Virginia Public Radio

In the first three days of the General Assembly, Democrats passed four constitutional amendments. Michael Pope tells us they’ll go to voters later this year.

It's a time of transition at the State Capitol. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

The ombudsman who monitors the Virginia Corrections Department completed two investigations into a pair of prisons during fiscal year 2025. Dave Cantor has more.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly are back in session this week. And as Michael Pope tells us, they are debating the merits of affordability.

Governor Glenn Youngkin is saying goodbye to the Executive Mansion, delivering his last speech to a joint meeting of House and Senate members. Michael Pope tells us about his message to the General Assembly.

Virginia's House of Delegates advanced four constitutional amendments Wednesday, but not without some interesting votes from members of both parties. Brad Kutner has this report. 

Virginia Democrats won 64 House of Delegates seats last fall. Wednesday morning, they celebrated their wins and outlined how they'll govern over the 60-day General Assembly session. Brad Kutner was there and has this report.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly are back in Richmond and back in session. Michael Pope is at the Capitol with the latest.

Governor Glenn Youngkin will make his final State of the Commonwealth address tonight. Michael Pope and Radio IQ Politics Analyst Jeff Schapiro discuss what the outgoing governor's legacy will be.

Senate Democrats are putting a spotlight on kitchen table issues. Michael Pope has a preview of their agenda, as the General Assembly session starts Wednesday.

Across parts of Appalachia, some people don't trust their water, or their water isn't safe to drink. So they turn to bottled water, even for cooking in some cases. But as a recent study points out, this is costing low-income families a lot of money, as Roxy Todd reports.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger has set her sights on a number of health-related, cost saving measures leading up to Virginia's 2026 legislative session. And elected officials from both parties are working on efforts to earn her signature. Brad Kutner has this report.

Abigail Spanberger is about to be sworn in as Virginia’s 75th governor. Michael Pope tells us about how fundraising for her inauguration is breaking records.

The ACLU of Virginia is claiming that the state's corrections department is “over-detaining a significant number of people” as a result of earned sentence credits being improperly applied to individuals' sentences. Dave Cantor has more.

One of the items on the affordability agenda for Virginia Democrats this year is the Equal Pay Act. Michael Pope explains.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger takes office next weekend, shortly after Democrats in Virginia's legislature are expected to pass a mid-decade redistricting amendment. And while Virginia governors usually have little influence on the constitutional amendment process, the timing required for the proposed redraw to have any impact will require the governor-elect, who’s lukewarm on the concept, to […]

Glenn Youngkin is heading into the last week of his term as governor, while Abigail Spanberger is putting her administration together. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

As members of the Virginia General Assembly prepare to gavel into session next week, the word to watch is affordability. Michael Pope reports.

Public records are theoretically available to the public. But as Michael Pope reports, local and state governments often deny access by charging large sums of money.

As a sovereign nations, Tribes in Virginia have the right to consult with state agencies on certain environmental permits and reviews. This week, the Rappahannock Tribe said that didn't happen with two projects related to the Rappahannock River.  Pamela D'Angelo reports.

A hundred years ago, pianos were a fixture in many American homes.  More than 300,000 of them were sold in 1925, but today the number has fallen to under 18,000.   Electronic keyboard sales outnumber acoustics ten to one.  They're cheaper and easier to maintain.  But one man in Virginia says he still keeps busy ensuring existing instruments […]

Virginia disability advocates will ask for additional funds they say governor Glenn Youngkin failed to include in his outgoing budget. And a federal judge may affirm that need at a hearing Wednesday. Brad Kutner has this report.

Virginia is about to get a new governor next week, and that will come with a new outlook on environmental policy. Michael Pope has this preview.

Democrats have big plans for the first few days of the General Assembly session next week. Michael Pope reports.

For some, it's an inconvenience.  But for others, it could make or break their case. A bill in the General Assembly could change what you can bring into a courthouse. Michael Pope explains.

