In Charlottesville, plans are underway on a low-barrier shelter, as well as a mixed-use development and affordable housing project. www.vpm.org/news/2026-03...

UVA's provost search has been put on hold. “This is a difficult decision, but I believe it will help us achieve a better outcome in the long term, ensure institutional stability, and continue building trust in our community,” University President Scott C. Beardsley said.

About a decade after Zyahna Bryant, then a 15-year-old, led the push to remove Confederate imagery from Charlottesville, the JSAAHC presented 3 proposals for Swords into Plowshares, a project created to repurpose the bronze from the melted-down statue of Robert E. Lee. www.vpm.org/news/2026-03...

We worked hard at the @jsaahccville.bsky.social on this new Storymap, and are really excited to share it with the world. It frames the history of the statues in Charlottesville through the lens of our City Parks—many of which are on former plantations. storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/696e...

Per Facebook, looks like ACPS is on an early dismissal schedule tomorrow.

No device was found at UVA per the latest UVA Alert. "BOMB THREAT cleared. No device found. Shannon and Clemons Libraries are returning to normal operations. You may resume normal activity. No further update."

At least three colleges in Virginia are investigating ongoing bomb threats at on-campus libraries Friday. As of 1:15 p.m., the University of Virginia, George Mason University and Bridgewater College had all received bomb threats, according to their respective schools. www.vpm.org/news/2026-03...

Charlottesville’s school board unanimously approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the Charlottesville Education Association for support staff at its meeting last Thursday. www.vpm.org/news/2026-03...

Charlottesville City Council heard fiscal year 2027 budget presentations from both the city administration and Charlottesville City Schools at Monday’s meeting. www.vpm.org/news/2026-03...

The Charlottesville City Council adopted minor amendments to the zoning code in a 4–1 vote on Tuesday, but some residents said the changes didn’t go far enough. www.vpm.org/news/2026-02...

Virginia Democrats came into the 2026 session with a budget squeezed by increasing health care costs+federal funding cuts, after a historic election defined by the theme of affordability. Gov. Abigail Spanberger also threw her support behind a few dozen bills, dubbed the Affordable Virginia Agenda.

The University of Virginia submitted its first quarterly report to the US Department of Justice as part of an agreement to halt federal investigations into the school’s DEI practices in late December. But some School of Nursing faculty say part of what the public university reported isn’t accurate.

Two bills aimed at establishing a "right to repair" — one for devices with digital components, the other for farm equipment — failed without a hearing this year. They were proposed in response to increasingly difficult equipment repairs, as software and complicated circuitry have become commonplace

ICYMI live wamu.org/story/26/02/...

A negotiated pay raise for support staff working in Charlottesville City Schools is back in the upcoming budget — despite an effort by the school board to backtrack on its agreement.

Virginia legislators are considering a $36 million budget amendment to expand a gun violence prevention program that researchers say has been a good investment. www.vpm.org/generalassem...

The new congressional map that Virginia Democrats are proposing is here. Here is a link to data tables with racial, ethnic, and political breakdown. lis.blob.core.windows.net/lisfiles/202...

Va. lawmakers unveiled a proposed congressional map designed to help Democrats win four more seats in the US House of Representatives in the fall midterms. The map and demographic information was posted Thursday evening as a proposed amendment to the current budget.

Gov Spanberger has directed Virginia’s state law enforcement agencies to end 287g agreements with ICE, saying the agreements "improperly cede accountability and discretion over VA law enforcement" to the feds.

Before the storm slammed the area, The Haven raised over $100,000 in emergency funds for hotel rooms. Over 90 people were hoteled, some of them learning about the option from PIT count volunteers. www.vpm.org/news/2026-02...

The Hanover County property that federal immigration officials wanted to buy and convert into an immigrant processing and detention center is no longer for sale, according to a statement released by the Canadian-based developer that owns it.

