Virginia Public Radio

Candidates are raking in campaign cash up and down the ballot this year. Michael Pope is following the money. Here’s a look at disclosure numbers for the “A Safer Virginia PAC” from the Virginia Public Access Project.

Virginia was among the states that recently lost federal grant funding for a renewable energy program called Solar for All. The state's Clean Energy Advisory Board met this week to discuss alternative sources of income for similar projects. Dave Cantor has more.

About three months ago the City of Richmond began a new program, offering harm reduction and personal hygiene products for free at vending machines across the city. It got off to a bit of a rocky start.  Brad Kutner has this report on how things are going now. 

President Donald Trump has yet to endorse Virginia’s Republican candidate for governor. Michael Pope asked what impact that might have.

In addition to statewide races, several local elections will be decided by Virginians this fall – including school boards. However, Michael Pope reports some of those ballots don't have any candidates on them.

A recent tour of a new power solution manufacturing facility in Henrico County is putting the spotlight on just how much power data centers will demand in the near future. And while both of Virginia's gubernatorial candidates know the Commonwealth's economic future is likely linked to growing data center demand, they have different ideas on […]

Candidates for attorney general will meet in Richmond Thursday for a debate. Michael Pope has this preview.

One issue that is bringing together Republicans and Democrats is nuclear power. Michael Pope reports.

One high-stakes debate down, another to go. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Democrats are outraising Republicans in key races for the House of Delegates. That’s according to a new analysis from the Virginia Public Access Project. Michael Pope reports.

Wednesday night marked a new record: the highest number of birds ever recorded migrating in one night in the United States. Over a billion birds were in the skies, according to data recorded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Birdcast website. Those migrating birds could also use our help to avoid injury, as Roxy Todd […]

With the per-ounce price of gold exceeding record highs, and silver hitting prices not seen since in almost 50 years, collectors and coin dealers are cashing in. Christine Kueter reports.

The candidates hoping to become Virginia's next governor are set to meet for a high stakes debate Thursday night. Michael Pope has a preview.

Virginia's decriminalization of marijuana possession has led to a thriving illicit market throughout the Commonwealth. Brad Kutner says elected officials are expressing more concern. 

Since October arrived on the calendar, the election has been rocked with several surprises. The Republican candidate for lieutenant governor is facing allegations of Nazi fetishism.  And the Democrat running for attorney general faced questions about a reckless driving conviction. That is, until another October surprise hit, as Michael Pope tells us.  

Experts are calling it a “demographic cliff.” That's the point in the next few years where a decline in births after 2007 will start to impact college enrollment. And as Brad Kutner found out Monday morning, elected officials in Richmond are already starting to worry about it. 

Interest groups supporting the gambling industry are making big investments in the Virginia election this year. Michael Pope reports.

Indian lands across the country are being encroached on by pipelines, fracking, data centers and other industries. In Virginia, the Rappahannock Tribe joined a handful of Tribal Nations in the U.S. that are recognizing the constitutional rights of nature. Now, they're ready to defend that right for their river as Pamela D'Angelo reports.

Are federal issues making an impression on Virginia voters? Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Striped bass are one of the most ecologically and economically important species of the Chesapeake Bay and up and down the Atlantic Coast. Back in the late ‘70s their numbers were decimated in the Bay by overfishing, degradation of their habitat and warming waters. Fisheries managers stepped in and cut harvests and the fish recovered. […]

Fall is normally the peak season for visitors to Shenandoah National Park, and the Blue Ridge Parkway has drawn two million people during past Octobers. But with the federal government shut down, communities in Virginia that rely on tourism worry those numbers may drop. Roxy Todd has been digging into what will remain open and […]

As the federal government shutdown continues, a new report shows how many federal workers the government has lost so far this year. And as Michael Pope tells us, the rest of this year is likely to see even more shocking numbers.

The state ombudsman monitoring the Virginia Department of Corrections, held her second public meeting Thursday in Richmond. Dave Cantor reports she heard from several frustrated families and advocates.

Political ads are flooding the airwaves now that campaign season is in full swing. And, as Michael Pope tells us, those commercials are funded by a lot of new donors. Here’s the analysis from the Virginia Public Access Project.

If you’re getting rid of that “gas guzzler” and investing in a more fuel-efficient or even an electric vehicle, you’re probably expecting to see some savings from buying less fuel.   But Craig Wright says it’s not quite that simple.

