RVA’s Got Issues
RVA’s Got Issues delves into politics and big issues in the news that are defining life in and around Richmond, Virginia. Should taxes be raised to build a new baseball stadium? Should old schools get a makeover or be replaced? Are more bike lanes a good idea? Host Rich Meagher will speak with guests who shed light on the present, past and future implications of these questions.
And in a time when faith in government is at an all-time low, many people say they can’t make a difference in politics. RVA’s Got Issues will counter this feeling of civic alienation by featuring guests who share stories of how they are making a difference. Listeners will gain new insights and ideas for how to become more engaged in their communities. The upshot is a podcast that helps listeners understand not only what’s happening around them but what they can do about it.
1
Is Carmax Park a Win for Richmond?
Is having a shiny new ballpark in Richmond worth the costs?
24 min
2
Mayor Avula on Earning Richmond’s Trust
The campaign is over, and Mayor Danny Avula is deep into governing Richmond. Can he keep the trust of Richmonders?
27 min
3
When Will Virginia Legalize Marijuana?
2026 was FINALLY going to be the year that Virginia legalized weed. What happened, and is it really over?
38 min
4
The Return of Prison Education in Virginia
We used to do higher education in Virginia prisons. What’s being done to bring it back?
28 min
5
Returning as a Citizen
In Virginia, a felony conviction can lead to a lifetime ban on voting. Can a new constitutional amendment help returning citizens... actually return as citizens?
20 min
6
RVA Loves Our Animals
RVA loves our animals, but how are the most vulnerable of them doing?
28 min
7
VCU and Richmond: Growing Together?
Can Richmond and VCU grow together? How does VCU grow and thrive while the city does the same?
28 min
8
Richmond's Economic Development: Building New, ...
One Richmond business has a big plan to capture international attention. But do we actually need to build more to get more?
28 min
9
Dispatches from RVA’s Frontlines
We talk a lot about issues, but what’s it like for people on the frontlines of those issues?
28 min
10
The Human Cost of Public Budgeting
Sure, budgets are about numbers, but what about the human cost? Rich sits down with an expert on government budgets.
25 min
11
Rezoning Richmond
The city’s 50-year-old zoning code is being revised. Rich sits down with experts to learn how to balance the urgent need for more housing with preserving the Richmond we love.
29 min
12
Flock Cameras in RVA
Flock cameras take pictures of your license plate, and they’re everywhere in RVA. Are there limits to living our lives on camera?
28 min
13
General Assembly Required: The (Data) Center of...
The two biggest words in VA Politics right now? DATA and CENTERS. How did they land at the very center of Virginia politics? Part of General Assembly Required, a new series on state government.
34 min
14
General Assembly Required: Redistricting, Yes o...
The national battle for redistricting has come to Virginia. So why should we have to back down? Part of GENERAL ASSEMBLY REQUIRED, a new series on state government.
27 min
15
General Assembly Required: Virginia's New Labor...
New labor laws are coming to RVA. Will they help or hurt us? Part of General Assembly Required, a new series on state government.
29 min
16
A Richmonder's Guide To Civic Matters
We’ve got three stories about civic engagement, from the general assembly to the People’s Assembly to drawing a line on a map and making it real.
28 min
17
Richmond’s Food Safety Net
What does the safety net for hunger look like in RVA? What COULD it look like, and how do we get there?
33 min
18
Pedestrian Safety in Richmond
Richmond has a plan called Vision Zero – the goal is zero pedestrian deaths. But so far this year, that goal seems farther away than ever.
35 min
19
Sarah Abubaker on Budgets and Thinking Big
Rich sits down with the Richmond City Council’s Sarah Abubaker to talk about the city budget, big thinking, and the balance of power in Richmond.
28 min
20
RVA's Got Issues: Season 4
RVA's Got Issues returns for its fourth season.
2 min
21
Odie Donald: Richmond’s New CAO
Rich talks with Odie Donald, Richmond’s new CAO, about how he's helping the Mayor - and why his job might be the key to Richmond’s future.
29 min
22
Bobby Vincent on Fixing Richmond's Roads
When is that pothole or broken sidewalk going to get fixed? Rich gets answers from Richmond's Department of Public Works.
28 min
23
What's New on the Richmond School Board?
There may be new vibes on the Richmond City School Board. But what does that mean for the future of Richmond Public Schools – and our city?
28 min
24
The Tattoo Capital of Virginia?
What's with Richmond and tattoos? Rich tries to find out by talking to tattoo artists – and getting a tattoo.
28 min
25
Giving Thanks in RVA
28 min