Virginia Focus

Nearly two-thirds of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck according to a new survey from Lending Club. While a high median household income and expenses that are lower than in many other East Coast states help Virginia residents hang onto at least 40% of their paychecks. However, a GOBankingRates study found that it’s one of the worst states for the middle class. When people find themselves in a financial hardship, they often turn to the United Way and it's partner agencies for help. Let's talk to one Virginia branch of the United Way about how they're supporting their local community.

If you were not already familiar with Hospice Care or even if you were, the recent announcement that former President Jimmy Carter was entering hospice care probably caught your interest. The concept of providing specialized care for dying patients, linking pain and symptom control with compassionate care, began in England in the 1950’s. In 1982, the Medicare Hospice Benefit was created in the United States. Blue Ridge Hospice Chief Medical Director Dr. Brendan Flynn says Carter’s graceful acceptance of hospice care at home has allowed for the valuable national discussion of what end-of-life care is and how it should be viewed. Let's find out what he means.

Nonprofit hospitals operate as charities and are designed to deliver affordable and quality health care to everyone in their communities. However, despite their tax-exempt status, many nonprofit hospitals are praticing disturbing trends that put profits over patients - like ignoring a low-income patient's qualifications for financial assistance and pursuing predatory collection practices. Former CEO of the Indian Health Service Mary Smith also serves as a board member for Consumers for Quality Care. She tells us about the group's Nonprofit Hospital Scorecards designed to call out disturbing trends among nonprofit hospitals. The group also urges lawmakers to put an end to predatory hospital practices and ensure that nonprofit hospitals truly act like nonprofits. Let's get the details from Ms. Smith.

The commonwealth could boast a new symbol soon. House Bill 1951 actually began during last year's Virginia Model General Assembly and proposed making the Chincoteague Ponies the state's official pony. We're talking to Salt Water Cowboy and Chincoteague Volunteer Firefighter Hunter Leonard to learn more about these wild horses and their history in Virginia.

Axios reports the small business boom after the pandemic comes after one of the least entrepreneurial decades in U.S. history, the 2010s. Forbes experts predict 2023 will be a year of small business owners betting on themselves and focusing on the elements of business ownership within their control. On today's show we're getting some business advice from Virginia entrepreneur John Filipiak - co-owner of the new Crimson Coward Hot Chicken Joint in Woodbridge.

Every two years AmeriCorps, an independent agency of the U.S. government, releases a Civic Engagement and Volunteering Survey. The report ranks all 50 states and the nation's largest cities and metropolitan areas for their volunteering and engagement rates. This year’s research highlights which states volunteered the most during the Global Pandemic. AmeriCorps found that Americans continued to volunteer and make a difference in their communities. Let's learn more from Michael D. Smith, the CEO of AmeriCorps.

Addiction is a topic that affects everyone. What was once regarded as poor judgement or a moral failure, research has lead experts to now say there are four levels of addiction: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual and each one plays a role in both falling into or getting out of addiction. As well, the term addiction is no longer limited to the use of illegal, mind-altering chemicals. There are even some addictions that are socially acceptable. Chief Clinical Officer at Brightview Dr. Navdeep Kang joins us to explain.

Theoretical physicist Albert Einstein spoke words of wisdom when he said, “The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” Libraries are community hubs – where people find information and connect people to people. They are safe havens for kids, providing after-school homework help, games, and book clubs. They offer computer classes, allowing older adults to stay engaged in a digital world. The Library of Virginia will be celebrating it’s 200th birthday in 2023. Librarian Sandra Treadway shares some of the unique and obscure finds in the collection and invites the public to not only explore the books, but the artifacts that the library preserves for future generations.

Whether your hosting a party or going out with friends, many choose to celebrate the start of a New Year with an alcoholic drink.. or drinks. Experts say New Years Eve can be a particularly dangerous time to be driving because it's the holiday with the highest DUI rates in the United States. In Virginia, the consequences of getting caught driving intoxicated can be not only jail time but also up to $20 grand in fines and fees. If you are in an accident or, worse yet, a fatal accident that number skyrockets even higher. Kurt Erickson, the President & CEO of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program tells us why you may want to encourage your son, husband, or brother to listen to the show and how you can be more proactive about staying safe on America's roadways during the holidays.

Celebrating means many things to many people of all faiths, but almost unviversaly, observing the holidays means allowing Chris Kringle to come into our lives. For more than a few years now, in North Georgia, litteraly thousands of children, of course young an old, have come across Derek Dugan. Effectionately known to many as Santa Derek. We visited Santa Derek in his home and learned that a man looking for direction during a time of crisis, found solace and his place in the world when he sat for the first time upon the throne of Santa Clause.