Election season isn’t just flooding the airwaves this year. Michael Pope tells us about the latest trend in direct mail.

It's been about a year since Andrea Sapone was hired as the state's first corrections ombudsman, monitoring the Virginia Department of Corrections. The office recently issued its first strategic plan. Dave Cantor explains the two-page document outlining both short- and long-term goals for the office.

Trial attorneys are cleaning up on eviction fees, raking in money on people who are struggling to make ends meet. Michael Pope has more from a new report.

While the 2025 campaign is heading into the final weeks, some are already looking to 2026. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Virginia law requires the Commonwealth to collect and report data on abortions that occur in the state. And while that data is usually sent to the Centers for Disease Control to be included in an annual report, Brad Kutner found out the agency is no longer accepting that data and the annual report may not […]

All 100 seats of the House of Delegates are on the ballot this year, although most of the money and attention are going to a dozen or so competitive races. Michael Pope has this report on some of the rural Democrats that are not receiving as much attention.

The Virginia Department of Corrections controls most facets of incarcerated peoples' lives — including when and how communication with the outside world happens. Dave Cantor has more on Attorney General Jason Miyares voicing support for allowing contraband cellphone jamming at state prisons.

Wise and Scott Counties in Southwest Virginia have some of the highest energy costs proportional to household income in the nation. Many residents here rely on federal energy assistance to afford to cool and heat their homes. As Katie Burke reports, the decision to cut federal energy assistance could mean life or death for millions […]

President Donald Trump told the nation this week a common drug has been linked to an increase in autism and ADHD in newborns when used during pregnancy. But for Virginians who are members of and advocate for the autism community, the statement meant something much more. Brad Kutner has this report. 

The politics of power are on the ballot this year as voters determine what approach Virginia will take to handling increased demand on the energy grid. Michael Pope reports about how that issue is playing out in one of the most competitive House races on the ballot this year.

At the end of the 2025 legislative session, Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed language that would have expanded weight loss drug access to those on Medicaid. Now, he's promising a negotiated fix to the problem. Brad Kutner has more. 

Affordability has become one of the hottest issues on the campaign trail. And Michael Pope tells us housing advocates are worried about people who are “rent burdened.”

A Virginia native is part of NASA's latest class of soon-to-be astronauts. Nick Gilmore spoke with him and filed this report.

Federal prosecutors in Virginia are seeing some record turnover. Michael Pope has the story.

Early voting has already started in Virginia, although some locations are more likely to have early voters than others. Michael Pope reports.

Early voting started Friday in Virginia.Brad Kutner was in Henrico County where two opposing statewide candidates made an appearance and he has this report. 

Virginians will weigh in on statewide offices this fall – as early voting for the November elections gets underway. Michael Pope and Radio IQ Politics Analyst Jeff Schapiro discuss that and the week that was in state politics and government.

The latest round of campaign finance numbers are showing the state of the race so far. Michael Pope tells us about money in the race for lieutenant governor.

Traveling rural roads in Virginia, it's not unusual to spot a bald eagle surrounded by vultures devouring road kill. As hunting season begins, bald eagles will head into the woods to scavenge on the remains of deer, hunters leave after field-dressing them. But remnants of lead ammunition are sometimes part of that meal and will […]

Legislative staff in Richmond released a first-of-its-kind report Wednesday morning. Brad Kutner says it paints a grim picture for some populations and some regions of the Commonwealth. 

The invasive insect called Spotted Lanternfly continues its spread through Virginia and is now in Blacksburg and Radford. Roxy Todd reports a new study looks at whether pet dogs could be successful at sniffing out lanternfly eggs, as one way to combat the infestation.

Campaign finance numbers are revealing the shape of Virginia politics heading into this year’s election for governor. Michael Pope reports the latest disclosures show Democrat Abigail Spanberger has more than twice as much cash on hand heading into the fall election season.

Early voting starts on Friday. Michael Pope has this preview.

The Library of Virginia will present a Chesterfield native with its highest honor this weekend. Brad Kutner spoke with composer Damien Geter and filed this report. 

Members of the General Assembly are about to face a choice: Either find a way to fix errors in SNAP benefits or pay the price. Michael Pope reports.

The murder of Charlie Kirk shocked the nation and Virginia. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.