There’s been no shortage of news coming from the capitol in the last few days.

Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

With the federal government shut down nearing the one-month mark, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, runs out of money this Saturday. That’s several days before state emergency funds are poised to fill the gap.

At a Louisa County food bank, there’s no pause in traffic from residents seeking help to put food on the table.

Christine Kueter reports.

Leadership in Virginia’s House of Delegates offered competing versions of the future if Virginia goes forward with a redistricting plan to counter President Donald Trump’s pressure on other states.

Brad Kutner has this report.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Democrats revealed their proposed language to allow Virginia to change its Congressional boundaries.

The proposed change could only be used if other states redistrict outside the normal process that follows every census.  It would also expire in 2030, presumably turning the process back over to the bipartisan redistricting commission.

Meanwhile, partisan finger-pointing was the order of the day in the state senate, as Michael Pope reports.

Virginia Democrats released the language of the proposed constitutional amendment Tuesday.

It could allow the legislature to redraw the Commonwealth’s congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Brad Kutner has this report.

There have been plenty of October Surprises in this campaign season.   Now the latest surprise is about redistricting.

Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Staffing in Virginia’s two U. S. Attorney offices has seen noticeable changes since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term in office. 

Some of that’s to be expected when a new administration begins, though some legal observers say what’s happening is very different.

Dave Cantor has more.

As the government shutdown enters a fourth week, hunger is a growing concern as grocery bills remain high and federal assistance programs run out of money.

Michael Pope reports.

Virginia began legalizing casinos in 2020 with the first wager cast in 2022.

Now, years later, there are three fully functioning casino sites in Bristol, Danville and Portsmouth, and more on the way.

And while recent gambling revenue numbers have dipped across the state, elected officials are holding judgement as more casinos are expected to be considered.

Brad Kutner has this report.

Economists are expecting Virginia’s unemployment to increase.

Michael Pope has the numbers.

The Virginia House of Delegates’ money committee met Monday morning.

While representatives from the governor painted a rosy picture of the Commonwealth’s financial future, uncertainty continues to plague economic forecasts.

Brad Kutner has this report. 

Candidates for attorney general were on stage together Thursday night for a debate in Richmond. Michael Pope reports.

Virginia was among the states that recently lost federal grant funding for a renewable energy program called Solar for All.

The state’s Clean Energy Advisory Board met this week to discuss alternative sources of income for similar projects.

Dave Cantor has more.

A recent tour of a new power solution manufacturing facility in Henrico County is putting the spotlight on just how much power data centers will demand in the near future.

And while both of Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates know the Commonwealth’s economic future is likely linked to growing data center demand, they have different ideas on how to power it.

Brad Kutner has this report 

Candidates for attorney general will meet in Richmond Thursday for a debate.

Michael Pope has this preview.

One high-stakes debate down, another to go.

Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

With the per-ounce price of gold exceeding record highs, and silver hitting prices not seen since in almost 50 years, collectors and coin dealers are cashing in.

Christine Kueter reports.

Virginia’s decriminalization of marijuana possession has led to a thriving illicit market throughout the Commonwealth.

Brad Kutner says elected officials are expressing more concern. 

Since October arrived on the calendar, the election has been rocked with several surprises.

The Republican candidate for lieutenant governor is facing allegations of Nazi fetishism. 

And the Democrat running for attorney general faced questions about a reckless driving conviction.

That is, until another October surprise hit, as Michael Pope tells us.  

Experts are calling it a “demographic cliff.” That’s the point in the next few years where a decline in births after 2007 will start to impact college enrollment.

And as Brad Kutner found out Monday morning, elected officials in Richmond are already starting to worry about it. 

Interest groups supporting the gambling industry are making big investments in the Virginia election this year.

Michael Pope reports.

Indian lands across the country are being encroached on by pipelines, fracking, data centers and other industries.

In Virginia, the Rappahannock Tribe joined a handful of Tribal Nations in the U.S. that are recognizing the constitutional rights of nature. Now, they’re ready to defend that right for their river as Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Are federal issues making an impression on Virginia voters?

Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Striped bass are one of the most ecologically and economically important species of the Chesapeake Bay and up and down the Atlantic Coast. Back in the late ‘70s their numbers were decimated in the Bay by overfishing, degradation of their habitat and warming waters. Fisheries managers stepped in and cut harvests and the fish recovered.

But, it’s happening again.

This time, fingers are being pointed and tempers are flaring, as Pamela D’Angelo reports.