Archive for category Virginia’s News

Predatory probate lending bill to become a law this summer

This summer, people who come into inheritance money will have new protections against predatory lenders. Michael Pope reports.

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Governor Youngkin’s record-breaking final slate of vetoes

Virginia’s governor is breaking records with the number of vetoes he’s issued. Michael Pope reports.

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The General Assembly is technically still in session…

Members of the General Assembly may have left the Capitol. But as Michael Pope reports, they did NOT adjourn.

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Benefits for families of injured veterans get complicated after Youngkin signs new budget

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ

Democrats and Republicans both gave up something to build a compromise budget for the Commonwealth this week. But changes to a program that supports the education of the family members of injured veterans were among sacrifices that are now causing folks to speak out. Brad Kutner has more from Richmond.

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This week marks 70 years since “massive resistance” to Brown v. Board decision

This week is the 70th anniversary of the Brown versus Board decision that led to the desegregation of public schools in Virginia and across the country. But as Michael Pope reports, it was only the first step in a long process in the Commonwealth.

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Compromise budget includes money to keep tuition rates from spiking

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ

Members of the General Assembly struck a deal and approved a state budget this week. As Michael Pope reports, part of that was new money for higher ed.

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Virginia House and Senate launch inquiries into colleges’ responses to student protests

Dozens of Virginia State Police officers face off with protesters at VCU. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

In addition to passing a budget this week, members of Virginia’s House and Senate launched separate inquiries into how state colleges responded to recent protests on their campuses. Brad Kutner has more from Richmond. 

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State lawmakers agree to raise teacher pay, but there’s a catch

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ

All 140 members of the Virginia General Assembly were back at the Capitol this week to resolve a longstanding feud over the budget. As Michael Pope reports, the compromise includes raises for teachers.

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Compromise budget doesn’t include RGGI provisions

In this 2022 photo, demonstrators in Richmond rallied to support RGGI. (Credit: Appalachian Voices)

Lawmakers came back to Richmond Monday for a special session to approve a budget. And as Michael Pope tells us, the compromise does not include money for an environmental priority of the Democrats.

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Skill games don’t make it into the budget, but advocates may have a glimmer of hope

Back in April, dozens of convenience store owners gathered at the Capitol in yellow shirts in support of legalizing skill games. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Lawmakers were back in Richmond Monday to pass a budget. Michael Pope tells us supporters of skill games are still waiting for on resolution of that issue, though.

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Budget negotiations are happening right now… behind closed doors

Senior lawmakers on the money committees are working behind closed doors with the governor to strike a deal on the budget. Michael Pope has the story.

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Parents of special needs students ask federal appeals court to step into Virginia’s IDEA process

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ

Two northern Virginia families asked a federal appeals court in Richmond to step into the process used to support special needs students in the state’s school system. As Brad Kutner explains, the parents claim the system is designed for their complaints to fail. 

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Demand on Virginia’s free clinics continues to rise as funding cuts loom

Virginia free clinics serve tens of thousands of patients, and many rely on state money for at least a portion of their funding. While the legislature appears poised to give those clinics less money, new numbers show the clinics are in higher demand than ever. Brad Kutner reports.

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How unions are playing into this year’s election cycle

Felicia Boney speaks at a union rally. (Credit: SEIU Virginia 512)

Unions are playing an important role in the primary elections now underway. Michael Pope explains.

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How campaigns spend cash in Virginia is often murky

Campaign finance documents show a handful of competitive primaries for Congress this summer. But as Michael Pope tells us, there’s not a lot of transparency about how the money is used.

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State lawmakers are running out of time to reach a budget agreement

Credit: NPR

Senior leaders of the General Assembly’s money committees are expected to meet with the governor this week to hash out a budget compromise. Michael Pope reports.

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Republicans and their uneven relationship with early voting

Credit: Jahd Khalil

Now that early primary voting has started across Virginia, Republicans are encouraging their voters to get to the polls, even though many of them oppose 45 days of early voting. Michael Pope reports.

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Students speak, chant, blow bubbles and eat pizza at Gaza protest

Students expressed heartbreak over death and destruction in Gaza, but their protest on campus was peaceful. (Credit: Sandy Hausman / Radio IQ)

Students at Virginia Tech, VCU and the University of Mary Washington staged protests earlier this week, prompting the arrest of more than 100 people charged with trespassing. The University of Virginia has, so far, taken a different tack as Sandy Hausman reports.

