Virginia Public Radio

The University of Virginia has announced plans for a new $300 million biotech center that will produce and test new treatments for many diseases.  The center could break ground in a matter of months and is already recruiting the first of 100 new scientists as Sandy Hausman reports.

Governor Glenn Youngkin campaigned on a platform of limiting abortions with a 15-week ban. But Democrats in the Senate are rejecting any new restrictions. Michael Pope reports.

Democrats appear to be poised to reject Republican efforts to roll back access to voting. Michael Pope reports.

An about-face on a potential economic development win and a tabloid-style scandal are making headlines at the capital. Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Last year, members of the General Assembly got rid of the state portion of the grocery tax. Now, as Michael Pope reports, lawmakers are considering several bills to get rid of the rest of it.

Loudoun County is known throughout the world for its concentration of data centers, although as Michael Pope reports several lawmakers are trying to prevent them from spreading out into new areas.

In the last few years, Virginia has made many changes to how elections work. Michael Pope has this report on efforts to roll back some of those changes.

We're used to tipping for certain services like meals or haircuts.  But more and more digital checkout screens are now suggesting a tip. Roben Farzad, host of public radio's Full Disclosure, and Craig Wright talk about the growing trend.

The governor wants to crack down on dealers who supply drugs that result in fatal overdoses. But, Michael Pope reports some recovery advocates fear that might backfire.

Hospitals in rural Virginia are facing an uncertain financial future. And, a 10-cent postage stamp made in Virginia is expected to sell for quite a bit more than that at auction in New York. Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link. […]

Lawmakers in Richmond are considering a bill that would prohibit people who are incarcerated from being held in solitary confinement. Michael Pope has the story.

The first few days of the 2023 General Assembly session are in the books.  Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap what's happened so far and what might come next.

The drug war continues in Virginia, with the U.S. Attorney for the Western District declaring two victories, but conceding fentanyl and other narcotics are still a major threat to public health.  Sandy Hausman has that story. 

Abortion is likely to be one of the hottest topics the General Assembly will consider this year. But, as Michael Pope tells us, don’t expect much to happen as a result.

Governor Glenn Youngkin says Virginia needs to catch up.  David Seidel has details from Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Glenn Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth address touched on a number of areas. But, as Michael Pope reports, one part of the speech had lawmakers buzzing.

Lawmakers are back in Richmond for the 2023 General Assembly session. And as Michael Pope reports, sparks are already flying.

Lawmakers will return to Richmond Wednesday, where they will be debating hundreds of bills. As Michael Pope tells us, one issue that is likely to be central to the General Assembly session is transforming Virginia’s behavioral health system.

Virginia's governor says the Commonwealth is not keeping pace with its peers.  And he's proposed a number of changes he says will make the state more competitive. Roben Farzad, host of public radio's Full Disclosure, and Craig Wright talk about the high-stakes competition of recruiting businesses to Virginia.

Voters in three parts of Virginia will be heading to the polls Tuesday to select new members of the General Assembly. Michael Pope reports.

Kids who were in kindergarten when the pandemic hit will enter fourth grade next year, and many still struggle with reading.  Sandy Hausman reports that lawmakers in Richmond will consider a bill to help those students catch up. 

A lawmaker from Virginia Beach is attacking the requirement that more electric cars be sold here because he says a component of their batteries is mined by slave labor. Sandy Hausman reports.

The General Assembly session begins Wednesday, with a State of the Commonwealth speech from the governor. Michael Pope has this insight on the moment from a former governor.

A Roanoke County delegate wants to find out more about how switching to Daylight Saving Time every spring impacts Virginians and whether that should continue.  And some of the nation’s oldest historical documents may be at risk of damage from material that was meant to protect them. Those have been among the most read stories […]

When an NFL player collapsed on national TV, it raised public awareness about cardiac arrest.   A hospital in Richmond is helping schools to prepare for a similar event as Sandy Hausman reports.

State lawmakers were already looking at a busy session when one member of the State Corporation Commission announced her resignation.  That will leave just one person on an essential regulatory board, and as Sandy Hausman reports, making new appointments through the legislature could be a challenge.

