Virginia Public Radio

Registration of new voters is lagging behind the last election cycle when the governor was on the ballot. Michael Pope asked some political analysts why.

Governor Glenn Youngkin will leave office with Virginia's Standards of Learning test results about where he inherited them. Brad Kutner has this report on what was the term-limited Governor's last chance to deliver on a campaign promise to improve Virginia's school test scores.

Humanity has made many scientific discoveries throughout history, many of which have come through sheer luck or coincidence. Nick Gilmore reports on one such scientific coincidence that is providing vital data to state and federal officials in the New River Valley.

Third-parties have a long history in Virginia, although most of them have not been successful very long. Michael Pope tells us about the latest attempt.

Roanoke City's Democratic party has reiterated its support for incumbent Delegate Sam Rasoul. The endorsement comes after some members of Rasoul's own party criticized his comments on the conflict in Gaza. Brad Kutner has this report. 

The Virginia legislature approved state requirements in 2024 for reporting annual deaths in custody numbers. It's a backstop for a federal law called the Death in Custody Reporting Act. This summer, the state released its first set of numbers under the new law. Dave Cantor has more.

Republicans are hoping school choice will be an issue that helps them with voters on the campaign trail this year. Michael Pope is looking at one district in Lynchburg where the future of public schools will be on the ballot.

Congress is considering an effort to force more transparency for immigration officials. Michael Pope reports.

Virginia decriminalized marijuana back in 2021, but the substance remains illegal to sell. Democrats in the legislature passed a legal retail market bill earlier this year only to have the effort vetoed. They're now working toward a new package of legislation, as Brad Kutner reports.

Democrats are targeting 14 seats in the House of Delegates, hoping to flip from red to blue. Michael Pope tells us that a handful of those districts have colleges and universities.

Debates between candidates have long been a feature of America's political campaigns.  But getting candidates to agree to them has become increasingly difficult. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope discuss the impact of that trend on Virginia's race for governor.

A federal appeals court in Richmond said Virginia’s governor has unfettered discretion when deciding who’s voting rights should be restored.  Brad Kutner has the details.

Virginians, like the rest of America, are feeling the burn of increased beef prices. Prices are at record highs. Brad Kutner looked into the impact on Virginia. 

Millions of Americans enjoy birdwatching, but relatively few spend time watching bugs. Dozens of them will gather in Virginia this weekend to compare notes and search for dragonflies. Sandy Hausman reports on why those insects might warrant our attention.

Will 2025 be a wave election for Democrats? Michael Pope reports on what that might mean.

Virginia has vastly expanded gambling over the past few years, and another new form, iGaming, was debated at a committee hearing in Richmond Tuesday morning. Brad Kutner has this report. 

A new report says Virginia’s economic outlook is unfavorable. Michael Pope has details.

President Donald Trump announced Monday he'd work to end mail-in voting. But in Richmond Monday morning, Brad Kutner found Virginia legislators and officials who trust the system. 

Endorsements are an important part of the race for governor, and Michael Pope tells us about one significant endorsement that’s not happening.

Virginia Military Institute has a new superintendent. VMI's Superintendent Search Committee conducted interviews this week and a new superintendent was announced late Friday. Dave Cantor has more.

Virginia's bottom line and the speeding-up race to November's election are making headlines. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

The candidates for lieutenant governor are making their pitch to local leaders across Virginia. Michael Pope reports.

Governor Glenn Youngkin addressed the Virginia legislature to give details on the Commonwealth's finances this/Thursday morning. But, as Brad Kutner found out, Democrats disagreed with the positive outlook Youngkin presented.

The Virginia Department of Corrections employs more than 11,000 people across the state in positions ranging from nurses to corrections officers. Getting those positions filled is a challenge, as Dave Cantor reports.

Public school enrollment is expected to decline in the next decade. Michael Pope has the story. Here’s the link to the latest data from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Also, as a note of disclosure, the Virginia Education Association is the primary funding source for Virginia Public Radio.

