Last fall, thousands of acres were engulfed by at least 5 distinct fires across the state.

Much like football games, there’s a halftime point in Virginia’s legislature … and it’s called Crossover; A bill protecting women who come to Virginia for an abortion from states where that procedure is illegal passed the Senate on Monday; Richmond City Council is moving forward with a partnership to fight homelessness.

Virginia delegates voted to forward a heavily amended plan to create a government authority for a professional sports arena in Alexandria

Dating While Gray's Laura Stassi chats with VPM's Morning Edition host Phil Liles

Virginia Union University announced the first step it is taking toward implementing a $500 million campus redevelopment plan over the next 10 years; Proposed changes to state law to address city tax collection issues like the ones that have been plaguing Richmond restaurant owners received a mixed reaction from Virginia legislators Tuesday; Richmond's Planning Commission approved several new projects this week; and other local business stories.

Virginia Democrats are aiming to tighten the rules around how the state changes its voter rolls; Richmond’s new auditor says he’s started reviewing how many restaurants may be behind on meals tax payments; The Virginia Senate unanimously advanced a bill yesterday to remove Richmond from the list of casino-eligible cities.

Hanover County officials are watching several bills proposed by General Assembly legislators in 2024; A Section of Libbie Avenue in Henrico County is poised for an infrastructure upgradeSportfishing and conservation groups continue to push Virginia to ban menhaden fishing in the Chesapeake Bay.

New state legislation could empower all Virginia localities to keep or expand tree cover.

Virginia's General Assembly considering how to set up a retail marketplace for marijuana; How one Richmond restaurant's meals tax bill went fro $10k to $0; and other stories

Some students have left school altogether.

GRTC is looking at five sites across the city for the home of its future bus transfer station; A legal drama is beginning to unfold between Virginia Repertory Theatre and one of its co-founders; The pandemic’s effect on office space is leading one downtown Richmond office building to a date with the auction block; and Libbie Mill’s original neighborhood market has closed, though its space won’t sit vacant for long.

Hanover County’s school board received its first look at its potential budget for next fiscal year; The General Assembly is considering legislation that would require courts to reconsider the prison sentences of people serving time for marijuana convictions; Virginia Senator Tim Kaine has been trying to get the United States Postal Service to fix delivery issues that have affected people throughout the state.

On Monday night, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney delivered his final State of the City address; A group of Virginia Delegates killed two bills aiming to establish statewide best practices for police technology; Fairfax Delegate Kathy Tran is sponsoring a bill to bring motorized all-terrain wheelchairs to state parks.

Stoney, who is running for governor, also committed to keeping the minor league Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball team in town.

Lanternflies, kudzu and boars — oh my! A 2018 report estimated that Virginia loses over $1 billion yearly due to non-native plants, critters and crawlers.

VPM News Host Phil Liles recently spoke with Berry about his career.

The saga surrounding VCU Health’s costly exit from an ill-fated downtown development project continued this week; Henrico-based Elephant Insurance has reduced its local office footprint and found new stomping grounds in the county; and the highly anticipated amphitheater at Richmond’s downtown riverfront is now officially under construction.

The openings on the three-judge SCC have gone unfilled, in one case for nearly two years, due to political gridlock.

Virginia lawmakers may order state government to take a closer look at the litter tax this year; Four months after the Greater Richmond Transit Company cut the ribbon on its downtown transfer station, officials are driving forward asking for input to open a permanent location; Voters in Richmond who requested absentee ballots for March’s Democratic presidential primary may have received outdated instructions, according to the city’s General Registrar Keith Balmer.

Between July 2022 and June 2023, the Virginia Employment Commission's overpayments amounted to over $41 million.

There's a bipartisan movement in Richmond to overhaul the way the state handles informal foster care placements; What is or isn't in Richmond's real time crime center; Democrats want to rejoin RGGI; and other stories

Curious Commonwealth asks: Why does Richmond have so many tattoo parlors?

Publicity about escalating penalties and fees tied to multiple Richmond restaurants’ meals tax payments are prompting changes to the city’s tax collection practices on a broader scale; US Foods is planning to build a new location of its Chef’Store retail chain in Henrico County; Construction began this month on a 7 Brew coffee shop in Midlothian; and a local entrepreneur has brought an indoor playground to Stony Point Fashion Park.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office has advanced regulations meant to hold law enforcement officers accountable; On Thursday Democrats on a House subcommittee pushed forward a bill that would raise Virginia’s minimum wage next year; Virginia lawmakers have gotten bipartisan support for their legislation to raise educator salaries to the national average or higher.

1/18/24 - Richmond Public Schools has made a third-party report on the Huguenot graduation shooting available to the public; General Assembly Democrats reject bills to repeal California vehicle emissions standards; and other stories