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News and information from VPM News, Virginia's home for public media 📰 Who we are: vpm.org/newsroom
pinned post!
👋 Hi hello, we're back after a brief holiday break! First up from VPM News as we work to bring you another great year of local news in 2026:
@theshabomb.com
's retrospective on the images that defined Virginia's 2025.
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Best of 2025: A year in photography across the commonwealth
VPM News Photojournalist Shaban Athuman reflects on the defining images of the year.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2026-01-05/vpm-news-best-photos-2025-shaban-athuman
1 day ago
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👋 Hi hello, we're back after a brief holiday break! First up from VPM News as we work to bring you another great year of local news in 2026:
@theshabomb.com
's retrospective on the images that defined Virginia's 2025.
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Best of 2025: A year in photography across the commonwealth
VPM News Photojournalist Shaban Athuman reflects on the defining images of the year.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2026-01-05/vpm-news-best-photos-2025-shaban-athuman
1 day ago
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Longtime Valentine Director William “Bill” J. Martin died on Dec. 28 after succumbing to injuries from a Richmond car collision Dec. 27. “His dedication to sharing Richmond’s stories has left an indelible impact on the Valentine and the greater community,” acting museum director Meg Hughes said.
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Longtime director of The Valentine, Bill Martin, dead at 71
Martin helped foster conversation of Richmond’s history in the community through his work.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-12-28/william-bill-martin-valentine-director-obituary-richmond
10 days ago
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Breaking: The University of Virginia's Board of Visitors named a new president Friday: Scott Beardsley, dean of UVA's Darden School of Business since 2015. Beardsley called the selection "the honor of my life."
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UVA board selects Scott Beardsley as new president
Beardsley, a longtime consultant, has led the Darden School of Business since 2015.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-12-19/uva-president-scott-beardsley-bov-jim-ryan-youngkin-spanberger-mullins
19 days ago
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Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger and top Virginia Democrats are aiming to lower costs through programs with little impact on the state budget. The approach comes despite a rosier picture from outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin earlier this week. Read more via
@jahd.bsky.social
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Spanberger, Virginia Democrats eye affordability bills — on a budget
"We recognize that there will be real fiscal challenges that the Commonwealth is facing."
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-12-19/abigail-spanberger-locke-kilgore-va-general-assembly-rising-prices-costs
19 days ago
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The State Corporation Commission has agreed to consider an appeal of its permit OKing Dominion Energy Virginia's natural gas plant in Chesterfield. The appeal was filed Monday by Appalachian Voices, the NAACP and Mothers Out Front represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center.
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Regulators to consider appeal against Dominion Energy natural gas plant
Opponents say the controversial facility in Chesterfield will harm communities.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-12-18/scc-chesterfield-energy-reliability-center-appeal-dominion-selc-holmes
20 days ago
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12+ Richmonders and advocates voiced support for a city-run FOIA library plan that failed Monday. No one from the public spoke in favor of the Avula administration’s plan, which passed City Council 7–1. New via
@deanmirshahi.bsky.social
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Richmond City Council OKs Mayor Danny Avula’s plan for limited FOIA library
Council rejected a competing plan to release any record requested by the public.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-12-16/rva-council-foia-library-avula-abubaker-gibson-lynch-rhyne-public-records
22 days ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Meghin Moore
28 days ago
Hear me do the Tuesday pod and hear
@seanmcgoey.com
do today's pod 👇🏼
add a skeleton here at some point
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If you listen to the VPM Daily Newscast on Spotify, you might have noticed this week's episodes aren't showing up. We ARE looking into this! TUES -
playlist.megaphone.fm?e=VPM4488436...
WED -
playlist.megaphone.fm?e=VPM5623795...
If you don't listen to our Daily Newscast, check it out below!
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VPM Daily Newscast
The local news you need on your time. Weekday mornings.
https://www.vpm.org/show/vpm-daily-newscast
28 days ago
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Henrico County supervisors have given final approval to a plan that will convert a long-closed landfill near Interstate 64 into a small solar generation facility. It follows a Henrico Planning Commission recommendation and subsequent study to approve the project last month.
