Virginia Public Radio

Democrat Abigail Spanberger is declaring victory in her reelection bid in Virginia’s 7th congressional district.

As Mallory Noe-Payne reports she addressed supporters Wednesday night. 

Officials with Virginia’s Department of Elections say it’s been a smooth election day so far.

There have been some minor and routine issues with voting machines. No reports of voter intimidation.

Reporters Mallory Noe-Payne and Michael Pope found lines to be be short, and voters moving quickly through the polls.  

Mallory Noe-Payne reports from Richmond:

Michael Pope reports from Northern Virginia:

Going into the last hours of voting, election officials are optimistic that high early voting numbers mean smooth voting for those planning to still cast their votes Tuesday.

2.75 million Virginians already cast their votes early.

Jahd Khalil reports that’s 69-percent of 2016’s total turnout. 

As the nights get colder, many Virginians experiencing homelessness will try to navigate shelter systems upended by COVID-19.

Cat Modlin-Jackson has this look at how people across the state are preparing for an unprecedented winter.

Richmond will be joining several other cities in testing the potential benefit of direct cash payments to low income families…and a Northern Virginia couple who decided to use Halloween to make statements about social issues has run afoul of community rules.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols.

While COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes in Virginia continue to be a leading cause of coronavirus deaths in the state, the average size and mortality rate of the outbreaks has significantly decreased in the months since the pandemic began.

Mallory Noe-Payne reports.

For Halloween, we bring you a different kind of ghost story. And it’s a ghost you’ve likely encountered.

Pamela D’Angelo reports from Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Click here for more information about Ghosts of the Coast

A judge in the Shenandoah Valley says registrars cannot count ballots received after Election Day if they are missing information indicating when they were mailed.

The ruling strikes part of new voting regulations.

Jahd Khalil has more. 

We got a ruling Tuesday afternoon in the Lee Monument case in Richmond.

A judge has sided with state officials, saying they do indeed have the power to remove the last remaining Confederate statue on Monument Avenue.

But as Mallory Noe-Payne reports, the judge also said that can’t happen until an appeal plays out.

While some Virginia localities are trying to discourage trick-or-treating this year at least one city says it’ll be “Halloween as usual.”  And the pandemic is costing Virginia school systems millions of dollars in funding.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

 More now from Fred Echols.

The congressional race in Virginia’s 7th District is one of the most competitive in the state.

It pits incumbent Democrat Abigail Spanberger against Republican challenger Nick Freitas.

The two met for their only debate Tuesday night.

Mallory Noe-Payne has more. 

Our pandemic reality is precarious… and many Virginians have struggled like never before to keep the lights on and pay the rent.

Since a special session began in the summer, members of the General Assembly have acted on a series of rules intended to provide relief for both tenants and landlords trying to make ends meet.

Cat Modlin-Jackson has this look at what made it through and what got left behind. 

The state Board of Elections approved a regulation Tuesday that will count ballots with a missing or illegible postmark, as long as the ballots were received by noon on the Friday after Election Day.

Jahd Khalil has more. 

A judge in Richmond heard arguments Monday in a lawsuit that could determine the fate of the Robert E Lee statue on Monument Avenue.

Mallory Noe-Payne was at the courthouse Monday and reports the judge expects to issue a ruling in the coming days. 

The much awaited budget proposal was adopted by the General Assembly late Friday.

As Cat Modlin-Jackson reports, Virginians reeling from the pandemic are waiting on financial aid tied up in the plan.

A Virginia county is being asked to exempt its Amish community from rules prohibiting outhouses. And extended closures during the pandemic are putting pressure on public libraries.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols.

Although some sectors of the economy are making a comeback from the crisis created by the pandemic, many communities in Virginia are still struggling.

Michael Pope reports.

Members of the General Assembly are wrapping up their special session.

And, as Michael Pope reports, one bill they’re sending to the governor could create new oversight of law enforcement. 

Almost two months into a special session that was initially expected to last two weeks, negotiators in the General Assembly have come to an agreement over the details of the state budget.

Now it’s up to both chambers and the Governor to make the bill a law.

Cat Modlin-Jackson has the story.

New numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows consumers in Northern Virginia are looking for comfort food.

Michael Pope reports.

A recent survey of schools in Virginia yielded some surprising and worrisome news – enrollments are down, and that could mean a reduction in state funding.

Sandy Hausman has more on where students have gone and what that might mean for public schools.

A federal judge today/Wednesday extended the deadline for Virginians to register to vote.

The last day of registration was supposed to be Tuesday, but the state website citizens would use to register was taken offline when a construction crew severed a fiber optic cable.

Jahd Khalil has more.

Virginia’s 7th District stretches from Culpeper all the way south to Blackstone, encompassing the suburbs west of Richmond.

The mix of rural and suburban voters makes for a competitive race between Republican Nick Freitas and incumbent Abigail Spanberger.

Mallory Noe-Payne spoke with the Democrat about her policy positions and has this report. 

Nick Freitas also recently spoke to Mallory Noe-Payne about the issues in the race.

U.S. Senator Mark Warner and his Republican opponent Daniel Gade squared off in their third and final debate Tuesday night.

Michael Pope reports.

Virginia’s 4th Congressional District stretches from Richmond south and east to Chesapeake.

Incumbent Congressman Donald McEachin squared off Tuesday night with challenger Leon Benjamin.

Mallory Noe-Payne has this round-up of their debate. 

The Department of Elections’ portal to register to vote was offline for much of Tuesday after a fiber optic cable was cut during construction.

It happened on the last day of voter registration, prompting calls to extend the registration period.

Jahd Khalil has more.

Political signs have always been targets for thieves and vandals but in at least one city the problem seems to be worse than ever… and when a Richmond area couple wanted to show support for Black Lives Matter protesters they went big with a sign of their own.

Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.

More now from Fred Echols.

During the last days of September, rural communities in the Middle Peninsula and the Northern Neck had a surge in coronavirus cases.

Because of privacy rules, the local department of health is not allowed to give out any details of where surges occurred.

As Pamela D’Angelo reports, that’s when rumors began to spread.