As the state legislature prepares to consider confirmation of Helen Dragas for a second term on the University of Virginia Board of Visitors, a member of the faculty is out with a new theory about why Dragas and other members of the board wanted to get rid of President Teresa Sullivan.  Sandy Hausman reports that climate change may have been a factor.

This week, Virginia is saying goodbye to Democratic Senator Jim Webb. Matt Laslo reports on his short, yet significant career in the U-S Senate.

A new approach to keeping the ‘Flu’ virus from spreading may be linked to indoor humidity levels. Robbie Harris has more.

There’s a new battle brewing over what happened at the University of Virginia last summer, with a Washington-based non-profit attacking an accrediting agency that put UVA’s board of visitors on warning.  Sandy Hausman has that story.

Fresh off being sworn in, Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine is hoping he can help Congress overcome the gridlock that marked the 112th Congress. Matt Laslo reports from the Capitol.

Photo: Chesapeake Bay Program

Pollution levels are decreasing in the Chesapeake Bay.  That’s according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s 2012 State of the Bay Report.

The most recent State of the Bay report shows a 10%  improvement in the Bay’s health in less than 5 years.  Chesapeake Bay Foundation spokesman Chuck Epes  says phosphorus pollution levels are down, while the numbers of oysters and crabs are up. He hopes members of the General Assembly, in their upcoming session, approve Governor McDonnell’s $217 million  worth of budget amendments to keep Virginia’s cleanup on track.  He says the General Assembly also needs to implement a plan protecting menhaden.

“The menhaden is a small, little fish that is incredibly important the Bay and Atlantic Coast ecosystem.  An Atlantic Coast Fisheries Commission approved some better management measures that the General Assembly needs to tackle.”

The cleanup efforts are part of a federal/state Clean Water Blueprint for the Chesapeake Bay to reduce pollution by 25%  by the year 2025.  Epes says it could cost as much as 29 billion dollars to restore the Bay to about 70%  of what it was when described by Captain John Smith in the 1600s.  Virginia’s share is about $7 billion, which includes federal, state, and private funding, spread over 15 years.

— Beverly Amsler

The release of a new film this weekend could ignite further debate on fracking – a technology used to get natural gas out of the ground.  Some studies suggest it leads to water pollution, but the industry says that’s not possible, and it would like to start drilling in Virginia’s largest national forest.  Sandy Hausman has more on that story.

While all of the region’s Republicans opposed the deal to avert the fiscal cliff most of the area’s Democrats got in line with the plan. Matt Laslo reports on those who broke ranks.

The families of the 20 children killed in Newtown, Connecticut might be re-victimized.  Scammers could be looking to steal their child’s identity.  That’s according to a Virginia police officer who has written a book on the subject.  Beverly Amsler reports.

On this edition of “Virginia Conversations,” a special encore presentation of some of our favorite interviews since we first went on the air in August.

Join host May-Lily Lee as we hear once more from former Virginia Attorney General Mary Sue Terry, retired Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and former Senator John Warner.

Christmas is a huge secular and religious holiday in this country, but it hasn’t always been that way.  In fact, the Puritans who landed at Plymouth Rock actually banned the celebration – imposing a fine on those who dared to celebrate.  Sandy Hausman has details.

Virginia lawmakers are playing a key role in the gun-control debate that’s been rekindled after the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. Matt Laslo has the story.

The U-S economy is mere weeks away from going off the so-called fiscal cliff. If it happens Virginia’s defense industry could be disproportionately affected, as Matt Laslo reports.

It’s been 150 years since Victor Huge completed his novel Les Miserables and 25 years since the Broadway show debuted.  On Christmas Day, Hollywood will release a film based on the musical, and a professor at the University of Virginia is celebrating as Sandy Hausman reports.

