Virginia author Kenneth Nixon says America’s mental health system is in crisis – and he should know. Nixon’s mother suffered from severe mental illness. His memoir, Born into Crisis, describes how his family became stuck in an enduring cycle of trauma, but also some strategies and solutions for creating change. Morning Edition Host Phil Liles recently spoke to Nixon.

Richmond’s bustling development scene is facing the most formidable foe it has seen in recent years: rising interest rates.

Richmond City Council introduced legislation during a Wednesday meeting to officially accept state money to help purchase Mayo Island; A proposal to site a new Richmond Fire Department training facility on existing Southside green space has led to disagreements among city leaders and community members; A federal judge in North Dakota has temporarily blocked federal regulations in Virginia and 23 other states intended to protect thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways; and other local news stories.

A group attempting to unravel what happened at the Enrichmond Foundation has obtained the nonprofits’ financial records; Hemp retailers will have to take some intoxicating hemp products off their shelves under legislation passed by the General Assembly Wednesday; A class action lawsuit has been filed against the United Network for Organ Sharing; and other local news stories.

Laura K. Drewry is now Richmond’s city attorney, Richmond Public Schools is in the process of renaming four of its buildings; Governor Glenn Youngkin is pushing for parents to have a final say in whether their teenage child can use websites and apps that collect people’s data; and other local news stories.

State considers changes to school accreditation; Norfolk officials consider changes to flood wall project after residents voice concerns; Democratic Senator Tim Kaine other senators requested an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas; and other local news stories.

Betty Migliaccio has been a firefighter for the City of Richmond for 9 years. Like many other first responders, she has a lot of stories to tell. Migliaccio’s experience is the focus of one of four new one-act plays at Firehouse Theatre in Richmond. The show, called First Responses, ends this Sunday. Morning Edition Host Phil Liles recently spoke to Migliaccio.

The area around Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s downtown taproom continues to draw developer interest; The next piece of Westchester Commons is in the works; The clock has expired on a longtime Short Pump restaurant, but a new, mystery addition to the area’s dining scene is in the works within eyeshot; and other local business stories.

Chesterfield County’s Board of Supervisors adopted a $1.94 billion dollar budget Wednesday; Robious Landing Park in Chesterfield has new safety signs warning of its proximity to Bosher’s Dam on the James River; Flood insurance is a complex issue in Hampton Roads. But Norfolk nonprofit RISE Resilience Innovations is investing in some ideas to improve it; and other local news stories.

04/06/2023 The state is investigating the Enrichmond foundation; Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s political team say he’s raised nearly $3 million over the first quarter of this year; All 55 seniors in Cristo Rey Richmond's are graduating; and other local news stories.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and CNN Anchor Jim Acosta met earlier this week at James Madison University in Harrisonburg; Glenn Youngkin is set to lead his first international trade mission as governor; The governor's office has decided not to hold special elections to fill the seats of two Democrats in the House of Delegates; and other local news stories.

State medical examiner rules Irvo Otieno’s death a homicide; The teacher allegedly shot by a 6-year-old student files a $40 million dollar lawsuit against the school system; What has Gov. Youngkin's Office of Transformation been up to?; and other local news stories

Norfolk is weighing whether to move forward with a massive federal agreement that includes building a floodwall around much of the city. Katherine Hafner with partner station WHRO breaks down what’s in it, and why some people are concerned.

Local home remodeler abruptly closes, leaving clients and subcontractors in limbo; In ‘call to action,’ city leaders declare housing crisis in Richmond; New Rocketts Landing section welcomes first residents; and other local business stories.

Earlier this week, the second person this year died while in custody at Richmond City Justice Center; Last week, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates, despite concerns about the banking industry after two midsized banks collapsed; The Chesterfield Department of Transportation is asking for input on changes to Route 60; and other local news stories.

Mourners congregated at First Baptist Church of South Richmond in North Chesterfield on yesterday to mark the life of Irvo Otieno; Shakia Gullette Warren will become the executive director of the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia on May 1st; A federal judge in Richmond heard arguments Wednesday in the case of an 18-year-old man fatally shot by Virginia State Troopers during a traffic stop in 2021; and other local news stories.

Voters in Central Virginia cast ballots in the race for the vacant ninth district state senate seat Tuesday; The Reverend Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy at the funeral of Irvo Otieno, who died while in police custody earlier in March; Richmond’s poverty rate has been going down during the past decade, according to a new annual report from the city’s Office of Community Wealth Building; and other local news stories.

03/28/2023 Funding is coming for improvements to public housing in Richmond; Special election to fill Sen. Jennifer McClellan's seat; State lawmakers put pause on the budget; and other local news stories.

A vigil was held last week for Richmond middle school student Marquan Mitchell-Nash, who was fatally shot earlier this month while handling a firearm. Seventeen students have been shot so far this school year according to the district’s unofficial count. That includes students who were injured, as well as those killed. Given these staggering figures, we’re airing an excerpt from a conversation that VPM News education reporter Megan Pauly had with Richmond Public School’s Angela Jones last summer. Jones is the director of culture, climate and student services. She spoke about how the district responds to these events. VPM News has a list of resources for those impacted by gun violence. You can find them at vpm.org/another-way.

A panel will discuss potential improvements to the Richmond intersection where VCU student Mahrokh Khan was killed in January by a car as she was trying to cross the street; A program used to help the state evaluate the effectiveness of transportation projects is being reviewed; A Virginia Tourism Video late last year raised concerns over Glenn Youngkin’s roles as both governor of Virginia and as a political figure. A new video mixes public universities and politics; and other local news stories.

Teachers, parents and students are giving mixed grades to an updated draft of Virginia’s history standards prepared by the Youngkin administration; Lisa Coons will become Virginia’s next superintendent of public instruction; Emails obtained by VPM News show that Virginia Commonwealth University has made changes to its debt collection policies; and other local news stories.

The demolition of Spring Rock Green shopping center on Midlothian Turnpike in North Chesterfield began Tuesday; The Richmond Planning commission delayed a vote that would have authorized a 260-unit apartment complex in the Museum District; A grand jury in Dinwiddie has returned an indictment charging 10 people with killing a man as he was being admitted into a state mental hospital; and other local news stories.

03/21/23 Youngkin calls for patience in Otieno murder case; Richmond’s planning commission green lights a new George Wythe High School; Local band Deau Eyes wins the second-annual Newlin Music Prize; and other local news stories

Virginia lawmakers considered a package of bills this winter to crack down on antisemitism. There was a lot of debate and not all of the bills passed. PolitiFact Virginia editor Warren Fiske talked with VPM News editor Whittney Evans about his latest article, which breaks down the controversy.

A total of 10 people, including 7 Sheriff’s deputies and three Central State Hospital employees, are facing 2nd degree murder charges in the death of Irvo Otieno last week; Richmond’s city attorney resigned Thursday after being charged with driving while intoxicated earlier in March; A spokesperson for Governor Glenn Youngkin says legislation passed by the General Assembly accomplishes his goal of banning intoxicating hemp products, but retailers say the restrictions go too far; and other local news stories.