Virginia Public Radio

Friday we received our last major snapshot of candidate finances before the parties choose their nominees.

Jahd Khalil reports on a few big numbers in the gubernatorial race.

Dead last – that’s where the U. S. Department of Labor says Virginia ranks among states when it comes to processing unemployment claims.

Thursday, five Virginians filed a lawsuit because of the issues.

Jahd Khalil spoke to one of their lawyers.

People infected with coronavirus usually suffer no long-term effects, but a few months after recovery some patients report significant hair loss. 

Sandy Hausman spoke with a medical expert about that surprising consequence of COVID-19.

Virginia’s unemployment rate is 5.2 percent. But what’s behind that number, and how does it vary throughout the commonwealth?

Michael Pope reports.

Two of the largest tax incentives in Virginia are about to end, although members of the General Assembly and the governor are divided about what to do with the money.

Michael Pope reports.

Recovering from the pandemic is going to need thought. Schools and learning are no different.

Jahd Khalil has this report on the Virginia Department of Education’s plan for regaining ground lost during the pandemic.

A hybrid commission of citizens and lawmakers are going to draw new voting lines this fall.

In his last dispatch, Jahd Khalil reported they were figuring how to conduct business.

He says in Monday’s meeting, the commissioners were sorting out how to do that transparently. 

Last month, the House of Representatives passed a bill introduced by Congressman Bobby Scott that hopes to remedy the problem of full-time workers being misclassified as independent contractors.

But now, as Michael Pope reports, the bill is languishing in the Senate.

As the spring campaign season heads into the final stretch, candidates are rolling out endorsements.

Michael Pope takes a look whether the endorsements mean anything.

Virginia Tech researchers are looking for ways to counteract misinformation.  And there’s now another place in Virginia where stargazers can get a clear view of the night sky.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols.

The city of Charlottesville is free to remove Confederate monuments that were at the center of violent protests in 2017.

Virginia’s Supreme Court says a state law protecting war memorials does not apply. 

Sandy Hausman has details.

When lawmakers meet next Wednesday for a one day session, they’ll consider legislation to legalize marijuana this summer.

Michael Pope has this preview of what to expect.

Governor Ralph Northam is amending a bill on marijuana legalization.

As Michael Pope reports, the governor’s amendment will make marijuana fully legal sooner than anticipated.

Rural communities have struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their health care districts are underfunded and understaffed. Limited broadband and cell phone communication caused missed vaccine notifications.

And, it’s been especially hard on those enrolled in substance abuse treatment.

Pamela D’Angelo attended a recent Drug Treatment Court.

The spring election season is here, and candidates are trying to think of new and creative ways of getting their message out during a pandemic.

Michael Pope reports.

A sketch in a simple frame at a Virginia thrift store turned out to be more significant – and more valuable – than it appeared to be. And Governor Ralph Northam has issued an order he hopes will reduce plastic pollution.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols.

Governor Ralph Northam is expected to announce his amendments to the marijuana bill on Monday.

And as Michael Pope reports he’s expected to move for legalization this year as opposed to waiting until 2024.

Hundreds of students at Washington and Lee University in Lexington walked out of classes earlier this week. 

They wanted to show their support for dropping Lee from the college’s name.

Randi Hagi reports.

Stimulus money from the government is helping a lot of people stay afloat in a troubled economy.

But, Michael Pope reports, in Virginia, it doesn’t have to help creditors.

Chances are you’re not running for statewide office. But the odds are probably more likely this spring than in the past.

Jahd Khalil spoke with a political analyst about why so many politicians think this is their year. 

For many children, COVID has meant educational setbacks as they struggled to absorb lessons online. 

But for others the pandemic has underscored the value of learning outside.  

Sandy Hausman reports on a school near Charlottesville where students spent 90-pecent of their time in fields, forests and tents.

The COVID crisis led many universities to move classes online, but at one state school in Virginia the choice was to move outside. 

Sandy Hausman reports on why one journalism professor is now pledging to keep his students away from the classroom even after the pandemic has passed.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced Wednesday bald eagle populations have quadrupled in the lower 48 states since 2009.

Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Governor Ralph Northam has signed legislation ending the death penalty in Virginia.

As Michael Pope reports, that makes the commonwealth the first southern state to end capital punishment.

This was the year when state lawmakers approved some major changes including legalization of marijuana and ending the death penalty.  In other areas, however, reformers were disappointed.

The General Assembly rejected several bills designed to reform utility regulation, refused to remove special legal protections for police and retained the state’s right-to-work law. 

They also failed to approve campaign finance reform as Sandy Hausman reports.

During the last campaign cycle, corporations, political action committees, non-profits and individuals donated more than 124-million dollars to candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate.

Critics contend that warped the way lawmakers voted in 2021, but efforts to reform campaign finance in Richmond have repeatedly failed. 

In part two of her series, Sandy Hausman looks at why politicians are reluctant to limit donations and whether that might change next year.

Come April 1, there will be more space for you at entertainment venues.

Governor Ralph Northam announced he will ease restrictions at sporting events and entertainment venues.

Jahd Khalil has more on what that means. 

With all the talk of respiratory disease for the last year, one bright spot was the flu.

There hasn’t been a single outbreak in Virginia during this flu season.

Jahd Khalil tells us why. 

When the economy crashed last year, Virginia lost a significant number of jobs.

And as Michael Pope reports, the job market still hasn’t recovered.

COVID-19 has changed the way people interact with local government. The result is more participation… And students at James Madison University are having their food orders delivered in whole new way.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols.

The pandemic has brought about many new trends, some of which may end up becoming permanent parts of the landscape.

Michael Pope reports on the future of the takeout cocktails.

In September, the department of education asked a group of educators how they would fix racial inequities in Virginia’s education system. This week they delivered their recommendations.

Jahd Khalil has this report on the African American Superintendent’s Advisory Council.

Lawmakers considered a bill that would have given local governments more authority to require that developers preserve or replace tree canopy.

As Michael Pope reports, they rejected the idea for now. But they also set the stage for potential action next year.

Five public universities in Virginia can trace their roots to before the civil war– a period when slavery permeated American life and built wealth for white Americans.

And it also helped build those schools.

Jahd Khalil reports on efforts to repair a small amount of that damage.

This election cycle will include a strange quirk that most voters have never seen: A ballot that includes the same name for two different races.

Michael Pope explains why.

When voters head to the polls in June for the statewide Democratic primary, will the order of the candidates have any influence?

Michael Pope reports.