Podcasts about virginia department

Building trust, strengthening the public health workforce, and modernizing the Virginia Department of Health are among the priorities for Cameron Webb, commissioner of the Virginia Department of Health and an ASTHO member. Webb discusses how his background as a physician, health policy leader, community health worker, and federal COVID-19 response official has shaped his approach to leading a state health department. He outlines efforts to improve agency operations, communicate more effectively with communities, embed equity in public health work, and rebuild trust following the COVID-19 pandemic.  Webb also highlights initiatives including nursing home oversight, hepatitis C elimination, a new electronic health record system, rural health transformation, community health worker programs, predictive analytics and AI, and efforts to address maternal mortality. Hurricane Response and Recovery | ASTHOSubscribe | ASTHO

Kevin Stoller sits down with Dr. George Hummer, Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools, to explore his journey from special education aide to school district leader, and the district's ongoing effort to build its fourth high school. Dr. Hummer shares how his mother's career as a special education teacher and his own experience working with students with disabilities shaped his empathy-driven leadership style. The conversation dives deep into the mechanics of planning new school construction — including the critical difference between "design capacity" and "program capacity," how Frederick County builds community trust through transparent data, and why involving every stakeholder voice (parents, teachers, students, county officials) is essential to a successful bond and building process. Dr. Hummer also reflects on team-building, situational leadership drawn from his coaching background, and why investing in students must remain the non-negotiable priority behind every facilities decision. Takeaways: Program capacity vs. design capacity — A room's legal occupancy limit isn't the same as how many students it can actually serve well; specialized programs (special ed, ELL, CTE, kindergarten) mean real capacity is often much lower than code allows. Run schools at 85–90% capacity, not 100% — Like redlining a car engine, operating school buildings at full capacity year-round accelerates wear and leaves no room for enrollment shifts or new programs. There's no such thing as too many voices — Successful school construction requires input from county officials, principals, teachers, parents, and even students — genuine inclusion builds long-term community trust. Seek out your critics, not just your supporters — Dr. Hummer's willingness to sit down with a skeptical taxpayer and address misinformation directly turned an opponent into an advocate for the new high school. Situational leadership matters — Knowing when to encourage versus when to push for improvement (borrowed from his coaching background) is key to building strong, resilient teams.   About Dr. George Hummer: Dr. George C. Hummer began serving as Frederick County's Superintendent of Schools on January 30, 2023. He is a native of New Jersey who moved to Virginia in 1994. He graduated from Chancellor High School in Fredericksburg and received a bachelor of arts degree from Radford University in 2005. Dr. Hummer also holds a master's degree in educational leadership and special education from the University of Mary Washington as well as a doctorate in educational leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Hummer credits his mother, who was a lifelong special education teacher, with inspiring him to pursue a career in education. He began his career as a special education teacher, athletic director, and football and basketball coach at Battlefield Middle School in Fredericksburg. After serving in those roles from 2005 to 2012, Dr. Hummer was named assistant principal at Rodney Thompson Middle School in Stafford and served in that capacity for three years. In 2015, Dr. Hummer was named the Supervisor of Student Services and Special Education for Stafford County Public Schools. Four years later, he became Stafford County Public Schools' Executive Director of Student Services and Special Education. In 2022, he was named that school division's Chief Student Support Services Officer. As a teacher, Dr. Hummer was recognized with a Teacher of the Year Award and for improving the performance of his students. As a central office administrator, Dr. Hummer has spent countless hours supporting students, families and staff while working to develop better procedures to help bridge the achievement gap for all students. In 2021, the Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education recognized Dr. Hummer with the Mary Lou Wall Award for Early Special Education Leadership. The award recognizes individuals who are in their first three years of leading a school division's special education services and exemplify five values: (1) Heart- the passion to serve, nurture and care; (2) Leadership by example; (3) Honesty; (4) Creative thinking; and (5) Collaboration. From 2018 to 2023, Dr. Hummer served as an adjunct professor of educational leadership and education at the University of Mary Washington. He has also been a featured speaker at several state meetings for the Virginia Department of Education. Dr. Hummer is proud to remain actively engaged in the Frederick County and Northern Shenandoah Valley communities. He currently serves on the boards of the Valley Health Foundation, United Way of Northern Shenandoah Valley, Grafton School Foundation, and Frederick County Education Foundation. He is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Frederick County. Through these meaningful partnerships, Dr. Hummer enthusiastically supportsefforts that strengthen our students, education, health, opportunity, and overall community well-being throughout the region. Dr. Hummer, his wife, Charnell, and his step-daughter, Madison, live in Frederick County.   Episode 354 of the Better Learning Podcast For more information on our partners: Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/ Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/ Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/ EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/ Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/ Want to be a Guest Speaker? Request on our website

How can you interseed resilience and diversity into a family business and a cropping system whether you are in Nebraska, Virginia, or Upstate New York? Keith Berns shares about the history of Green Cover with Jeff, Summer, and Eric and how building the internal infrastructure was so important as Green Cover grew from a family operation to having more than 60 employees. Keith emphasized that resilience and having people with diverse skills and experiences are critical to success in business and farming.   As an educator and former teacher, Keith relayed how field days, on-farm research, and educational exchanges are rewarding and energizing. Keith told about the experiences of two farmers from Minnesota and South Dakota (Rye Carlson and Alex Frasier) who continue to interseed cover crops (e.g., dwarf mustard, flax, phacelia, oats, rye, etc.) into corn and soybeansThe 12th Edition of Green Cover's Soil Health Resource Guide, along with other soil health and cover crop resources, are available on their website. Additionally, farmers in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions will be interested in attending the Regenerative Nexus summit that Green Cover is hosting in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on November 10 - 12, 2026. Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Partners include USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and other members of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia State University, and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

