Archive for category Virginia’s News

“Value Pack 27” and the effort to help Virginia Democrats in red districts

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All 100 seats of the House of Delegates are on the ballot this year, although most of the money and attention are going to a dozen or so competitive races. Michael Pope has this report on some of the rural Democrats that are not receiving as much attention.

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Virginia’s autism community responds to Trump administration’s Tylenol claim

Autism advocate Conner Cummings speaks at a September 2025 meeting of the Virginia Disability Commission. (Credit: Screenshot of commission meeting)

President Donald Trump told the nation this week a common drug has been linked to an increase in autism and ADHD in newborns when used during pregnancy. But for Virginians who are members of and advocate for the autism community, the statement meant something much more. Brad Kutner has this report. 

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The Virginia Clean Economy Act is a big talking point on the campaign trail this year

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The politics of power are on the ballot this year as voters determine what approach Virginia will take to handling increased demand on the energy grid. Michael Pope reports about how that issue is playing out in one of the most competitive House races on the ballot this year.

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Youngkin promises negotiated fix for weight loss drugs as costs expected to increase

Two WEGOVY® (semaglutide) single use injection devices. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

At the end of the 2025 legislative session, Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed language that would have expanded weight loss drug access to those on Medicaid. Now, he’s promising a negotiated fix to the problem. Brad Kutner has more. 

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Federal data shows many Virginians are “rent burdened”

Affordability has become one of the hottest issues on the campaign trail. And Michael Pope tells us housing advocates are worried about people who are “rent burdened.”

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Virginia native selected as part of NASA’s latest astronaut candidate class

NASA astronaut candidate Ben Bailey poses for a portrait at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Bailey was selected by NASA to join the 2025 astronaut candidate class and reported for duty in September 2025. (Credit: NASA / Josh Valcarcel)

A Virginia native is part of NASA’s latest class of soon-to-be astronauts. Nick Gilmore spoke with him and filed this report.

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Law experts react to Virginia’s high turnover of federal prosecutors

Federal prosecutors in Virginia are seeing some record turnover. Michael Pope has the story.

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Pope & Schapiro: Virginia’s lengthy early voting window gets underway

Virginians will weigh in on statewide offices this fall – as early voting for the November elections gets underway. Michael Pope and Radio IQ Politics Analyst Jeff Schapiro discuss that and the week that was in state politics and government.

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A look at where lieutenant governor candidates stand on fundraising

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The latest round of campaign finance numbers are showing the state of the race so far. Michael Pope tells us about money in the race for lieutenant governor.

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New campaign finance numbers show a significant lead for Spanberger

Campaign finance numbers are revealing the shape of Virginia politics heading into this year’s election for governor. Michael Pope reports the latest disclosures show Democrat Abigail Spanberger has more than twice as much cash on hand heading into the fall election season.

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A look at Virginia’s lengthy early voting period

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Early voting starts on Friday. Michael Pope has this preview.

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Virginia lawmakers will need to address the state’s high SNAP error rate

Members of the General Assembly are about to face a choice: Either find a way to fix errors in SNAP benefits or pay the price. Michael Pope reports.

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‘This is a serious matter’: Bipartisan legislators warn of federal cuts on Virginia’s budget

House Appropriations Committee chair Delegate Luke Torian, staff director Anne Oman and Delegate Terry Austin listen to a state finance update in May 2024. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

A bipartisan committee of Virginia’s House of Delegates met Thursday morning to release a report on impacts from federal budget cuts on Virginia. As Brad Kutner found out, the sobering meeting included multiple warnings from officials in leadership. 

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Could nuclear-powered data centers be headed to Virginia?

Virginia is seeing a rise in data centers just as demand for power is at unprecedented levels. Michael Pope reports one way to power them on-site.

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Home Builders Association praises Virginia legislative changes, looks to 2026 to address housing demands

Polling showed Virginians’ top concern ahead of the 2026 legislative session is housing affordability. Industry advocates praised recent legislative success and asked for more solutions at a Virginia Housing Commissionmeeting this week. Brad Kutner has this report.

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New Census data is rosy right now, but some are worried about storm clouds on the horizon

The latest Census numbers have some positive key indicators. But as Michael Pope reports, some are concerned about where those indicators may be heading next year.

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Avula promises Mayo Island acquisition is a big step towards real improvement

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula and Governor Glenn Youngkin speak at Mayo Island. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Richmond Mayor Danny Avula and Governor Glenn Yougnkin were on Mayo Island Tuesday.

