VPM Daily Newscast

VPM News has spent the last week bringing you the first half of our special summer series on all things joy.   At the halfway point, we're stopping to catch you up on other news stories from the past week — including a lawsuit over University of Richmond scholarship programs; hundreds of thousands of Virginia families on the verge of losing health insurance and other benefits; and a new chief justice for the Supreme Court of Virginia.  We'll be back on Tuesday with more Finding Joy!  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

VPM News is wrapping up summer 2025 with some of the greatest, the simplest and the most out-of-this-world joys Central Virginia has to offer.  Part 5: Cate MacKenzie immerses us in the local square-dancing community.  Learn more at vpm.org/joy.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

VPM News is wrapping up summer 2025 with some of the greatest, the simplest and the most out-of-this-world joys Central Virginia has to offer.  Part 4: Patrick Larsen introduces us to the beauty of conservation landscaping.  Learn more at vpm.org/joy.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Welcome to Finding Joy! VPM News is wrapping up summer 2025 with some of the greatest, the simplest and the most out-of-this-world joys Central Virginia has to offer.   Part 3: Dean Mirshahi introduces us to the booming, body-slamming, fourth wall–breaking world of locally produced professional wrestling.  Learn more at vpm.org/joy.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Welcome to Finding Joy! VPM News is wrapping up summer 2025 with some of the greatest, the simplest and the most out-of-this-world joys Central Virginia has to offer.   Part 2: Adrienne Hoar McGibbon⁠ introduces us to the richly rewarding experience of rehoming former lab rats with Second Chance Heroes.   Learn more about the series at ⁠vpm.org/joy⁠. 

Welcome to Finding Joy! VPM News is wrapping up summer 2025 with some of the greatest, the simplest and the most out-of-this-world joys Central Virginia has to offer. Part 1: Megan Pauly brings us along for Muddy Mondays, a summer hike for young kids run by Trail Kids RVA.  Learn more about the series at vpm.org/joy. Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Read the lightly edited transcript of this complete interview on VPM.org now.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

VPM News Host Benjamin Dolle and BizSense Reporter Mike Platania discuss the Richmond's region's top business stories. This week's topic include a lawsuit against Riverfront Plaza in downtown Richmond, and a new area location for Charlottesville-based ACAC Fitness & Wellness.

Plus: Early childhood and higher education reporter Megan Pauly spoke with families who rely on the program and the educators who run it.  

Plus: GOP candidate for Governor Earle-Sears promises to “defend and deliver”; a possible measles exposure in Northern Virginia; and work resumes on Forest Hill sewer replacement project.  

Editor Whittney Evans digs into the history of Virginia's seemingly permanent case of election season — and fatigue.  Submit your own question to Curious Commonwealth at ⁠⁠⁠⁠vpm.org/curious⁠⁠⁠⁠.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Plus: Albemarle County's General Registrar resigns; VMI has a new superintendent; Virginia's State Board of Health on transgender athletics policies; and other stories.

Plus: Charlottesville's Police Civilian Oversight Board sees departures; Metal Detectors in Chesterfield schools; Virginia's National Guard deployments and other stories.

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jack Jacobs discuss the Richmond's region's top business stories. This week's topic include a Diamond District lawsuit, Short Pump's new VR arcade, and the groundbreaking of a new housing development in Chester.

Plus: help name a baby porcupine! 

Plus: Fly, Eagles Fly; two bald eagles were recently released at Pocahontas State Park, and other stories.

In other news, Chesterfield residents are appealing a decision about Dominion Energy's permit use, the UVA Student Council has also issued a “no confidence” resolution in the Board of Visitors — and school is IN (or almost IN) session for Central Virginia students. ICYMI: Read the transcript from Monday's interview about Liberty Lost by clicking or tap here. Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Plus: Boar's Head reopens in Virginia; health insurance rates could skyrocket; and recovered bald eagles to take flight  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Editor's note: Today's episode includes discussion of a podcast that contains teen pregnancy, sexual assault, coercive behavior and the complex emotions surrounding open and closed adoptions. Listener discretion is advised.  A new podcast goes inside the Liberty Godparent Home in Lynchburg. Through interviews with women who stayed there, journalist T. J. Raphael details how the home reportedly pressured teen mothers to surrender their babies in exchange for scholarships to Liberty University.   Features Editor Whittney Evans recently spoke to Rafael and Sarah P. — a former resident and case manager at the Godparent Home.  Liberty Lost is a six-episode, limited series podcast produced by and available on Wondery as well as other podcast platforms.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense reporter Jackie DiBartolomeo, discuss the Richmond area's to business stories. This week's news includes details on sentencing appeal for a man who robbed millions from Virginia's birth-related injury fund, Chesterfield County's Powhite Parkway expansion project and the new fast food chain coming to the Richmond-area.

Plus: Fox Elementary School is back; a controversial Confederate monument returns to Arlington National Cemetery; Virginia Beach sand dunes are older than Egyptian pyramids; and other stories. Are you enjoying the audio versions of our VPM News Shorts? They're usually posted twice a week to our ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠TikTok⁠ and ⁠YouTube⁠.  Our award-winning journalism is made possible with your support. Visit ⁠vpm.org/donate⁠ for more information. 

