Virginia Public Radio

Many school districts across the country remain largely segregated by race. Nationally, nonwhite school districts get $23 billion less in funding than white districts do. But as Mallory Noe-Payne tells us, Virginia actually bucks that trend.

Virginia’s sales taxes are currently stuck in the last century. But, state laws on sales taxes are about to go back to the future. Michael Pope has the story.

A group called Conservatives for Clean Energy recently surveyed 500 Virginia voters and found 72% want more emphasis on solar power here. But as developers share plans with the public, they’re finding plenty of resistance. Sandy Hausman reports on why some people object to solar arrays and whether their fears are founded.

Virginia is running up against two demographic trends that might be unwelcome news. Michael Pope explains the changes.

A new discovery finds that timing is everything when it comes to preventing and treating cancer. Scientists at Virginia Tech are the first to confirm the important role our body’s internal clocks play in whether we are more prone to develop the disease. Robbie Harris reports.

Two more coal burning power plants have gone offline in Virginia as producers move toward other fuels…and passenger rail service is growing in the state thanks largely to public investment in private companies.  Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s Va. News link.  More […]

Washington gets a lot of bad publicity for partisan gridlock, and there’s certainly a lot of that. But two freshman Virginia lawmakers from different parties are working together to crack down on financial crimes. Michael Pope reports.

Richmond’s Mayor is proposing a hike in the city’s real estate tax. He says the money is needed for schools and infrastructure. And as Mallory Noe-Payne reports, in recent years real estate taxes have risen across the state.

Virginia hasn’t traditionally had a great reputation for renewable sources of energy. But the solar industry is now booming in Virginia. Michael Pope sheds some light on the numbers.

Virginia’s newly elected Democrats in Congress are hoping to re-write the rules for elections and campaign finance. Michael Pope reports.