Archive for category Virginia’s News
A former governor and their controversial union-busting tactic
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 1, 2023
Governor Glenn Youngkin is sending National Guard troops to the southern border in Texas next month, a move that critics say is politically motivated. Michael Pope tells us about a previous governor who used his powers as the commander-in-chief in a way that still invites controversy.
New data: productivity in Virginia is down, but hours worked is up
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 31, 2023
New numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a puzzling trend in Virginia’s economy. Michael Pope reports.
With a deadline looming, state lawmakers still don’t have an agreement on the budget
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 30, 2023
Members of Congress may be closer to resolving the conflict over the debt ceiling. But, as Michael Pope tells us, members of the Virginia General Assembly are still at a standstill with their budget amendments.
The fans and critics of Virginia data centers
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 25, 2023
Northern Virginia is the global hub of data centers. But Michael Pope tells us that notoriety is causing friction in some communities.
Some prosecutor primaries will be decided next month
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 24, 2023
Voters will go to the polls next month to choose candidates in dozens of races across Virginia. Michael Pope reports some of those races will be for prosecutors.
Parole reform wins rare bipartisan support in Virginia
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 24, 2023
With so much going on during the annual meeting of Virginia’s General Assembly, it’s easy to miss some important and sometimes surprising legislation.
Sandy Hausman reports the state is now moving forward with a rare bipartisan effort to reform Virginia’s system of parole.
Partisan endorsements in nonpartisan races
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 23, 2023
Members of school boards are elected in nonpartisan elections in Virginia. But, as Michael Pope reports, that doesn’t mean the elections lack partisanship.
New report: Virginia needs to end “civil commitment”
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 22, 2023
A new report calls attention to Virginia’s practice of incarcerating people even after their sentence has been completed. Michael Pope explains.
What is the “value” of an endorsement?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 19, 2023
As the June 20th primary approaches, candidates are receiving a series of endorsements. Michael Pope takes a look at what they mean.
Study looks at how dogs can help fight the spread of spotted lanternflies
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 19, 2023

The invasive spotted lanternfly continues to spread throughout Virginia, threatening vineyards. Researchers are training dogs to help sniff them out, as Roxy Todd reports.
Pope & Schapiro: Virginia fears of a national default
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 19, 2023
Count Virginia lawmakers among those worried about a potential default on the nation’s debt.
Michael Pope and Jeff Schapiro – political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch – discuss the state budget and the week that was in Virginia politics.
Republicans and Democrats are confused by one Youngkin veto
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 18, 2023
Governor Glenn Youngkin is taking final action this week on a number of bills from the General Assembly. Michael Pope reports on one about power lines.
North Carolina’s abortion ban will have impacts in Virginia
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 17, 2023
North Carolina’s new abortion ban is changing the dynamic here in Virginia. Michael Pope reports.
Adult websites must verify the age of users in Virginia now
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 16, 2023
The governor is taking final actions this week on bills lawmakers sent him during the General Assembly session. Michael Pope has this story about one involving online pornography.
Virginia is leaving an election data partnership it helped found
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 15, 2023
Virginia is leaving a group of states that share information about voter lists. Michael Pope reports.
Researchers find key to quicker test for Lyme disease by studying patients with lingering symptoms
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 15, 2023

Some people who get Lyme disease have symptoms long after they’ve received treatment. Scientists are trying to find out why. As Roxy Todd reports, their research could also lead doctors to be able to test for Lyme disease more quickly.
Virginia Republicans and their preference for conventions
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 12, 2023
Voters across Virginia will go to the polls on June 20th for General Assembly and local primaries. But, as Michael Pope reports, only a handful of those contests will be Republican primaries.
Pope & Schapiro: Republicans pick several candidates in conventions
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 12, 2023
Primaries in General Assembly races are quickly approaching. But, some Republicans have already been picked to run this fall through conventions.
Michael Pope and Jeff Schapiro – political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch – talk about that and the week that was in politics and state government.
The debate over the word “equity” in Virginia politics continues
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 9, 2023
Green Bank captures image of supermassive black hole
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 9, 2023

The Green Bank observatory in West Virginia recently helped capture a new image of a supermassive black hole. As Roxy Todd explains, this image reveals new information about a mystery surrounding black holes.
Republicans picked several candidates in conventions this past weekend
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 8, 2023
Over the weekend, Republicans selected some candidates who will be on the ballot this November. Michael Pope reports.
Millions of dollars are on the table for Virginia to raise awareness of its red flag law
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 5, 2023
Virginia has a red flag law that is supposed to help people alert authorities when someone may be a threat to themselves or others. Michael Pope reports that federal money is available to help spread awareness about the program in Virginia.
Support for building solar farms on top of landfills is growing in Virginia
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 5, 2023
One of the problems for the growth of solar energy in Virginia has been finding a place to put all the solar panels. Michael Pope has this report on a potential solution to the problem.
Historic Virginia ferry to cross the James again
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 4, 2023

One of Virginia’s beloved historic attractions will reopen this weekend after a two-year hiatus. Sandy Hausman paid a visit to the nation’s last poled ferry and filed this report.
Education advocates: public funds should be for public schools
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 3, 2023
The ongoing debate over the budget has yet to be resolved. And as Michael Pope reports the latest disagreement is about public funds for private schools.
Several challengers are outraising incumbents in General Assembly races
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 2, 2023
Campaign finance numbers are revealing the state of some contested races heading into the June 20 primary. Michael Pope reports.
VMI faculty and students invent weapon to battle ticks
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 2, 2023

