VPM Daily Newscast

Plus: State health care agencies warn the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will lead to “financial shock” for hospitals and more across Virginia.

About half of states provide citizens with a path to bypass elected officials to change local laws — or recall the officials themselves.  But is Virginia one of them? Editor Whittney Evans investigates the answers in this week's Curious Commonwealth with RVA's Got Issues' Rich Meagher (Short Summer Break Edition). Submit your own question at ⁠⁠vpm.org/curious⁠⁠. You can listen to RVA's Got Issues on its website or wherever you get your podcasts.  Editor's note: An earlier version of this episode was missing the Curious Commonwealth music. Sorry about that!

Plus: group behind June cyberattack on Albemarle County has been identified; and other stories   

It's unclear what the extent of the effects will be or when they'll hit Virginia. Plus: Richmond's finance director resigns and VPM News will be hosting a Mug Stop in Charlottesville!

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jackie  Jackie DiBartolomeo explored the Richmond region's top business stories. This week they discuss the redevelopment Richmond'slong-dormant Intermediate Terminal Building, a sandwich shop owners lawsuit against the restaurant's founders and the launch of a local health tech start up.

In other news: UVA President Jim Ryan exits job, US Rep. Rob Wittman talks Medicaid, Richmond hires new CAO — and more Central Virginia news.

The Central Virginia county has fully replaced its school board within the last two years. It remains one of 12 districts in the commonwealth with an appointed, not elected, board.    In other news: Environmental advocates call for pollution curbing at beaches, JMU has a new president — and more Central Virginia news. 

A recent report from the US Department of Agriculture states that Virginia's over- and underpayment error rate of SNAP food benefits hovers around 11%. In remarks Tuesday, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin said the commonwealth could bring that number down below the pay-it-back threshold implemented in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.    In other news: The City of Richmond is looking to redevelop a century-old warehouse in Rockett's Landing, Charlottesville still plans to implement a homelessness intervention strategy — and more Central Virginia news.   

Flock Safety cameras across Virginia weren't meant to be used for immigration enforcement. But they were.  You can read the full report from the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO on our website.  In other news: A road in Downtown Richmond is closed for an emergency sewer assessment, amateur radio enthusiasts held an open house last week — and VPM News gets to toot its own horn about some two awards the team received. 

Richmond recently released a plan to tackle the urban heat island effect, but the federal spending bill signed on Friday impacts its potential funding. In other news: Virginia's ban on conversion therapy for minors was altered by a court's decree to permit talk therapy; a Charlottesville zoning lawsuit was thrown out — and more Central Virginia news. 

Longtime VA House Speaker Todd Gilbert tapped as next US attorney for the Western District.    Plus: Richmond Public Schools and the union representing school bus drivers finalize first-ever collective bargaining agreement.   

OK, so there's Lake Drummond in the Great Dismal Swamp... and Mountain Lake in Giles County. But why are there only two naturally-formed lakes in the commonwealth?  Submit your own question at ⁠vpm.org/curious⁠.

Plus: Henrico County residents speak out about data centers; Virginia's first Buc-ee's opens; UVA students react to the resignation of President Jim Ryan; and other stories.

Read more at VPM News about Ryan's exit and the public response. UVA's Board of Visitors voted in March to dismantle DEI initiatives following a January executive order from Trump. Since then, the US Department of Justice has been publicly pressuring Ryan and UVA to produce a detailed progress report on its ongoing cancellation of all DEI-related programs. School officials told VPM News on June 20 that the federal government's deadline for producing that report had been extended by DOJ. However, the public demands for its release have continued — and as first reported by The New York Times late last week, came to a head when Ryan was asked to resign in order to resolve the ongoing dispute. University is essential to continue the core mission of research, education, and clinical care." Ryan's resignation comes as four seats on the governor-appointed board — which will be responsible for selecting his successor — are set to turn over tomorrow on July 1.  

‘Policy Matters' is your window into Virginia politics with VPAP. It's our monthly roundup of the top political headlines from across Virginia, powered by VPAP's daily e-newsletter, VaNews.

VPM Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jonathan Speirs discuss the top business stories in the Richmond region. This week listen to stories about Virginia's top elected official weighing in on Richmond's water crisis, a local real estate developer's court sentencing and an update on the city's new baseball diamond, CarMax Park.

VCU officials say they expect around 1,500 students to enroll in the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program for the upcoming fall semester, up from 1,006 students in the 2023–24 school year. 

Plus: A fire broke out in Shockoe Bottom; "Significant weaknesses” were found in an audit in how the City of Richmond oversees government employee credit cards; and other stories.

The lawsuit — filed against three school rectors — is the latest General Assembly push against Youngkin. The governor told VPM News Tuesday that this is a fight against his administration's work to dismantle “illegal discrimination,” which is how he has referred to DEI.  Plus: Several areas in Central Virginia have opened cooling stations. 

