VPM Daily Newscast

Hanover County is tightening rules on new vape and smoke shops, and Richmond Public Schools is kicking off a literacy campaign on Aug. 4 (804 Day).  But... most of today’s episode is tied to the federal clawback of $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and how that will impact Virginians — and public media outlets including VPM News.  Interested in watching our VPM News Shorts?...

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jack Jacobs discuss the Richmond's top business stories starting with the proposed redesign for the Arthur Ashe Boulevard Bridge, Henrico County's affordable housing trust fund, and data centers projects in Chesterfield County.

Plus: Campaign finances are discussed; Please don’t mix bleach and vinegar in your washing machine. (It’s toxic!)

Plus: State health care agencies warn the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will lead to “financial shock” for hospitals and more across Virginia.

About half of states provide citizens with a path to bypass elected officials to change local laws — or recall the officials themselves.  But is Virginia one of them? Editor Whittney Evans investigates the answers in this week’s Curious Commonwealth with RVA’s Got Issues’ Rich Meagher (Short Summer Break Edition). Submit your own question at ⁠⁠vpm.org/curious⁠⁠. You can listen to RVA's Got Issues...

Plus: group behind June cyberattack on Albemarle County has been identified; and other stories   

It’s unclear what the extent of the effects will be or when they’ll hit Virginia. Plus: Richmond's finance director resigns and VPM News will be hosting a Mug Stop in Charlottesville!

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jackie  Jackie DiBartolomeo explored the Richmond region's top business stories. This week they discuss the redevelopment Richmond'slong-dormant Intermediate Terminal Building, a sandwich shop owners lawsuit against the restaurant's founders and the launch of a local health tech start up.

In other news: UVA President Jim Ryan exits job, US Rep. Rob Wittman talks Medicaid, Richmond hires new CAO — and more Central Virginia news.

The Central Virginia county has fully replaced its school board within the last two years. It remains one of 12 districts in the commonwealth with an appointed, not elected, board.    In other news: Environmental advocates call for pollution curbing at beaches, JMU has a new president — and more Central Virginia news. 

A recent report from the US Department of Agriculture states that Virginia’s over- and underpayment error rate of SNAP food benefits hovers around 11%. In remarks Tuesday, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said the commonwealth could bring that number down below the pay-it-back threshold implemented in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.    In other news: The City of Richmond is looking to redevelop a ce...

Flock Safety cameras across Virginia weren't meant to be used for immigration enforcement. But they were.  You can read the full report from the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO on our website.  In other news: A road in Downtown Richmond is closed for an emergency sewer assessment, amateur radio enthusiasts held an open house last week — and VPM News gets to toot its own horn a...

Richmond recently released a plan to tackle the urban heat island effect, but the federal spending bill signed on Friday impacts its potential funding. In other news: Virginia’s ban on conversion therapy for minors was altered by a court’s decree to permit talk therapy; a Charlottesville zoning lawsuit was thrown out — and more Central Virginia news. 

Longtime VA House Speaker Todd Gilbert tapped as next US attorney for the Western District.    Plus: Richmond Public Schools and the union representing school bus drivers finalize first-ever collective bargaining agreement.   

OK, so there’s Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp... and Mountain Lake in Giles County. But why are there only two naturally-formed lakes in the commonwealth?  Submit your own question at ⁠vpm.org/curious⁠.

Plus: Henrico County residents speak out about data centers; Virginia's first Buc-ee's opens; UVA students react to the resignation of President Jim Ryan; and other stories.

Read more at VPM News about Ryan's exit and the public response. UVA's Board of Visitors voted in March to dismantle DEI initiatives following a January executive order from Trump. Since then, the US Department of Justice has been publicly pressuring Ryan and UVA to produce a detailed progress report on its ongoing cancellation of all DEI-related programs. School officials told VPM News on June 20...

‘Policy Matters’ is your window into Virginia politics with VPAP. It's our monthly roundup of the top political headlines from across Virginia, powered by VPAP’s daily e-newsletter, VaNews.

VPM Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jonathan Speirs discuss the top business stories in the Richmond region. This week listen to stories about Virginia's top elected official weighing in on Richmond's water crisis, a local real estate developer's court sentencing and an update on the city's new baseball diamond, CarMax Park.

VCU officials say they expect around 1,500 students to enroll in the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program for the upcoming fall semester, up from 1,006 students in the 2023–24 school year. 

Plus: A fire broke out in Shockoe Bottom; "Significant weaknesses” were found in an audit in how the City of Richmond oversees government employee credit cards; and other stories.

The lawsuit — filed against three school rectors — is the latest General Assembly push against Youngkin. The governor told VPM News Tuesday that this is a fight against his administration's work to dismantle “illegal discrimination,” which is how he has referred to DEI.  Plus: Several areas in Central Virginia have opened cooling stations. 

Plus: Hanover water update; Styrofoam ban takes effect on July 1 — and more Central Virginia news.   

Plus: UVA professors ask board to hold off on further DEI dismantling, Richmond’s mayor is calling on regional leaders for water infrastructure solutions, Chesterfield County is now on fire ant quarantine — and more Central Virginia news.

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Mike Platania discuss the top business stories across the Richmond region. This week's stories include an in-depth look at renewed interest in Richmond Coliseum proposals and a Shockoe restaurant closes after a 50-year run.