They were announcing Richmond’s purchase of the overgrown and unkempt land, putting it in a conservation trust which should see it maintained as a city park in perpetuity. Brad Kutner has this report. 

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Fairfax County may soon be the home of the largest collective bargaining agreement in Virginia

Local government employees in Virginia’s largest jurisdiction are about to launch a new union. Michael Pope has details.

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Documenting the stories of clawhammer banjo players across Southwest Virginia

(Left) Mac Traynham, a banjo player from Floyd County; Malcolm Smith, historian and banjo player from Carroll County, and Jason Phillips, a fiddler and computer programmer are creating a web site to tell the stories of clawhammer banjo players from Southwest Virginia. (Credit: Roxy Todd / Radio IQ)

Three musicians are creating a digital map about the history of clawhammer banjo players of Southwest Virginia. Roxy Todd has their story.

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The state of Virginia’s vaccine requirements

Vaccines are back in the news in the wake of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy expressing doubt over their effectiveness at recent hearings. The comments come as Florida’s surgeon general asks his state to roll back vaccine mandates in schools and Virginia reported its fourth case of measles this year. Brad Kutner has this report.

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Democrats are eyeing Virginia’s First Congressional District

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Democrats are setting their sights on two Republican-held Virginia congressional districts they want to flip from red to blue in 2026. Michael Pope reports on one of those, the First Congressional District. 

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Virginia is giving away beehives to help promote pollinators

Credit: Keith Tignor / Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

If you’ve been thinking of getting bees to help your garden or to produce honey, you can apply for a free beehive. As Roxy Todd reports, Virginia agriculture officials offer the hives as a way to help support declining bee populations.

Applications are due September 10th. You can find more information here.

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Virginians can register to vote all the way through Election Day

Credit: David Seidel / Radio IQ

Voters have more choices than ever in terms of when and how they cast their ballots. One of the recent changes is that voters can now register and cast a ballot on the same day. Michael Pope explains.

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Richmond students protest gun violence

Students at Richmond’s Open High School participate in a walkout protest against gun violence. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Gun violence has become all too familiar for students across Virginia. That’s the message Brad Kutner found at a Students Demand Action walkout protest Friday afternoon. 

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Virginia legislators take first look at possible AI laws ahead of 2026 session

A statue of George Washington outside the Virginia state capitol in Richmond. (Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ)

Virginia was among the first states in the nation to write new, online privacy laws. Now, as Brad Kutner reports, lawmakers are also asking if they should be ahead of the curve on artificial intelligence as well. 

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New data shows Virginia continues to lag behind national average on teacher pay

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ

As students return to public schools across Virginia, some teachers are struggling to make ends meet. Michael Pope has the numbers.

Also, a note of disclosure – the Virginia Education Association is the primary funding source for Virginia Public Radio.

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Subramanyam introduces bill meant to make ICE more accountable

Congressman Suhas Subramanyam

Congress is considering an effort to force more transparency for immigration officials. Michael Pope reports.

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Virginia’s top Senate Democrat wants to cover Trump cuts with weed tax revenue

Virginia decriminalized marijuana back in 2021, but the substance remains illegal to sell. Democrats in the legislature passed a legal retail market bill earlier this year only to have the effort vetoed. They’re now working toward a new package of legislation, as Brad Kutner reports.

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How will turnout in Virginia’s college towns impact this year’s elections?

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Democrats are targeting 14 seats in the House of Delegates, hoping to flip from red to blue. Michael Pope tells us that a handful of those districts have colleges and universities.

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High beef prices are good news for Virginia cattlemen

Virginians, like the rest of America, are feeling the burn of increased beef prices. Prices are at record highs. Brad Kutner looked into the impact on Virginia. 

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Dragonfly enthusiasts to celebrate superheroes of the insect world

Photographer Emily Luebke helped document 114 species of dragonflies in Albemarle County alone. (Credit: Emily Luebke)

Millions of Americans enjoy birdwatching, but relatively few spend time watching bugs. Dozens of them will gather in Virginia this weekend to compare notes and search for dragonflies. Sandy Hausman reports on why those insects might warrant our attention.

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Will 2025 be another “wave election” year for Virginia Democrats?

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Will 2025 be a wave election for Democrats? Michael Pope reports on what that might mean.

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iGaming, a form of online gambling, debated by Virginia legislators

Virginia has vastly expanded gambling over the past few years, and another new form, iGaming, was debated at a committee hearing in Richmond Tuesday morning. Brad Kutner has this report. 

