VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Mike Platania discuss the Richmond area's top business stories. This week's stories include new plans for Henrico County's long-desired arena district, starting with the demolition of the old Best Products building. Platania also runs through a full-plate of new restaurants coming to the region.

Editor’s note: Ahead of the winter storm forecast, VPM will be automating its radio operations on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 26–27.

The projected severe weather may impact the VPM Daily Newscast during those days; visit vpm.org for the latest information. 

Read (and watch) more VPM News: 

Gov. Abigail Spanberger is keeping 'relentless focus' on affordability 

Central Virginia resources for the incoming winter storm 

Watch Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s Jan. 22 storm press conference 

Huguenot High students walk out to protest immigration enforcement 

Virginia Democrats aim for April 21 redistricting ballot 

Other links: 

Here’s what Richmond police Chief Rick Edwards asked ChatGPT about ICE, snowstorms (Richmond Times-Dispatch)* 

Winter road salting is a growing source of pollution. Virginia officials want alternatives (WHRO News) 

With Youngkin gone, Democrats see opening on housing reform (Virginia Mercury) 

*This outlet uses a paywall 

Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Read (and watch) more VPM News:

Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi is ready to 'elevate' Virginians’ voices

Artificial intelligence is a hot topic for Virginia state legislators

Video: Spanberger’s Executive Order 10 (YouTube) | TikTok | Facebook 

Other links:

Work resumes on Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project after court order ends federal pause (Virginia Mercury)

Hampton Roads Flock cameras surveil Black communities more intensely than white ones (WHRO)

Lindsey Halligan, Trump's former personal attorney, exits Virginia prosecutor's office (NPR)

Hampton Roads lost more than 6,000 federal civilian jobs in 2025, report finds (The Virginian-Pilot)*

Preserving John Marshall's boyhood home: The Hollow inches closer to park status (The Prince William Times)

*This outlet uses a paywall.

Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

Read more from VPM News: 

Attorney General Jay Jones says he'll be 'putting Virginia first' 

Virginia's 1924 racial segregation law targeted Native Americans for decades 
Maryland's Wes Moore looks forward to working with Spanberger 

Hanover Planning Commission nixes Hunting Hawk Technology Park proposal 

Charlottesville residents explore where their tax dollars go 

Other links: 

A big snow is coming (probably). Here's what we know so far. (The Richmonder) 

Hampton Roads lost more than 6,000 federal civilian jobs in 2025, report finds (The Virginian-Pilot)* 

DOGE cuts wiped out years of growth in Virginia's federal civilian jobs (Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO) 

Preserving John Marshall's boyhood home: The Hollow inches closer to park status (The Prince William Times) 

Read (and) watch more VPM News 

Spanberger makes policy promises in first General Assembly address 
Watch: The Joint Assembly Address (YouTube) 
Watch: Gov. Abigail Spanberger discussing affordability (YouTube) 
On the agenda: Richmond traffic safety grants, Charlottesville housing 

Other links 
In historic first for Virginia, Adam Spanberger becomes first gentleman (The Washington Post)* 
DOJ sues Virginia for not providing voter data (The Hill) 
Rocky Mount unveils monument to Black Civil War soldiers (Cardinal News) 
Planned James City County missile factory to be fully operational in 2028 (WHRO) 

*This outlet utilizes a paywall. 

Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Read (and watch) more VPM News about the inauguration 

Abigail Spanberger sworn in as Virginia's 75th governor 

Attorney General Jones, Governor Spanberger flex powers on Day 1 

Here are the 10 executive orders Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed Day 1 

Gallery: Scenes from the Spanberger–Hashmi–Jones inauguration 

Watch inaugural interviews with Abigail Spanberger, Ghazala Hashmi and Jay Jones 

Multiple UVA board members resign at Spanberger's request 

ICYMI: Watch Saturday’s historic inauguration and parade (VPM on YouTube)

Other, non-inauguration news

On the agenda: This week in Central Virginia meetings

Bernice King sees 'saving grace' of MLK Day in today's political climate (The Associated Press) 

Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Read (and watch) more

⁠Events and road closures for Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s inauguration weekend⁠

Virginia lawmakers propose a bevy of data center reform bills

What happens to bills when their patrons leave the Virginia General Assembly?

VPM livestreams on YouTube | VPM PBS livestreams

Virginia's 1924 racial segregation law targeted Native Americans for decades

5 candidates apply for Richmond School Board vacancy in 6th District  

Other links

City officials apologize for pausing rent assistance program without announcing it to the public (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*

Rev. ‘Tee’ Turner, who spearheaded Richmond’s Slave Trail and worked towards racial reconciliation, died this week (The Richmonder) 

How to claim Verizon's $20 credit for Wednesday's service outage (Engadget)

*This outlet uses a paywall.

Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

Read (and watch) more

Virginia House committee advances 4 proposed constitutional amendments 

Gov. Glenn Youngkin: Virginia is stronger 'by every single metric' 

Delegate-elect Virgil Thornton wants to get back to ‘the community over the chaos’

WATCH: 2026 State of the Commonwealth Address (VPM on YouTube)

Other links

Former DPU director April Bingham sues city for $1M, claiming she was smeared after water crisis (The Richmonder) 

Central Va. hospitals recommend masking in health care centers as flu, COVID-19 cases surge (Virginia Mercury) 

Breaking News: CarMax lays off hundreds more, including many in Richmond (Richmond BizSense)* 

*This outlet uses a paywall. 

Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism. 

Del.-elect Mark Downey: Elected doctor seeks healthier futures for Virginians 

UVA rector meets with state lawmakers about Jim Ryan's exit 

Other links: 

Tazewell judge denies GOP push to block redistricting plan (Richmond Times-Dispatch) 

Pending land sale to state delegate on hold as Richmond officials debate process (The Richmonder) 

Spanberger names new education leaders to ‘strengthen’ state’s schools (Virginia Mercury) 

Former Del. Gooditis aims to unseat Cline in Congress (The Winchester Star) 

Virginia colleges resist disclosing athletic revenue-sharing (Cardinal News) 

Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.