degrees and advance their careers. Today we unpack university policies and practices that create and perpetuate this problem by focusing on one school, Virginia Commonwealth University.

In the week leading up to Election Day, a mysterious group sent out mailers promoting third-party candidate Princess Blanding for governor and attacking Democrat Terry McAuliffe; Negotiations between Diversity Richmond employees and administrators continued last night; The Hanover County School Board narrowly rejected a proposed policy change around transgender bathroom access this week; and other local news stories.

Over the past year, VPM News has been looking into a hidden type of debt affecting thousands of Virginia college students. It’s not federal student loans – which dominates most of the headlines. It’s money owed directly to institutions -- called direct-to-school debt.   In our series Dreams Deferred, we’re exploring how this debt is creating hardships for students - making it difficult for them to complete their degrees and advance their careers. Today we’re exploring state policies that create and perpetuate this problem.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney is asking City Council to use funds from the Capital Improvement Plan to get designs for George Wythe High School nailed down; A new job training program for veterans and their spouses is coming to Hampton Roads; The former Charlottesville Police Chief says her termination was unjust and is demanding $3 million dollars from the city; and other local news stories.

Over the past year, VPM News has been looking into a hidden type of debt affecting thousands of Virginia college students. It’s not federal student loans – which dominates most of the headlines. It’s money owed directly to institutions -- called direct-to-school debt.   In our series Dreams Deferred, we’ll explore how this debt is creating hardships for students… making it difficult for them to complete their degrees and advance their careers. We’ll address the school and state policies that create and perpetuate this problem. And we’ll look at what some colleges are doing to help students with this debt finish their degrees.   Today we start by exploring how students end up with direct-to-school debt in the first place.