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Henrico County approves Dominion's solar project at former landfill
The long-closed site will be converted into a small, clean-energy facility.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-12-09/richmond-nine-mile-road-landfill-23223-dominion-energy-solar-array
29 days ago
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Virginia Democrats appear to be sticking to a plan to put a constitutional amendment before voters that would allow a new congressional map in 2026, despite a sweeping victory in November's general election and a fluid redistricting landscape nationwide. More from
@jahd.bsky.social
:
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Democrats push forward with 2026 redistricting efforts in Virginia
Newly drawn maps would likely flip at least 2 GOP-held US House seats.
https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2025-12-03/vadems-redistricting-gerrymandering-surovell-locke-spanberger-mcdougle
about 1 month ago
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psst: there's a video now.
www.youtube.com/shorts/hvUef...
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Meghin Moore
about 1 month ago
It's two days before Thanksgiving and there's a very large turkey bravely slaloming between cars and walking directly into an intersection in Chesterfield County. Please read this delightful article fresh off the press on vpm's website.
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Chesterfield County turkey gobbles up social media attention
Residents aren’t sure what to name the bird — or whether there’s only one.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-25/chesterfield-turkey-charter-colony-old-hundred-powhite-garber-courtwright
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A new draft of Richmond's Code Refresh zoning overhaul pulls back on several upzoning proposals, including a significant change to the rules around accessory dwelling units — but housing advocates say that could limit the creation of new affordable housing options in the city.
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New Richmond Code Refresh draft pulls back on upzoning proposals
It sets off new debate over how — and how quickly — the city should grow.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-25/rva-code-refresh-draft-two-zoning-housing-city-planning
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Hannah Davis-Reid
about 2 months ago
Virginia lawmakers and University of Virginia faculty are raising alarm bells about ongoing patterns of secrecy and lack of transparency surrounding former UVA President Jim Ryan's resignation in June.
www.vpm.org/news/2025-11...
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Questions remain in dispute over Jim Ryan's exit at UVA
"It's a public university. This information should be available."
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-21/uva-foia-creigh-deeds-jim-ryan-transparency-bov
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If you were following election night returns, you probably heard at some point that every locality in Virginia was moving to the left. That might sound implausible in a state with 133 different voting jurisdictions, but it's true.
@seanmcgoey.com
dug through the November General Election data!
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Data: Analyzing Virginia's 2025 general election results
VPM News dug into the Virginia 2025 election data and what it means.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-11-20/virginia-election-data-2025-spanberger-hashmi-cole-orrock-spotsylvania
about 2 months ago
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Update: The Supreme Court of Virginia has declined Attorney General Jason Miyares’ request to review a Fairfax County Circuit Court injunction blocking 22 of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's appointees to several university boards.
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SCOVA declines review of Youngkin's university board appointments
Updated: The court issued a one-page order on Nov. 17.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-05/scova-youngkin-university-rectors-uva-gmu-vmi
about 2 months ago
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Former UVA President Jim Ryan and Rector Rachel Sheridan shared conflicting stories this week, in two different letters. Ryan's 12-page letter also includes his concerns about UVA attorneys' decision to delay the release of information related to federal investigations to officials.
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Former UVA President Jim Ryan disputes rector's account of his resignation
Ryan and Rector Rachel Sheridan shared conflicting stories this week.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-14/uva-jim-ryan-rachel-sheridan-resignation-doj-dhillon-youngkin-miyares
about 2 months ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Meghin Moore
about 2 months ago
If you're wondering how today's UVA news ended up well...how it's currently unfolding, it all started with one letter. Then it became two...that led to a myriad of other letters being released. This piece just focuses on two letters: the initial Spanberger one, along with Youngkin's response.
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Spanberger, Youngkin spar over UVA board appointments, president search
The governor-elect has asked the university to halt its search for a new leader.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-14/spanberger-youngkin-uva-board-president-letters-doj-sheridan-wilkinson
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The 65% benefits should have been issued to Virginians sometime between 2-3 a.m. today. Have you received those SNAP funds? Let us know! President Donald Trump signed a bill to reopen the federal government late Wednesday night, and it is not yet clear how November benefits will be affected.
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Youngkin says a portion of SNAP benefits should be paid out Thursday
The federal food benefits program is at the center of ongoing court cases.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-13/snap-food-nutrition-benefits-youngkin-jonas-vena-miyares
about 2 months ago
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"If I can get important programs like SNAP funded, … and then I can protect [federal workers] going forward again, that gets me to yes," US Sen. Tim Kaine (D–Va.) said Monday. "But I didn't have those protections until over the weekend." "Once I got them, I thought this is good for Virginia."
