VPM Daily Newscast

‘Policy Matters’ is your window into Virginia politics with VPAP. It’s our monthly roundup of the top political headlines from across Virginia, powered by VPAP’s daily e-newsletter, VaNews. In this episode, we talk with VPAP Executive Director Cat Anthony about the upcoming elections, state and local ballot initiatives, and take a look at candidate fundraising this election season.

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jack Jacobs discuss the Richmond region's top business stories starting with the ongoing redesign plans at Richmond International Airport, Google's plans for Goochland County, Sheltering Arms moving into Regency, a Charlottesville chocolate maker's most recent business acquisition.

Read more from VPM News:  Amendment explainers: Ballot Question 1 | Ballot Question 2 | Ballot Question 3  How does Ballot Question 1 affect Virginia’s abortion regulations?  Opponents of Virginia’s marriage amendment are focusing on gender  Ballot Question 3 is about more than rights restoration after felony convictions  WATCH: Which felonies are tied to voting rights loss in Virginia? (YouTube) | Amending Virginia  Virginia lost nearly 500K acres of forestland from 1990–2017, report finds  New book highlights 84 of Virginia’s weirdest locations    Other links:  Trump cuts slashed $156 million in Virginia solar funding. What’s next? (Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO)  Henrico sewage station spills over 1.4 million gallons — some into Gillies Creek (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Dominion asks SCC to recoup RGGI costs from customers, adding up to $13 to bills monthly (Virginia Mercury)  Google revealed as user for potential data center campus in Goochland’s West Creek (Richmond BizSense)*  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local news and stories.

Read more from VPM News:  WATCH: VPM News interviews Virginia 1st District’s Shannon Taylor   WATCH: Congressman Rob Wittman defends his record in Virginia’s 1st District  Tensions rise over data centers at Chesterfield forum  Henrico County begins installation of East End water transmission line  Other links:  Outside donors bankroll Virginia’s campaigns for Congress (Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO)  ‘The boys will be boys’: Former students at Trinity Episcopal detail what they describe as a culture of sexual misconduct dating back years (The Richmonder)  Virginia Department of Education launching independent review of ACPS (Cville Right Now)  If Virginians approve reproductive rights amendment, a hearing is set for Nov. 13 to challenge it (Virginia Mercury)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

More from VPM News:  Curious Commonwealth asks: Is there a vampire in Church Hill?  UVA Innocence Project has flagged 5 Mary Jane Burton cases for investigation so far  WATCH: Virginia Is for Barbie (YouTube)  Other links:  Public housing CEO says HUD’s ‘troubled’ rating is old news. The mayor disagrees. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  ‘Compromise’ Mayo Bridge proposal calls for mountable barriers between bikes and cars (The Richmonder)  Virginia lawmakers approve plan to advance new K-12 school funding formula (Virginia Mercury)  Breaking News: Settlement reached in Flying Squirrels’ owner’s developer defamation lawsuit (Richmond BizSense)*  In rural Virginia, school construction needs are bringing Republicans and Democrats together on 1% sales tax (Cardinal News)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local news and stories. 

Read more from VPM News:  6 Virginia-inspired Barbies are on display at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture  Virginia Voter Guide Congressional Q&As: US Senate | 1st District | 2nd District | 4th District | 5th District | 6th District | 7th District | 8th District | 9th District | 10th District | 11th District  WATCH: How Do Virginia's Provisional Ballots Work? (YouTube)    Other links:  I won't resign, Lucas says (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Macy, Perriello increase fundraising leads over incumbent Republicans (WMRA)  Ex-Richmond staffer disclosed work with solar company, but city says higher-ups didn’t review the form (The Richmonder)  Claims against former UVA Health CEO dismissed, but doctors’ retaliation case continues (WTVR)  Law enforcement agencies’ use of license plate reader data faces fresh scrutiny (Virginia Mercury)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

More from VPM News:  Voter Guide: What is a provisional ballot?  What is the Shannon Taylor civil lawsuit about?  Charlottesville eyes post-Flock surveillance needs   On the agenda: This week in Central Virginia public meetings  Chesterfield residents, officials grapple with PlanMod  WATCH: Dominion–NextEra Merger update   Other links:  Richmond housing authority downgraded to ‘troubled’ status in latest federal assessment (The Richmonder) Racketeering charges raise stakes against Lucas in marijuana conspiracy case (Virginian-Pilot)*  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local news. 

