Absentee voting, police reform proposals, the Affordable Care Act, and more: VPM News broke down some of the biggest issues facing our audience as election day approaches.

The two-year Virginia budget has finished negotiations and faces its first vote today, Legislation that allows local governments to create civilian review boards is heading to the governor's desk; The Robert E. Lee monument in Richmond has been named the "most influential work of American protest art since World War Two" by the New York Times, and other local news stories.

A federal judge ordered the Virginia Department of Elections to extend voter registration for 48 hours after a cut cable shut down the website on the last day to register; A look at how the mayoral race works in Richmond; Richmond sees an uptick in COVID-19 cases; and other local news stories.

The Virginia Department of Elections is facing lawsuits from advocacy groups after a cut wire prevented people from registering to vote; Governor Ralph Northam was a potential target of a militia group that had planned to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer; 4th District Representative Donald McEachin and his opponent, Bishop Leon Benjamin met in debate, and other local news stories.

Republican congressional candidate Bob Good denied any wrongdoing in his financial disclosures; Virginia Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn was fined for a violation of the Freedom of Information Act; A new study shows an excess of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic; and other local news stories.

Republican Bob Good's financial reports contain inconsistencies in VPM's analysis of the records; Biden is leading Trump in Virginia polls; Richmond sees an increase in COVID-19 cases; and other local news stories.

Senator Tim Kaine says eliminating the Affordable Care Act is the main impetus in the rush to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the court; Richmond Police have released new crime data for 2020; Top Republican lawmakers are threatening legal action over an investigation into the Virginia Parole Board; and other local news stories.

Candidates for Mayor of Richmond met last night in a debate hosted by VPM and NBC12; In-person voting has already seen a huge turnout; JLARC issued a new report about the Virginia Department of Education; and other local news stories.

Members of the 'Proud Boys' attended a 2019 fundraiser held by Richmond City Council candidate Mike Dickinson; Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Colette McEachin is considering 18 sealed indictments involving police conduct in relation to protests over the summer; Postal inspectors are investigating reports of tampering with outdoor mailboxes at area post offices; and other local news stories.

Governor Ralph Northam continues to remain asymptomatic and working after his recent positive diagnosis for COVID-19, The State Corporation Commission declined to extend the moratorium on utility disconnections due to unpaid bills; A budget amendment that would have provided parents with money to support online learning failed to pass in the General Assembly; Gov. Northam joined 10 other state governors to call for election security; and a look at how the decendants of enslaved people who helped build America are working to add perspective to how their ancestors' stories are told.

A handful of residents in Richmond and Henrico received duplicate ballots, but unique barcodes will prevent anyone from voting twice; Commonwealth's Attorneys want to stop a bill that would allow judges to impose sentences in criminal trials; COVID-19 cases are on the decline in Richmond; and how to spot misinformation ahead of the November election.

A new Wason poll shows likely Virginia voters trust Biden over Trump when it come to handling the pandemic; Richmond moves to establish a slavery museum in Shockoe Bottom; Activists accused Richmond police of making political arrests; and other local news stories.

The Virginia Supreme Court has approved a resumption of jury trials across the commonwealth; the Richmond 300 master plan looks ahead to 2037; VDH has added several new dashboards to its site to track the coronavirus; and other local news stories.

President Donald Trump is holding a rally tonight in Newport News as a new Wason Center poll shows Joe Biden with a 5-point lead among likely Virginia voters; Jill Biden joined Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney at an early voting location; Governor Northam expanded the rent relief program to landlords; and other local news stories.

COVID-19 has had a negative effect on the opioid epidemic, with non-fatal overdoses up 123% over last year; Senator Tim Kaine questioned health officials about the pandemic in committee; Richmond moves forward with plans to provide childcare to low-income families and frontline workers; and VADOC responds to CDC guidelines to manage COVID-19 outbreaks in detention centers.

A bill that would have reduced the punishment for assaulting a police officer failed to pass a House panel yesterday; GRTC is offering a shuttle service to the new registrar's office in Richmond; Governor Northam announces plan to restructure the debt of state colleges and universities; Mayor Stoney unveiled a plan to increase affordable housing in the city; and other local news stories.

A planned Black Live Matter mural on Grace Street has been called off following a proposed anti-abortion mural; Virginia remembers Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who passed away last week; Chesterfield County is reducing the number of locations for free meal pickups; Richmond is shortening their virtual school day over screen time concerns; and other local news stories.

The director of VCU's Massey Cancer Center said in a Congressional briefing this week that African Americans have the highest overall death rate in the US; A majority of Virginians think it is unsafe for kids to return to school in person according to a new poll; VUU and VCU celebrate the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of former Governor L. Douglas Wilder; and other local news stories.

Richmond Public Schools has established a new program to help students facing housing insecurity; A bill requiring utilities to offer an extended payment plan passed the Virginia Senate, which also killed a bill that would have required some employers to provide paid quarantine leave; The city of Richmond is planning to provide childcare for low-income and working parents; and other local news stories.

The State Corporation Commission has agreed to Governor Ralph Northam's request to freeze utility disconnections through October 5th; Southwest Virginia continues a spike in COVID-19 cases; Virginia ABC sales continue to rise; Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney joins other mayors across the country to call on President Trump to condemn vigilantism; and other local news stories.

The state Senate has sent a significant police reform bill to the House of Delegates; Henrico gets a new police chief; Chesterfield moves to return students to in-person learning; Virginia localities prepare for November's election; and other local news stories.

Hampton Roads COVID-19 Restrictions Being Lifted; Legal Protections for Police Will Continue After Senate Defeats Proposal; ICE Says COVID-19 is Under Control in Their Facility, Asks to Bring in More Detained People

Democrats Block a GOP Attempt to End Police Unions; Richmond Bans Firearms at Protests; Special Prosecutor Requested to Investigate $1.8M Confederate Monument Removal Contract

Virtual School Reopening Hit Technical Challenges; Richmond Bans Guns at Protests; Update on COVID-19 in Richmond Jails; and more local news

School Resource Officers will be taking on new roles as many schools across the state reopen virtually; Richmond schools have announced plans to make sure students have access to meals during virtual classes; Governor Northam has signed a bill to make it easier to vote early; Disagreements arise over the CDC's ban on evictions; and other local news stories.