H. Bruce Franklin

State regulators concerned with overfishing have cut harvests of Atlantic menhaden by 20%. The small fish was originally used by Native Americans as fertilizer. Now it’s used as bait and in numerous commercial products from cattle and fish feed to dietary supplements for humans. Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Creative writing isn’t part of the curriculum at nursing school, but 37 students at the University of Virginia have compiled a book of essays on their experience – essays that helped them process powerful emotions and show outsiders what it means to be a nurse.  Sandy Hausman spoke with some of the authors.

Environmentalists have long criticized coal for its impact on air quality, and a new report suggests there are economic reasons to eliminate government tax breaks for mining.  Sandy Hausman reports that Virginia is giving coal companies more in tax breaks than it’s getting in taxes.

All good cookbooks are storybooks too. A new one, featuring recipes from the Presidential residence at Virginia Tech, offers a look through the kitchen window of the Blacksburg mansion. Robbie Harris has more.

The “buy local” movement has taken hold nationwide, but it’s not always easy to find meat that’s raised and processed locally. Jonna McKone reports on two businesses hoping to tackle that problem.

Sports fans in the Commonwealth are celebrating what they see as a big victory – persuading the Washington Redskins to stay in Virginia and build a training camp in Richmond.  Sandy Hausman reports on who will pay for the $10 million facility and who’s complaining about it.

Dean Dise, Tangier Island Waterman

Shucking Oysters at Purcell’s Seafood in Reedville

Earlier this year the governors of Virginia and Maryland proclaimed a banner year for blue crabs. But they were wrong. With drought and then a hurricane, it turns out it’s the year of the oyster. Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Every year about the time when the ladybugs start flying, so do the rumors.  People think the “Asian Lady Beetle’s” presence here is the result of an experiment that got out of hand.  But as Robbie Harris tells us, the real reason is a more mundane than that.

Jobs in the coal industry appear to be on the decline in Southwest Virginia.  Coal companies have been putting workers on furlough, and it’s not clear when or if those jobs will return. As Robbie Harris reports, there could be a ripple effect in a part of the commonwealth, which has depended on the coal industry for generations.

It’s just two weeks since Americans went to the polls, and political scientists began their in-depth analysis of what happened.  Sandy Hausman talked with a member of the Crystal Ball Team at the University of Virginia about lessons learned in 2012.

One of this country’s favorite holidays – Thanksgiving – began with expressions of thanks to native Americans who helped settlers find and grow food in the new world.  Today, Sandy Hausman reports that Virginians are paying back that early favor with a program designed to protect and increase food supplies around the world.

At Virginia Tech’s Robotics Lab, Dr. Dennis Hong’s team continues work on a new kind of robot. It’s capable of doing things which no robot has done before. Robbie Harris has the story.

As cities and suburbs continue to sprawl, wildlife in rural areas is at greater risk, and people who hunt wildlife say that tradition is in danger.  That’s why Albemarle County convened its first Animal Summit.  But Sandy Hausman reports that officials were not able to resolve some of the conflicts created when city people move to the country.

At certain times of year, small college towns get into big trouble as families converge to drop off or pick up students or to attend special events.  There aren’t enough hotel rooms to go around.  This fall, Lexington, Virginia — home to Washington and Lee University – hosted more than 2,000 parents in what  could be a unique way — turning many local homes into bed and breakfasts, while generating cash for charity.  Sandy Hausman has that story.

Lyndwood Pierson

Saturday, November 17 opens deer hunting with dogs season in Virginia. The practice known as hounding is a deeply rooted tradition in many states. About 30 percent of Virginia deer hunters use dogs. At the same time, local animal control officers and volunteers at animal shelters brace for a surge of lost and abandoned dogs. From the Northern Neck of Virginia Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Bill Hagy’s ‘flying’ hounds

Trucks are fanning out across the state this week – taking fruit, vegetables and meats to school cafeterias, but these are no ordinary deliveries.  All of the food is grown or raised locally, and kids are celebrating this Virginia Farm to School Week as Sandy Hausman reports.