Today's sponsor: Big builds, small repairs, and everything in between, Nola Builds does it allA hundred years ago today, fingerprint expert Irving Lindsay Leafe became the chief of police in Charlottesville. He would serve in the position for less than six weeks. Both pieces of information can be traced to the archives of the Charlottesville Daily Progress. What else can be found in the digital archives for September 28, 2026? Let me know what you find out!In this edition:* Updates from the Charlottesville Planning Commission that have not yet been reported in this newsletter and perhaps no other place* Charlottesville City Council reappoints Schwarz and Harness to Planning Commission* Schwarz renamed as chair while Yoder remains vice chair* A brief update on the University of Virginia's affordable housing initiative* A brief description of the Missing Middle Committee* Planning Commissioner Carp provides an update on the quick build initiative* Area planners tour the Birdwood* No one speaks at the Planning Commission's public hearing on a Comprehensive Plan updae* A very brief report on the Central LibraryWant to subscribe to an information outlet that still believes in experimenting and innovating with format? If so, put your email address in the box. Charlottesville PC update: Schwarz re-elected chair, update on UVA Housing projectsA slightly less busy week gives us the chance to catch up with items in September that have so far not yet been reported. That includes two meetings that happened on the ninth day of the month at just about the same time.The first is the joint meeting of the Charlottesville City Council and the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority called to order by Mayor Juandiego Wade.There are usually no action items on the agendas of work sessions but Council had to make two appointments to the Charlottesville Planning Commission before that body could meet. The terms of Carl Schwarz and Ross Harness expired on August 31, 2026.Before moving on to business with the CRHA, Council reappointed both to new terms. More from the CRHA in the next newsletter.Schwarz served two terms on the Board of Architectural Review from 2014 to the end of 2021 before being appointed to the Planning Commission beginning September 2022. He continues to serve on the BAR as the representative from the Planning Commission.Harness was appointed to the PC earlier this year to fill a vacancy left with the resignation of Phil d'Oronzio. Harness is a realtor with Long and Foster.The Planning Commission also met on September 9 for a regular meeting and the first act was to elect leadership for the next year. Schwarz had been serving as chair and Danny Yoder had been vice chair.“The nominating committee of Hosea Mitchell and myself met, and we would like to request that Carl Schwarz serve again as chair and Danny Yoder serve again as vice chair,” said Commissioner Lyle Solla-Yates.Two of UVA's affordable housing sites in holding pattern With new chairs in place, Planning Commissioners gave updates including non-voting member Michael Joy who had updates on the University of Virginia's plans to contribute land for affordable housing projects. Just before the pandemic, former UVA President Jim Ryan had announced that up to 1,500 units would be built on three sites.UVA selected a group called Preservation of Affordable Housing to develop a two-acre site at the intersection of 10th and Wertland as well as the Piedmont Housing Alliance to build on a 12-acre tract of land off of Fontaine Avenue known as Piedmont.Both are in a holding pattern and Joy said both projects are dealing with fundamental shifts in what he called the affordable housing industry.“These shifts have been creating funding challenges, both nationally and locally, which is impacting affordable housing development,” Joy said. “The timing for this construction is contingent on the financing and the entitlements, and both of which are currently being worked through.”Preservation of Affordable Housing had submitted plans for a six story building at 1000 Wertland Street that would have 180 units with about 16,000 square feet of non-residential space.The city's Department of Neighborhood Development Services signed off on a development plan but a final site plan will need to be approved. In addition, the project needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the BAR, a body that was not ready to grant one in February 2025.The Piedmont Housing Alliance submitted a rezoning in December 2025 for the Piedmont site for 375 units but has since asked for an indefinite deferral.“Both of these sites are being treated as unique developments and they'll continue to progress on their own timelines,” Joy said.The third site is at North Fork and UVA has selected Bluestone Land LLC as a development partner.“North Fork is a very different site from the initial two properties in terms of size, scale, project phasing, and affordability mix,” reads the website of the President's Council on UVA-Community Partnerships. “We anticipate market rate and workforce/middle-income housing in addition to affordable units at this site.”Previous coverage:* University of Virginia resumes housing initiative for up to 1,500 units, April 30, 2021* UVA announces three sites for affordable housing projects, December 14, 2021* University of Virginia issues first request for qualifications for affordable housing developer, June 10, 2022* Nonprofits have been asked to work on UVA housing projects, February 15, 2023* UVA Foundation seeks firms to build 600 units of mixed-income housing at North Fork, November 26, 2024* A quick update on the UVA Housing Initiative, July 24, 2026* UVA still committed to affordable housing initiative launched during Ryan administration, C-Ville Weekly, July 29, 2026Sponsored message: Panorama Natural BurialAt Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward.Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit!Missing Middle working group updateLast week, the Stony Point Development Group held a required community meeting for the third phase of Dairy Central, a mixed-use project that is just under the threshold required for City Council to approve a special exception permit for additional height. In other words, this project is by-right under the city's 2023 zoning code.That Development Code is the third and final component of the Cville Plans Together initiative, a series of projects intended to increase the amount of housing that could be built across the city of Charlottesville.The Affordable Housing Plan was the first and it called for “soft density” across the city which resulted in a Future Land Use Map and a new zoning which allows for many more residential units without City Council's input. “Soft density” is also known as “missing middle” and the ability is embedded in the Development Code.One example of this in practice can be seen at 1040 St. Clair Avenue in the Locust Grove neighborhood on which a single-family home will be demolished to make way for six units. The 0.213 acre parcel is zoned Residential-A, which allows six units on a lot if half of them are designated affordable. Learn more in this story from August 2026. A final site plan has been approved.A working group of developers, staff, and other interested parties is leading efforts to loosen regulations in order to make it even easier for builders to construct more homes. The Planning Commission got an update on this missing middle work group from Ross Harness who said utilities are a barrier.“It was also noted difficulties that arise from the city having a gravity-fed only sewer system and how sometimes that prevents lots in town from even being reached without having a private pump system that… increases the cost of construction of those properties and long-term maintenance on the private side,” Harness said.Harness said there are many city policies that are preventing more housing units from being constructed such as requiring structures built on sublots needing to be spaced apart. He said the purpose of the group is to identify what developers call constraints.“Next steps for this group are a site visit to some of the parcels that some of the members of the subcommittee have so that we can actually get out there and have a little bit more physical discussion about some of these constraints,” Harness said.The Missing Middle work group is an informal committee, but I asked the city to provide a list of members. This was what was provided on September 10.* Local Builders and Developers: Bob Pineo, A.J. Amigoni, Richard Price, Nicole Scro, Dan Zimmerman, Trent Lawhorn, and Dan Rosensweig* Neighborhood Development Service: Matt Alfele, Carrie Rainey, Dannan O'Connell, Ben Koby, Madelyn Metzler, and Chuck Miller* Public Works: Brennan Duncan, Caleb Smith* Fire: Jason Campbell* Utilities: Cody Tusing, Calvin Chan, Chuck Drennen, and Donald Schrager* City Attorney's Office: J Vaden Hunt and one other staff member* Planning Commission: Ross Harnes and Betsy RoettgerLearn more about the Missing Middle Work Group here and also here on Connect Charlottesville. Quick-builds stuck?In the wake of a pedestrian being killed on Elliot Avenue in October 2024, the City of Charlottesville embarked on a series of projects intended to address safety concerns.After consultation with the Fire Department and the Charlottesville Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, a list of 67 “quick-build” projects were developed to use low-cost materials as traffic-calming measures. These were to have been completed in 2025.“These projects will rely on existing local capital funds for neighborhood transportation improvements, bicycle infrastructure improvements, and Safe Routes to School Improvements, as well as newly appropriated surplus funds for urgent transportation improvements,” reads the website.Planning Commissioner Josh Carp told his colleagues at the September 9 meeting that the city is far from meeting that goal after having conversations with staff.“We've built about half that list, and the upshot of a long meeting was that there is currently no staffing and no funding available to complete that list or to harden the projects that are already in place,” Carp said.Carp said this will be a topic of discussion when the capital improvement plan budget comes before the PC in November.I've requested additional information and will report back when I can.Previous coverage:* Charlottesville's new transportation planner briefs Council on future process, March 21, 2023* Charlottesville's “quick-build” projects are three-quarters built, August 14, 2025* Deputy City Manager Freas addresses pedestrian fatality on Emmet Street, October 9, 2025* Charlottesville City Council learns of plan to hire at least 42 new bus drivers over next four years, December 13, 2025* Charlottesville City Council briefed on efforts to lower speed limits, prepare new mobility plan, July 31, 2026LUEPC visits the Birdwood MansionIn late 2019, the Albemarle Board of Supervisors and Charlottesville City Council voted to dissolve a public body known as the Planning and Coordination Council which had provided an opportunity for elected officials to meet with their counterparts at UVA at a public meeting.This was replaced by the closed-door Land Use and Environmental Planning Committee which does not include any elected officials and certainly not enough to trigger Virginia's open meeting rules.According to the LUEPC website, the body has not met since May 15.According to Planning Commissioner Hosea Mitchell, LUEPC has met since then but said it was not an update on policy issues.“We went on a field trip,” Mitchell said. “It was a fun field trip. The field trip was to the Birdwood Mansion. The Birdwood Mansion is an edifice that was built between 1819 and 1830.”According to the website, rooms have been available for overnight accommodations since March 2026 at the Ivy Road landmark owned by the University of Virginia Foundation. That organization was created after UVA, Albemarle, and Charlottesville entered into a Three-Party Agreement which established guidelines for planning and development. That also led to the creation of the now-shuttered PACC.Previous LUEPC coverage:* Regional planners get preview of North Fork rezoning, January 12, 2022* Changes may be coming to closed-door planning group, May 10, 2023* Area planners hear from VDOT about desire to coordinate transportation projects, April 16, 2026* Closed-door body briefed on Rivanna Futures, water and sewer upgrade in northern Albemarle, May 14, 2026Two other items from the Planning Commission reports* Schwarz gave an update on a six-story building planned for 915 East High Street which is being developed under the 2003 zoning code rather than the new rules. That means the inclusionary zoning rules do not apply and the number of affordable units will be significantly lower.* Staff in the Department of Neighborhood Development Services continue to work on a second round of “code clean-up” intended to streamline the new rules. The idea is to have a public hearing before the Planning Commission in December. Learn more on the NDS website.No one speaks at Comprehensive Plan public hearingOn Monday, October 5, 2026, Charlottesville City Council will hold a public hearing on an update to the city's Comprehensive Plan. This is not to be confused with the five-year review of the plan which will really get underway sometime next year.The Planning Commission held their public hearing on the current proposed changes to the comp plan on September 9 and heard from Development Planning Manager Matt Alfele who reminded the appointed body that the Comprehensive Plan was last updated in November 2021 and the Community Facilities chapter needs to be updated.“Since then, there have been several amendments, including adoptions of both the Climate Action Plan and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan,” Alfele said. “Since then, there have been updates to city and partner agency Public utility and facility planning maps and projects. It is best practice to periodically update public utilities and facility maps and plans included in the Comprehensive Plan.”For instance, the updated chapter would include a map of the Central Waterline the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority is currently building.“The scope of the amendment includes adding 2 new strategies, one to adopt relevant RWSA and ACSA plans by reference within the Comprehensive Plan, and one to add future Schenks Branch Sewer Interceptor upgrade project,” Alfele said.The Schenks Branch Sewer Interceptor upgrade is a project mandated by a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality consent decree to replace a pipe from the 1950's. The first phase was installed with the construction of the John Warner Parkway, but the second phase has required negotiations between Albemarle County and Charlottesville. Learn more on this outdated cvillepedia article.No one spoke at the Planning Commission's public hearing and none of the members of the Planning Commission made a comment.JMRL in early planning for upgrade of Central LibraryThe Board of Trustees of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library will meet today at Northside Library, a building owned by Albemarle County that opened to patrons in March 2015.One of the topics on the agenda is the future renovation of Central Library, a building co-owned by Albemarle County and Charlottesville since 1978. Capital budgets in both Albemarle and Charlottesville include money in the current fiscal year for planning and funding in FY29 for construction. Each set aside $857,109 this year and $9,676,141 in FY29.Library Director David Plunkett gave an update at the August 24 meeting.“We're talking about this now, the design and community engagement is happening this year into next year,” Plunkett said. “And then construction those 2 years, a new building opens then.”#1131 is also a podcast!Did you notice that to be the case? For almost half of this newsletter's existence, the newsletter was a script for a podcast. When I left the Piedmont Environmental Council after two very unproductive years, I wasn't sure what form my return to journalism would take. But my dream job used to be working for public radio.I learned sometime in the 2000's I was never going to get hired for that sort of job. I'd worked in public radio for a while, and even moved to Charlottesville to take a full-time position. I was insubordinate, didn't listen to authority, and generally refused to be kept in the box my employer wanted me to be in. I stick to myself and maintain my independence because I learned to stay in the box for my next job. The older I got, the less I could afford to speak my mind so I mostly did my job and kept my mouth shut. For eleven years I did the job well, but this is America where people without connections and long pedigrees tend to get to be the ones who tell people to stay in boxes. In any case, paid subscribers, sponsors, and donors are helping me live out this fantasy of being an independent journalist. This is the work I think I am supposed to do, and the work I think about all of the time now. Even when dreaming. I'm not sure I would recommend this profession to anyone, but yet I wish I could explain how satisfying it is to do this work.Now I need to chill before getting back to work and the solution I think is Can. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

This educational episode of the Green Top Outdoors Podcast features David Hennaman of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) for an in-depth discussion about wildlife conservation, hunting license fees, hunter education, deer management, and outdoor recreation in Virginia.The conversation explains the role of DWR's R3 program, which focuses on recruiting, retaining, and reactivating participants in outdoor activities. David discusses education and outreach efforts involving hunting, fishing, boating, wildlife watching, and other outdoor programs, as well as cooperation between wildlife agencies across different states.A major portion of the discussion focuses on how wildlife conservation programs are funded. The episode examines hunting and fishing license revenue, federal Pittman-Robertson funding, matching and reimbursement structures, and Virginia's House Bill 38 funding. The discussion provides context for how these funding sources relate to wildlife management, conservation programs, education, fisheries, and other DWR responsibilities.The episode also examines changes in hunting participation and access to hunting land in Virginia. Topics include the decline of large hunting clubs in some areas, changes in private-land access, increased use of online licensing, hunter education participation, and trends observed following the COVID-19 period.The final portion focuses on Virginia deer management. David discusses antlerless deer harvest objectives, extended opportunities in certain areas, deer population management, biological and cultural carrying capacity, and the relationship between deer numbers and available habitat resources.The discussion also addresses the role hunters can play in providing harvested deer to charitable food programs when they have more venison than they personally need.This episode is presented for educational and informational purposes and reflects a discussion of wildlife management, conservation funding, hunter education, and outdoor-resource management in Virginia.

What do tick bites and federal policy have in common? Sharon Forsyth of the Alpha-gal Alliance Action Fund joined us to discuss the resources they have available. On September 24, 2025, Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) became reportable to the Virginia Department of Health. Learn more about AGS and its impacts in Virginia during a special breakout session at the 2026 Rural Health Voice Conference.    Alpha-Gal Alliance https://alphagalalliance.org/ VDH Fact Sheet https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/search/feed/rss2/?pdf=5815

Are you always growing and evaluating what you want to accomplish? Keith Berns of Green Cover shares his insights on that question as a co-business owner, farmer, and educator of diverse, customizable cover crop mixtures with Jeff, Summer, and Eric. Keith and his brother Brian and their families started Green Cover in 2008 in Bladen, Nebraska and Iola, Kansas. Since that time, their core value of always growing has taken root in many tangible ways. Today, Green Cover has 60 employees, specializes in 120 different types of single species cover crops, and helps keep more than one million acres of soil covered and continuously growing. They are educators at heart and always start with what you want to accomplish, when thinking about potential cover crop mixtures. To assist their customers around the country, Green Cover developed their SmartMix Calculator to guide the decision process about goals, timing, and placement. Additionally, they are continually evaluating new cover crop species and have recently introduced okra, coriander, and a variety of cucurbits into different blends. Along with the SmartMix Calculator, you can find and access on their website Green Cover's Annual Soil Health Resource Guide that covers a range of topics from soil health to human nutrition connections. Additionally, they are hosting their Regenerative Nexus summit in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on November 10 - 12, 2026. Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Partners include USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and other members of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia State University, and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

As a fifth generation row-crop farmer in the Northern Neck of Virginia, P.J. Haynie III shares how important generational knowledge, networking, and technologies are to successful farming and business development. In this episode, P.J. talks with Jeff, Mary, and Eric about the farming legacy of his family and how they have adapted and innovated through the years to enhance the return on investment of their time, labor, equipment, and technologies. Through generational technology and sharing of information, P.J. and his family are able to monitor trends in soil health, manage cover crops and plant residue to cope with extremely wet and dry seasons, suppress weeds, and retain as much moisture as possible. Similarly, P.J. emphasizes he is best person to tell the story of his farm and his family's legacy of farm business management and ecological soil stewardship. Along with storytelling, networking is a critical element for learning and staying competitive. Since joining and helping to found the National Black Growers Council in 2009, P.J. has benefited from his relationships and interactions with other black row-crop farmers. P.J. studied and graduated with a degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech, P.J. was the president of the university's chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). P.J. currently serves as a director on the National Black Growers Council's board.Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Partners include USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and other members of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia State University, and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

Season 7 of My Big Safety Challenge is here — and this time, host Merle Heckman is joined by a new co-host, Jim Frederick, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.After six seasons and more than 50 guests from companies large and small, this season keeps digging into the real challenges safety leaders face — and how they work through them. In this trailer, Merle and Jim preview what's ahead: a steel industry veteran who built his career on enthusiasm and influence, a former hourly employee turned human performance trainer, an entrepreneur pursuing zero workplace deaths by 2050, a 30-year OSHA veteran, and a conversation about confronting drug addiction in the workplace.Jim also shares his own path — from growing up in Indiana to running a state OSHA program in Virginia — and the two dig into why building real relationships, with regulators, coworkers, and everyone in between, is one of the most underrated tools in safety leadership.

