VPM Daily Newscast

‘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 News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jonathan Spiers discuss the Richmond region's top business stories. This week's topic include Henrico County's stalled arena development, the relocation of a prominent accounting firm, and a local coffee company's move to major retail stores near you.

VPM News’ Jahd Khalil found the campaign playlists for the gubernatorial candidates, so he and Patrick Larsen asked around about what their selections convey. In other news: The City of Richmond has put up anti-loiter signs near the Allianz Amphiteater; Suffolk is looking into Amtrak service; VCU Health is sunsetting its pediatric gender-affirming care — and more Central Virginia news. Are you enj...

Megan Pauly, VPM News' higher education reporter, explains why VCU withheld several students’ degrees following a peaceful campus protest in April.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your support. Visit ⁠vpm.org/donate⁠ for more information. 

City councilors effectively banned new smoke shops in Richmond, while noting that the rules don’t affect existing businesses.    Plus: A Fairfax County judge has ruled in Virginia Senate Democrats’ favor on the lawsuit they filed against rectors at GMU, VMI and UVA.    Our award-winning work is made possible with your support. Visit ⁠vpm.org/donate⁠ for more information. 

Plus: Louisa County isn’t getting another Amazon data center; public media figures out how to raise money for lost federal funds; and other stories.   

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Mike Platania discuss Richmond's top business stories. This week's episode explores the planned redevelopment of the old Armitage Building in Richmond and a local nonprofit's desire to build an indoor tennis facility on Arthur Ashe Blvd.

In other news: UVA announces special committee for the school’s new president, and Richmond has a new deputy chief admin for finance and administration. Editor's note: WUSA reported late Saturday that Sereen Haddad's degree has since been released. VPM News has been unable to independently confirm this update as of Sunday night; we'll update this episode or include a note in Tuesday's should that...

Editor's note: This episode was updated with the complete interview audio on Aug. 24, 2025. Read the lightly edited transcript on VPM.org now.  VornDick, a career educator who's worked at James Monroe's Highland estate in Albemarle County for the last several years, became interested in the tale behind Elizabeth Kortright Monroe Hay’s life. Our award-winning work is made possible with your donatio...

Virginia sees "alarming" rise in child drownings; Maymont celebrates 100 years; AstraZeneca announces new facility.  

The James River has high levels of E.Coli in it after recent heavy rains at various points. Please swim with care in the river! 

Plus: A glitch delays payments meant to help Virginians get food, and Petersburg leaders say decades of neglect have left the city vulnerable to flooding 

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.