Read more from VPM News: 

Hanover planning commission recommends approving Mountain Road data center 

Move away from 12-month model could leave Bellwood ES teachers without pay in July 

On the agenda: Data centers, FY27 budgets and Richmond Diamond District 

Other links: 

Water restrictions in place for Caroline due to severe drought (WRIC) 
Conservation groups raise alarm as Potomac River named most endangered in the nation (Virginia Mercury) 
Broker charges CoStar with monopolizing online real estate market (Richmond Times-Dispatch)* 
Virginia Tech board changed bylaws to allow Rocovich to serve third term as rector; now he oversees presidential search (Cardinal News) 

*This outlet uses a paywall. 

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

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense reporter Mike Platania discuss the Richmond region's top business stories, starting with Gov. Abigail Spanberger's amendments to the flagship legalisation to start the legal sales of recreational marijuana in Virginia and new liquor laws going to effect after the Spanberger hundreds of bills outright during her 30-day bill review process.

Read more from VPM News: 

Virginia lawmakers push back on Spanberger's changes to retail weed market bill 

Justin Fairfax, former Virginia lt. governor, kills wife, self, police say 

Chesterfield sheriff adds extra security at early voting locations 

Other links: 

City offers to replace RPS land, pay for relocation if it turns over Southside site for mixed-use development (The Richmonder) 

Albemarle Fire Marshal issues burn ban through Sunday (29 News) 

Central Virginia ICE facility has been over capacity for months (WRIC) 

‘We’re tired of it’ — amid luxury student housing surge, city residents feel overlooked (The Cavalier Daily) 

*This outlet uses a paywall. 

It’s our pledge drive through April 17! You can support our award-winning work by visiting VPM.org/challenges to help us bloom and grow this spring. When you designate your donation to the news challenge, you will help VPM News unlock a $10,000 bonus in support of an informed community. 

Read more from VPM News: 

Spanberger suggests ‘significant policy shifts’ to Dominion regulation bills 

Scenes from the Virginia State Capitol 2026: a dispatch 

Other links: 

Prince William County drops legal fight for PW Digital Gateway (Prince William Times) 

In this U.S. hot spot for data centers, voters have turned against them (The Washington Post)* 

Virginia joins a national effort to ensure only popular vote winners become president (NPR News) 

Richmond breaks record with historic spring heatwave (WRIC) 

USS Gerald R. Ford breaks record for longest post-Vietnam deployment (Navy Times) 

*This outlet uses a paywall. 

It’s our pledge drive through April 17! You can support our award-winning work by visiting VPM.org/challenges to help us bloom and grow this spring. When you designate your donation to the news challenge, you will help VPM News unlock a $10,000 bonus in support of an informed community!

Read more from VPM News: 

Spanberger proposes amendments to immigrant protection bills 

ICYMI: Gov. Abigail Spanberger's last-minute actions on 11 issues 

Other links: 

Virginia police search vehicle surveillance data 24/7. It isn't always clear why (Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO) 

Art 180 To Close Its Doors (Style Weekly) 

Suffolk government contractor in talks to lease office space to ICE (The Virginian-Pilot)* 

Schiarizzi announces Democratic run for Virginia's crowded proposed 7th District (Inside NoVa) 

Ex-Pence aide Olivia Troye plans to run for Congress in Virginia as a Democrat (The Washington Post)* 

Former Roanoke Rambler owner ‘devastated’ after staff terminated (Cardinal News) 

*This outlet uses a paywall. 

It’s our pledge drive through April 17! You can support our award-winning work by visiting VPM.org/challenges to help us bloom and grow this spring. When you designate your donation to the news challenge, you will help VPM News unlock a $10,000 bonus in support of an informed community! 

Read more from VPM News:

Gov. Abigail Spanberger's last-minute actions on 11 issues

State-run hospitals lack clear policy on ‘forensic patient’ custody transfers

Other links:

Virginia police search vehicle surveillance data 24/7. It isn't always clear why (Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO) 

Avula pitches Richmond spending database — without invoice descriptions, payer names (Richmond Times-Dispatch)* 

Henrico issues immediate burn ban: What that means for you (WTVR) 

In the wake of Centra’s Farmville maternity care closure, some families say the risk to have more kids might be too high (Charlottesville Tomorrow) 

10 Virginia hospitals listed as ‘at risk,’ but what does that really mean? (Cardinal News) 

Spanberger joins other governors in push for PJM to prioritize ratepayer protections (Virginia Mercury) 

*This outlet uses a paywall. 

It’s our pledge drive through April 17! You can support our award-winning work by visiting VPM.org/challenges to help us bloom and grow this spring. When you designate your donation to the news challenge, you will help VPM News unlock a $10,000 bonus in support of an informed community! 

More VPM News:

Watch Amending Virginia Episode 1: “Redistricting”  

Richmond City settles former FOIA officer lawsuit after hostile litigation 

Shockoe Institute opens interactive center at Main Street Station 

Rachel Smith wants to bring people to Hanover County 

On the agenda: Richmond budget, Hanover tax and utility rates 

Other links:

Youngkin returns to campaign trail, calls for court to strike redistricting vote (Virginia Mercury)

Virginia Tech considering eliminating Living-Learning Communities (WDBJ)

⁠Spanberger: Here’s how I’m working to provide practical solutions over partisanship⁠ (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*

*This outlet uses a paywall. 

It’s our pledge drive through April 17! You can support our award-winning work by visiting VPM.org/challenges to help us bloom and grow this spring. When you designate your donation to the news challenge, you will help VPM News unlock a $10,000 bonus in support of an informed community!

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jonathan Spiers discuss the Richmond region's top business stories starting with the first home game at CarMax Park, the redevelopment of the old Greyhound Station and the Southside Speedway's master plan.

Read more from VPM News:

Spanberger weighing whether to eliminate Fourth Amendment waivers in plea deals

VMSDEP-related bills stalled out during General Assembly session

Updated: Chesterfield supervisors pass $2.3B FY2027 budget  

Other links:

Spanberger vetoes Fairfax County casino bill (FFXNow)

Virginia State Police boss says troopers won't go door-to-door collecting guns (WTVR)

ToolBank waiving borrowing fees in April for 'Richmond Shines' cleanup initiative (The Richmonder)

Roanoke Entrepreneur Ollie Howie Joins The Roanoke Rambler As Its New Owner (Roanoke Rambler)

Downtown Fredericksburg thoroughfare named ‘Best Main Street in the South’ (Fredericskburg Free Press)

It’s our pledge drive through April 17! You can support our award-winning work by visiting VPM.org/challenges to help us bloom and grow this spring.

When you designate your donation to the news challenge, you will help VPM News unlock a $10,000 bonus in support of an informed community! 

Read and watch more VPM News: 

Amending Virginia: Pro- and anti-redistricting camps wield 'fairness' in voter appeals 

Richmond Flying Squirrels christen CarMax Park with a 3–2 victory 

Richmond City Hall observation deck reopens after 6 years 

Updated: Hanover County passes $797M fiscal year 2027 budget 

Other links:

Gov. Spanberger signs bill to end the renewal of Robert E. Lee license plates in Virginia (WAVY) 

Higher education, higher tuition: University of Virginia considers raising tuition (29News) 

Va. Court of Appeals stops major data center development in Prince William County (Virginia Mercury) 

Richmond schools get additional money for repairs in new budget, but it will be borrowed from future years (The Richmonder)

It’s our pledge drive through April 17! You can support our award-winning work by visiting VPM.org/challenges to help us bloom and grow this spring. When you designate your donation to the news challenge, you will help VPM News unlock a $10,000 bonus in support of an informed community!