Democrats are saying Republican candidate for governor Winsome Earle-Sears is in violation of disclosure laws. Michael Pope has details.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed an executive order to strengthen oversight of Virginia nursing homes. The announcement comes after the state's health commissioner said there is a backlog of more than 1,000 complaints against nursing homes here. Sandy Hausman has that story.

A long-running dispute over Virginia's disenfranchisement of felons continues – with a possible court hearing in the case coming this fall. Brad Kutner has this report on what the state argues is a misunderstanding of language from the civil rights group suing over the matter. 

All 100 seats of the Virginia House of Delegates are on the ballot this year, and candidates are talking about everything from environmental policy to immigration. One issue that has become important in districts with colleges and universities is higher ed. Michael Pope reports.

Tuesday, August 12th is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, a day when Americans offer up their services to their local polling precincts ahead of election season. Virginia's 45 days of early voting requires a lot of manpower, but as Brad Kutner found out, those involved say it's a unique chance to serve your community and […]

Redistricting is back in the news, just a few years after Virginia completed the process. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

The cost of health care is likely to increase next year for people who get their health insurance through the marketplace created by Obamacare. Michael Pope reports.

Weather forecasts are key to a good emergency response, but a team at the University of Virginia says planners need something more to protect the public. Sandy Hausman reports on how they're helping first responders and communities to be more resilient.

Virginia made it easier to vote a few years back, including expanded options for early and absentee voting. Republicans nationally have been slow to embrace early voting, and it's given Democrats in the Commonwealth an edge every November. Brad Kutner has this report from Virginia Republicans who hope to change that. 

Over the past weekend, the Rappahannock Indian Tribe gathered with the community of donors, volunteers, federal agencies, conservationists and local people who helped them obtain nearly a thousand acres of ancestral lands high above the river that shares their name. Pamela D'Angelo reports.

Virginia will elect its first female governor this year, but many other women are also on the ballot this fall. Michael Pope reports.

The rise of data centers is becoming one of the hottest issues on the campaign trail this year in the election for the House of Delegates. Michael Pope reports.

President Donald Trump and Democrats across the country are calling on states to redraw congressional lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. As Brad Kutner found out, Virginia Democrats in leadership are open to the idea of a mid-decade redistricting effort.

Virginia Commonwealth University's health system will no longer offer gender-affirming care for minors, according to a recent announcement from the school. And while other Virginia health care providers may move to restrict care in the future, research shows controversial surgical procedures among trans youth are rare. Brad Kutner has more.

Will President Trump make an endorsement in Virginia’s race for governor? Michael Pope reports.

If you're planning to get out on your bike this summer, or if your kids are signed up to play football this fall, do you have the safest helmet? The Virginia Tech Helmet lab recently released new ratings that rank how well hundreds of bike and football helmets protect against concussions. Roxy Todd has the […]

Affordable housing is on the ballot in Virginia this year, as candidates in battleground districts are taking a variety of approaches. Michael Pope reports.

Debates are a staple of every election cycle. But Michael Pope tells us that candidates are increasingly saying thanks but no thanks.

A judge made his decision, but that doesn't mean the state's college leadership controversy is going away anytime soon. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

The Trump administration’s cuts budget cuts are trickling down to communities in rural Virginia. In Floyd, the June Bug Center provides afterschool and summer programs for rural kids. But it faces an uncertain future, as Mason Adams reports.

Members of the Chesapeake Bay Commission met Wednesday morning to learn more about managing agricultural land— and how to balance economic and environmental outcomes.  Dave Cantor has more.

An advisory committee aiming to help Virginia handle gambling addiction is taking lessons from other states as the Commonwealth rapidly embraces the once-taboo practice. Brad Kutner has this report. 

The future of the Virginia Clean Economy Act is on the ballot this fall. And Michael Pope tells us it’s the top issue in several battleground districts.

Senate Democrats scored a victory over Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin’s controversial appointments to boards that oversee some of Virginia’s flagship universities. Michael Pope reports.

An Eastern Shore multi-use trail project broke ground this spring. And a pair of proposals aim to create more outdoor recreational opportunities across Virginia. Dave Cantor has more.

Campaign finance disclosures show this year’s race for governor is not attracting the kind of money that other recent elections have. Michael Pope has the numbers.