As a sovereign nations, Tribes in Virginia have the right to consult with state agencies on certain environmental permits and reviews.

This week, the Rappahannock Tribe said that didn’t happen with two projects related to the Rappahannock River. 

Pamela D’Angelo reports.

A hundred years ago, pianos were a fixture in many American homes.  More than 300,000 of them were sold in 1925, but today the number has fallen to under 18,000.  

Electronic keyboard sales outnumber acoustics ten to one.  They’re cheaper and easier to maintain.  But one man in Virginia says he still keeps busy ensuring existing instruments – which can last a hundred years or more – stay in tune.  

Sandy Hausman spoke with him and filed this report.

For some, it’s an inconvenience.  But for others, it could make or break their case.

A bill in the General Assembly could change what you can bring into a courthouse.

Michael Pope explains.

We wrap up some political loose ends from 2025 while setting the stage for a new administration in 2026.

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

As Governor-elect, Abigail Spanberger appoints more people to positions of power than any other state in the country.

Michael Pope explains why it happens that way.

A recent College Board survey found the majority of high schoolers use Generative A-I tools, such as Chat GPT, for schoolwork, even though nearly half of American schools restrict its use.

As educators struggle to keep pace with AI, one rural Virginia school system is embracing it.

Christine Kueter explains.

The future is looking bright for solar energy in Virginia.

Michael Pope reports about one initiative members of the General Assembly are about to consider.

On New Year’s Day, parking is free at all Virginia State Park locations, and there are there are nearly 90 guided hikes and other events planned across the Commonwealth.

Roxy Todd has the details.

Artificial intelligence is just about everywhere these days, and that includes inside – and outside – Virginia classrooms.

As legislators head to Richmond, they have a myriad of issues to tackle, including how the Commonwealth’s schools and colleges should use or encourage the tool’s use.

Brad Kutner has this report. 

The highest-profile Republican hoping to take on incumbent Senator Mark Warner is out of the race.

Michael Pope explains.

Virginia’s outgoing governor has one more chance to cement his legacy—a budget.

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

By early 2026, the Trump administration is poised to shift how many and who among the world’s 43-million refugees is eligible to resettle in a country once known as the world’s melting pot.

That’s leaving refugees and refugee advocates in Central Virginia collectively holding their breath, as Christine Kueter reports.

State Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg has filed legislation that would direct Virginia to rejoin the Electronic Registration Information Center — known as ERIC.

It’s a multistate data-sharing consortium the Commonwealth withdrew from in 2023.

Dave Cantor has more.

The United States Capitol now has a new statue representing Virginia.

Michael Pope has more from Capitol Hill.

Changes to student loan programs and the so-called demographic cliff are set to impact Virginia college’s enrollment numbers, according to members of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

Brad Kutner explains.

Rising power bills are causing increasing anxiety across Virginia, although opinions are divided about the reason for the increase and potential solutions. 

Michael Pope tells us about one approach that is expected to be considered Tuesday in Congress.

Towns and cities across Virginia are now required to test for levels of PFAS in public water. But much less is known about whether forever chemicals may be in well water.

A recent study has some answers on this, as Roxy Todd explains.

Recent state reports and the upcoming legislative session could mean changes for how the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice is operated.

Dave Cantor has more.

In Virginia, every year is an election year. And the primaries for the congressional midterms are only a few months away.

Michael Pope tells us about the bumper crop of candidates challenging Republican incumbents.

Kudzu. Spotted Lanternfly. Blue catfish.

These are just a few of the invasive species that spread fast and outcompete Virginia’s native plants and animals.

Ecology students at Virginia Tech recently hosted a potluck featuring dishes with invasive ingredients.

Roxy Todd stopped by, and she reports the food was …actually quite delicious.

Virginia’s Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger is starting to give us an idea of what her term might look like. 

At an event with Politico Tuesday evening, she answered questions about her interest in working with President Donald Trump.  And the two appear to be on opposite sides of the nation’s issues, as Brad Kutner reports. 

The November election for the House of Delegates saw record-breaking numbers for campaign finance.

Michael Pope has the details.

The State Crime Commission will determine how and when to notify the families of eight individuals executed by the commonwealth whose trials involved Mary Jane Burton.

Burton was the late state forensic scientist who allegedly mishandled evidence and offered inaccurate court testimony.

Dave Cantor has more.

Members of the Virginia General Assembly may be on the verge of debating a contentious labor issue.

Then again, as Michael Pope tells us, they might pass on the opportunity to have a debate at all.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s cabinet is coming into focus.

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

A new poll reveals a partisan dimension to what people think about opinion research. Michael Pope reports.

Scientists in Virginia are seeing an uptick in bears with mange.

This disease is fairly common in other states and has been spreading throughout the Commonwealth in recent years.

Roxy Todd spoke with two experts who are following the spread of this disease, which can kill bears.

A statewide climate assessment recently issued by George Mason University highlights a number of changing environmental issues affecting the state.

Health, the economy and farming will be impacted by higher temperatures, sea-level rise and more precipitation, the report said.

As President Donald Trump’s second term nears the one-year mark, policies he’s implemented will affect how that plays out.

Dave Cantor has more.

As we close the books on November, Governor Glenn Youngkin is moving into the final weeks of his term.

Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope look ahead to the next General Assembly session.

This is Native American Heritage month where we take time to recognize the history, culture, contributions and achievements of Indigenous people.

For many of the Tribes in Virginia it’s a way to educate the public and to heal centuries of trauma.

Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Ahead of the 2026 General Assembly session, elected officials gathered in different parts of the state to hear budget forecasts this week. Democrats, who are now in control of all three branches of Virginia’s government, are bracing for stark cuts and a slowed economy. Brad Kutner has this report.

Democrats who control the Virginia Senate are rolling out their list of priorities.

Michael Pope has the latest.

Now that November’s election tallies have been finalized, it’s becoming clearer which candidates over-performed, or under-performed, their party’s standard bearer at the top of the ticket.

Michael Pope has more on the numbers.

Endings and beginnings highlighted the political talk over the past few days.

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

Members of the Virginia National Guard have received special training as part of a “reaction force” that’s expected to quickly respond to civil unrest or natural disasters.

Dave Cantor has more.

Virginia is about to get a bit older, according to the latest demographic projections.

Michael Pope has the numbers.

Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger and the Commonwealths’ two senators are split on a deal working its way through Congress to reopen the government.

Brad Kutner has this story.

A nonpartisan state report issued today/Monday said people who participated in education programs run by the Virginia Department of Corrections were less likely to be rearrested after release.

They also were more likely to find employment and earn a higher wage than those who weren’t enrolled in classes.

Dave Cantor has more.

Speaker of the House of Delegates Don Scott is about to have 64-seat majority.

Michael Pope tells us about the last time Democrats had a majority that large.

Now that the election is over, what lies ahead for Abigail Spanberger and Glenn Youngkin?

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

It’s been about a year and half since a fire consumed a building at the Twin Oaks Community that housed its decades-old hammock business.

The destruction of one of the intentional community’s main revenue generators means the Louisa County commune’s been trying to figure out what’s next.

Dave Cantor has more.

On Saturday, more than 800,000 Virginians began to lose out on benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — a byproduct of the federal government shutdown.

Complicating the issue is that the U.S. Department of Agriculture this spring cut funding and canceled delivery of millions of pounds of food to food banks across the country — including to Virginia.

Dave Cantor explains.

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.