The fight over access to reproductive health is not just a policy issue.

As Michael Pope points out, it’s also a budget issue.

The word ‘lobbyist’ can have some pretty negative connotations.

But in Virginia, where a part time legislature leaves little time for elected officials to dive deep into complex subjects, they serve an important role.

Brad Kutner has more from Richmond.

Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin is entering the last half of his time in office by unveiling a budget proposal aimed at cutting taxes.

Michael Pope reports.

Virginia Democrats got a first look at Governor Glenn Youngkin’s budget Wednesday morning.  But they’re already expressing concerns.

Brad Kutner has more from Richmond. 

A theater professor at Radford University recently launched a podcast, called Staying Me, While Being You. It’s about mental health, specifically for actors and theater students. But the lessons are universal. 

A recent episode features a Radford graduate, who says being true to herself was important for her mental health.

Roxy Todd reports.

Legal services can cost hundreds of dollars per hour, but courts are supposed to assign lower-income defendants a lawyer at no charge.  At least that’s what you might think. 

In fact, a new study from the Legal Aid Justice Center shows poor people are being billed for a public defender.

Sandy Hausman has that story.

There are many ways we celebrate during the holidays, and shopping for gifts and food is on most people’s to-do lists.

It can be a whirlwind to pack it all in. A sustainability expert says it’s worth considering what all this abundance of buying does to our air and water?

Roxy Todd got some tips on how we can keep the holiday spirit and be gentler on the planet.

The governor is hoping his proposals for a big arena development and his upcoming budget will be slam dunks.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

There will be a lot of new faces in new General Assembly session.  But some familiar characters are staying put.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

A multi-state, bipartisan effort is in the works to bring more seasonal workers from other countries to process seafood.

Pamela D’Angelo has more on how that will impact Virginia.

2023 is drawing to a close and a lot of political eyes are already looking ahead to 2024.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

For the first time in its 200-year history, the Library of Virginia is collaborating with state and federally-recognized Tribes to present historic documents alongside interviews with tribal members and items loaned by Tribes.

Pamela D’Angelo has this preview.

Next month, Governor Glenn Youngkin will send a proposed budget to the General Assembly.

Michael Pope has this preview.

Congresswoman Jennifer McLellan was promoting the state’s new healthcare exchange this/Monday afternoon.

It’s designed to increase coverage and reduce costs as a replacement for the federal Obamacare-era marketplace, as Brad Kutner reports. 

With Democrats in control of the legislature and a Republican in the governor’s mansion, what can we expect to see from Virginia’s government?

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope look ahead to the 2024 General Assembly session.

There’s new leadership in the General Assembly.  So how will that impact Governor Glenn Youngkin and his upcoming budget plan?

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Republicans are preparing for a General Assembly session where they will be in the minority.

Michael Pope reports they’ll still have the potential to wield power.

The Virginia Commission on Youth is considering recommending changes to the state’s foster care system.

Some of their suggestions include more support for social service workers, as well as educational resources to help more foster care youth graduate from 4-year-institutions.

Roxy Todd explains.

The votes have been cast and counted.  So what can we expect from the new General Assembly?

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

In 2021, Virginia redrew its congressional and state legislative maps.

And while Governor Glenn Youngkin’s “parent’s matter” slogan may not have won him the majorities he wanted, political analysts are saying it’s those new district lines that really matter.

Brad Kutner explains. 

There was a time when many boys in this country aspired to be firemen.  Today, young women also want the job, but overall far fewer people are applying.  Here in Virginia, departments are changing to attract enough applicants. 

Sandy Hausman reports on how they’re appealing to potential recruits.

Governor Glenn Youngkin held his first news conference after the state’s Republican party lost control of both the House and Senate Tuesday night.

Brad Kutner was at the capitol steps where Youngkin spoke. 

Election 2023 brought some big changes to Virginia’s General Assembly.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the results and fallout from Election Day.

With all 140 seats in the General Assembly on the ballot, Democrats were able to maintain control of the Senate and win control of the House.

Michael Pope and Brad Kutner have reaction from both parties.

We start with Michael Pope who was with Democrats in Richmond

As Virginians vote today, they’ll use a number of voting machines and systems. 

One national voting security group says Virginia is at the forefront of secure elections.

Brad Kutner has more. 

Virginia voters on this election day have one last chance to decide whether Democrats or Republicans will control the General Assembly.

This is the first contest since new election maps were drawn. And that led to some confusion for a few voters, as Joe Staniunas reports.

The clock is ticking down on Election 2023.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

When it comes to holiday spending – Halloween ranks near the top of the list. 

Roben Farzad, host of Public Radio’s Full Disclosure, and Craig Wright talk about the marketing of Halloween and the scary sums of money Americans spend on the business of trick-or-treating! 

With just over a week left in the 2023 election season, campaigns are in high gear.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

When the COVID pandemic hit, hospitals and healthcare systems were forced to quickly mobilize – putting their normal business practices on hold to address the crisis.

