Virginia Public Radio

The University of Virginia will soon require employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19.  And public school staff in Richmond will be getting a break from pandemic stress.

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.

Virginia’s fall election is breaking new ground.

Jeff Schapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Michael Pope discuss new voting rules and their impact.

Across Virginia, mental health services are stretched beyond the breaking point.

Michael Pope reports advocates want changes.

After the process for redrawing new state legislative districts broke down, Virginia’s redistricting commission has moved onto drawing congressional districts.

Jahd Khalil reports the commission avoided a major pitfall of the last process but may have exacerbated another.

Virginia ranks among the worst states in the country for graduation rates of students who do not speak English as their native language, a group that is more likely to drop out than go to college.

Michael Pope tells us about a new report identifying some potential solutions.

One Virginia community has changed its mind about removing armed police from schools while another will require its employees to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.

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.

Former presidents are bringing new attention to the race for governor.

Jeff Schapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Michael Pope catch us up on those details and some other closely watched House of Delegates races.

After failing to agree on new maps for state legislative districts, Virginia’s Redistricting Commission is moving on to federal Congressional districts.

David Seidel reports the drafts reviewed Thursday included some big changes for southwest and central Virginia.

The fallout from the January insurrection at the Capitol isn’t just at the center of Washington politics. It’s also become a flashpoint in the election for governor of Virginia.

Michael Pope reports.

People in a rural eastern Virginia community say they’re being overrun by roaming animals… And an iconic Virginia mountain resort is getting a massive makeover.

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.

As the fall campaign moves into the final weeks, the candidates are trying to capitalize on potential missteps by their opponents.

Jeff Schapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Michael Pope talk about how that’s playing out.

The labor practices of construction companies across Virginia are in the spotlight because of a new case brought by Virginia’s attorney general.

Michael Pope explains. 

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has been slowly moving fishermen, the oyster industry and now commercial crabbers to mandatory online reporting of their daily catch.

But in rural Tidewater, where many go without good cell coverage or internet, that’s a problem.

Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Virginia is increasingly becoming a commonwealth of urban and rural.

And, as Michael Pope reports, those two worlds are growing farther apart.

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found that having a brain injury made it more likely a COVID-19 infection would take your sense of smell or taste.

But is there anything that can help survivors get their senses back?

Jahd Khalil spoke to one of the researchers on that question.

Interacting with city government will soon be less challenging for non-English speakers in one city. And virtually every student currently enrolled in schools in Martinsville and Henry County will have a chance to attend community college at no cost.

These 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.

This week the public can comment on the work of the Virginia Redistricting Commission.

It was widely understood that the Commission would submit two maps to the public – one for the house and one for the senate.

Jahd Khalil reports they failed to do that.

Did the two televised debates between Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin change the trajectory of the governor’s race?

Jeff Schapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Michael Pope consider what helped and what hurt the two major party candidates.

The leaders of federally recognized tribal nations in Virginia held their first-ever Sovereignty Conference last week.

Pamela D’Angelo reports on what they hope to achieve.

The campaign for governor is now headed into the final stretch now that the second and final debate has concluded.

Michael Pope reports.

Governor Ralph Northam had sharp words for Virginians who have chosen not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

But as David Seidel reports, the governor admitted he’s running out of ideas to convince them to get the shot.

Residents of Petersburg will no longer be allowed to carry guns in any public area. And the Danville Police Department, like many, is struggling with an officer shortage.

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.

There are new polling insights into the race for governor this week.  And a new direction for who and what gets memorialized in the former capitol of the Confederacy.

Jeff Schapiro of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Michael Pope discuss those issues.

Tens of thousands of people came to the US, fleeing Afghanistan after the American military’s withdrawal hastened a collapse of the Afghan government.

Among the refugees are Special Immigrant Visa holders and their families who assisted the military.

Jahd Khalil reports that those working to resettle these Afghans and other refugees put a part of themselves into the effort. 

Republican and Democratic map drawers mostly agreed on a compromise for districts in Southwest Virginia. But they had some questions for the Virginia Redistricting Commission Thursday.

Jahd Khalil reports that after weeks of debating criteria for maps, the redistricting commission is now deciding where to digress.

The race for governor may be tightening up heading into the final few weeks before Election Day.

Michael Pope reports on a new poll that shows the race is deadlocked.

It’s been nearly 20 years since archeologists and tribal nations in Virginia began looking for clues to the people and cultures of Werowocomoco.

It was the political center of the Powhatan chiefdom before and during the early 1600s along the York River in Gloucester. 

Pamela D’Angelo brings us the latest on this important Indigenous town.

A traditional crop and a developing power source are the latest ideas for boosting the economy in Southwestern Virginia.

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.

Anti-abortion rights protestors gathered on Capitol Square Friday for an annual rally.

A new restrictive abortion law in Texas energized many of the people there, but Jahd Khalil reports that organizers and politicians are keeping their distance.