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A new nuclear energy law will likely mean higher utility bills

Starting this summer, Virginia will have a new law encouraging nuclear energy. Michael Pope has more on how the costs will be covered.

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Early voting for June primaries starts on Friday

Voting for the June primary starts this week. Michael Pope has a preview.

You can find more information about deadlines and other voting details here.

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Reaction to college protests rolls in from state lawmakers

Credit: NPR

Student protests and resulting arrests have upended life at some of Virginia’s universities in recent days. Michael Pope has more on how the state’s political leadership is lining up around the protests.

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VT president says he supports free-speech, but is disappointed with 82 protestors arrested at pro-Palestinian rally

Police arrested dozens of people at a pro-Palestinian protest at Virginia Tech’s campus Sunday April 26th. (Credit: Roxy Todd / Radio IQ)

Virginia Tech Police now say that they arrested 82 people late Sunday night and early Monday when they broke up a days-long protest on campus.

53 are current Virginia Tech students, according to a revised statement. Roxy Todd reports they were charged with trespassing.

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How the EPA’s new rules could impact Virginia

New environmental rules from the federal government may help clear the air here in Virginia. Michael Pope reports.

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Virginia using multi-pronged approach to address teacher vacancies

A map showing Virginia’s school regions with the depth of their teacher vacancy rates. (Credit: Virginia Department of Education)

Virginia wasn’t an outlier in learning or teacher loss in the wake of the pandemic. But new teacher licensure programs, backed with state funds, are hoping to curb the lack of educators parts of the Commonwealth face. Brad Kutner has more from Richmond. 

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Millions of dollars are flowing into primary contests

Primaries for Congress are only a few weeks away, and new fundraising numbers are giving an indication of where the race stands. Michael Pope is looking at the numbers.

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More lab schools approved, but not without some controversy

Governor Glenn Younkin speaks before a crowd at VCU’s School of Engineering, opening the doors to his first STEM-focused lab school. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Governor Glenn Youngkin is still looking to spend $100 million on new lab schools across Virginia, and a handful of applications were approved Thursday. But there were concerns about the viability of at least one of the programs. Brad Kutner has more from Richmond. 

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How AI could help those who care for people with dementia

UVA Professor John Stankovic, graduate student Nan Wang and Professor Hongning Wang developed a system to support those who care for people with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia. (Credit: Dan Addison / University Of Virginia Communications)

Experts have raised alarms about the potential of artificial intelligence to cause problems for humanity, but in the field of medicine it’s already making a positive difference. 

At the University of Virginia, for example, computer scientists are experimenting with a way to help caregivers do a difficult and frustrating job – caring for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Sandy Hausman has that story.

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A nuclear electric utility bill hike may be on the horizon later this year

This summer, a new law will go into effect, and it may mean you pay a higher electric bill. Michael Pope reports that money will go toward development of nuclear power.

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Next year’s lieutenant governor race is already crowded

The Democratic primary for lieutenant governor is heating up – with two high-profile candidates entering the race this week. Michael Pope has the latest.

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Supreme Court of Virginia sides with former inmate on earned sentence credits case

Credit: Jahd Khalil

People who are incarcerated might be able to get out of prison earlier now that the Supreme Court of Virginia is weighing in on how earned sentence credits are calculated. Michael Pope reports.

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Youngkin open to changes in skill games amendments

Dozens of convenience store owners gather at the Capitol in yellow shirts in support of legalizing skill games. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Virginia’s legislature said no to a host of amendments from Governor Glenn Youngkin to a bill legalizing skill games in the Commonwealth. 

But that didn’t end the conversation and lawmakers agreed to work with the governor to find a more palatable bill. Brad Kutner spoke with Youngkin and some pro-skill game activists as those negotiations are kicking off. 

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A Supreme Court victory for a Richmond man will impact veterans nationwide

A Richmond man’s victory in the United States Supreme Court is expected to help hundreds of thousands of veterans across the country. Michael Pope explains why.

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Who has the upper hand in a Virginia budget standoff?

Lawmakers are expected to return to the Capitol in Richmond next month for a special session on the budget. Michael Pope has a preview.