Spring is high season for ticks, and Virginia has 17 different kinds. Because they can carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and other dangerous conditions, the engineering department at the Virginia Military Institute has declared war on the bugs – using a robot to do battle. Sandy Hausman has that story.
Governor Youngkin, his administration and the word “equity”
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 1, 2023

Since he was elected, Governor Glenn Youngkin has tried to remove the term equity from the classroom and the code. Michael Pope reports on the latest developments.
Thousands of Virginians could lose health insurance as pandemic rules come to an end
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 27, 2023
Hundreds of thousands of people in Virginia may be in danger of losing their health insurance. Michael Pope reports.
Labor force participation is back up in Virginia, but uneven across the state
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 26, 2023
Virginia’s labor force participation rate is now back up to pre-pandemic levels. Michael Pope reports.
Home prices are outpacing wages in northern Virginia
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 25, 2023
Northern Virginia is often seen as the economic powerhouse of the state. But as Michael Pope reports, the housing crunch is causing a problem.
FD Briefing: The political contributions of the super wealthy
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 25, 2023
Governor Glenn Youngkin has been raking in donations at a record clip in Virginia – and that was before his political action committee took in a million-dollar check last week.
Craig Wright and Roben Farzad – host of public radio’s Full Disclosure – talk about political contributions from the world’s wealthiest people.
Could more bus rapid transit systems pop up in Virginia?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 24, 2023
Fundraising disclosures show an edge for Democrats in the state Senate
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 21, 2023
The latest round of campaign finance disclosures show the 2023 election is attracting record amounts of campaign cash. Michael Pope tells us Democrats have an edge in fundraising for the Senate.
What campaign finance records show about this year’s General Assembly races
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 20, 2023
The latest round of campaign finance disclosures are breaking records and revealing the shape of the 2023 election. Michael Pope reports.
Tiki torch marchers face charges in Charlottesville
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 19, 2023
It’s been nearly six years since white supremacists shocked the world by marching on the University of Virginia campus, carrying torches and chanting racist and anti-Semitic slogans. Now some of those extremists are facing criminal charges, as Sandy Hausman reports.
Do LED lights on roadways affect our sleep?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 19, 2023

There have been several studies over the past decade that show blue lights, like the type in our phones and TVs, can negatively impact our sleep patterns. But what about lighting along our roads? A recent study from Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute looked at whether LED road lighting affects how well we fall asleep. Roxy Todd explains.
The effort to include Virginia’s labor history into education standards
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 19, 2023
This week, members of the Virginia Board of Education are expected to take up controversial new history standards. And Michael Pope reports union leaders are hoping that labor history will be part of the curriculum.
Who should own offshore wind turbines in Virginia?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 18, 2023
Virginia is about to get a massive new offshore wind farm with 170 turbines. As Michael Pope reports, opinions are divided about how to go about making that happen.
12 Virginia Delegates are hoping to move to the state Senate
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 17, 2023
20 members of the House of Delegates are retiring and saying goodbye to the General Assembly. And as Michael Pope tells us, another 12 delegates are hoping to move over to the Senate.
Right now, there’s no rush on the state budget
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 13, 2023
Lawmakers now have finished their one-day reconvene session and taken action on all the governor’s amendments and vetoes. But Michael Pope reports the budget remains a work in progress.
The General Assembly backs controversial THC amendment
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 12, 2023
Members of the General Assembly are considering amendments from the governor. And as Michael Pope reports, they are giving a stamp of approval to some controversial changes to a bill about marijuana.
Spreading pest could threaten wild ramps
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 12, 2023
The debate over Youngkin’s voting rights decision should only heat up this week
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 11, 2023
As members of the General Assembly return to the Capitol for the reconvene session this week, the restoration of voting rights is expected to be a major topic of conversation. Michael Pope reports.
Democratic Senator Lionell Spruill of Chesapeake says he’ll be meet with the governor Wednesday morning to talk about the process.
Here’s what to expect from this week’s veto session
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 10, 2023
Lawmakers are returning to Richmond Wednesday for a spring session of the General Assembly. Michael Pope has this preview.
UVA team makes key discovery about deadly dengue fever
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 10, 2023

A team of scientists at the University of Virginia has made a discovery that could – eventually – save millions of lives. Sandy Hausman reports on what they’ve learned about a virus that threatens half the world’s population.
A Lynchburg company is developing nuclear rocket fuel for NASA
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 10, 2023

There’s a manufacturing company on the cusp of big things in central Virginia. As Mallory Noe-Payne reports, they’re developing nuclear rocket fuel for NASA.
Va. News: Sea level rise, free tuition at Ferrum College
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 10, 2023
New research shows Norfolk remains at the top of the list of East Coast cities facing the fastest rate of sea level rise. And Ferrum College in Franklin County will begin offering free tuition to qualifying students this fall.
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 and Edie Gross.
A look at Youngkin amendments that deal with internet safety
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 7, 2023
Lawmakers will be returning to Richmond next week to consider amendments from the governor. Michael Pope tells us about one of the amendments on internet safety.
Some rural hospitals across Virginia at risk of closing, according to study
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on April 7, 2023
Healthcare costs are high – not only for patients, but many rural hospitals are also facing financial strains. Nearly three in 10 rural hospitals in Virginia are at risk of closing, according to a recent report. Roxy Todd explains.