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Kaine says protecting Virginia federal workers behind vote to end shutdown
"What I'm hearing from Virginians this morning is … 'thank God you did this.'"
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-10/tim-kaine-govt-shutdown-federal-workers-health-care-spanberger-warner
about 2 months ago
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Democrats swept Virginia's top three statewide offices and flipped about a dozen seats in the House of Delegates Tuesday, according to unofficial results from The Associated Press. More from
@jahd.bsky.social
and WAMU's
@margaretbarthel.bsky.social
on a big night for Dems in the commonwealth:
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Democrats sweep Virginia’s statewide offices, expand House majority
Voters sent Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones to the Capitol.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-11-04/election-2025-democrats-win-spanberger-hashmi-jones-gov-ltgov-ag
2 months ago
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Results remain unofficial until certified by the state, but Democrat Abigail Spanberger appears set to be Virginia's first female governor. From
@jahd.bsky.social
and
@margaretbarthel.bsky.social
:
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Unofficial: Democrat Abigail Spanberger wins in Virginia
The former congresswoman will become the first woman to head the commonwealth.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-11-04/election-2025-abigail-spanberger-wins-democrat-virginia-governor
2 months ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Jahd Khalil
2 months ago
Follow here for VPM's unofficial results in the race for governor
www.vpm.org/elections/20...
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Unofficial results: Governor
Live results from the governor's race between Winsome Earle-Sears and Abigail Spanberger.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-11-04/election-2025-results-winsome-earle-sears-abigail-spanberger
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POLLS ARE CLOSED (though don't leave if you're in line at a polling location)! Stay tuned with VPM News throughout the night for coverage from races across Virginia.
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Virginia's 2025 elections by VPM News
VPM News provides comprehensive election coverage across local, state, and national races, ensuring you stay updated on every significant electoral event.
https://vpm.org/elections
2 months ago
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Polls close in Virginia in 45 minutes (7 p.m.), but don't leave if you are still waiting in line at 7 — you will be allowed to vote!
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Casting your ballot: Answers to frequent questions about voting in Virginia
And what to do if you're turned away at the polls.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-11-03/virginia-voter-guide-faq-election-day-polling-precincts-provisional
2 months ago
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So, what gets Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates pumped? Their playlists – or at least the public ones – might give some insight into exactly that. Here's a look at songs you might've heard on the campaign trail leading up to today.
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What’s on the playlists of Virginia’s 2025 candidates for governor?
Experts break down Earle-Sears’, Spanberger’s choices of campaign music.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-08-01/election-2025-virginia-governor-playlists-earle-sears-spanberger-patch-williams-sykes
2 months ago
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Yesterday, City Council held a special meeting to formally introduce three resolutions to approve the effort. According to council staff, the legislation will be posted online no later than Nov. 12. The developments aim to add to Richmond’s affordable housing supply.
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RRHA seeks nearly $94M in housing revenue bonds from City Council
The projects aim to add to Richmond’s affordable housing supply.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-11-04/rrha-hud-richmond-city-council-public-affordable-housing
2 months ago
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Happy Election Day, Virginia! Looking for our election coverage today? You can find it all here 👇🏼
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Virginia's 2025 elections by VPM News
VPM News provides comprehensive election coverage across local, state, and national races, ensuring you stay updated on every significant electoral event.
https://www.vpm.org/elections
2 months ago
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On this very special Halloween edition of Curious Commonwealth,
@seanmcgoey.com
asks: "I keep seeing houses in my neighborhood decked out with decorations every bit as insane for Halloween. Has Richmond always been like this?" VPM News found the answer to be… no! Read (and listen) if you dare 👻
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Curious Commonwealth asks: Has Richmond always been a Halloween town?
And is the answer a trick — or a treat?
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-31/curious-commonwealth-richmond-halloween-christmas-holiday-yard-decor
2 months ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Jahd Khalil
2 months ago
Virginia delegates file 2026 redistricting amendment draft
www.vpm.org/generalassem...
