Virginia Public Radio

Service sector employees in Virginia have been struggling for years with low wages. And now, they are looking ahead to an uncertain future. Michael Pope has the story.

When you think about a national park, you probably think about fresh air, but the fact is that pollution blows through many of our parks, including the Shenandoah. The Environmental Protection Agency came up with a rule to address air quality, but park advocates complain that the Trump administration is getting in the way of […]

A judge in Oklahoma ruled yesterday/Monday the company Johnson and Johnson is partially responsible for the opioid epidemic there. The drug-maker has been ordered to pay half a billion dollars. Virginia wasn’t a party in that case, but as Mallory Noe-Payne reports the ruling could still have implications for the Commonwealth.

Virginia marked Women’s Equality Day Monday. But as Michael Pope reports, there’s still no equality between the genders in Virginia when it comes to pay.

It’s been nearly two-and-a-half centuries since the Revolutionary War and still very little is known about Virginia’s black patriots. Some were promised freedom and went into battle. Others produced weapons, clothing and food. In the Tidewater Region, the Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Society is recognizing the role of black patriots in winning the war. […]

Tourism is booming in Virginia. And, the forecast for the next decade is also strong. Michael Pope reports.

When can employees take time off? And how much time should they get to leave work? Lawmakers are expected to consider these questions next year, and the results will depend on what happens during this year’s election. Michael Pope reports.

Is the federal government doing enough to protect people with student loans? Michael Pope reports that one Virginia Congressman is seeking action on the issue.

The Appalachian Trail stretches nearly 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine, and it depends on volunteers to keep the path clear. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is now trying to interest more people in the job – especially those who have not, historically, been part of the hiking community. Sandy Hausman has details.

The senior population in Virginia is about to experience a boom. Michael Pope explains why that’s important.