VPM Daily Newscast

On Monday night, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney delivered his final State of the City address; A group of Virginia Delegates killed two bills aiming to establish statewide best practices for police technology; Fairfax Delegate Kathy Tran is sponsoring a bill to bring motorized all-terrain wheelchairs to state parks. 

Our top stories today include pieces on legislation out of the General Assembly, a newly rebuilt library in Chesterfield and a six-day schoolweek pilot in Hopewell.

Our top audio stories today include pieces on proposed General Assembly legislation, a potential new location for GRTC’s Richmond transfer station and how one Virginia lawmaker is trying to set up standards for interrogation interviews.

Jack Berry's retirement, which will formally take place this summer, caps off 30-plus years of overseeing the tourism organization.

The saga surrounding VCU Health’s costly exit from an ill-fated downtown development project continued this week; Henrico-based Elephant Insurance has reduced its local office footprint and found new stomping grounds in the county; and the highly anticipated amphitheater at Richmond’s downtown riverfront is now officially under construction.

Earlier this week, lawmakers unanimously approved two new judges to serve on the State Corporation Commission; The Henrico County Board of Supervisors recently approved a number of resolutions related to the Fall Line Trail, which is planned to connect Ashland and Petersburg; A right-wing group that previously sued the New York Times is claiming a book by former U.S. Rep. Denver Riggleman includes...

Virginia lawmakers may order state government to take a closer look at the litter tax this year; Four months after the Greater Richmond Transit Company cut the ribbon on its downtown transfer station, officials are driving forward asking for input to open a permanent location; Voters in Richmond who requested absentee ballots for March’s Democratic presidential primary may have received outdated...

Also: Rockbridge County judge orders return of some Natural Bridge Zoo animals; Democrat-majority GA advances new gun control bills; bipartisan bills seek to clear hurdles for people who have recovered from addiction and want to help others; Amtrak Virginia ridership hits new records and more.

There's a bipartisan movement in Richmond to overhaul the way the state handles informal foster care placements; What is or isn't in Richmond's real time crime center; Democrats want to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative; and other stories

Curious Commonwealth asks: Why does Richmond have so many tattoo parlors?

Publicity about escalating penalties and fees tied to multiple Richmond restaurants’ meals tax payments are prompting changes to the city’s tax collection practices on a broader scale; US Foods is planning to build a new location of its Chef’Store retail chain in Henrico County; Construction began this month on a 7 Brew coffee shop in Midlothian; and a local entrepreneur has brought an indoor play...

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office has advanced regulations meant to hold law enforcement officers accountable; On Thursday Democrats on a House subcommittee pushed forward a bill that would raise Virginia’s minimum wage next year; Virginia lawmakers have gotten bipartisan support for their legislation to raise educator salaries to the national average or higher.

Richmond Public Schools has made a third-party report on the Huguenot graduation shooting available to the public; General Assembly Democrats reject bills to repeal California vehicle emissions standards; and other stories

A Virginia scientific advisory panel recently recommended alerting all parties in thousands of past criminal cases involving former state serologist Mary Jane Burton; The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care will conduct its semi-annual count of people experiencing homelessness on January 25 ; Richmond City Council recently approved a plan to develop a program that will extend benefits to city emplo...

The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority has assumed oversight of the state’s medical marijuana program.

A new COVID-19 variant is spreading across the U.S. 

Mayo Island is now set to become part of the James River Park System; VPM has taken another step forward with its plans to relocate to downtown Richmond; For the second time in recent years, an effort to bring a food hall concept to Scott’s Addition has fallen through; and it’s out with cider, in with simple syrups for a Shockoe Bottom storefront. 

This week officials with Henrico and Hanover Counties appointed new leaders to their respective board of supervisors ; The 2024 General Assembly session is underway. Among the hundreds of bills already introduced are a handful focused on transportation ; Richmond Delegate Betsy Carr has filed legislation that, if passed, would disallow Richmond from having a casino built within city limits.

Virginia’s General convened today with Democrats in charge; Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered the annual State of the Commonwealth address; Two veterinarians testified Tuesday in a case focused on conditions at Natural Bridge Zoo.

A scientific advisory panel for the Virginia Forensic Science Board recommends that anyone impacted by Mary Jane Burton's past lab work be notified about potential testing errors; The Virginia Restaurant Association aims for new state legislation to help with Richmond's meals tax issues; and other stories

Virginia's oyster harvest hits milestone; Norfolk casino plans; and other stories

Why are cities independent from counties in Virginia?

With a $1 billion manufacturing plant still in the offing in Chesterfield, Lego Group recently kicked off operations at a temporary product packaging facility elsewhere in the county; As the General Assembly prepares to convene for its 2024 session in its brand new building in Richmond next week, the state government is taking a closer look at the overall layout and development potential of Capito...

Richmond’s Chief Administrative Officer addressed complaints Thursday from local restaurant owners who claim they were not being properly notified of meals tax payment issues; Community Health Workers are public health workers who come from the communities they serve; The new RSV vaccine for babies is in short supply.

Several Richmond-area restaurant owners are objecting to penalties, they say the city’s finance department has unfairly charged them in connection with the meals tax; on Tuesday, the Charlottesville City Council unanimously voted to elect Councilor Juandiego Wade as the new mayor; on Tuesday, Richmond’s City Council elected a new president and vice president.