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jonathan Spiers discuss the Richmond region's top business stories starting with a lawsuit about the River's Edge apartment complex in Manchester, a watery incident at the John Marshall Courts Building and the return a familiar sandwich shop to the Chesterfield Towne Center.

Read more from VPM News:  FBI charges state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, family in drug conspiracy VPM News Short: Feds Arrest Virginia's L. Louise Lucas What happened to Virginia’s 10–1 redistricting effort in 2026?  Updated: Richmond Public Schools still investigating cybersecurity incident  Updated: Sprout School childcare center strike ends    Other links:  What’s in the L. Louise Lucas federal criminal indictment? (WHRO News)  Lucas indictment timing questioned, election impact unclear (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Elections chief says Virginia is ready for midterms, potential federal interference (Virginia Mercury)  Cumberland leaders OK three-gigawatt natural gas power plant (WRIC)  Human remains, 'wildlife interactions' and a mystery unfolding in Shenandoah National Park (The Daily Progress)*  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Read more from VPM News:  Southside Richmond preschool needs repairs, expansion to resolve waitlist Richmond Public Schools investigating cybersecurity incident      Other links:  Gov. Spanberger calls for public release of confidential 'Robo Memo' in Dominion-NextEra merger (WTVR)  Dozens sick due to salmonella outbreak linked to Central Virginia oysters (WRIC)  Amazon withdraws proposal to build data centers on GW campus in Loudoun County (WTOP)  Albemarle school division concedes it is in 'crisis' (The Daily Progress)*  64 Va. children died even though social workers knew of abuse, neglect risks (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local news. 

Read more from VPM News:  More than 2,600 Virginia crime lab cases sent for new review  Richmond City leaders outline new immigration ‘trust policy’      Other links: Study: Proposed Richmond tower could generate nearly $1B in activity (Axios Richmond)  Va. Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar to retire after 36 years in role (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  New coalition aims to keep Virginians covered as Medicaid rules tighten (Virginia Mercury)  Manchester residents worry wave of bridge projects could cut off bike-ped access across river for years (The Richmonder)*  City Council rejects 0 Court Square slave block marker over accuracy concerns (Cville Right Now)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Read more from VPM News:  SCC staff recommend axing Dominion–NextEra Energy merger  Henrico County court further restricts Lewis Ginter picketing   Other links:  General Assembly calls off Oct. 26 special session to elect judges (Virginia Mercury)  Gaps in a system, and foster kids fall through (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Archive: Remembering Lakeside Amusement Park 40 years after it closed (WDBJ)  Albemarle County tries to steady school district rocked by abuse allegations (WMRA)  Timbaland returning home for weekend festival in Virginia Beach (Virginian-Pilot)*  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate if you'd like to support local news. 

Read more from VPM News:  NextEra, Dominion execs address merger at infrastructure forum  Sprout School childcare center strike continues amid partial reopening  Volunteer book club works to bridge learning gaps for Charlottesville students  On the agenda: Richmond parking operations, Charlottesville historical markers    Other links:  Data center moratorium bills stack up ahead of Virginia legislative session in January (Virginia Mercury)  Proposed Charlottesville slavery marker sparks debate over historical accuracy (WTVR)  Civic leader and Roanoke Tribune publisher Claudia Whitworth dies at 98 (Roanoke Times)*  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jackie DiBartolomeo discuss the Richmond region's top business stories, starting with and update on Shamin Hotels' development plans in Henrico County, Baltik's Bagel's move to Church Hill and failed plans to bring in a data center to Chesterfield County.

