Archive for category Virginia’s News

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?

Credit: NPR

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?

Credit: NPR

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

Credit: NPR

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

Credit: NPR

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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Will President Trump weigh in on Virginia’s gubernatorial election?

Republican candidate for governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, speaks at a campaign appearance. (Credit: Michael Pope)

Will President Trump make an endorsement in Virginia’s race for governor? Michael Pope reports.

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Researchers release updated helmet safety ratings. Only a few earn five stars

John Linehan, a mechanical engineering student at Virginia Tech, measures a safety helmet, to prepare for a test to evaluate the helmet’s safety. (Credit: Roxy Todd / Radio IQ)

If you’re planning to get out on your bike this summer, or if your kids are signed up to play football this fall, do you have the safest helmet? The Virginia Tech Helmet lab recently released new ratings that rank how well hundreds of bike and football helmets protect against concussions. Roxy Todd has the details. 

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The need for affordable housing is a key campaign issue this cycle

Affordable housing is on the ballot in Virginia this year, as candidates in battleground districts are taking a variety of approaches. Michael Pope reports.

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Virginia statewide candidates are passing on debates, at least for right now

Credit: NPR

Debates are a staple of every election cycle. But Michael Pope tells us that candidates are increasingly saying thanks but no thanks.

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Virginia’s problem gambling committee takes lessons from other states

An advisory committee aiming to help Virginia handle gambling addiction is taking lessons from other states as the Commonwealth rapidly embraces the once-taboo practice. Brad Kutner has this report. 

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The Virginia Clean Economy Act is a talking point on the campaign trail… and beyond

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ

The future of the Virginia Clean Economy Act is on the ballot this fall. And Michael Pope tells us it’s the top issue in several battleground districts.

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How much money is this year’s gubernatorial race bringing in?

A graphic showing how much money has flowed into this year’s gubernatorial contest compared to previous election cycles. (Credit: VPAP)

Campaign finance disclosures show this year’s race for governor is not attracting the kind of money that other recent elections have. Michael Pope has the numbers.

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Hall of Fame pitcher and Tazewell native will get a permanent marker in his hometown

An early clay model of the Wagner statue. (Credit: Brad Pyott)

A star athlete from rural Western Virginia is now enshrined with a plaque at Cooperstown.

And by next year, Baseball Hall of Fame relief pitcher Billy Wagner will also have a permanent marker in his hometown. Jeff Bossert talked with a couple people leading that effort.

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“Project labor agreements” take center stage in gubernatorial race

Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / Radio IQ

Labor issues are on the ballot this year as voters select candidates for the statewide offices. Michael Pope reports.

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Some Virginia Republicans are facing off against familiar opponents this year

All 100 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates are on the ballot this year. That includes some Republican candidates facing off against familiar Democratic opponents. Michael Pope explains.

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Virginia’s gubernatorial candidates are taking different routes on campaign ads

The latest campaign finance numbers are showing how the candidates for governor are spending their campaign cash. Michael Pope has the numbers.

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A couple Virginia towns are moving away from water fluoridation

Two Virginia towns have voted to stop adding fluoride to their water supply, citing cost savings between $10,000 and $20,000 each year. Nationally, the Environmental Protection Agency said in April that it’s begun a review of the practice’s safety. Dave Cantor has more.

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Be on the lookout for another tick-borne illness

Cases of babesia have been diagnosed on the Eastern Shore and in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. (Credit: John DiJulio / UVA Communications)

Virginia is a hot spot for Lyme disease – an infection spread by the deer tick, and residents of this state have also been diagnosed with other tick-borne illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichia. 

Now, doctors report another condition spread by ticks, and they say it’s important to be on the lookout. Sandy Hausman reports.

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Pope & Schapiro: George Mason University draws the ire of the Trump administration

Another Virginia university is in the crosshairs of the Trump administration. 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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New figures show AG Miyares outraising all statewide candidates

(Credit: Virginia Attorney General’s office)

The latest campaign finance numbers show one statewide candidate has raised more money than anybody else. Michael Pope tells us it’s not a candidate for governor.

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Sears, Spanberger offer their take on Virginia’s data center-driven future

Data centers, the massive, power-hungry facilities that make the internet and AI work, continue to pop up across the Commonwealth. They bring billions in revenue for Virginia and its localities, but they can also bring neighborhood complaints, development concerns and drains on natural resources.

Brad Kutner takes a look at the landscape and how Virginia’s candidates for governor say they’d shape the data center future.

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New paper: women lawmakers are more effective than men

From left, Senator Finance and Appropriations Chair Louise Lucas, Senator Creigh Deeds, Senator Mamie Locke and Senator Dave Marsden attend the release of the Virginia Senate’s budget. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

Women are outperforming men in state legislatures across the country. Michael Pope has the latest.

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This year’s House of Delegates elections feature several “reruns”

Credit: NPR

All 100 seats of the Virginia House of Delegates will be on the ballot this year, although only a dozen or so are competitive. Michael Pope tells us three of the most competitive races are rematches between the same candidates that ran in the last election cycle.

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Hurricane Helene survivor in Southwest Virginia celebrates new home, one of 91 built by volunteers

Emily Phipps (left) hugs her friend Mary Gale at the dedication of Phipps’ new home. (Credit: Roxy Todd / Radio IQ)

Volunteers in Southwest Virginia celebrated the dedication of a new home for one of the survivors of Hurricane Helene.

As Roxy Todd reports, it’s the final of 91 homes that the group has rebuilt in the Damascus area in the past nine months.

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Virginia’s prison ombudsman holds first stakeholder meeting

Andrea Sapone at the stakeholder meeting in Richmond Tuesday. (Credit: Dave Cantor)

Legislation introduced during the 2024 General Assembly session created an ombudsman position to oversee the Virginia Department of Corrections.

Andrea Sapone took the role in September, and later promised to prioritize an investigation into Red Onion State Prison.

Dave Cantor reports she held her first stakeholder meeting Tuesday to explain how the office works and what it’s accomplished so far. 

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State report: Hanover County leads Virginia with most removed books

One of Hanover student and Girl Scout Kate’s “Banned Book Nook” at Morr Donuts in Mechanicsville in 2023. (Credit: Brad Kutner / Radio IQ)

The question of what books should be in a school library has been a lightning rod for controversy recently. A report released Monday morning by a state watchdog agency revealed details on what’s been removed and where it’s happening. Brad Kutner has more.

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