This episode of VHHA's Patients Come First podcast features Nedra Moncrief-Craig, PhD, Commissioner of the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS). She joins us for a conversation about the work of DARS in support of individuals with physical and behavioral health service needs while navigating the current shifting federal policy environment, and much more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact us on X (Twitter) or Instagram using the #PatientsComeFirst hashtag.

What is Virginia Relay and how does it help both patients and providers? Brittany Howard of the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing joined us to discuss the services they provide. If you want to be part of the conversation about rural health, check out VRHA’s upcoming Rural Health Voice Conference in Danville, VA on November 18 & 19 – https://vrha.org/conference2026/

How do row-crop farmers in the Northern Neck of Virginia practice soil and water conservation and add market value to their farming operations? Philip "P.J." Haynie III of Haynie Family Foods and Haynie Farms, LLC. spoke with Jeff, Mary, and Eric on his way back from the Arkansas Delta about his family's conservation and market expansion measures.P.J. is a fifth generation row-crop farmer who farms in four counties in Virginia and four counties in Arkansas. The Haynies grow winter wheat, barley, and canola as part of their corn and soybean rotation in Virginia. Strip till and banding fertilizer in the root zone are common soil health and precision agriculture techniques for corn and soybean growers to reduce the amount of fertilizer applied and limit the chance of soil and nutrient runoff. In 2024, P.J. and his family established Haynie Family Foods to focus on adding market value by bringing high-quality, sustainabily grow grain products directly to consumers. His family's Arkansas Delta-grown offerings include long-grain white rice, medium-grain white rice, long-grain brown rice, medium-grain brown rice, and aromatic rice.  In addition to studying and graduating with a degree in Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, P.J. was an active member and leader in the university's chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS). P.J. currently serves as a director on the National Black Growers Council's board.Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Partners include USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and other members of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia State University, and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

Turning down your water heater by a few degrees, switching one bulb at a time, and slicing up a $2 pool noodle can add up to real savings on your electric bill — and Karen Poff is back to show you how. Janet Michael welcomes local Extension agent Karen Poff, who manages the Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program, for a bonus conversation packed with practical, low-cost ways to trim your energy costs as the seasons turn. From cleaning dryer vents and refrigerator coils to hunting down phantom power drains with a switched power strip, Karen and Janet walk through room-by-room tips anyone can start using this weekend. They also cover thermostat habits, lighting upgrades, water heater settings, and where to find help if paying the energy bill is a struggle. Tune in for tips you can put to use before the next bill arrives. LINKS & RESOURCES Northern Shenandoah Valley Financial Education Program: https://warren.ext.vt.edu/programs/nsvfep.html Virginia Energy Sense: https://www.virginiaenergysense.org/ - Virginia Energy Sense is Virginia Energy's consumer education initiative that helps residents reduce energy use, lower utility costs, and make informed energy decisions. The website offers practical energy-saving tips, information on home energy efficiency improvements, guidance on available incentives and rebates, and tools to help households improve comfort and manage energy expenses year-round. Federal Energy Programs: https://www.energy.virginia.gov/ - The federal Home Energy Rebates programs created through the Inflation Reduction Act are being implemented and administered by individual states. Virginia is currently developing and finalizing its program requirements and enrollment processes. Residents can find the most up-to-date information about program availability, eligibility, and application procedures through the Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy). U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Rebates Program:  - https://www.energy.gov/cmei/scep/home-energy-rebates-program - Offers an overview of the federal Home Energy Rebates programs, including program goals, eligible upgrades, and state implementation guidance. Virginia Home Energy Rebates FAQ (Virginia Energy):  https://www.energy.virginia.gov/energy-efficiency/HomeEnergyRebatesFrequentlyAskedQuestions.shtml - Provides the latest information on Virginia's Home Energy Rebates programs, including eligibility requirements, qualified improvements, and implementation updates. Virginia Energy Connect:  https://energy.virginia.gov/connect/residential - A one-stop resource for Virginia residents to explore available energy efficiency incentives, connect with Energy Ambassadors, and learn about clean energy and cost-saving opportunities. The site reflects currently available programs and will be updated as new rebate programs become available. Virginia Energy Sense: Energy Providers Tab:  https://www.virginiaenergysense.org/incentives-and-rebates/ - The Energy Providers section of this web page allows Virginia residents to search for rebates, incentives, and energy-saving programs offered by their electric or natural gas utility. By selecting a utility provider, consumers can identify programs that may help reduce the cost of energy efficiency upgrades, home energy assessments, weatherization improvements, and other energy-saving measures available in their service area. Weatherization Assistance - Community Housing Partners Weatherization Program: https://www.communityhousingpartners.org/energy-solutions/weatherization/ - Provides weatherization services and energy-saving improvements for eligible households. Complete the online program survey to determine which energy assistance and weatherization programs you may qualify for. THE VALLEY TODAY with Janet Michael — A decade of conversations. New podcast episodes drop weekdays at 11 AM. Catch the show on The River 95.3 and Fox Sports 1450 AM weekdays just after noon. Subscribe and listen at thevalleytodaypodcast.com — available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoy the show, please take a moment to leave a rating or review — it helps more listeners find us. Connect with us: Facebook — facebook.com/ValleyTodayFanPage Instagram — instagram.com/thevalleytoday

We examine the fight over the future of flock cameras in Rockingham County... a woman's death at a Fishersville assisted living facility is being investigated as a homicide... The Virginia Department of Health is sticking with the state's vaccine schedule following an executive order from President Trump... Northern Virginia will add more jobs later this year... and we follow researchers with the Smithsonian studying birds providing pest control for farms....

Cassi Camara is a Conservation Communications Consultant who recently completed her PhD in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. She is also an Environmental Education Specialist for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Collectively, her work integrates research and practice across governance, policy, education, and communication, with the aim of cultivating environmentally literate citizens, across the globe.Cassi spoke about her experience at Wolf Connection, some of the barriers in achieving environmental policy, and the positive impacts environmental education can have not only for students, but facilitators and teachers as well. Cassiopeia ConsultingCassiopeiacamara.com@thewolfconnectionpod

Would you like to be part of a community that protects grassland bird species and builds landscape resiliency? Justin Proctor, coordinator of the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative of the Smithsonian Institute's Virginia Working Landscapes' program, shares how they are building a community and are able to offer incentive payments to farmers and landowners willing to adopt bird-friendly management practices that better accommodate birds' nesting seasons and habits.  Two bird-friendly practices that Justin highlights out of ten best management practices include adjusting the cutting height when harvesting hay and delay cutting until after July 1. Additionally, Justin emphasizes how important building community is around shared values (e.g., clean air, water quality, soil health, farmland protection, etc.) and getting out to meet your neighbor.  If this episode, Jeff lays out a specific land ownership and management scenario for Justin and asks how he would work with the landowner to address resource concerns, management objectives, common interests, and discuss incentives for management of grassland birds. Walking the farmland with the owner is one of the initial steps but Justin also recommends reading their booklet Meet Your Virginia Grassland Birds, which is available in English and Spanish.Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV I have on Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources biologist John Odenkirk for an in-depth Lake Anna fishing report covering largemouth bass, northern snakeheads, striped bass, hybrid stripers, Saugeye, crappie, chain pickerel and the lake's forage populations. Anglers fishing Lake Anna, the North Anna River, Pamunkey Creek, Contrary Creek and the greater Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County area will get a detailed look at why this Virginia fishery continues to improve.Lake Anna's largemouth bass population is producing historic survey results. During DWR's latest standardized electrofishing survey, biologists collected an average of 138 bass per hour and 122 adult, stock-size bass per hour—both new records for the lake's long-term sampling program. John explains why those numbers are so impressive for a large, clear-water reservoir and how submerged aquatic vegetation, water willow, woody cover, abundant forage and a productive watershed have helped Lake Anna move far beyond its old “Dead Sea” reputation.We also break down the return of hydrilla and other aquatic vegetation, the difference between today's limited grass carp management and the massive stockings of the 1990s, and why healthy vegetation matters for bass habitat, shoreline protection and nutrient control. John discusses wake-boat concerns in the narrower portions of the lake, harmful algal blooms, drought conditions and the potential effects of future water demands and data-center development within the North Anna watershed.Beyond largemouth bass fishing, this episode covers the future of Lake Anna's northern snakehead population, DWR's striped bass and hybrid striped bass stocking strategy, and the major success of the saugeye program. John explains why pure stripers grow slowly at Lake Anna, why hybrids may be better suited to the reservoir and where anglers may find saugeye during the winter. We also discuss rising crappie numbers, chain pickerel in the upper Contrary Creek area, the difficulty of measuring blueback herring and threadfin shad, and other improving Virginia bass fisheries such as Nye Reservoir, Occoquan Reservoir and the tidal Rappahannock River.In this episode, we cover:Record-setting Lake Anna largemouth bass survey resultsHow hydrilla, water willow and aquatic habitat support bassNorthern snakehead population trends and possible future regulationsStriped bass, hybrid striped bass and saugeye stocking updatesCrappie, chain pickerel and Lake Anna forage populationsProductive areas of the North Anna and Pamunkey armsGrass carp management, wake boats and shoreline erosionNi Reservoir, Occoquan Reservoir and tidal Rappahannock bass fishing Please support Fishing the DMV on Patreon!!! https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcastFishing the DMV now has a website: https://www.fishingthedmv.com/ If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.comNorthern Snakehead: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/snakehead/#:~:text=Any%20unusual%20fish%20needs%20to,804%2D367%2D2925). Report snakehead: 804-367-2925Virginia Department of Natural Resources website: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/ Jake's bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/ Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/ Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech Phone Number: (757) 566-1278 Email: lin@fishingprotech.us Fishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168 Flint Financial Planning: https://www.flintfinancialplanning.com/ FITT Lures: https://bit.ly/4w5lgHtSupport the show

The state is seeking a vendor that can offer more modern and rigorous Standards of Learning assessments, or SOLs.

Jeb Hockman from the Virginia Department of Veteran Services joins the show to talk about their upcoming job fair on Hire a Veteran Day.

