Plus: Richmond City Council approves budget amendments; Gov. Youngkin appointed to FEMA council.

Congressman Rob Wittman (R–1st) declined to attend a town hall organized by some of his constituents. They still gathered to voice their concerns. 

In other news: Recent federal policy changes could open Virginia’s national forests up for logging, “Medicaid is not the home of fraud” — and other Central Virginia news. 

Plus: the University of Virginia and Charlottesville City Schools want to acquire the Federal Executive Institute property, now considered government surplus, in Charlottesville.

‘Policy Matters’ is your window into Virginia politics with VPAP. It's our monthly roundup of the top political headlines from across Virginia, powered by VPAP’s daily e-newsletter, VaNews.

Virginia transit officials recommended funding for 14 transportation projects in the Richmond region through SMART SCALE, a U.K.-based parent company of local insurance firm sells its U.S.-based business, and a global toy store plans to open in Henrico County's Olde Town Shopping Center.

An experimental aircraft crashes at Langley-Eustis Air Force base; The University of Richmond holds a ceremony for a new memorial honoring enslaved people who worked the land that now belongs to the university, a public defender says ICE detained client during unrelated court hearing.  

In the podcast: Experimental aircraft crashes at Langley, University of Richmond honors enslaved people buried on property. 

Central Virginians gathered outside the Albemarle County Courthouse on Wednesday to protest an alleged immigration raid that was publicized on Tuesday.  

In other news: Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office recently publicized that the newly created state-level immigration task force has arrested more than 500 migrants in the last two months. 

Plus: a proposed amendment in Richmond’s budget could ban new tobacco and cannabis shops in the city; Virginia’s decrease in jobs; a commemoration of Hanover students who integrated schools in 1963; and other stories.

From bikes and toys to one reporter’s pants, Repair Cafe RVA works to keep Richmonders using their favorite items longer.

Plus: possible solutions for reducing the number of youth incarcerated at the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center; How pay for Hanover County’s boards and commissions compares to neighboring localities; and other stories. 

In the podcast: The latest update from VPM News’ “Idleness and boredom” series; VMI appoints an interim president.