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Virginia’s budget deal pushed to May after newfound collaboration between Youngkin and legislature

Members of the Virginia General Assembly gather in the House of Delegates for the 2024 veto session. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Virginia’s top elected officials appeared unified around the promise of a real compromise budget during Wednesday’s veto session. Brad Kutner has more from the Capitol. 

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The fate of skill games is now in the governor’s hands

Governor Glenn Youngkin is now facing a decision about what happens with slot-machine style machines in convenience stores and truck stops. Michael Pope reports.

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Virginia’s legislature hasn’t overridden a veto in more than a decade. Could that change Wednesday?

Virginia’s legislature returns to Richmond Wednesday to review Governor Glenn Youngkin’s vetoes and amendments. While tension remains high, at least one bill with strong bipartisan support could see Youngkin rebuked. Brad Kutner has more. 

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A look at what the 2024 reconvene session may hold

All 140 members of the Virginia House of Delegates and the state Senate will be back in Richmond Wednesday. They’ll take action on all the governor’s amendments, including a historic number of budget amendments. Michael Pope has this preview.

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A gubernatorial amendment on bullying might get the boot later this week

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ

All 140 members of the Virginia General Assembly will return to Richmond this week for a brief session to consider the governor’s amendments and vetoes. Michael Pope tells us one of the amendments they’ll be considering involves bullying in schools.

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‘Zombie mortgages’ to die for good later this year

Starting this summer, Virginia will have a new law against so-called “zombie mortgages.” Michael Pope explains.

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Governor Youngkin says no to ranked-choice voting legislation

Credit: Jahd Khalil

Ranked-choice voting has gained popularity in recent years. Although, as Michael Pope tells us, it’s not popular at the Executive Mansion.

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Youngkin gets mixed reviews on final criminal justice reform actions of 2024 session

Governor Glenn Youngkin ran on a law and order platform. And while that may have put most criminal justice reform efforts on the chopping block, advocates and elected officials were surprised by what survived his veto pen. Brad Kutner has more.

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UVA conference to address health risks linked to hotter weather

We’ve heard a lot about dangerous weather and rising seas associated with a changing climate, and medical experts say it will also take a toll on public health. That’s why the University of Virginia’s School of Nursing is hosting a conference on the subject this weekend. Sandy Hausman has that story.

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State lawmakers are working to reorganize Virginia’s workforce development efforts

Virginia’s workforce development is in the midst of a reorganization – one designed to make better use of federal money. Michael Pope reports.

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‘They have been a godsend’ — Home visiting program brings parenting skills home

A family who participated in home visiting through People Incorporated in southwest Virginia. (Credit: People Incorporated)

Being a new parent is a learning experience. But accessing resources and help isn’t easy for everyone.

A program in Virginia is helping families build stronger relationships, by visiting with parents and kids in their own homes, as Roxy Todd reports. 

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Youngkin slashes Democrats’ education budget, vetoes bipartisan school funding bill

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin sits next to state Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera while the two hear about poor SOL test scores. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Governor Glenn Youngkin released budget amendments and issued vetoes just hours before Monday night’s deadline. Some of Youngkin’s strikes hit education spending and funding plans crafted by Democrats. Brad Kutner has more from Richmond. 

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Skill games proponents ponder next steps following Youngkin amendments

Lawmakers will return to Richmond next week to consider next steps on a number of important bills. Michael Pope reports that they’ll need to make a decision on what to do about skill games.

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Youngkin offers over 200 amendments to budget bill

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks to the press after announcing his “common ground” budget. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Governor Glenn Youngkin offered more than 200 amendments to the General Assembly’s proposed budget Monday. The governor struck a more conciliatory tone, opening up the upcoming budget fight on a positive note, but Democratic leadership remained wary, as Brad Kutner found out. 

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Youngkin adds to veto total with abortion bills

Abortion remains a key topic as the governor takes his final actions on bills from the General Assembly. Michael Pope has the latest.

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Here’s how to safely view the eclipse in Virginia

A mother and son viewing the partial eclipse on Virginia Tech’s campus in Blacksburg in 2023. (Credit: Kristofer Rau)

Next Monday, April 8, Virginians can see a partial solar eclipse, and most state parks are planning watch parties. Roxy Todd has tips for how to view the eclipse safely.

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Congressional hopefuls are almost out of time to get their paperwork in

Thursday is a key deadline for primary elections this summer. Michael Pope has details.

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