Dr. Tim Tillman, founder of Allied Cyber Academy, joins the pod to discuss bridging the gap between school technology leaders and governing boards. The conversation examines framing cybersecurity risk, defining digital duty, establishing disaster recovery plans, and managing emerging challenges like AI and vibe coding.Allied Cyber Academy — Organization founded by Dr. Tim Tillman to train ed tech leaders, school boards, and superintendents on cybersecurity governance and risk management.K12 SIX — Threat intelligence sharing community focused on preventing cyber incidents in K–12 schools.Virginia Department of Education — State education agency where Dr. Tim Tillman previously served as Chief Information Security Officer.

Do you love to watch birds? Are you occasionally surprised on a morning walk by the flutter and fury of birds emerging from a nearby tree or grassland? Justin Proctor, coordinator of the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative of the Smithsonian Institute's Virginia Working Landscapes' program, shares his insights, expertise, and passion for his work with Jeff, Mary, and Eric. Justin also emphasized that more than 60 bird species depend on Virginia grassland for their habitat and survival.  Virginia is unique as a migratory fly zone where many migrating birds will briefly stop in fields to rest and refuel before continuing a northward migration in the spring and southward migration in the fall. Therefore, knowing nesting times, habitat protection strategies, and migration patterns are critical to help these species to flourish.If this episode encouraged you to enhance the habitat for grassland birds on your farmland, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative has plenty of practical factsheets, educational workshops, incentive programs, and partners to assist you. For those interested in hosting a conservation-minded speed-dating workshop, please refer to this event planning guide and checklist. Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

Read more from VPM News:  Frustration with McGuire drives both sides of 5th Congressional District primary  WATCH: Richmond Coliseum's days are officially numbered (YouTube)    Other links:  Cyclosporiasis Surveillance and Investigation (Virginia Department of Health)  Virginia needs more nurses. Training them requires more than adding classroom seats (WHRO)  Efforts to reform federal drug pricing program 340B continue with new report, proposed CMS rule (Virginia Mercury)  Documents: Former RPS facilities director was paid for six weeks after investigation due to rejected resignation (The Richmonder)  New Kent leaders poised to strike down proposed data center district (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  ‘Oyez, oyez.' Supreme Court's last official crier is dead at 102. (The Washington Post)*  Virginia approves historical marker to the song that inspired a generation of rock stars (Cardinal News)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

What do healthy soils and healthy people have in common? According to Dr. Ray Weil, they both thrive when they're kept active. And just like staying active begins with a purpose, every successful cover crop system starts with a goal. Jeff, Mary, and Eric continue their conversation with Dr. Weil of the University of Maryland, exploring how your objectives—from reducing erosion and improving water infiltration to building soil health and increasing resilience—should guide every cover crop decision. Along the way, Dr. Weil explains how living roots keep soils active, feeding the biology belowground, and strengthening the system over time. Whether you're new to cover crops or looking to refine your approach, this episode offers practical insights grounded in decades of research and real-world experience.If this episode got you thinking more deeply about cover crop systems, the University of Maryland's Cover Crop Innovation Center is a great next stop—dig into how researchers are keeping living roots in the ground year-round and rewriting what “resting soil” really means.Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additionally, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, or soil health principles, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

In this special National Soil Health Day episode, Jeff, Mary, and Eric talk with Dr. Ray Weil of the University of Maryland. An internationally recognized soil scientist, Dr. Weil shares how a desire to make a difference in the world led him from an interest in medicine to a lifelong career in soil science. The conversation explores his early experiences managing an organic farm, decades of work pioneering cover crop research, and his belief that plants are among the most powerful tools for improving soil health. From living roots and plant diversity to soil biology and resilient farming systems, Dr. Weil highlights how working with nature and using plants to feed and protect the soil can benefit both the soil and the people who depend on it. In celebration of National Soil Health Day, keep the learning going by reading and watching! Dive into The Nature and Properties of Soils, co-authored by Dr. Ray Weil, and then head to YouTube to watch In the Soil Pit #1 with Professor Ray Weil: Soil Horizons. Whether you're new to soil science or a longtime enthusiast, these resources bring the world beneath our feet to life!Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, or how you can celebrate National Soil Health Day on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.   4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

This week I'm reading from Richard Lang's book 'UAP Incidents First Responders Guide: POLICE - EMS - FD' UFO/UAP Enigma Is Real - Now more than ever it is becoming clear to the general public that UFO/UAP enigma is real. After years of secrecy the truth is finally coming out about vehicles of non-human origin that have visited here, some that have crashed here, and non-human entities both dead and alive that have been recovered. UAP Incident Preparedness for First Responders - Just as officers were once trained in hazardous materials recognition and counterterrorism preparedness, UAP Incident Preparedness will hopefully become a necessary component of public safety operations and training. Law enforcement officers are uniquely vulnerable to UAP encounters due to the isolated and unpredictable nature of patrol work. Therefore, it stands to reason that sheriff's offices, police departments, fire departments and EMS rescue squads would now want their people properly trained to understand this phenomenon, to at least know a little bit about the history of it and most importantly from a personal safety perspective, know what to do and not do if they ever encounter such a situation. Bio Ufologist - Researcher - Investigator - Author - Speaker Richard Lang was an FAA Licensed Commercial Pilot with an Instrument, Multi Engine Rating for over thirty years. He has a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Studies and an Associate's Degree in Aviation Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mr. Lang enjoyed a successful career for more than 20 years in the corporate banking world as a Senior Vice President working in Brokerage and the Trust Investment Division of Commercial Banks, which afforded him personal time off and sufficient income to explore a lifelong interest in UFO/UAP research. MUFON STAR TEAM While employed in the corporate banking world during the 1990s, Richard joined the UFO organization known as MUFON and was certified as a Field Investigator; he eventually was appointed as Chief Investigator for MUFON in both Virginia and North Carolina. He was one of the original six members of the elite MUFON STAR team where he functioned as coordinator and the first manager of the team. Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Richard attained registration as a Private Investigator and Personal Protection Specialist with DCJS in 2000 and he worked part time for a private investigation firm in Charlottesville doing surveillance and investigation. In 2002, Lang graduated from the Police Academy and certified as a sworn law enforcement officer in Virginia as a Reserve Deputy for the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office, primarily providing volunteer community service on weekends and evenings which he really enjoyed. During this time, he received certification from the Virginia Department of Emergency Services as a Search-Rescue Field Team Leader and was certified as a Weapons of Mass Destruction Responder from the US Department of Justice. Federal Law Enforcement In the post 911 period Mr. Lang left his banking career to serve as a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) at the rank of Sergeant in Virginia airports. He was sworn both on the federal level as Special Deputy for the U.S. Marshals Service and on the state level as a Deputy Sheriff for the County Sheriff's Office. During this time the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was initially created as Congress had mandated extremely high levels of security for USA Airports. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) After serving for approximately a year as a LEO Richard was hired by Homeland Security and assigned to TSA as a Federal Liaison for airport stakeholders responsible for implementing federal procedures and dealing with regulatory initiatives associated with aviation security. This also included responsibility for airlines and airport authorities as well as all law enforcement agencies in Virginia that respond to airports during aviation emergencies. He was a member of the Anti-Terrorist Advisory Council Board (organized by the U.S. Attorney's Office) where he frequently served as key speaker on terrorism at quarterly regional meeting hosted by Homeland Security. http://www.langpublication.com/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GNMK85XR https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/ https://www.patreon.com/alienufopodcast https://simonbown.com/ My new book, Aspects of Alien Abduction https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRRPCT9Y Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lauren Hines-Acosta of the Chesapeake Bay Journal returns to talk with Jeff, Mary, and Eric about emerging issues that affect regional agriculture and the Bay ecosystem. Laura's scientific research and writing includes increased concern about biosolid applications to agricultural fields and possible contamination with "forever chemicals"; how artificial intelligence can increase nitrogen use efficiency; and how other technologies can detect what nutrients are being contributed by cover crop mixtures to ensuing crop rotations. If you are interested in Lauren's recent articles about biosolids, artificial intelligence, and conservation easements, please visit the Chesapeake Bay Journal website at https://www.bayjournal.com/Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, or how you can celebrate National Soil Health Day on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

This week I'm talking to Richard Lang about his book 'UAP Incidents First Responders Guide: POLICE - EMS - FD' UFO/UAP Enigma Is Real - Now more than ever it is becoming clear to the general public that UFO/UAP enigma is real. After years of secrecy the truth is finally coming out about vehicles of non-human origin that have visited here, some that have crashed here, and non-human entities both dead and alive that have been recovered. UAP Incident Preparedness for First Responders - Just as officers were once trained in hazardous materials recognition and counterterrorism preparedness, UAP Incident Preparedness will hopefully become a necessary component of public safety operations and training. Law enforcement officers are uniquely vulnerable to UAP encounters due to the isolated and unpredictable nature of patrol work. Therefore, it stands to reason that sheriff's offices, police departments, fire departments and EMS rescue squads would now want their people properly trained to understand this phenomenon, to at least know a little bit about the history of it and most importantly from a personal safety perspective, know what to do and not do if they ever encounter such a situation. Bio Ufologist - Researcher - Investigator - Author - Speaker Richard Lang was an FAA Licensed Commercial Pilot with an Instrument, Multi Engine Rating for over thirty years. He has a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Studies and an Associate's Degree in Aviation Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mr. Lang enjoyed a successful career for more than 20 years in the corporate banking world as a Senior Vice President working in Brokerage and the Trust Investment Division of Commercial Banks, which afforded him personal time off and sufficient income to explore a lifelong interest in UFO/UAP research. MUFON STAR TEAM While employed in the corporate banking world during the 1990s, Richard joined the UFO organization known as MUFON and was certified as a Field Investigator; he eventually was appointed as Chief Investigator for MUFON in both Virginia and North Carolina. He was one of the original six members of the elite MUFON STAR team where he functioned as coordinator and the first manager of the team. Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Richard attained registration as a Private Investigator and Personal Protection Specialist with DCJS in 2000 and he worked part time for a private investigation firm in Charlottesville doing surveillance and investigation. In 2002, Lang graduated from the Police Academy and certified as a sworn law enforcement officer in Virginia as a Reserve Deputy for the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office, primarily providing volunteer community service on weekends and evenings which he really enjoyed. During this time, he received certification from the Virginia Department of Emergency Services as a Search-Rescue Field Team Leader and was certified as a Weapons of Mass Destruction Responder from the US Department of Justice. Federal Law Enforcement In the post 911 period Mr. Lang left his banking career to serve as a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) at the rank of Sergeant in Virginia airports. He was sworn both on the federal level as Special Deputy for the U.S. Marshals Service and on the state level as a Deputy Sheriff for the County Sheriff's Office. During this time the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was initially created as Congress had mandated extremely high levels of security for USA Airports. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) After serving for approximately a year as a LEO Richard was hired by Homeland Security and assigned to TSA as a Federal Liaison for airport stakeholders responsible for implementing federal procedures and dealing with regulatory initiatives associated with aviation security. This also included responsibility for airlines and airport authorities as well as all law enforcement agencies in Virginia that respond to airports during aviation emergencies. He was a member of the Anti-Terrorist Advisory Council Board (organized by the U.S. Attorney's Office) where he frequently served as key speaker on terrorism at quarterly regional meeting hosted by Homeland Security. http://www.langpublication.com/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GNMK85XR https://www.pastliveshypnosis.co.uk/ https://www.patreon.com/alienufopodcast https://simonbown.com/ My new book, Aspects of Alien Abduction https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GRRPCT9Y Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to The Turf Zone podcast. This episode features a message for VTC members from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Written by Kati McCall, Water Supply Planner, Office of Water Supply, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality We are reaching out on behalf of DEQ's Water Supply Planning and Analysis team regarding the Virginia Water Withdrawal Reporting Regulation (9VAC25-200).1 This regulation requires users withdrawing groundwater or surface water in Virginia to report annual water withdrawals if withdrawals exceed 1 million gallons per month for crop irrigation purposes or 10,000 gallons per day for all other purposes (300,000 gallons per month). Users that fall below these thresholds or are otherwise exempted from the regulation are encouraged to report voluntarily. Water reporting data provided through the annual reporting process allows DEQ to better understand how water use throughout the Commonwealth impacts surface water and groundwater resources, evaluate whether current water sources can meet future needs, and protect beneficial uses. Water reporting data for 2026 is due to DEQ no later than January 31, 2027. In preparation for the 2026 reporting cycle, our team is conducting an initiative to increase registration of agricultural facilities across the Commonwealth through the distribution of targeted outreach materials. Water reporting data is considered in the development of regional water supply plans2 (required by 9VAC25-7803) and in the water withdrawal permitting process, which includes a simulation of total reported water use within the watershed. Increased availability of water reporting data from agricultural facilities may facilitate more accurate long-term planning of water resources by informing regional water demand projections for agriculture. Additionally, agricultural producers may benefit from reporting annual water withdrawals; a few potential benefits are: Increasing efficiency: comparing current withdrawals to reported withdrawals can provide insight into potential issues at the facility by identifying periods of unusual use (e.g., line breaks, leaks, and other water loss) Drought awareness: users who report withdrawals are notified when the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force4 establishes or expands drought advisories affecting their region, and as new drought-related tools developed by DEQ become available Documenting use: reporting annual water withdrawals is the best way to document use for the facility (e.g., when applying for a permit) Planning for the future: calculating and reporting annual water withdrawals may help users to predict and plan for future water needs (e.g., when expanding operations) We are hoping to partner with the Virginia Turfgrass Council, given your extensive network of agricultural producers, to increase awareness of the annual reporting process and potential benefits. Would you be willing to assist us with this initiative by sharing these targeted outreach materials with your network (e.g., through inclusion in an upcoming newsletter)? Outreach materials are available on DEQ's Agricultural Water Use Resource Center webpage5, including the Annual Water Withdrawal Reporting Agricultural Brochure6, the Water Estimation Tool for Agricultural Withdrawals7, and the Water Withdrawal Dashboard8. Folks may contact the water supply planner serving their region9 with any questions regarding the annual reporting process or associated outreach materials. Please let us know if you have any questions by calling (804) 350-4079. You have been listening to The Turf Zone Podcast. Follow The Turf Zone on X, Facebook and LinkedIn for all things turfgrass, featuring podcasts, magazines, events and more. Visit www.theturfzone.com for more. The post A Message for VTC Members from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality appeared first on The Turf Zone.

