Virginia Public Radio

The old saying goes there’s no such thing as a free lunch. But what about elected officials? Should they have to track the value of every meal they are given? Michael Pope has this story on the food fight now playing out in Richmond.

Do state regulators have authority to crack down on car-title lenders? Critics say the industry is predatory and traps consumers in a cycle of debt, and lawmakers asked the State Corporation Commission to take action two months ago. But as Michael Pope reports, regulators are still trying to determine if they have the authority to […]

Lawyers involved in the corruption conviction of former Governor Bob McDonnell have been busy with a flurry of legal briefs back and forth as the date for oral arguments approaches at the U.S. Supreme Court. Michael Pope has the story.    

A group that wants to build a mosque in Culpeper County suspects a religious motive in the county’s denial of a permit…and Hanover County residents are hoping to stop plans for passenger rail improvements. Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s VaNews link on […]

California made headlines this week as lawmakers there announced a deal to slowly raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. But here in Virginia, that number is still $7.25, tied to the federal level.  As Mallory Noe-Payne reports, that’s not likely to change anytime soon.

One city in Virginia is taking a fresh look at how it regulates gardens…and the Commonwealth will soon have a thoroughbred racing season again, something it hasn’t had since 2013. Those have been among the most read stories over the past week at the Virginia Public Access Project’s VaNews link on vpap.org. Fred Echols has […]

A new Virginia General Assembly measure mandates elementary schoolers get out from the behind the desk, and move. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.

With the General Assembly session now wrapped up, Virginia has more than 300 new laws on the books. This week we’ll take a look at a handful of those laws — which all go into effect July first.  We start off today with changes to Virginia’s sex offender registry. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.

Virginia has become the first state to legalize daily fantasy sports — the flipside? The state will also now regulate the quickly growing business. Mallory Noe-Payne reports.

The Chronicle of Higher Education is out with its second annual assessment of trends on campus.  Sandy Hausman reports on what the Chronicle found in studying colleges and universities in 2016. Sandy Hausman reports.