Read more from VPM News:  Opponents of Virginia’s marriage amendment are focusing on sex and gender High costs and the Iran war are on 5th Congressional District candidates’ minds    Other links:  Opinions on data centers are shaping this year’s campaign cycle (Radio IQ)  Richmond City Council scales back 2015 financial transparency law over privacy concerns (The Richmonder) Virginia rethinks refinancing as prices, interest rates rise (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Richmond changes public utility billing cycle following customer complaints (WRIC)  City council nixes townhome project near Byrd Park (Richmond BizSense)*  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Read more from VPM News:  Virginia IT agency is ‘falling short’ in AI oversight, state watchdog warns Chesterfield school board sets redistricting plan for West Ridge HS ICYMI: Renovated CARITAS men’s campus puts dignity at the center of recovery  VPM News Shorts on YouTube:  Do Virginians Need Voter ID?  Healthcare front and center in the race for VA-01    Other links:  Virginia’s 9th District could reveal GOP’s continued strength with rural voters (Radio IQ) 'Very unusual' that Council president denies many requests for comment, Holsworth says (Richmond Times-Dispatch)* As EDA told Squirrels to vacate Diamond, officials gave VCU the option for new lease (The Richmonder) Nelson County Sheriff's Office cuts ties with Flock (CBS19) Virginia Tech alumnus named as university’s new president (Cardinal News) *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

More from VPM News:  UVA students and faculty grapple with AI’s place in the classroom  Avula leaves door open for Richmond to use other license plate readers after Flock deal ends  Henrico Tomorrow grant program set to relaunch in 2027  Renovated CARITAS men’s campus puts dignity at the center of recovery Former Shoosmith Landfill owners appear in Chesterfield court to modify bond    Other links:  Virginia AG launches voter protection unit ahead of midterm elections (Virginia Mercury)  After residents push back, Gordonsville officials say they will vote on exiting ICE agreement (Charlottesville Tomorrow)  In a new documentary, Virginia tribal leaders tell their own history (WHRO News)  Seclusion incidents drop after policy change in Virginia Beach (Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

ICYMI from VPM News:  Congressman Rob Wittman defends his record in Virginia’s 1st District  VPM News interviews Virginia 1st District’s Shannon Taylor  1st District Q&A: Shannon Taylor, Rob Wittman  Other links:  After a felony, Virginia took away his vote. A court win is giving it back. (The Washington Post)*  Sen. Mike Jones proposes sweeping ban on NDAs in local government (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Spanberger announces $67 million for home energy efficiency projects, lowering energy bills (WRIC)  Rare bee rediscovered in Virginia after more than a century (WHRO News)  Lawmaker Rasoul has become a licensed lawyer (Cardinal News)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local news. 

Read more from VPM News:  Avula announces Richmond won’t renew Flock Safety contract  Christian groups sue VSU in federal court for religious discrimination  On the agenda: Richmond poverty reduction report; city vendor payment transparency    Other links:  Spanberger: 'Indict, charge, prosecute' every Albemarle school employee who failed to do their job (The Daily Progress)*  Virginia lawmakers consider changes to how people interact with AI chatbots: “Very intriguing and very, very scary” (WTVR)  Why did regional authority that owns Wood Haven pull out of data center NDA? Transparency, it says (Cardinal News)  Proposed Head Start changes would eliminate slots for Virginia children experiencing homelessness (Virginia Mercury)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Singer, songwriter and producer Steve Bassett — a longtime Richmonder — will be celebrated this weekend with a night of live performances and stories from his 60 years in the music industry. The event is being hosted by another local, entertainment executive Bernard Porter, at the Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education in Chester.  Morning Edition host Phil Liles spoke to Porter and Bassett at VPM’s Broad Street headquarters on Thursday.  Read more from VPM News: 60 years of music: Steve Bassett returns home to Virginia to celebrate