Plus: Hanover water update; Styrofoam ban takes effect on July 1 — and more Central Virginia news.   

Plus: UVA professors ask board to hold off on further DEI dismantling, Richmond's mayor is calling on regional leaders for water infrastructure solutions, Chesterfield County is now on fire ant quarantine — and more Central Virginia news.

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Mike Platania discuss the top business stories across the Richmond region. This week's stories include an in-depth look at renewed interest in Richmond Coliseum proposals and a Shockoe restaurant closes after a 50-year run.

Plus: an update on Charlottesville's FLOCK license plate reader program; what Juneteenth stands for; and other stories. 

It's the June 17 primary recap episode! As a reminder: All election results are unofficial until certified by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Keep track of the latest results, analysis and coverage on our website at vpm.org/elections.

Plus: Business as usual on data centers is unsustainable according to a new Sierra Club report; A fisherman in Central Virginia reels in a new state record; and other stories 

Plus: a look at the consent decree the City of Richmond entered into with the Virginia Department of Health; US Sen. Mark Warner speaks at a town hall in Charlottesville; Alpha-Gal syndrome to become a reportable disease; and other stories.

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jackie DiBartolomeo discuss the top business stories across the Richmond region. This week's stories include Henrico County's adopting new restrictions for data centers, a Lego store coming to Short Pump Town Center, and an electric car retailer expands in downtown Richmond.

Salgado is one of six Democrats vying for the nomination to be on the ballot against Republican candidate John Reid in the November general election.

A conversation with two of six Democratic candidates for Lieutenant Governor.  

Plus: Fundraising numbers are in ahead of June's primary elections; Richmond City Council members say CAO confirmation was rushed; Senate committee rejects Ken Cuccinelli nomination to board of visitors; and other stories.  

VPM News politics reporter Jahd Khalil spoke with Stoney and Hashmi on why they should be the Democratic Lt. Governor candidate. 

VPM Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jonathan Spiers discuss the top business stories across the Richmond region.

Plus: Henrico outlines a plan to reduce injuries and fatalities on its streets by half within the next decade; how economic uncertainty affects farmers markets; and other stories.

VPM News politics reporter Jahd Khalil talks to Jones and Taylor about why they should be Virginia's next Attorney General.

Plus: The special election to replace Rep. Gerry Connolly is set; license plate readers in Charlottesville stay put – for now; and other stories    In the podcast: Boil water advisories will now come directly to phones in Richmond; Watchdog agency considers improvements to Virginia's youth criminal justice system. 

The Chesterfield County charter has had an extraordinary journey over more than 275 years — disappearing multiple times along the way before ending up in the library's hands in 2017.

Plus: why a special election hasn't been called yet to replace the late Northern Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly; a new House Minority Leader is chosen; and other stories 

A feature with U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan    NEWSLETTER In the podcast: US Rep. Jennifer McClellan on potential cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. 

‘Policy Matters' is your window into Virginia politics with VPAP. It's our monthly roundup of the top political headlines from across Virginia, powered by VPAP's daily e-newsletter, VaNews.

VPM Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jonathan Spiers discuss the top business stories across the Richmond region. This week's stories include Henrico County's GreenCity development, a luxury real estate agency return to Richmond and the international expansion of a local waterproofing company.

Plus: Chesterfield County rezones land for new data centers; Nightingale Ice Cream expands; and other stories 

In the podcast: Localized, boil water advisories will end if two water compliance tests come back negative — likely Thursday afternoon.

The City of Richmond issued a boil water advisory for parts of the city Tuesday after issues with the filtration system. Potable tap water could be available in those areas by Thursday — at the earliest.    Click or tap here for the latest information on our website.  Click or tap here for the latest from Richmond City's official website. 

Virginia Republican Rep. Rob Wittman voted in support of “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” promising that it protects vulnerable people and ensures the government-funded insurance program will be sustainable for people who are in need in the future.     Wittman spoke with Adrienne Hoar McGibbon about the legislation shortly after his vote on Thursday.

VPM Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jack Jacobs discuss the top business stories across the Richmond region. This week's stories include the closing of a Carytown brewery, the Byrd Theatre seat replacement project, VCU Health's Chesterfield County expansion and a proposed subdivision in Goochland County.

Plus: Virginia loses out on EV chargers; Gov. Youngkin touts 1000 undocumented immigrant arrests; and other stories.     NEWSLETTER In the podcast: Richmond must hire 55 new multilingual teachers to comply with new state law; plans for new EV stations in Virginia get scrapped.  

Plus: Richmond's interim CAO is out; more on VCU's DEI; and other stories    In the podcast: Henrico's data center growth; Richmond's interim CAO to resign.