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Virginia delegates file 2026 redistricting amendment draft
Four Democrats filed the resolution Tuesday afternoon.
https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2025-10-28/hj6007-rodney-willett-virginia-congressional-district-amendment-2026
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DEVELOPING: Virginia delegates file 2026 redistricting amendment draft by
@jahd.bsky.social
#VApol
#generalassembly
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Virginia delegates file 2026 redistricting amendment draft
Four Democrats filed the resolution Tuesday afternoon.
https://www.vpm.org/generalassembly/2025-10-28/hj6007-rodney-willett-virginia-congressional-district-amendment-2026
2 months ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Jahd Khalil
2 months ago
Here it is, folks. In the procedural resolution for what can be considered in Virginia's meeting this week "joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia related to reapportionment or redistricting may be offered."
lis.virginia.gov/bill-details...
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HJ6006 - 2024 Special Session I | LIS
https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20242/HJ6006/text/HJ6006
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The state House clerk notified legislators in a letter Thursday afternoon that the session being called is, technically, part of the 2024 General Assembly special session — which remains active. The letter does not state outright that the topic will be electoral map redistricting.
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Statehouse Democrats announce special session
The move may reshape Virginia's US House districts before the midterms.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-23/general-assembly-2026-midterm-election-congress-surovell-scott-trump
3 months ago
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UVA became the first public university and the fifth school overall to reject the compact. At a press conference prior to Friday's protest, education professor Walt Heinecke called the compact the most significant threat to the mission of higher education since the McCarthy era.
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'We reject the compact': UVA community speaks out at National Day of Action
The school in Charlottesville is the first public university to say no.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-17/uva-compact-mahoney-mullins-rubenstein-heinecke-dickerson-tobias
3 months ago
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BREAKING: The University of Virginia has become the fifth school to reject the "Compact for Academic Excellence" that was initially sent to nine universities.
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UVA rejects Trump administration’s ‘Compact for Academic Excellence'
"We will continue to work to strengthen free expression and free inquiry in an increasingly polarized world."
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-17/uva-trump-compact-academic-excellence-cville-mahoney-surovell-lucas-locke
3 months ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Meghin Moore
3 months ago
Today: me,
@hannahdavisreid.bsky.social
and
@theshabomb.com
will be at UVA for the Rally Against the Compact for
@vpm.org
. Here's to...a day.
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In their first and only public debate in the election for Virginia's attorney general, former Del. Jay Jones said the race was about President Donald Trump — while incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares said the race was about Jones.
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Jones and Miyares debate Virginia AG's role in civil rights, justice reform
The Virginia Bar Association sponsored Thursday's event in Richmond.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-10-16/jason-miyares-jay-jones-attorney-general-gilbert-texts-donald-trump
3 months ago
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Hey, Virginia! It's time for the attorney general debate between Jason Miyares (R) and Jay Jones (D) at the University of Richmond. U of R's livestream is available here
#VApol
#2025election
#Virginia
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Virginia Attorney General Debate 2025 - School of Law - University of Richmond
https://law.richmond.edu/about/community_events/AG-Debate-2025.html
3 months ago
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Richmond City Council voted Monday to keep the real estate tax rate at $1.20 per $100 of assessed value for 2026. They postponed the vote back in September; read
@deanmirshahi.bsky.social
's related story for more!
#RVA
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Richmond City Council maintains real estate tax rates for 2026
Updated: Council ultimately backed Mayor Danny Avula's proposal.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-09-23/rva-2026-real-estate-tax-trammell-abubaker-gibson-avula
3 months ago
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reposted by
VPM News
ELLIOTTrobinson
3 months ago
Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration is not providing Virginia legislators or the public details of hundreds of millions of dollars of paused federal grants, according to records requests and documents acquired by
@vpm.org
and
@wamu.org
.
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Youngkin administration keeps details of paused federal grants under wraps
The governor's office has twice cited "working papers" in response to records requests.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-14/youngkin-administration-keeps-details-of-paused-federal-grants-under-wraps
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The federal government has started reductions in force, or RIFs, across federal agencies today. We want to hear from you if you’ve received a RIF letter — or if you know someone who works in the federal government and has been affected. DM us or email:
[email protected]
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Have you been laid off during the government shutdown? VPM News wants to hear from you.
