Earlier today, Virginia’s Senior Senator, Mark Warner, appeared on the public radio program  “HearSay with Cathy Lewis” on WHRV in Hampton Roads. Lewis asked him point blank, if he was planning on a run for Governor…and here’s what he had to say:

With the re-election of President Obama and a Senate controlled by Democrats, it looks like the Affordable Care Act will go forward, but many states aren’t ready – among them, Virginia.   Governor Bob McDonnell says the Commonwealth won’t be setting up an exchange to sell affordable insurance.  Instead, he’ll let the federal government do it.  Sandy Hausman reports on what that means for consumers in Virginia.

The east coast is not the first place you think of when it comes to earthquakes. But U.S. Geological Survey scientists are reporting that last year’s Virginia earthquake was felt over an area 20 times larger than previous research suggested.  Robbie Harris has more.

When Hurricane Sandy crashed into the northeast coast, communities in the Northern Neck of Virginia understood the hardship of flooded homes, fallen trees blocking roads and endless days of no electricity and running water. It didn’t take much for one Reedville man to mobilize residents to help Stirling, New Jersey where he grew up. More from reporter Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Before President Obama was re-elected, gun rights enthusiasts cautioned that if his campaign is successful, his second term might include an executive order that would impose bans on many firearms.  Now that Mr. Obama has won the election, Virginia Public Radio’s  Tommie McNeil looks into whether guns and ammo are flying off the shelves—and if there’s a significant price markup, gun shortage, or effort to circumvent background checks similar to 1994 when Congress passed an “assault weapons” ban.

The holiday shopping season is getting started….. and Kindles and other e-readers are only becoming more popular.  But those who worry that digital reading will overtake physical books should stop by the Virginia Arts of the Book Center in Charlottesville, where community members are preserving old style book making.  Allison Quantz has more.

The Virginia Arts of the Book Center Auction will be held at 5:30 on Friday/Tomorrow/Today, the 9th, at 5:30 in Charlottesville.   For more information visit www.virginiabookarts.org.

The pundits may have been surprised when this state went blue on campaign maps, but at least two people at the University of Virginia were not surprised in the least.  Sandy Hausman reports on how they knew the Commonwealth would stay in President Obama’s camp.

U.S. Senator-elect Tim Kaine says he’s glad Virginians were not swayed by the negative attack ads that flooded the airwaves against him—and instead decided that he is the best person to represent them in Washington.  Kaine says moving forward he has a hefty agenda ahead of him, which includes getting his colleagues to set aside the partisan politics that has plagued Washington.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol. 

Latino support for Democrats helped tip the scales in Virginia. Exit polling suggests Latinos voted two to one for the President.  With his margin of victory here just over a hundred thousand votes, analysts say that may have provided the edge.  Robbie Harris has more.

Some Republicans are still in shock that George Allen lost his hard fought battle to represent Virginians once again in the U-S Senate. Matt Laslo reports from Richmond.

Not a single House seat in Virginia changed hands in Election 2012. Matt Laslo reports from Richmond.

This Election Day, a centuries old lack of communication means we’re not actually casting a vote for President.  Tab O’Neal looks at the Electoral College and whether it is still relevant after being created in the 1780s.

Coal is playing a major role in this year’s political battles both nationally and locally. To understand that in Virginia, just turn on your T-V. But Matt Laslo reports some analysts say this could be coal’s last stand.

Eric Cantor says he never supported it even though he voted for it. Paul Ryan says and did the same. But it’s on the books and it’s coming closer. It’s sequestration…a trillion-dollar package of federal spending cuts set to take effect in January. It would have a profound on the US economy, especially in Virginia. More from Fred Echols.

As NY and NJ brace for the impact of Hurricane Sandy, the worst may have past for coastal Virginia. Our own Sandy, Hausman that is, reports from Hampton Roads.

Hurricane Sandy could make the history books – bringing heavy snows to some areas in October, but our own Sandy – Hausman – reports the storm is surprising for other reasons.

For the last several weeks, Virginia has been experiencing an economic boon.  It’s not because of exports or agriculture, but is the result of some very strategic planning many years ago. Skyline Drive takes tourists on one of the state’s most scenic byways from Northern Virginia to Central Virginia, especially right now during peak fall foliage season.  But if you haven’t experienced one of Virginia’s semi-natural wonders, you’d be remiss not to venture out at least o nce—to a place that some have dubbed “God’s Country.”  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more.

The history of medicine is, to a great extent, a history of doctors, but nurses have stood alongside physicians for centuries – providing some of the most difficult care with little fanfare.  The University of Virginia is hoping to correct that injustice – putting a large and intriguing archive of photographs, documents and tools of the nursing trade online as Sandy Hausman reports.

Richmond is gearing up for glass – lots and lots of glass, created by the world famous artist Dale Chihuly   Thousands of pieces are  on display at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and visitors can toast the show with special Chihuly cocktails as Sandy Hausman reports.

In the last presidential debate, President Obama declared that deep military spending cuts won’t take effect in places like Virginia, but those looming defense cuts are still on the books and they’ve become a centerpiece of the race to fill Virginia’s open U-S Senate seat. Matt Laslo has spent time with both candidates and has this snapshot.

If you’re seeing more campaign ads and enjoying them less these days you’re not alone. Money flowing into Virginia from all over the country has been keeping the partisan volume pumped up for months now.  More from Fred Echols.

A 15-state commission will decide in December whether to sharply reduce fishing harvests of Atlantic menhaden.

The fish, considered vital to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, is the focus of public hearings this month from North Carolina to Maine. Last night, members of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission heard from Virginians in danger of losing their jobs at the only menhaden processing plant left on the East Coast.    Pamela D’Angelo reports.

The transition from summer to fall is not all gem-toned leaves and blue Virginia mountains. It can, unfortunately, be a bit stinky.  Tab O’Neal has the story of a “true” bug.