VPM Daily Newscast

Days after being confirmed as the Democratic Party candidate for governor, Spanberger visited Central Virginia to endorse some legislative priorities on behalf of Virginians.    In other news: Dr. Karen Shelton publicly addressed the federal “COVID grant” cuts in front of a state advisory panel, WMRA provides a local look at the weekend’s “Hands Off!” protests, andVPM News brought home six awards...

Plus: Scuttled data center legislation and a Charlottesville bike lane plan    In the podcast: Tribal sovereignty and fundraising in the Virginia governor’s race 

Plus: Virginia's former state health commissioner is now warning that the U.S. Health and Human Services Department’s recent decision to cut federal funding for COVID-related grants makes Virginians more susceptible to future pandemics — and “horrific consequences.”    In the podcast: Virginia is the top state to survive an alien invasion; Sens. Kaine and Warner’s candidates for the U.S. Attorney...

Chesterfield Sports Enterprise will kick off construction in the coming days on an 89,000-square-foot facility that is set to feature two professional-level ice rinks; The Novelis plant on Reymet Road in Chesterfield County will close May 30 as part of the company’s overall restructuring; New brunch spot Sassy's is set to open this summer in the former Butterbean Market & Café in Southside Richmon...

Richmond releases final water crisis assessment; mail problems at city hall; a new tool to tamp down on speeding; and Brown Grove residents won’t appeal Wegmans’ case to the state supreme court    In the podcast: Updates from VPM News' “Idleness and boredom” series; the Nansemond Indian Nation sues Virginia over withheld Medicaid reimbursements. 

Today’s podcast episode has been updated to include Jahd Khalil’s summary of the single-day veto session for state lawmakers in Richmond.    All in all, there were about 300 bills for lawmakers in the Democrat-controlled chambers to consider overriding or further amending. Bills with rejected amendments now return to Youngkin, who can decide whether to veto or sign bills, and he can veto budget it...

Curious Commonwealth is a VPM News series that explores audience questions about Virginia — its quirks, its policies and its communities. Today, Phil Liles interviews Billy Shields about how his reporting answered the question, "What happened to the German school that led to German School Road?" A VPM News audience member who works in the area asked about the Southside Richmond landmark's history....

Tomorrow is session reconvene at the General Assembly, so we’ve included a few veto and amendment highlights that are likely to come up in Richmond.    In other news: Richmond is set to consider some waste reduction measures during April — aka Earth Month — and VPM News would like to issue a correction. 

Later this week, VPM News will be publishing the full transcript of our conversation with Dr. Norman Oliver. You can read that and more about VDH funding cuts at vpm.org.

‘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.

The Capital Region Airport Commission recently voted to increase the daily parking rates and rental car fees at Richmond International Airport; CK Bosworth Construction is suing New York City-based Ash Hotels for work performed on the Shenandoah Mansions hotel; and the former Gusti Restaurant Equipment and Supply warehouse on West Broad Street is coming down, six years after the Gusti family reloc...

Plus: Gov. Youngkin’s plans to appoint former state AG Ken Cuccinelli to UVA’s Board of Visitors; Chestefield County’s budget; and other stories.

Plus: A burn ban in effect through the end of the week in Henrico; funding for Richmond’s combined sewer overflow projects; and other stories    In the podcast: New funding included in Youngkin’s amendments for Richmond’s CSO; Henrico burn ban in effect 

Plus: Youngkin vetoes a bill that would have streamlined planning around energy efficiency programs in Virginia.    In the podcast: Sen. Warner discusses Signal leak and Richmond council considers downtown infrastructure study   

Plus: a Dominion Energy “near miss;” an update on Virginia’s basketball teams in March Madness; and other stories.

Did it feel like last Thursday–Friday was filled with breaking news, or was that just us? Get caught up on the latest about VCU’s DEI office, the US Department of Education, the upcoming state budget amendments — and more Central Virginia news. 

Henrico is looking to acquire the Best Products property; Jonathan Spiers tours the new ball park; Petersburg breaks ground on a new casino; and a New York developer is seeking to build a high-rise in downtown Richmond.

Reporter Dean Mirshahi speaks with Maj. Michael LaRocca, a Virginia Military Institute professor. Note: This episode discusses mental health, illness and suicide. Mental health and suicide prevention resources In emergency situations, call 988 or 911. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Deaf or Hard of Hearing? 1-800-799-4889 En Español: 1-888-628-9454 Mental Health America of Vir...

A federal judge in Maryland has temporarily ordered the reinstatement of grants for teacher preparation programs. A long-standing program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond is one of them.  In other news: Remembering a longtime Virginia judge who recently died; Hanover County to weigh expansion of Ashcake Road Landfill; Gov. Glenn Youngkin has signed 180 bills — and more Central Virgi...

One reader's question about Richmond's water quality turned into the latest edition of Curious Commonwealth.

Plus: Hanover residents lose appeal over Wegman’s development and Trump changes FBI HQ plans    In the podcast: Richmond budget, FBI headquarters and Wegmans’ distribution center   

Two mobile home residents in Richmond opened their doors to Mayor Danny Avula, who is weighing whether a fund for mobile home repairs will be part of his first city budget for fiscal year 2026.  In other news: a VDOE executive resigns, Henrico’s GreenCity development is over — and more Central Virginia news. 

The multimillion dollar agreement between Chesterfield County and Competitive Racing Investments ushers in a new era of racing for the longtime stock car racetrack that’s been closed since 2020; The JXN Project was recently awarded $75,000 through the Virginia Museum of History and Culture’s Commonwealth History Fund to assist in its effort to rebuild the Skipwith-Roper Cottage; The Hadad family i...

Plus: a book band study and study abroad grantees in limbo    In the podcast: Veterans Affairs employees in Richmond let go; GoochlandCares CEO discuss career; Dominion to test AI.   

Plus: Hadad's Lake up for auction; prescribed burns at the Washington and Jefferson National Forests; and other stories