Roben Farzad, host of Public Radio’s Full Disclosure, and Craig Wright talk about the lingering financial impact as hospitals across Virginia and the country continue to recover.

Virginia’s legislative elections are coming on fast, and the cash is flowing.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

This weekend marks the return of Virginia’s sales tax holiday. 

Michael Pope tells us what’s covered and why it’s two months late.

Dominion Energy and other electric utilities around the Commonwealth are spending big money to improve the power grid, and set the state up for new technology like solar.

Brad Kutner caught up with one repair team in Richmond’s Southside. 

A new poll is shedding some light on issues currently before voters.

Michael Pope has details.

Democrats hold a slim majority in the state Senate, although voters will determine if they are able to keep it.

Michael Pope has this look at how the Senate Democrats hope to hold the chamber.

During and after the pandemic federal dollars flowed into Virginia to help support childcare services.

But that federal money is about to run out leaving Virginia’s legislature to figure out how or if to fill the financial hole.

Brad Kutner has more from Richmond. 

Virginians who use temporary public financial support programs are not leaving those programs according to a new report from the state’s bipartisan research commission.

Elected officials and the report itself blame companies and the system, not those receiving benefits, for the flaws.

Brad Kutner has more. 

As Election Day nears, campaigns are going into high gear and a new legislative office complex is opening its doors.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

The trend of unions flexing their collective strength continues as Virginia Kaiser Permanente workers joined others across the country in walking off the job last week. 

Roben Farzad, host of Public Radio’s Full Disclosure, and Craig Wright talk about the factors at play leading to the surge in this negotiating tactic. 

Political drama in Washington, and its potential impact in Virginia, made headlines over the past week.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Roanoke honored a pivotal figure in modern medicine Wednesday.

David Seidel reports the contributions of Henrietta Lacks went largely unrecognized for decades.

In the proverbial eleventh hour, the latest threatened shutdown of the government was averted – for now. 

Roben Farzad, host of Public Radio’s Full Disclosure, and Craig Wright discuss why Virginia has more riding on seeing a long-term spending agreement being reached before the stopgap measure runs out.

Two years ago Democrats, then in control of the General Assembly and the Governor’s mansion, changed the legal landscape for those appealing their criminal convictions.

As part of a broader criminal justice reform effort, the Court of Appeals of Virginia had its jurisdiction and bench expanded for the first time since its inception 30 years ago.

Now, lawyers and legislators are looking back on how that’s impacted justice.

Brad Kutner has more from Richmond. 

All 140 seats in the General Assembly are up for election in November.  But just a handful will likely determine which party controls the House of Delegates and the Senate.

Jeff Schapiro, political columnist at the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Michael Pope give us an idea of what’s going on in these toss-up races.

The United Auto Workers strike, now in its second week, has expanded to include parts distribution centers – and shows no signs of ending anytime soon. 

Roben Farzad, host of Public Radio’s Full Disclosure, and Craig Wright talk about how the production stoppage is likely to affect both auto industry workers and consumers across Virginia. 

According to a report by Virginia State Police, 40 people were arrested for driving while under the influence of marijuana in 2022.

New research out of Virginia Commonwealth University could contribute to even more arrests in the years to come.

Brad Kutner has more from Richmond.

Several invasive insect species are killing trees and plants. Most of these bugs came from Asia, and are now spreading across the United States.

Adelgids are attacking Hemlock trees, spotted lanternfly are going after grapes.

But scientists are also using bugs to help combat the spread of some of these pests?

To learn more, Roxy Todd went to visit Grayson Highlands State Park, just a few miles from North Carolina. It’s home to some of the state’s most rare, and unique, forest ecosystems.

A library in Front Royal that made headlines after fights over LGBTQ content will remain open.

An agreement between Warren County and the Samuels Public Library will keep the facility running past the 2023 election, but the fight is far from over.

Brad Kutner has more. 

Many citizens of Afghanistan who served alongside U. S. soldiers left the country after the Taliban took over in 2021, to avoid being imprisoned or killed. Others tried to leave but couldn’t, or chose not to because they wanted to stay with family.

Seven women who were part of a special military unit did get out and resettled in Blacksburg.

Roxy Todd reports they’re now advocating for their family and colleagues who are still in Afghanistan.

At their annual Sovereignty Conference, federally-recognized Tribes in Virginia welcomed another female chief, discussed green economic development on tribal lands, and a new kind of conservation easement.

Pamela D’Angelo has more.

Researchers at Virginia Tech have found a way to use coal to create a “super material” known as graphene.
Roxy Todd reports visited the lab to see the process at work.

What started off as an idea by a couple of guys in San Francisco who were having trouble paying the rent in 2008 – eventually became what we now know as Airbnb. 

In just fifteen years, the company is now valued at over $90 billion.  But not all cities and neighborhoods are excited about short-term rentals.

Roben Farzad, host of Public Radio’s Full Disclosure, and Craig Wright talk about how new rules and regulations are changing the Airbnb game.