Plus: A rabid raccoon in Mechanicsville; A statue of Jefferson Davis heads to California; and other stories

VPM News' Billy Shields digs into the “why” of this listener question for the latest Curious Commonwealth.  Submit your own question to Curious Commonwealth at ⁠⁠⁠vpm.org/curious⁠⁠⁠. Our award-winning journalism is made possible with your support. Visit ⁠vpm.org/donate⁠ for more information. 

Our award-winning journalism is made possible with your support. Visit vpm.org/donate for more information. 

Acquisition Logistics was founded in 2008, according to Virginia State Corporation Commission records. It is also registered as a minority-owned, veteran-owned and small business with a history of providing logistics support services for various government agencies, according to federal contract records. In other news: Keyris Manzanares reports recent ICE raid in Southside Richmond has left residents shaken. You can also watch this piece as a VPM News Short in English and Spanish! VPM News Shorts are posted to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Our award-winning journalism is made possible with your support. Visit vpm.org/donate for more information. 

‘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 News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jonathan Spiers discuss the Richmond region's top business stories. This week's topic include Henrico County's stalled arena development, the relocation of a prominent accounting firm, and a local coffee company's move to major retail stores near you.

VPM News' Jahd Khalil found the campaign playlists for the gubernatorial candidates, so he and Patrick Larsen asked around about what their selections convey. In other news: The City of Richmond has put up anti-loiter signs near the Allianz Amphiteater; Suffolk is looking into Amtrak service; VCU Health is sunsetting its pediatric gender-affirming care — and more Central Virginia news. Are you enjoying the audio versions of our VPM News Shorts? They're usually posted twice a week to our Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.  Our award-winning journalism is made possible with your support. Visit vpm.org/donate for more information. 

Megan Pauly, VPM News' higher education reporter, explains why VCU withheld several students' degrees following a peaceful campus protest in April.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your support. Visit ⁠vpm.org/donate⁠ for more information. 

City councilors effectively banned new smoke shops in Richmond, while noting that the rules don't affect existing businesses.    Plus: A Fairfax County judge has ruled in Virginia Senate Democrats' favor on the lawsuit they filed against rectors at GMU, VMI and UVA.    Our award-winning work is made possible with your support. Visit ⁠vpm.org/donate⁠ for more information. 

Plus: Louisa County isn't getting another Amazon data center; public media figures out how to raise money for lost federal funds; and other stories.   

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Mike Platania discuss Richmond's top business stories. This week's episode explores the planned redevelopment of the old Armitage Building in Richmond and a local nonprofit's desire to build an indoor tennis facility on Arthur Ashe Blvd.

In other news: UVA announces special committee for the school's new president, and Richmond has a new deputy chief admin for finance and administration. Editor's note: WUSA reported late Saturday that Sereen Haddad's degree has since been released. VPM News has been unable to independently confirm this update as of Sunday night; we'll update this episode or include a note in Tuesday's should that change! Our award-winning work is made possible with your support. Visit ⁠vpm.org/donate⁠ for more information. 

VornDick, a career educator who's worked at James Monroe's Highland estate in Albemarle County for the last several years, became interested in the tale behind Elizabeth Kortright Monroe Hay's life. Our award-winning work is made possible with your support. Visit ⁠vpm.org/donate⁠ for more information. 

Virginia sees "alarming" rise in child drownings; Maymont celebrates 100 years; AstraZeneca announces new facility.  

The James River has high levels of E.Coli in it after recent heavy rains at various points. Please swim with care in the river! 

Plus: A glitch delays payments meant to help Virginians get food, and Petersburg leaders say decades of neglect have left the city vulnerable to flooding 

Hanover County is tightening rules on new vape and smoke shops, and Richmond Public Schools is kicking off a literacy campaign on Aug. 4 (804 Day).  But... most of today's episode is tied to the federal clawback of $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and how that will impact Virginians — and public media outlets including VPM News.  Interested in watching our VPM News Shorts? They're usually posted on Tuesdays and Fridays to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.  Disclosure: VPM Media Corp. is the FCC license holder of VPM PBS and VPM News, which operates as 88.9 FM in Richmond, 89.1 FM in the Northern Neck (Heathsville) and 90.1 FM in Southside Virginia (Chase City). As a newsroom, VPM News maintains editorial independence — this article went through our usual fact-checking and editing process. All interviewed station leadership did not know interview questions ahead of time, and they did not view this article prior to publication. Questions about this article and VPM News' overall editorial policy should be directed to Managing Editor Dawnthea M. Price Lisco and News Director Elliott Robinson. Our award-winning work is made possible with your support. Visit vpm.org/donate for more information. 

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jack Jacobs discuss the Richmond's top business stories starting with the proposed redesign for the Arthur Ashe Boulevard Bridge, Henrico County's affordable housing trust fund, and data centers projects in Chesterfield County.

Plus: Campaign finances are discussed; Please don't mix bleach and vinegar in your washing machine. (It's toxic!)

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.