What does it take to rebuild trust in a public health institution, and can listening be a leadership strategy? Virginia State Health Commissioner Dr. B Cameron Webb explored these questions as he stepped into his role earlier this year, beginning his tenure with a statewide listening tour. Dr. Webb shares what Virginians told him was standing between them and being healthy, how he's translating community voice into action inside a 3,200-person agency, and why trust is one of the most critical commodities in public health. He also digs into Virginia's recently released 2025–2029 Plan for Well-Being, what it means to lead through federal funding uncertainty, and how Dr. Webb is rebuilding morale inside a department that has had its own healing to do.  Dr. B. Cameron Webb is the Virginia State Health Commissioner. He previously served as a White House fellow and was a senior advisor for the White House Office of COVID-19 Response. He has advised on public health policy, access to care, and prescription drug pricing. Dr. Webb was also an assistant professor of medicine and public health science at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and in the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.   More Links and Information  Check out more Fors Marsh MediaConnect or partner with Fors MarshExplore the Virginia Department of HealthRead up on Virginia's Plan for Well-Being 2025–2026

In this episode of Fishing the DMV, we are joined by Chad Boyce from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for a deep dive into one of the most fascinating and historic bass fishery Back Bay in Virginia Beach, Virginia.With the 2026 Maxam Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound coming up June 11–14 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, this is the perfect time to look at nearby coastal bass fisheries and understand how shallow tidal rivers, coastal bays, grass flats, marsh systems, and brackish-water largemouth bass habitats can shape tournament strategy. The Bassmaster Elite Series event will take place on the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, one of the most unique stops on the 2026 Bassmaster schedule. Chad breaks down the incredible history of Back Bay bass fishing, from its legendary years as one of Virginia's premier trophy largemouth bass destinations to the challenges that changed the fishery over time. We discuss the rise, decline, and ongoing rebound of Back Bay, including aquatic vegetation, water quality, salinity, habitat loss, stocking efforts, electrofishing surveys, and what the future may hold for this iconic Virginia Beach bass fishery. Virginia DWR has documented Back Bay's recovery efforts and noted Chad Boyce's role in monitoring the largemouth bass population through fisheries surveys. If you love bass fishing, Bassmaster tournament coverage, Virginia bass fishing, North Carolina bass fishing, tidal water fishing, coastal largemouth bass, grass fishing, shallow-water power fishing, marsh fishing, fisheries biology, and the history of legendary bass fisheries, this episode is packed with information.We talk about how Back Bay connects to the larger conversation around Virginia Beach fishing, tidal largemouth bass patterns, submerged aquatic vegetation, grass beds, wind-driven water movement, coastal bay bass habitat, and why these shallow-water systems can produce some of the most unpredictable and exciting bass fishing in the country.Topics covered in this episode include:·      History of Back Bay bass fishing·      Virginia Beach largemouth bass fishing·      Virginia DWR fisheries management·      Back Bay's rise, decline, and rebound·      Aquatic vegetation and bass habitat·      Grass fishing and shallow-water bass patterns·      Brackish water largemouth bass behavior·      How coastal fisheries compare to reservoirs and river systems The future of Back Bay as a trophy bass fisheryWhether you are preparing to follow the Bassmaster Elite Series, trying to understand the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound fishery, researching Back Bay Virginia fishing, or just love learning about historic largemouth bass fisheries, this episode is a must-listen.Please support Fishing the DMV on Patreon: https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcast If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.comVirginia DWR Website: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/ Virginia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaDWR If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.com LMD Enterprises: http://lmdoil.com/ Jake's bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/ Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/ Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech Phone Number: (757) 566-1278 Email: lin@fishingprotech.us  Fishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168#bassfishing #fishingtheDMV #fishingtipsSupport the show

The Chesapeake Bay watershed is a national treasure with many small and expansive wonders. Lauren Hines-Acosta is a scientific journalist and staff writer with the Chesapeake Bay Journal's Virginia office. Lauren took a keen interest in science at a young age and was particularly intrigued by physics and astronomy. As a science writer covering Virginia's portion of the Bay watershed, Lauren is able to share through her writing about the small and expansive wonders she discovers in her research.Lauren talks with Jeff, Mary, and Eric how the Chesapeake Bay impacts and engages people and communities on many levels, especially those people who live near and depend on the water. Lauren's inquisitiveness has led to writing recent articles about "forever chemicals", menhaden, solar, and other topics related to the care of soil and the overall health of the Bay.     If you are interested in Lauren's recent articles about declining water levels in Virginia's Potomac River aquifer and "forever chemicals", or Karl Blankenship's Agriculture and the Bay series, please visit the Chesapeake Bay Journal website at https://www.bayjournal.com/Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

On this emergency upload — and possibly the shortest episode in Fishing the DMV history — I'm joined by Clint Outlaw to break down the latest information surrounding the Gardy's Mill Pond Dam breach, the ongoing Gardy's Mill Road / Route 617 closure, and the growing community effort to protect this historic Virginia fishery from being permanently lost.Gardy's Millpond, located near Callao, Virginia on the Northumberland and Westmoreland County line, has been impacted by a serious dam breach near the primary spillway box culvert. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is currently working on an interim repair and stabilization plan while engineers evaluate the full extent of the damage.In this episode, we discuss what is currently known about the dam failure, why the pond may need to be drained, what the trench through the dam could mean for the future of the lake, and why anglers, local residents, and conservation-minded outdoorsmen are signing a petition to help make sure Gardy's Mill Pond is not completely destroyed.DWR has stated that the pond level has not yet dropped below the breach area, which means engineers still cannot fully assess the damage. In the meantime, contractors are expected to construct a trench through the dam down to the pond bed. This would help drain the pond, reveal the breach location, relieve pressure on the dam, protect the structure from further erosion, and reduce the need for daily safety monitoring.We also cover the upcoming public open house for Gardy's Millpond, where the public will be invited to review potential plans and speak directly with DWR staff and engineers.

About the Episode:In this episode of Inspired Changemakers, Julia Healey sits down with Carrie Sheffield for a powerful conversation about resilience, healing, and purpose.Carrie Sheffield is a writer, broadcaster, and musician in Washington, D.C. Carrie serves as Program Manager of Healthy Faith at United Charitable, and authored the bestselling book Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness, published by Hachette Book Group. A Senior Policy Analyst at Independent Women's Forum, Carrie serves as Board Vice Chair of the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. A former White House reporter, Carrie earned a master's in public policy from Harvard University, with a concentration in business policy. Julia and Carrie discuss the connection between faith and mental health, the importance of breaking generational cycles, and the work Carrie is doing through Healthy Faith to bridge the gap between spiritual and mental health care. The episode also highlights Carrie's impressive professional career spanning journalism, finance, public policy, and advocacy.Connect with Carrie:Instagram: @sheffieldcarrieX/Twitter: @carriesheffieldHealthy Faith: https://healthyfaithsaves.substack.com/Book: Motorhome Prophecies (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1546004386?tag=hacboogrosit-20)Join our community of Inspired Changemakers!The Inspired Changemakers Podcast spotlights people turning purpose into action. Each episode features a new guest sharing their journey, insights, and projects making a difference in their communities and beyond. Listen in, learn, and get inspired to take your next step!Support the show

Soil loss and erosion can occur by rainfall or wind. Kim Melton, the soil health coordinator for the Red River Basin Commission, emphasizes that soil loss by wind erosion is farmers' and soil conservationists' number one resource concern because crop fields are so flat throughout the region.The movement of soil off cropland and the landscape by wind or rain means critical nutrients and soil organic matter are also being lost. Building up, maintaining, and keeping soil organic matter (SOM) in the soil through cover crops and crop rotations is particularly important for preventing erosion and retaining moisture. One percent of SOM equates to about an additional 14 days of moisture for crops.Farmers want soil to be a sponge. Similarly, farmers keep the soil covered and armored to prevent "snirt" (that is, snow plus dirt) from sullying road banks and rural views during the winter months. To learn more about Kim's work and the Red River Basin Commission, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/. For more information about the Supply Chain Soil Health Partnership and its goals to improve the food value chain from the soil up, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/soil-health-partnership If you are interested in working trees and incorporating agroforestry on your farm, please visist the U.S. Forest Services' s National Agroforestry Center for free publications and factsheets at https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/resources/publications/index.phpTune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

