Virginia Public Radio

Virginia lawmakers have voted to decriminalize the possession of marijuana. If the Governor signs the bill, then beginning in July it will no longer be a crime to have up to an ounce of weed. Mallory Noe-Payne has more.

If the Governor signs a bill sent to him by lawmakers, Virginia’s minimum wage will go up next year. It’s been set at $7.25 for more than a decade. As Mallory Noe-Payne reports, lawmakers approved a jump to $9.50 starting next year.

Albemarle County Police will soon be using residents’ doorbell video in criminal investigations.  And western Virginia will be getting a new area code. Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va, News link. More now from Fred Echols.

Lawmakers have approved a bill to put a cap on how much people will have to pay for insulin. Michael Pope reports.

Virginia environmental advocates are celebrating a big win at the statehouse. The House of Delegates has passed the Clean Economy Act. As Mallory Noe-Payne reports, the omnibus bill sets the stage for Virginia to get to zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century.

Lawmakers are considering an effort to create new safeguards to prevent minority voters from being disenfranchised. Michael Pope reports.

Communities across the world will celebrate International Women’s Day on Sunday. In Richmond, the Virginia Museum of History and Culture will open an exhibition that pays tribute to those who’ve led the fight for women’s rights. Cat Modlin-Jackson has the story.

As lawmakers finish out the General Assembly session this week, they are making final touches on an effort to allow local governments to remove Confederate statues. Michael Pope reports.

Democrats are divided over how to handle redistricting next year after the Census. And the final few days of the General Assembly session will see a dramatic vote on that issue. Michael Pope reports.

Virginia’s legislative session is scheduled to end this weekend. And it was a historic one. For the first time in decades Democrats were in power, not just of the Governor’s mansion but of both chambers of the legislature. Now that things are wrapping up, Mallory Noe-Payne has a look at just what Democrats were able […]