Virginia Public Radio

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.

A bipartisan committee of Virginia's House of Delegates met Thursday morning to release a report on impacts from federal budget cuts on Virginia. As Brad Kutner found out, the sobering meeting included multiple warnings from officials in leadership. 

Virginia is seeing a rise in data centers just as demand for power is at unprecedented levels. Michael Pope reports one way to power them on-site.

Parts of Virginia continue struggling with the aftermath of 2024's Hurricane Helene. In addition to rainfall-driven incidents, the commonwealth has to consider river and coastal flooding. That's why the state legislature created the Flood Resilience Advisory Committee last year. Dave Cantor has more.

Polling showed Virginians' top concern ahead of the 2026 legislative session is housing affordability. Industry advocates praised recent legislative success and asked for more solutions at a Virginia Housing Commissionmeeting this week. Brad Kutner has this report.

The latest Census numbers have some positive key indicators. But as Michael Pope reports, some are concerned about where those indicators may be heading next year.

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula and Governor Glenn Yougnkin were on Mayo Island Tuesday. They were announcing Richmond's purchase of the overgrown and unkempt land, putting it in a conservation trust which should see it maintained as a city park in perpetuity. Brad Kutner has this report. 

Local government employees in Virginia’s largest jurisdiction are about to launch a new union. Michael Pope has details.

Three musicians are creating a digital map about the history of clawhammer banjo players of Southwest Virginia. Roxy Todd has their story.

Vaccines are back in the news in the wake of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy expressing doubt over their effectiveness at recent hearings. The comments come as Florida's surgeon general asks his state to roll back vaccine mandates in schools and Virginia reported its fourth case of measles this year. Brad Kutner has this […]

Democrats are setting their sights on two Republican-held Virginia congressional districts they want to flip from red to blue in 2026. Michael Pope reports on one of those, the First Congressional District. 

If you've been thinking of getting bees to help your garden or to produce honey, you can apply for a free beehive. As Roxy Todd reports, Virginia agriculture officials offer the hives as a way to help support declining bee populations. Applications are due September 10th. You can find more information here.

Voters have more choices than ever in terms of when and how they cast their ballots. One of the recent changes is that voters can now register and cast a ballot on the same day. Michael Pope explains.

Gun violence has become all too familiar for students across Virginia. That's the message Brad Kutner found at a Students Demand Action walkout protest Friday afternoon. 

With the fall campaigns kicking into high gear, with national issues playing big roles on the race for governor. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Voters in Northern Virginia are about to decide on a replacement for the late Congressman Gerry Connolly. Michael Pope has this preview.

Virginia drivers with autism have a new way to communicate with police if they're pulled over. It's called the Blue Envelope program.  DMV officials were in the capitol with Brad Kutner to explain how it works.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has touted his all-of-the-above approach to energy production in the Commonwealth. That includes the development of small nuclear reactors, as well as the use of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. The Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority met Wednesday/this week amid new federal uncertainty. Dave Cantor has more.

Friday marks the 75th anniversary of a court ruling that made UVA the first university in the South to integrate.  Sandy Hausman reports on the student who sued for access to a graduate program in the law school.

Osprey are a sentinel species. Scientists look to them for warnings of problems in the environment that could harm other species including us. This summer, scientists concerned with a continuing decline of osprey chicks in the Chesapeake Bay are crunching data from Maryland to Virginia to try to pinpoint why. Pamela D'Angelo reports.

Virginia was among the first states in the nation to write new, online privacy laws. Now, as Brad Kutner reports, lawmakers are also asking if they should be ahead of the curve on artificial intelligence as well. 

As students return to public schools across Virginia, some teachers are struggling to make ends meet. Michael Pope has the numbers. Also, a note of disclosure – the Virginia Education Association is the primary funding source for Virginia Public Radio.

Demand for power has never been higher in Virginia, and the growth of data centers is expected to expand that demand exponentially. Michael Pope tells us that’s part of the push behind nuclear energy.

Just like humans, horses can get skin cancer. Their faces and eyes can be particularly vulnerable. As Roxy Todd reports, veterinarians recommend horse owners get their animal an eye mask with UV protection.

Redlining was the government sanctioned practice of segregating and devaluing property in Black neighborhoods, often to the benefit of white neighborhoods. Outlawed in the 60's, a new study finds more fallout from redlining continues to impact historically Black communities to this day.   Brad Kutner has more.

The Labor Day weekend is traditionally when political campaigns kick into high gear, which means that the political ad season is just beginning. Michael Pope has a preview of how the race for governor will be frequent fixture your TV screens.

Data centers are the fastest growing industry in Virginia, and that means plenty of opportunity for businesses to find ways to work together. At a recent conference in Richmond, Brad Kutner found out more about how these industries are meeting and growing locally. 

President Donald Trump, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders have one thing in common: they all support the federal government taking shares in some of the country's biggest private businesses. And as Brad Kutner found out, those federal acquisitions might come to Virginia sooner than later. 

As summer winds down, political ads on TV are revving up. Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael recap the week in politics and state government.

A new report from Roanoke College has some stark views of the economic outlook. Michael Pope has details.

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.