Today's edition is sponsored by Nola BuildsFive times five is not 125, but May 5 is the 125th day of the year and goes by 5/5 no matter what side of the Atlantic you are on. Charlottesville Community Engagement has so far been produced on the Western side but one potential future would be for at least some editions to be created in other parts of the world. After all, it has now been three years since the World Health Organization declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic global health emergency. This opening paragraph was written while listening to an Italian radio station.In this edition:* Four nonprofit groups that provide support for unhoused people present the annual State of Homelessness report to Charlottesville City Council* There's no new public information about how three of those groups will operate a low-barrier shelter at 2000 Holiday Drive* More support has been requested for those in encampments along the Rivanna River but at least one Councilor said another plan is neededFirst shout-out: Upcoming Charlottesville Area Tree Steward walks to celebrate MayThe mission of the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards is to support rural and urban forests and promote knowledge and understanding of the value of trees for present and future generations.One way the group does that is through holding guided tree walks and there are two opportunities coming up this month.* Charlottesville's Belmont neighborhood is a good example of the city's tree canopy. Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards Steve Huff and Scott Syverud will lead walks on at 9 a.m. on both May 7 and May 8 for people age 14. Sign up for May 7 here or register for May 8 here.* On May 9 at 10 a.m., Charlottesville Area Tree Steward Emily Ferguson will lead a two hour walk at the Virginia Department of Forestry to help identify Hickories, Oaks, and Pines - Oh My! Register here!* On May 12 at 9:30 a.m., Syverud will begin a walk to celebrate Springtime in the Forest at Ivy Creek. Sign up here.All walks are free, but donations are always appreciated. Thanks!The State of Homelessness 2026: Low-barrier homeless shelter edition Every year, nonprofit organizations that work with the unhoused population present City Council with an update on their efforts. The annual State of Homelessness report provides an opportunity to get a big picture look at an intractable issue that the City of Charlottesville is investing millions to solve including the recent purchase of an office building off the U.S. 250 bypass.“This year takes on a different lens because we've had a lot of conversations in regards to 2000 Holiday Drive,” said City Manager Sam Sanders. “This is a chance to go beyond that one facility that we've been discussing and gives the providers an opportunity to provide the Council and the public an update.”Since the last report, several groups have come together to develop an operations plan to run a permanent shelter around the clock. That would include roles for The Haven, People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry (PACEM), and the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless (BRACH).BRACH leads the Continuum of Care The executive director of the latter went first.“Overall we've seen an increase in numbers across the board, stronger collaboration and partnerships between the agencies that are represented here today and just better cohesion of services,” said Shayla Washington. “So I think the overarching message is we're all working together, but there's still a greater need than what we can achieve as single entities.”BRACH is the lead agency in the Continuum of Care, a framework established by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1994 to coordinate services. BRACH formed in 1998 and became a tax-exempt non-profit in 2009.“We are the HUD-designated system, mostly handling the HUD federal application for funding,” Washington said. “Currently, our CoC only receives funding for permanent supportive housing from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But we do oversee regional planning, data collection and data performance, and really just trying to be that main body that's coordinating all the regional housing and homeless services for folks who are experiencing homelessness.”Every year, BRACH also coordinates the Point in Time count which records population data for HUD. This year's event was held on January 28 in the middle of a long cold snap exacerbated by an ice storm. There was an emphasis on getting people inside that night through emergency hotel room stays but Washington said seven people slept in the cold overnight.“We found four people who were sleeping outside and chose to stay outside for that night from Charlottesville and Albemarle, and then three from Louisa County,” Washington said. “We did not receive numbers from the other counties in our catchment area. We had 87 people who were hotel through emergency hotel stays.”BRACH also runs the Coordinated Entry Management System which contains the names and identities of people documented as homeless. As of May 4, there were 333 individuals on what is referred to as the By Name List.“This is people who are either outside or sleeping in a shelter, any place not meant for human habitation,” Washington said. “So if they have a roof over their head, it's because it's an emergency shelter or it's because they are sleeping in a car or a place that doesn't have running water or electricity. If they're couch surfing or staying with friends or family and just kind of unstably housed, that does not count towards our by name list.”Of those 333 people, 58 identified the City of Charlottesville as their last permanent address and 21 said from Albemarle County. Around two-thirds either did not say or were not asked. Washington said that could be improved over time through better training.“Sometimes people aren't willing to give a lot of information at the first point of contact with them,” Washington said. “And so it's just reminding service providers to continue just trying to collect that data anytime you can.”At the moment there are only 54 permanent shelter beds available year-round operated by the Salvation Army at their facility on Ridge Street. That number increases to just over 100 when PACEM operates night shelters in area churches. There are 30 spots for rapid rehousing. And 30 permanent supportive housing spaces.“With permanent supportive housing, these are folks who are mostly older,” Washington said. “One third of them don't have income and they all have disabling conditions and were homeless for very long periods of time before they got into this housing. And it's the most stable that they've ever been in some cases, many cases.”Supportworks Housing are building another 80 permanent supportive units at their Vista 29 facility on U.S. 29.Rapid rehousing offers up to 24 months of case management to assist a person with handling their finances to stay in a place.Washington also presented data on some of the reasons why Charlottesville is an easy place for some to fall out of the housing system. For instance, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is between $1,700 and $1,850“As a reminder, affordable housing is defined as not paying more than 30% of your income towards rent,” Washington said.The City of Charlottesville now designates BRACH as a fundamental agency so it receives $250,000 a year to provide services deemed to be vital. That has allowed them to hire a full-time grants and data manager. This year the agency will for the first time conduct a Point in Time count for unsheltered people in the summer.PACEM began operations in 2003 and Deputy Director Cindy Chambers said the organization has traditionally relied on volunteers to operate the shelter in the cold weather months.“One of our churches who hosted 40 men for two weeks required at least 100 volunteers and spent roughly $7,000 to do it,” Chambers said. “So we are an organization that has always thrived on the giving and the compassion of the congregations in our community.”In recent years, staff has undergone some professionalization with additional resources from the City of Charlottesville.Seven people work for the organization year round and there are 27 people who work during the season. In addition to the cold weather shelter, PACEM also runs a secure housing program which offers a year of case management to help a client get through to permanent housing.“It's similar to rapid rehousing in the sense that we give intensive case management,” Chambers said. “However, we do not get any sort of state funding. It's all privately funded and we do this with just a bit of move-in help. And this is how we have sustained, this year, 20 folks in housing through our work.”PACEM also offers additional case management to some clients who may have income but have difficulty going through the steps of securing a lease. She said six people this year have found a permanent home through this housing navigation street outreach.“Unfortunately, we just don't currently have the capacity to give everyone a case manager. So we really focus our efforts on folks who could potentially pay rent,” Chambers said. Chambers said additional staffing and training has allowed the agency to step up some of its intake procedures to increase safety such as enhancing bag checks to stop prohibited items from coming in the doors.“This year we also stopped holding people's items that we used to hold based on feedback from our local police,” Chambers said. “We made 62 calls to 911 and only 10 of them were for folks that we really couldn't handle behaviorally as opposed to last year we made 120 calls.”PACEM is an example of a low-barrier shelter which means overnight guests are not required to participate in case management and there are no sobriety checks. Chambers said staff and volunteers are now trained in mental health first aid.“We really are just there to ensure that you are safe tonight and that you receive a hot meal and you can use the restroom,” Chambers said. “To do that, we do still have standards. You have to be able to compose yourself in a group setting, for example, and you have to be able to take care of your basic activities of daily living.”Chambers said PACEM helps provide places to live through shared housing and is working with property owners who want to be part of their solution while also getting paid steady rent. When Councilor Natalie Oschrin asked if they were looking for new participants, Chambers gave out her contact information. Take a look at the PACEM site.Chambers concluded by telling Council that anything the city can do to help people stay in their homes helps the overall system.“What's been a challenge for us is stabilizing them in that they are all just like one step away from maybe not being able to pay rent,” Chambers said. “So we are relying on a lot of the other programs you all fund, like [Piedmont Housing Alliance] to provide arrears assistance if they do fall behind.”That latter refers to a pilot project intended to help some residents at Kindlewood with higher-than-expected rates for newly constructed units.Second shout-out: Design DevelopArchitectural firm Design Develop is offering a new service aimed at the development community that the rest of us might want to know about , too — 3D point cloud scanning! This technique uses specialized equipment, such as 3D scanner systems, to gather a large amount of data points that represent the surface of the scanned object or scene. This really comes in handy when working with historic structures, as the firm knows from its experience in Baltimore and Charlottesville. Read their blog post for more information!The applications of 3D point cloud scanning are extensive and cover various fields, including architecture, construction, cultural heritage preservation, virtual reality, industrial design, manufacturing, and more. These applications require accurate 3D spatial information, and Design Develop's workflow provides precise and comprehensive results, all while being more cost-effective than traditional methods.Design Develop has expertise in this workflow for their own needs and now has a dedicated team offering this service in the Charlottesville and Albemarle Area. If you're involved in the real estate, design, or construction industry, contact them for more information or a free quote.Visit their website for an introductory video that captures the 3D point cloud scanning of the Downtown Transit Center and a booklet that will explain more!The Haven provides a day shelter in downtown CharlottesvilleThe Haven began operations in 2010 in a church on Market Street purchased by filmmaker Tom Shadyac for the express purpose of providing additional resources for those experiencing homelessness.“The heart of what we have done historically is providing our day shelter respite care,” said Executive Director Owen Brennan. “Over the past year, we had just under 26,000 visits to the day shelter. That averages out to about 70 people per day. And then over the course of a year, we see about 430 unique guests. Over that same time, we serve just under 26,000 meals. We serve breakfast every day of the year, and we serve lunch every Friday.”A partnership with UVA Health brings a primary health clinic each Wednesday to the site, a service that has expanded to include a psychiatric and addiction clinic.Brennan said The Haven also implements Continuum of Care services such as staffing a Homeless Information line for anyone in need.“This could be someone who is about to become evicted, someone who's going through the eviction process, or someone who is currently experiencing homelessness,” Brennan said.If that person does become homeless, they are asked to add their name into the coordinated entry system. Brennan said over 6,000 people called the hotline between April 1, 2025 and March 30 of this year. That's up from about 5,000 the year before.The Haven offers three assistance programs with one of them being direct financial assistance of up to $3,500 for people close to losing their rental unit within 14 days and have no other resources.“Oftentimes, we're partnering with other agencies, whether it's the Pathways Fund for the city or [Albemarle County Emergency Relief Program] for the county,” Brennan said. “Piedmont Housing Alliance has rental assistance programs. So we're doing a lot of really good collaboration to prevent folks from entering homelessness.”The other two programs are the Laura DeLapp Haven Housing Fund and a Rapid Re-Housing initiative. This past winter, the Haven served as an emergency shelter during the intense cold and ice snap.“We had an intense weather event this past January, February and the continuum of care came together,” Brennan said. “The city of Charlottesville contributed $25,000. Albemarle county contributed $25,000. And then we fundraised an additional $100,000 to provide hotel, shelter, food and support for a total of 109 unsheltered community members over 18 days.”Salvation Army preparing to launch next phase of Center of Hope campaign next weekThe Salvation Army has had a presence in Charlottesville since 1912 but began to get involved with providing shelter around 1980 according to Major Donald Wilson.“In this past year we have impacted over 9,653 individuals non duplicated counts which includes 16,304 nights of shelter, 1,367 food boxes, over 51,000 meals and also 3,186 personal care kits to help individuals in whatever situation they find themselves,” Wilson saidMajor Wilson said the Salvation Army has also pushed ahead with a plan to add six units for families with funding from Albemarle, Charlottesville and private donors. He said his office receives over 50 calls a day seeking assistance.The Salvation Army also continues fundraising for an expansion of its facility on Ridge Street to be known as the Center for Hope. He said they're about 59 percent of the way to the goal.“$22 million in construction, $2.2 million in furnishings, fixtures and equipment,” Wilson said. “And the Salvation Army… requires that we establish an endowment for that particular structure. Not only for the maintenance of it, but primarily for the continuation of the program so that we won't begin a program and not be able to operate.”The goal is to have 114 beds and to break ground on construction in 2027. More on this when the media campaign launches on May 12.Groups ask Council for additional support for Rivanna River encampmentOne of the questions at the work session is what should be done before a shelter opens at 2000 Holiday Drive. In late March, the City of Charlottesville hired a firm to go through a section of the Rivanna River embankment near Free Bridge where dozens of people have taken to living in tents. The idea was to both clean up trash but to provide outreach.“Outreach efforts will include distributing informational materials and providing fire safety guidance related to heaters, open flames, and carbon monoxide risks, as well as information about available community services,” read a press release from the time.No one was displaced as part of the clean-up. In February, both Brennan and Washington have joined a Public Spaces Working Group.“Our goal is to from each of our respective vantage points identify solutions that we all can get on board with to improve safety, improve health qualities both for the people in camp down at the river, the environmental health and the repercussions for businesses and residents who are adjacent to those encampments,” Brennan said.This week the group sent a letter to Council with additional requests. One is for delivery of portable toilets. The second is to identify an alternate location that would be much safer.“One of the biggest safety concerns is that all of the encampments are currently within what's called the floodway,” Brennan said. “So when we get a heavy rain, that's where the water is actively running. So there was a significant flood. It was 18 months ago. No one died but belongings were washed away. So we would love to find alternative, safer spots for folks.”Washington said BRACH has one outreach coordinator who goes out to the camp once a day to check on people.City Councilor Michael Payne brought up the issue of fire risk after seeing lots of propane tanks being used for heating and cooking.“I observed a lot of unsafe use around open flames,” Payne said. “We're currently in a drought. It's not just a thing to say. I mean, there's a house in Albemarle that burnt down from a propane tank last year.”There were no major updates on the low barrier shelter at 2000 Holiday Drive at this meeting until an hour and 45 minutes in when Washington said Sanders had been sent an updated estimate on Phase 1 that afternoon.“We now have two concrete numbers for phases one and two,” Washington said. “So now we need the city to decide which phase you'd like to move forward with or if you'd like a third option.”This information is not yet public.Councilor Lloyd Snook said he had not seen the report but he said he had a concern.“The broad concern that some of us looking in from the outside have had is that it seems as though the different organizations, the different nonprofits have sort of fundamentally different ways that they think they want to approach the problem and that we need to have one approach,” Snook said.The story will continue to develop.#1045 is also a podcast This is an atypical edition. I very much wanted to be able to get one of these Council work sessions written up quickly. A lot happened at Council but I wanted to prioritize this very important story.I say a lot how this newsletter intends to document complexity and that's what this edition attempts to do. Is this the best way to have told the story? Could there be other voices? The answer is always yes. But, what other media outlet in this community is capable of bringing you this information? Is anyone else even ambitious enough to try? I'm certainly willing to do so and glad for paid subscribers and donors to make it happen. You can learn more about the latter choice here. Today we end with the DJs from Buenos Aires. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