Earlier today, Virginia’s Senior Senator, Mark Warner, appeared on the public radio program  “HearSay with Cathy Lewis” on WHRV in Hampton Roads. Lewis asked him point blank, if he was planning on a run for Governor…and here’s what he had to say:

With the re-election of President Obama and a Senate controlled by Democrats, it looks like the Affordable Care Act will go forward, but many states aren’t ready – among them, Virginia.   Governor Bob McDonnell says the Commonwealth won’t be setting up an exchange to sell affordable insurance.  Instead, he’ll let the federal government do it.  Sandy Hausman reports on what that means for consumers in Virginia.

The east coast is not the first place you think of when it comes to earthquakes. But U.S. Geological Survey scientists are reporting that last year’s Virginia earthquake was felt over an area 20 times larger than previous research suggested.  Robbie Harris has more.

When Hurricane Sandy crashed into the northeast coast, communities in the Northern Neck of Virginia understood the hardship of flooded homes, fallen trees blocking roads and endless days of no electricity and running water. It didn’t take much for one Reedville man to mobilize residents to help Stirling, New Jersey where he grew up. More from reporter Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Before President Obama was re-elected, gun rights enthusiasts cautioned that if his campaign is successful, his second term might include an executive order that would impose bans on many firearms.  Now that Mr. Obama has won the election, Virginia Public Radio’s  Tommie McNeil looks into whether guns and ammo are flying off the shelves—and if there’s a significant price markup, gun shortage, or effort to circumvent background checks similar to 1994 when Congress passed an “assault weapons” ban.

The holiday shopping season is getting started….. and Kindles and other e-readers are only becoming more popular.  But those who worry that digital reading will overtake physical books should stop by the Virginia Arts of the Book Center in Charlottesville, where community members are preserving old style book making.  Allison Quantz has more.

The Virginia Arts of the Book Center Auction will be held at 5:30 on Friday/Tomorrow/Today, the 9th, at 5:30 in Charlottesville.   For more information visit www.virginiabookarts.org.

The pundits may have been surprised when this state went blue on campaign maps, but at least two people at the University of Virginia were not surprised in the least.  Sandy Hausman reports on how they knew the Commonwealth would stay in President Obama’s camp.

U.S. Senator-elect Tim Kaine says he’s glad Virginians were not swayed by the negative attack ads that flooded the airwaves against him—and instead decided that he is the best person to represent them in Washington.  Kaine says moving forward he has a hefty agenda ahead of him, which includes getting his colleagues to set aside the partisan politics that has plagued Washington.  Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil has more from the State Capitol. 

Latino support for Democrats helped tip the scales in Virginia. Exit polling suggests Latinos voted two to one for the President.  With his margin of victory here just over a hundred thousand votes, analysts say that may have provided the edge.  Robbie Harris has more.

Some Republicans are still in shock that George Allen lost his hard fought battle to represent Virginians once again in the U-S Senate. Matt Laslo reports from Richmond.

Not a single House seat in Virginia changed hands in Election 2012. Matt Laslo reports from Richmond.

This Election Day, a centuries old lack of communication means we’re not actually casting a vote for President.  Tab O’Neal looks at the Electoral College and whether it is still relevant after being created in the 1780s.

Coal is playing a major role in this year’s political battles both nationally and locally. To understand that in Virginia, just turn on your T-V. But Matt Laslo reports some analysts say this could be coal’s last stand.

Eric Cantor says he never supported it even though he voted for it. Paul Ryan says and did the same. But it’s on the books and it’s coming closer. It’s sequestration…a trillion-dollar package of federal spending cuts set to take effect in January. It would have a profound on the US economy, especially in Virginia. More from Fred Echols.

As NY and NJ brace for the impact of Hurricane Sandy, the worst may have past for coastal Virginia. Our own Sandy, Hausman that is, reports from Hampton Roads.