Virginia Public Radio

Traveling rural roads in Virginia, it’s not unusual to spot a bald eagle surrounded by vultures devouring road kill.

As hunting season begins, bald eagles will head into the woods to scavenge on the remains of deer, hunters leave after field-dressing them.

But remnants of lead ammunition are sometimes part of that meal and will eventually kill many of these eagles.

Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Legislative staff in Richmond released a first-of-its-kind report Wednesday morning.

Brad Kutner says it paints a grim picture for some populations and some regions of the Commonwealth. 

The invasive insect called Spotted Lanternfly continues its spread through Virginia and is now in Blacksburg and Radford.

Roxy Todd reports a new study looks at whether pet dogs could be successful at sniffing out lanternfly eggs, as one way to combat the infestation.

The Library of Virginia will present a Chesterfield native with its highest honor this weekend.

Brad Kutner spoke with composer Damien Geter and filed this report. 

The murder of Charlie Kirk shocked the nation and Virginia.

Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Parts of Virginia continue struggling with the aftermath of 2024’s Hurricane Helene.

In addition to rainfall-driven incidents, the commonwealth has to consider river and coastal flooding. That’s why the state legislature created the Flood Resilience Advisory Committee last year.

Dave Cantor has more.

With the fall campaigns kicking into high gear, with national issues playing big roles on the race for governor.

Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope recap the week in politics and state government.

Voters in Northern Virginia are about to decide on a replacement for the late Congressman Gerry Connolly.

Michael Pope has this preview.

Virginia drivers with autism have a new way to communicate with police if they’re pulled over.

It’s called the Blue Envelope program.  DMV officials were in the capitol with Brad Kutner to explain how it works.

Governor Glenn Youngkin has touted his all-of-the-above approach to energy production in the Commonwealth.

That includes the development of small nuclear reactors, as well as the use of fossil fuels and renewable energy sources.

The Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority met Wednesday/this week amid new federal uncertainty.

Dave Cantor has more.

Friday marks the 75^th anniversary of a court ruling that made UVA the first university in the South to integrate. 

Sandy Hausman reports on the student who sued for access to a graduate program in the law school.

Osprey are a sentinel species. Scientists look to them for warnings of problems in the environment that could harm other species including us.

This summer, scientists concerned with a continuing decline of osprey chicks in the Chesapeake Bay are crunching data from Maryland to Virginia to try to pinpoint why.

Pamela D’Angelo reports.

Demand for power has never been higher in Virginia, and the growth of data centers is expected to expand that demand exponentially.

Michael Pope tells us that’s part of the push behind nuclear energy.

Just like humans, horses can get skin cancer. Their faces and eyes can be particularly vulnerable.

As Roxy Todd reports, veterinarians recommend horse owners get their animal an eye mask with UV protection.

Redlining was the government sanctioned practice of segregating and devaluing property in Black neighborhoods, often to the benefit of white neighborhoods.

Outlawed in the 60’s, a new study finds more fallout from redlining continues to impact historically Black communities to this day.  

Brad Kutner has more.

The Labor Day weekend is traditionally when political campaigns kick into high gear, which means that the political ad season is just beginning.

Michael Pope has a preview of how the race for governor will be frequent fixture your TV screens.

Data centers are the fastest growing industry in Virginia, and that means plenty of opportunity for businesses to find ways to work together.

At a recent conference in Richmond, Brad Kutner found out more about how these industries are meeting and growing locally. 

President Donald Trump, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders have one thing in common: they all support the federal government taking shares in some of the country’s biggest private businesses.

And as Brad Kutner found out, those federal acquisitions might come to Virginia sooner than later. 

As summer winds down, political ads on TV are revving up.

Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael recap the week in politics and state government.

A new report from Roanoke College has some stark views of the economic outlook.

Michael Pope has details.

Registration of new voters is lagging behind the last election cycle when the governor was on the ballot.

Michael Pope asked some political analysts why.

Governor Glenn Youngkin will leave office with Virginia’s Standards of Learning test results about where he inherited them.

Brad Kutner has this report on what was the term-limited Governor’s last chance to deliver on a campaign promise to improve Virginia’s school test scores.

Humanity has made many scientific discoveries throughout history, many of which have come through sheer luck or coincidence.

Nick Gilmore reports on one such scientific coincidence that is providing vital data to state and federal officials in the New River Valley.

Third-parties have a long history in Virginia, although most of them have not been successful very long.

Michael Pope tells us about the latest attempt.

Roanoke City’s Democratic party has reiterated its support for incumbent Delegate Sam Rasoul.

The endorsement comes after some members of Rasoul’s own party criticized his comments on the conflict in Gaza.

Brad Kutner has this report. 

The Virginia legislature approved state requirements in 2024 for reporting annual deaths in custody numbers. It’s a backstop for a federal law called the Death in Custody Reporting Act.

This summer, the state released its first set of numbers under the new law.

Dave Cantor has more.

Republicans are hoping school choice will be an issue that helps them with voters on the campaign trail this year.

Michael Pope is looking at one district in Lynchburg where the future of public schools will be on the ballot.

Debates between candidates have long been a feature of America’s political campaigns.  But getting candidates to agree to them has become increasingly difficult.

Politics analyst Jeff Schapiro and Michael Pope discuss the impact of that trend on Virginia’s race for governor.