We wrap up some political loose ends from 2025 while setting the stage for a new administration in 2026. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

As Governor-elect, Abigail Spanberger appoints more people to positions of power than any other state in the country. Michael Pope explains why it happens that way.

A recent College Board survey found the majority of high schoolers use Generative A-I tools, such as Chat GPT, for schoolwork, even though nearly half of American schools restrict its use. As educators struggle to keep pace with AI, one rural Virginia school system is embracing it. Christine Kueter explains.

The future is looking bright for solar energy in Virginia. Michael Pope reports about one initiative members of the General Assembly are about to consider.

On New Year's Day, parking is free at all Virginia State Park locations, and there are there are nearly 90 guided hikes and other events planned across the Commonwealth. Roxy Todd has the details.

Artificial intelligence is just about everywhere these days, and that includes inside – and outside – Virginia classrooms. As legislators head to Richmond, they have a myriad of issues to tackle, including how the Commonwealth’s schools and colleges should use or encourage the tool's use. Brad Kutner has this report. 

The highest-profile Republican hoping to take on incumbent Senator Mark Warner is out of the race. Michael Pope explains.

The Federal Communications Commission voted this fall to hike rate caps for phone and video calls that incarcerated people and their families can be charged. It rescinded a reform implemented under the Biden administration. While Virginia's rates sit below those limits, prison reform advocates say communications costs are still too high. Dave Cantor has more.

The year is coming to a close, but the last full week of 2025 has had quite a bit of activity in state politics and government. Michael Pope and Radio IQ Politics Analyst Jeff Schapiro discuss.

Members of the General Assembly are about to consider several bills aimed at affordability. Michael Pope has this preview of one involving debt.

Virginia's outgoing governor has one more chance to cement his legacy—a budget. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

By early 2026, the Trump administration is poised to shift how many and who among the world's 43-million refugees is eligible to resettle in a country once known as the world's melting pot. That's leaving refugees and refugee advocates in Central Virginia collectively holding their breath, as Christine Kueter reports.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger rolled out new details about her policy agenda Thursday. Brad Kutner was in the room at the state Capitol and has this report. 

Members of the General Assembly are about to consider dozens of bills aimed at improving public education. Michael Pope has this preview about some legislation dealing with students who speak English as a second language. Here’s a link to the report.

Members of the General Assembly are about to consider a bill aimed at addressing some of the concerns about ICE raids across Virginia. Michael Pope reports.

Governor Glenn Youngkin won’t be in office come next month, but he still gets to propose one final budget before leaving office. And Wednesday morning he did just that. Brad Kutner has this report.

State Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg has filed legislation that would direct Virginia to rejoin the Electronic Registration Information Center — known as ERIC. It's a multistate data-sharing consortium the Commonwealth withdrew from in 2023. Dave Cantor has more.

The United States Capitol now has a new statue representing Virginia. Michael Pope has more from Capitol Hill.

Changes to student loan programs and the so-called demographic cliff are set to impact Virginia college's enrollment numbers, according to members of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. Brad Kutner explains.

Rising power bills are causing increasing anxiety across Virginia, although opinions are divided about the reason for the increase and potential solutions.  Michael Pope tells us about one approach that is expected to be considered Tuesday in Congress.

Towns and cities across Virginia are now required to test for levels of PFAS in public water. But much less is known about whether forever chemicals may be in well water. A recent study has some answers on this, as Roxy Todd explains.

A company that makes license plate readers is hoping that the General Assembly will let them operate on interstates, although many lawmakers are skeptical. Michael Pope reports.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger is piecing together her cabinet before her inauguration next month. Michael Pope and Radio IQ politics analyst Jeff Schapiro discuss that and more in state politics and government.

Virginia’s complicated history of racial disparities still has consequences today. Michael Pope reports on that new report from the Commonwealth Institute.

Recent state reports and the upcoming legislative session could mean changes for how the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice is operated. Dave Cantor has more.

In Virginia, every year is an election year. And the primaries for the congressional midterms are only a few months away. Michael Pope tells us about the bumper crop of candidates challenging Republican incumbents.