STEPS (Support, Trust, Employment, Perseverance, Strength) is the brainchild of Khatool Masoudi, who couldn’t find a local group for refugee women when she arrived in the US with her family in 2014 on a special immigrant visa— so she decided to create one. www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

Here's a list of closures (but not delays!) for tomorrow because...the weather has not been great.

We also have a list of resources and emergency hotlines and alert system signups available on our website.

Despite what a post said on the Charlottesville subreddit, a local Waffle House will be open through the winter storm. Shelley Herring, who works in customer service at the location, said the restaurant will be open this weekend. “We are nonstop, 24/7,” Herring told VPM News on Friday.

Charlottesville residents told city officials last week during a series of community forums exactly how they want their tax dollars to be spent in the upcoming fiscal year. This isn’t Charlottesville’s first budget forum, but it is its first using Monopoly money. www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

Walter Plecker, Virginia's first registrar for the Bureau of Vital Statistics, erased Indigenous people from records through the mid-1940s, leading to all but one of the 11 state-recognized tribes being unable to provide proof of continued existence since 1900 to the US Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Friends, family and fans of Harris packed Monday’s City Council meeting, where council members acknowledged Harris’ “extraordinary life and enduring legacy” with a proclamation naming him a visionary leader, storyteller and son of the 10th and Page community. www.vpm.org/news/2026-01...

The University of Virginia's Board of Visitors named a new president Friday — despite Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger asking it to pause the search until she filled multiple vacant board seats. www.vpm.org/news/2025-12...

Do you have upcoming travel plans? AAA predicts that this year's holiday travel will break last year's record and set a new 24-year high. I talked to AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson Morgan Dean about what to expect ahead of the holidays. www.vpm.org/news/2025-12...

Challengers are lining up early for the 2026 race for Virginia's 5th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives. www.vpm.org/elections/20...

Oatmeal the Third is lit! 🎄 Thank you to everyone who visited VPM’s open house last night! We had the best chats (and cider and cookies)

We decorated the downtown office!

Why it matters

Charlottesville wants to improve the Barracks Road and Emmet Street intersection by adding new turning lanes, a bike trail that connects to other bike paths in the city and by constructing a pedestrian-friendly median. www.vpm.org/news/2025-12...

I love that the drunk raccoon feel good story is making the rounds to every single national outlet, literally the perfect ambassador for our state. we should put him on the flag next to Virtue

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...

Hi from me and my editors!! VPM creates a daily podcast on news from around Virginia and we totally think you should tune in :)

RESULTS! ARE! COMING! IN! You too can be a giant nerd by following along here: enr.elections.virginia.gov/results/publ...

Newest alert just went out, saying UPD is on even at Shannon.

Active attacker alert at UVA ongoing

Happy howl-oween from VPM!! The doggie howl-oween on the downtown mall today was the cutest 🥹

Charlottesville City Council unanimously agreed at its meeting Monday to settle a lawsuit challenging a December 2023 zoning ordinance meant to provide more residential density to the city. www.vpm.org/news/2025-10...

The University of Virginia became the first public university and fifth overall to publicly reject the US Department of Education's "Compact for Academic Excellence.” #virginia #uva #charlottesville #highered #publicmedia #wahoowa #gohoos #education

With two weeks left to cast an early ballot, VPM News has compiled information on the satellite early voting locations available in Central Virginia. www.vpm.org/elections/20...

UVA Student Council President Clay Dickerson had a lot to say at yesterday's protest. His reaction after the compact was rejected is just...delightful. "After UVA had officially rejected the compact, VPM News reached back out to Dickerson for a reaction. He responded via text: 'Wooohooo.'"

Today, UVA became the first public university and the fifth school overall to reject the compact, which requires schools that sign to adhere to a set of standards laid out by the White House in order to receive preferential federal funding. www.vpm.org/news/2025-10...

BREAKING: The University of Virginia has become the fifth school to reject the "Compact for Academic Excellence" that was initially sent to nine universities.

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.

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]