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New economic report shows basically no job growth for Virginia next year

A graph detailing the job losses seen in Virginia this year from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

A new report says Virginia’s economic outlook is unfavorable. Michael Pope has details.

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Officials defend Virginia’s election system following Trump attacks on mail-in voting

Virginia Elections Commissioner Susan Beals speaks before the House Privileges and Elections Committee during their August 2025 meeting. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

President Donald Trump announced Monday he’d work to end mail-in voting. But in Richmond Monday morning, Brad Kutner found Virginia legislators and officials who trust the system. 

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Spanberger won’t have a significant endorsement heading into the fall

Endorsements are an important part of the race for governor, and Michael Pope tells us about one significant endorsement that’s not happening.

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Reid, Hashmi make their pitches to the Virginia Association of Counties

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The candidates for lieutenant governor are making their pitch to local leaders across Virginia. Michael Pope reports.

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Youngkin, Democrats spar over Virginia’s fiscal future as FY 2025 comes to a close

Governor Glenn Youngkin addressed the Joint Money Committee in August 2025. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Governor Glenn Youngkin addressed the Virginia legislature to give details on the Commonwealth’s finances this/Thursday morning. But, as Brad Kutner found out, Democrats disagreed with the positive outlook Youngkin presented.

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New data: Public school enrollment will continue to decline in Virginia

An image showing actual public school enrollment compared to a projection from before the COVID-19 pandemic. (Credit: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service)

Public school enrollment is expected to decline in the next decade. Michael Pope has the story.

Here’s the link to the latest data from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Also, as a note of disclosure, the Virginia Education Association is the primary funding source for Virginia Public Radio.

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New questions have emerged about Earle-Sears’ trips

Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears speaks at a rally in downtown Richmond. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Democrats are saying Republican candidate for governor Winsome Earle-Sears is in violation of disclosure laws. Michael Pope has details.

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Virginia’s nursing homes rank 38th in the nation with a backlog of more than 1,000 complaints

Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed an executive order to strengthen oversight of Virginia nursing homes. The announcement comes after the state’s health commissioner said there is a backlog of more than 1,000 complaints against nursing homes here. Sandy Hausman has that story.

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ACLU, Miyares spar over Virginia’s felon disenfranchisement law

A long-running dispute over Virginia’s disenfranchisement of felons continues – with a possible court hearing in the case coming this fall. Brad Kutner has this report on what the state argues is a misunderstanding of language from the civil rights group suing over the matter. 

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Leadership questions at Virginia’s colleges and universities are a campaign focal point

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ

All 100 seats of the Virginia House of Delegates are on the ballot this year, and candidates are talking about everything from environmental policy to immigration. One issue that has become important in districts with colleges and universities is higher ed. Michael Pope reports.

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Uncle Sam needs you: Election officials recognize Poll Worker Recruitment Day

Voters at a precinct in Richmond. (Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ)

Tuesday, August 12th is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, a day when Americans offer up their services to their local polling precincts ahead of election season. Virginia’s 45 days of early voting requires a lot of manpower, but as Brad Kutner found out, those involved say it’s a unique chance to serve your community and country. 

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Virginians with Marketplace plans could see premiums rise next year

The cost of health care is likely to increase next year for people who get their health insurance through the marketplace created by Obamacare. Michael Pope reports.

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Forecasting weather emergencies: who will need help and where?

Credit: UVA Communications

Weather forecasts are key to a good emergency response, but a team at the University of Virginia says planners need something more to protect the public. Sandy Hausman reports on how they’re helping first responders and communities to be more resilient.

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National Republicans turn to Youngkin-linked early voter turnout effort in Virginia

Credit: David Seidel / Radio IQ

Virginia made it easier to vote a few years back, including expanded options for early and absentee voting. Republicans nationally have been slow to embrace early voting, and it’s given Democrats in the Commonwealth an edge every November. Brad Kutner has this report from Virginia Republicans who hope to change that. 

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Could 2025 be the “Year of the Woman” in Virginia?

Virginia will elect its first female governor this year, but many other women are also on the ballot this fall. Michael Pope reports.

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The debate over data centers is alive and well on the campaign trail

The rise of data centers is becoming one of the hottest issues on the campaign trail this year in the election for the House of Delegates. Michael Pope reports.

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Mid-decade redistricting unlikely in Virginia, but Democrats are considering changes to the state’s map drawing process

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President Donald Trump and Democrats across the country are calling on states to redraw congressional lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. As Brad Kutner found out, Virginia Democrats in leadership are open to the idea of a mid-decade redistricting effort.

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