On this exciting episode of Fishing the DMV, I sit down with Megan Goin, Mark Harris, and Dustin Haymaker to break down the first-ever fly-fishing tournament for warm water species on the Shenandoah River!Hosted at Shenandoah River State Park in partnership with Downriver Canoe Company, along with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and Shenandoah Riverkeeper, this event is bringing something completely new to the region—competitive fly fishing for smallmouth bass, sunfish, carp, and other warm-water species on one of Virginia's most iconic fisheries.We dive into everything you need to know about this unique event—from how it's opening the door for more anglers to get involved in fly fishing, to how it directly supports conservation efforts protecting the Shenandoah River. If you're into smallmouth bass fishing, river fishing, kayak fishing, or fly fishing tournaments, this is an episode you don't want to miss.Tournament Details:

When we talk about racial discrimination in American cities, we usually focus on housing, schools, or policing. We talk less about streets and sidewalks. But in many communities of color, decades of disinvestment have resulted in a built environment where people are unable to move through public space in a safe and healthy way. Those communities tend to look a lot like Lansdowne, a predominantly Black, low-income neighborhood in Roanoke, Virginia. It's a place where wide, fast roads cut through a residential area and pedestrians have spent years navigating streets that weren't built with them in mind. This episode features Dr. Melicent Miller from the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Walkability Action Institute, to discuss how the VWAI, in partnership with Horizon 54, was able to help Lansdowne create a traffic calming project guided by community-driven design. Find Virginia Walkability Action Institute at https://virginiapaths.org/virginia-walkability-action-institute/

Keeping soil on the land is a sound way to grow and move agriculture forward. Kim Melton is the soil health coordinator for the Red River Basin Commission. Kim coordinates soil health education and outreach across three states, one province, and two countries in the Red River Valley.Kim shares with Mary, Eric, and Jeff how soil health goes beyond just sustaining agriculture to include understanding the marriages of different perspectives among farmers, scientists, and others who can impact agriculture in a positive way. To learn more about Kim's work and the Red River Basin Commission, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/. For more information about the Supply Chain Soil Health Partnership and its goals to improve the food value chain from the soil up, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/soil-health-partnership Tune in, like, and subscribe anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

On this eye-opening episode of Fishing the DMV, we break down the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) budget crisis and what it means for anglers across Virginia, Maryland, Washington DC, and the entire DMV fishing region. Ryan Brown and Mike Bednarski dive deep into the budget cuts, conservation funding issues, and declining fishing license sales that are putting serious pressure on fishery management. If you care about bass fishing, trout fishing, striped bass, or freshwater fishing in Virginia, this is a must-listen conversation that connects the dots between policy, conservation, and your time on the water.We also break down the bigger picture—why the traditional “user-funded conservation model” (hunters and anglers funding wildlife management) is starting to fail, and what a new funding system could look like in Virginia. From fish stocking cuts to habitat management challenges, this episode gives you the real story behind what's happening and how it could impact your next fishing trip. If you're serious about Virginia fishing reports, bass fishing tips, fisheries management, conservation, and the future of fishing in the DMV, this episode delivers critical insight you won't hear anywhere else.If you want to get involved you can email Mike at mike.bednarski@dwr.virginia.gov and his phone is 804 432-7244. Please get in touch with him if you want to weigh in on what's going on in Virginia!! Please support Fishing the DMV on Patreon: https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcast If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.comLMD Enterprises: http://lmdoil.com/ Jake's bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/ Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/ Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech  Phone Number: (757) 566-1278Email: lin@fishingprotech.usFishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168 Support the show

***THIS EPISODES IS A REBROADCAST OF EPISODE 117 WITH AN UPDATED ADDED TO THE BEGINNING!*** This week, we decided to rebroadcast our coverage of Katelin Aken's disappearance after learning that James Branton, Katelin's step-father and the last person to have seen Katelin, was arrested for multiple sex crimes. This arrest brings investigators one step closer to uncovering what happened to Katelin 10 years ago.  ------- In this, the first installment in our “Not a Runaway” series we discuss the mysterious disappearance of 19 year old Katelin Akens.  “Katelin Michelle Akens was last seen on December 5, 2015, in the vicinity of Oak Crest Drive in Partlow, Virginia.  She was visiting family in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and was scheduled to fly home to Arizona on December 5, 2015.  However, she did not board her flight and has not been seen since.  On December 7, 2015, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recovered a piece of blue luggage from a roadside ditch, unzipped, empty, and with a missing wheel.  A wallet was located inside the luggage with Arizona identification belonging to Akens.“  Right now, In the United States there are 194,673 reported missing girls and women under 21, and that only accounts for the time that has elapsed since January first, according to national statistics by the end of the year there will be twice as many.  91% of these women and girls are classified as Runaways. It's comforting to assume these women and girls just decided to go somewhere else, but ask their families how many of them actually did that, and I think you'll get a vastly lower percentage. We need to believe these families, we need to give these girls the importance they deserve, we need to find them. All of them. Anyone with information about Katelin or her disappearance should call the Spotsylvania county sheriff's office at (540) 582-7115 or Spotsylvania's Crime Solvers at (540) 582-5822 or 1 (800) 928-5822     Click to learn more  James Branton Arrested For Sex Crimes 10 Years After 19 Year Old Katelin Akens Goes Missing FBI official listing for Katelin Help Find Katelin Akens Facebook Group     *Affiliate Link WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here!  Join the Conversation       

Soil health is a foundation for healthier communities, stronger economies, and more resilient landscapes. And yes, hippos can be major pests. During this episode of 4 The Soil: A Conversation, Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt share who and what is for(4) the soil.  Celebrating Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, is a great way to build on that foundation. Tune in, subscribe, and like anywhere you get your podcasts or 4thesoil.org/podcastAs always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning and to follow the four core soil health principles: 1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.You're invited to join an online presentation and conversation with previous podcast guest Bob Jones Jr., co-owner and chief executive officer of The Chef's Garden in Huron, Ohio!"The Chef's Garden: The Flavor of Health and Resilience"Monday, April 20, 20267:00 - 8:00 p.m. (EST)Online via ZoomREGISTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/VAF2T-ChefsGarden-register To enjoy recent 4 The Soil blog posts and additional upcoming educational webinars and field days, please visit https://www.4thesoil.org/blog and https://www.virginiasoilhealth.org/. For questions about soil and water conservation practices and outdoor educational conservation activities for youth, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

Janet sits down with John Keim from the Clarke County Litter Committee to talk about the county's Earth Day celebration and the ongoing effort to keep Clarke County clean and beautiful. They discuss how small, everyday actions can make a big difference — and how you can get involved no matter how much time you have. Clarke County Earth Day Event Details Date: April 25th Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Location: Clarke County Fairgrounds What to Expect: Community litter pickup (9:00 AM kickoff) Speaker: Ed Carter, Virginia Department of Transportation — Adopt-a-Highway program Rain barrel demonstration Glass bottle crushing demonstration Vendor booths from local environmental and community organizations Raffle and silent auction Face painting for kids Live music Food truck Participating Organizations Include: Blandy Experimental Farm Northern Shenandoah Valley Master Gardeners Shenandoah River Keepers Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Clarke County Animal Shelter (accepting donations: adult dry cat food) Key Takeaways You don't have to commit to hours of volunteering — even 20–30 minutes in your neighborhood makes an impact VDOT spends an estimated $9.3 million per year collecting trash; every bag picked up saves taxpayer dollars Trash near waterways can affect livestock and wildlife downstream Keeping roads clean discourages further littering The Litter Committee does pickups approximately once a month Getting Kids Involved: Clarke County students have designed litter-awareness signs displayed around the county The committee is working to engage schools and younger students The Litter Committee sponsors a college scholarship for high school students focused on environmental awareness How to Get Involved Website: https://www.clarkecounty.gov/government/boards-commissions/litter-committee  Email: litterfree@clarkecounty.gov Can't make regular pickups? Consider adopting a stretch of road in your neighborhood or picking up trash on your daily walk

This episode of VHHA's Patients Come First podcast features Commissioner Daryl Washington, the recently appointed leader of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). He joins us for a conversation about his career in community-based behavioral health, public demand for mental health and substance use treatment services, his vision for DBHDS, and more. Send questions, comments, feedback, or guest suggestions to pcfpodcast@vhha.com or contact on X (Twitter) or Instagram using the #PatientsComeFirst hashtag.