White House budget director Russell Vought posted that layoffs began Friday.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-10/federal-shutdown-job-layoffs-rif-donald-trump-russell-vought-omb
3 months ago
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VPM News reached out to all six statewide candidates — Gov., Lt. Gov., AG — for in-person interviews at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Fmr. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger spoke about the importance of creating jobs, improving public education and addressing affordability.
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Abigail Spanberger: Governor needs to be 'steady' amid federal uncertainty
"It's an issue of leadership at this moment where we see chaos coming out of Washington."
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-09-23/election-2025-abigail-spanberger-governor-earle-sears-jobs-energy-education
3 months ago
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VPM News reached out to all six statewide candidates — Gov., Lt. Gov., AG — for in-person interviews at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' campaign did not agree to an interview, so we used known info about her public stances, statements + policy positions.
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VPM News' interview questions for Winsome Earle-Sears
The Lt. Gov.'s gubernatorial campaign did not agree to speak with VPM News.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-09-22/election-2025-winsome-earle-sears-governor-spanberger-energy-jobs-schools
3 months ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears also did not agree to an interview with VPM News. We're sharing the questions we would have asked her and using known information about her background and public stances to inform voters about where she falls on key issues like education and federal job cuts.
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VPM News' interview questions for Winsome Earle-Sears
The Lt. Gov.'s gubernatorial campaign did not agree to speak with VPM News.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-09-22/election-2025-winsome-earle-sears-governor-spanberger-energy-jobs-schools
3 months ago
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reposted by
VPM News
Abigail Spanberger (Dem., Governor): "You cannot contend with threats to your economy, you cannot contend with real fiscal issues, if you don't even assess them as real — or if you are choosing ... to put loyalty to a president and his talking points above the real economic impact on Virginians."
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Abigail Spanberger: Governor needs to be 'steady' amid federal uncertainty
"It's an issue of leadership at this moment where we see chaos coming out of Washington."
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-09-23/election-2025-abigail-spanberger-governor-earle-sears-jobs-energy-education
3 months ago
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260+ homes in Hanover County have already been connected to new broadband internet service via the Connect Hanover initiative, but the project may face another set of delays as it nears completion.
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Hanover County broadband expansion plan faces new delays
A key partner needs additional easements and permits to move forward.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-09/connect-hanover-broadband-expansion-delays-all-points-kilduff-dibble-herzberg
3 months ago
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Democrat Abigail Spanberger is making a push for rural votes in the weeks leading up to Election Day: "You can't win in rural areas, but you can lose in rural areas," says one gov. campaign worker.
www.vpm.org/elections/20...
via
@jahd.bsky.social
#VAPol
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Spanberger makes play for rural voters in Virginia governor's race
The former congresswoman is campaigning on affordable health care amid federal cuts.
https://www.vpm.org/elections/2025-10-07/election-2025-rural-voters-va-gov-spanberger-earle-sears-medicaid-agriculture
3 months ago
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Some good MEWS: After a little adventure down to North Carolina, Francine is HOME! She visited the vet today and received a clean bill of health ❤️
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Francine, the West Broad Street Lowe’s cat, is back in Richmond
She was found Monday morning in a distribution center in North Carolina.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-06/francine-west-broad-lowes-cat-rva-garysburg-nc-schneider-salazar
3 months ago
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Tavares Floyd — whose 2024 campaign for Richmond City Council drew scrutiny after the accuracy of his campaign finance filings was questioned — was indicted Monday on four counts of felony election fraud. If convicted on the four Class 5 felony charges, Floyd could get up to 40 years in prison.
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Tavares Floyd indicted on election fraud charges
A grand jury determined Monday that the case against Floyd could move forward.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-06/tavares-floyd-indicted-election-fraud-vsp-mceachin-robertson
3 months ago
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Albemarle County Circuit Court Clerk Jon Zug told VPM News that there’s “no doubt” that the April detentions have had a chilling effect in the months following, with everyone from court interpreters to crime victims uneasy about engaging with the court for fear of being detained.
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Albemarle clerk fears courthouse ICE raid had chilling effect on legal system
He told VPM News court staff and victims are scared of being detained.
https://www.vpm.org/news/2025-10-03/albemarle-courthouse-charlottesville-ice-immigration-raids-jon-zug
3 months ago
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