Virginia's General Assembly gets down to work on Wednesday.  But before that a couple of new members will be elected. Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope have more on what's at stake.

Lawmakers are about to return to Richmond for the General Assembly session, and one of the items they’ll be talking about is expanding the stock of new housing. Michael Pope has this preview.

Governor Glenn Youngkin is pushing for an additional one billion dollars in tax relief. He touted his plan during a stop in Salem earlier today/Thursday. Nick Gilmore reports. 

By law, employers in Virginia don't have to pay workers if they are called to serve on a jury, and compensation to serve on one is low. One lawmaker hopes to change that when the General Assembly convenes later this month. Sandy Hausman has that story.

Congress doesn’t have a stranglehold on drama when it comes to electing a speaker. Back in 1998, the Virginia House of Delegates had a tense standoff that lasted several hours. Michael Pope has this look back.

Lawmakers are about to make an important decision about the future of casinos in Virginia. Michael Pope reports.

The calendar now says 2023. What will this year look like for the housing market? Roben Farzad – host of public radio's Full Disclosure – and Craig Wright discuss.

Lawmakers are about to consider massive new changes to Virginia’s mental health system. But, as Michael Pope reports, part of the discussion will be about isolating the problem.

In Virginia's Northern Neck, thousands have come together in support of one thing – ginger ale.  Coca Cola purchased a beloved, local brand in 2001, but stopped producing it 20 years later. Now, the locals want it back, as Sandy Hausman reports.

One Virginia city is looking to slow the alarming decline in honeybee populations.  And there are still plenty of people who use the public library even if they don’t go there. 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 […]

The first day of the new year will see some changes to Virginia law, including one very important change at the grocery store. Michael Pope explains.

2022 is nearly over.  And political observers are looking to campaigns in 2023 and far beyond. Jeff Schapiro, of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope discuss the week in politics and state government.

On January 1st Virginia's minimum wage will move from 11 to 12 dollars an hour. Mallory Noe-Payne has details. 

Lawmakers are preparing to return to Richmond and gavel into session next month. And as Michael Pope reports, one issue they’ll be discussing has widespread support on both sides of the aisle. 

Horseback riders are at a high risk of getting a brain injury. The first study that tests equestrian helmets for their ability to protect riders has just been released by Virginia Tech's helmet laboratory. Roxy Todd has more.

2022 is quickly drawing to a close. Roben Farzad – host of public radio's Full Disclosure – and Weekend Edition host Craig Wright discuss the events of the year that was, their economic impact and what lies ahead in 2023.

2021 was not a good year to work in a nursing home. But it turns out 2022 was worse. According to a recent survey, 4 in 5 nursing home facility directors say they're still facing difficulty in filling jobs and shifts.  Mallory Noe-Payne reports.

The historic bathhouse at Warm Springs is finally open again after more than a year of renovation work. And, a llama-at-large in Fairfax County provided quite a challenge for police before they finally got her back home. Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s […]

The Virginia General Assembly is about to go to the dogs. Michael Pope has this preview.

Richmond removed the last of its Confederate monuments earlier this year. Heading into 2023, Mallory Noe-Payne has this look at what the future holds for all of the city's statues now that they've come down. 

Voters in the 4th Congressional District have given a gift to one state Senator. Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week that was in politics and state government.

Recent changes to voting might also have an influence over the outcome in close races. Michael Pope reports.

For hundreds of years, Europeans systematically tried to wipe out Indigenous cultures. On the frontline were tribal members who held a sacred status because they had both feminine and masculine qualities. Today, they call themselves Two-Spirits. VCU professor Gregory Smithers has written about the history of gender and sexual fluidity in Native American history and […]

New economic numbers are showing a rising number of people in Virginia quitting their jobs. Michael Pope reports that the Great Resignation is still underway in the Commonwealth. 

Lawmakers in Virginia are about to return to the Capitol and consider new laws and constitutional amendments. Michael Pope reports one of those constitutional amendments could be about marriage.

Richmond's efforts to commemorate and educate about the city's role in the domestic slave trade have received a large financial boost: 16 million dollars from the Mellon Foundation's Monuments Project. As Mallory Noe-Payne reports, the largest chunk will go towards the creation of a new interpretive center.