Vegetable farming is a food and health business that requires dogged persistence, curiosity, and a no-quit attitude. Bob Jones, Jr., is a second-generation vegetable farmer and the chief executive officer of The Chef's Garden in Huron, Ohio, who has been growing vegetables for over 40 years. Bob and The Chef's Garden team collaborate with culinary professionals, physicians, and oncologists to test the taste, flavor, aesthetics, nutrient density, and food as the foundation of health. More than 700 chefs tour the farm and exchange ideas in The Chef's Garden's Culinary Vegetable Institute. Additionally, they worked with Regenified to certify their farm as regenerative for the practices that nourish healthy soils, water, plants, people, and communities.We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles:1) Keep the soil covered -- (Cover crops are our friends and allies; avoid leaving soil naked).2) Minimize soil disturbance -- (Gentle, take it easy).3) Maximize living roots -- (Keep roots growing)4) Energize with diversity -- (Thrive with diversity of plants, rotations, and livestock). If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters.If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, VA B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series winner Justin Largen breaks down his 98-inch victory at Sandy River Reservoir, Virginia. Get a detailed spring bass fishing report, including how he used a Missile Baits Mini Swim Jig and a key flipping pattern to catch big largemouth.We dive deep into kayak bass fishing techniques, including how Justin used the Missile Baits Mini Swim Jig to trigger aggressive springtime bites, plus a flipping pattern with a secret bait that played a key role in securing the win. This episode is packed with actionable knowledge for anyone fishing shallow water bass, flooded timber, and pre-spawn/spawn transitions.Located in Prince Edward County near Farmville, Virginia, Sandy River Reservoir is a 740-acre water supply lake known as a true Virginia big bass factory. Built in 1994 and opened to fishing in 1996, this fishery is managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and continues to produce quality largemouth bass year after year.If you're serious about bass fishing in Virginia, kayak bass fishing, or learning how to break down a new lake quickly, this episode is packed with high-level insights you can apply immediately.Please support Fishing the DMV on Patreon!!! https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcastIf you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.comJustin Largen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin__largen?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Justin Largen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.largen.3 MissileBaits: https://www.missilebaits.store/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGniacGIi9z6n4qtEmPSG9K5vEL0G13QSSIaWeDz5oz0UJJmRTzHsAVBxfKw50_aem_XMGiP6C6IMx1v5d4AUORVA Jake's bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/ Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/ Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech  Fishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168  Click the link below to get free shipping off any Super Blue Stuff roll-ons when you use the code FISHING! link right here:  https://bit.ly/4buUMb5   #bassfishing #fishingtheDMV #fishingSupport the show

On this episode of Fishing the DMV, I sit down with Chad Boyce from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to break down the overlooked Suffolk/Norfolk lake system in southeastern Virginia.We cover key reservoirs like Lake Prince, Western Branch, Burnt Mills, Lake Meade, Lake Cohoon, the Lone Star Lakes, and Lake Drummond — including their history, layout, and how they function as water supply fisheries.Chad explains the critical habitat types (cypress, timber, flats, channels, and blackwater systems) and how they influence bass behavior, movement, and seasonal patterns. We also dive into how these low-pressure lakes consistently produce quality fish.If you want to learn how to break down new water, find bass faster, and explore hidden Virginia fisheries, this episode gives you the blueprint. Please support Fishing the DMV on Patreon: https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcast If you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.comVirginia DWR Website: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/ Virginia on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaDWR Jake's bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/ Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/ Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech  Phone Number: (757) 566-1278Email: lin@fishingprotech.usFishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168 Click the link below to get free shipping off any Super Blue Stuff roll-ons when you use the code FISHING! Click the link below right here:  https://bit.ly/4buUMb5 #bassfishing #fishingtheDMV #fishingtipsSupport the show

Bob Jones, Jr., is a second-generation vegetable farmer and the chief executive officer of The Chef's Garden in Huron, Ohio. Bob co-owns the vegetable farm and business with his brother Lee. Bob and his brother love producing and selling flavorful, healthy, nutritious vegetables, microgreens, and edible flowers. Bob shares the history of The Chef's Garden with Mary, Jeff, and Eric, including a review of Economics 101 from the 1980s when interest rates peaked at 24%, and the farm went from 1,200 to six acres. Bob and the Chef's Garden team work closely with their customers, culinary professionals, physicians, and oncologists on taste, flavor, aesthetics, nutrient density, and food as the foundation of health. As a certified regenerative farming operation, their vision is to cultivate and nourish healthy soils, healthy plants, healthy people, healthy communities, and ultimately a healthy planet.We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles:1) Keep the soil covered -- (Cover crops are our friends and allies; avoid leaving soil naked).2) Minimize soil disturbance -- (Gentle, take it easy).3) Maximize living roots -- (Keep roots growing)4) Energize with diversity -- (Thrive with diversity of plants, rotations, and livestock). If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters.If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

Doug Fifer of Fifer Family Farms joins Jeff, Mary, and Eric for a second episode to discuss how Doug manages change, inputs, and tighter margins with his farming and cover cropping systems. Doug acknowledges that we are all creatures of habit and have our comfort zones.  Doug began experimenting and stretching his comfort zone with no-till farming and cover crops in 2010. As Doug built his cropping system and expanded his focus on cover crops as an integral input for soil biology and building organic matter, Doug's only regret is that he did not start when he was 25 rather than 50 years old. Doug reiterates that farmers are facing higher input costs and tighter margins; therefore, farmers need to be mindful of their actual return on investment (ROI) rather than solely focusing on yields. Return on investment is the bottom line. Cereal rye and vetch are two of Doug's go-to cover crops. However, he planted an 11-species cover crop mix last fall and will be doing a side-by-side comparison of the effects of the two systems on corn production. To learn more about the Virginia No-Till Alliance (VANTAGE) and its farmer-to-farmer mentoring, please visit https://www.virginianotill.com/We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles:1) Keep the soil covered -- with living plants and residue. Cover crops are our friends and allies; avoid leaving soil bare.2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Practice no-till or gentle tillage as much as possible in your field or garden.3) Maximize living roots -- for the longest time to improve biodiversity, soil structure, and life in the soil.4) Energize with diversity -- aboveground and belowground with high-quality food for soil and plants, and integration of livestock on cropland. If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters.If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Other partners include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and partners of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today's program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.

Please Help keep Fishing the DMV alive! Support us Patreon!!! https://patreon.com/FishingtheDMVPodcast Tonight from 6PM–8PM, we're going LIVE as we react to and break down the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources THIRD ANNUAL TIDAL BASS SUMMIT  one of the most important fisheries discussions of the year for Virginia tidal bass anglers. DWR biologists will present updated largemouth bass population trends and management strategies for Virginia's major tidal rivers, including: James River, Chickahominy River, Pamunkey River, Mattaponi River, Rappahannock River, Piankatank River Bring smart, insightful questions about tidal bass fishing, management, habitat, or tournament pressure — and you could win.Virginia Department of Wildlife Resource Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaDWR Virginia Department of Wildlife Resource website:  DWR WebsiteIf you are interested in being on the show or a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to me at fishingtheDMV@gmail.com Jake's bait & Tackle Website: http://www.jakesbaitandtackle.com/ Link to Tactical Fishing Company: https://tacticalfishingco.com/ Click the link below to get free shipping off any Super Blue Stuff roll-ons when you use the code FISHING! Click the link below right here:  https://bit.ly/4buUMb5 Fishing Pro Tech: https://www.facebook.com/FishingProTech  Phone Number: (757) 566-1278Email: lin@fishingprotech.usFishing Pro Tech Address: 7812-A Richmond Road, Toano, VA, United States, 23168 Tiger Crankbaits on Facebook!! https://www.facebook.com/tigercrankbaits#bassfishing #fishingtheDMV #fishingtipsSupport the show

In this episode Chrisley Confessions 2.0, Todd Chrisley is joined by Rick Stover, Special Assistant to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) who has been with the Bureau for nearly 29 years. They dive deep into the First Step Act (FSA) and its implementation within the Bureau of Prisons. He shares insights on the challenges and successes of the FSA since its inception in 2018, including the complexities of good conduct time calculations and the impact of the Second Chance Act.We discuss the growing pains experienced during the rollout of the FSA, the importance of accurate time credit calculations, and the steps being taken to improve the process for inmates. Our guest addresses common misconceptions about home confinement eligibility and the role of case managers in determining release dates.Listen in as we explore the ongoing efforts to streamline the FSA implementation, the establishment of a triage team to address inmate concerns, and the commitment to ensuring that inmates receive the benefits they are entitled to under the law. This episode is packed with valuable information for anyone interested in criminal justice reform and the future of the Bureau of Prisons.THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!- LEAN: Get 20% OFF when you enter code CHRISLEY at https://www.takelean.com!- Just Thrive: Go to https://www.justthrivehealth.com/CONFESSIONS to save 20%! Take the 90-Day Just Thrive Challenge today because when your gut thrives, you thrive!- HOME TITLE LOCK: Go to https://www.hometitlelock.com/chrisley and use promo code CHRISLEY to get a FREE title history report and a FREE TRIAL of their Triple Lock Protection! For details visit https://hometitlelock.com/warranty - BOLL & BRANCH: Get 20% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at https://www.BollAndBranch.com/confessions!- RULA: Use Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that's actually covered by insurance. Visit https://www.rula.com/Chrisley to get started. You deserve mental healthcare that works with you, not against your budget. #rulapod - Genesis Gold Group: Visit https://www.chrisleylovesgold.com today for your FREE Family Wealth Protection Gold Guide and join thousands of Americans who've protected their legacy with real assets!FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS:Todd Chrisley:Insta: (https://www.instagram.com/toddchrisley)Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/toddchrisley)Julie Chrisley:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/juliechrisley)Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/JulieChrisley)Chrisley Confessions 2.0:Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/chrisleyconfessions2.0)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisleyconfessions2.0)YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisleyConfessions)Produced and Edited by: The Cast Collective (Nashville, TN)YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@TheCastCollective)Instagram: (https://www.instagram.com/thecastcollective)TikTok: (https://www.tiktok.com/@castcollective)About Rick Stover:Rick Stover currently serves as the Special Assistant to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He began his career in corrections with the Virginia Department of Corrections, where he worked for several years before joining the Bureau of Prisons in April 1997 as a Case Manager at FCC Forrest City (AR).In his current role, Mr. Stover leads the Bureau's efforts to advance implementation of the First Step Act (FSA). He was selected for this position in recognition of his prior leadership in developing and negotiating the FSA Time Credits policy. His work has included oversight of policy improvements aimed at enhancing inmate outcomes and fostering collaboration across federal, state, and local agencies to support justice system reform.Mr. Stover has also provided expert guidance on policy development and legal interpretation to ensure consistent application of FSA provisions across law enforcement entities. Throughout his tenure in the Correctional Programs Division and as Warden, he actively engaged with advocacy groups, legal professionals, and community stakeholders to promote transparency and trust in the justice system. In his current role, he is prioritizing agency-wide FSA training and advising the Director on significant immigration matters affecting the Bureau.Mr. Stover holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice from Duquesne University and a master's degree in the Administration of Criminal Justice from the State University of New York at Albany. He has been a member of the Senior Executive Service since 2024.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.