A state official says health insurance premiums under the ACA are set to skyrocket next year… Good news for those concerned about public attitudes toward LGBTQ people… and, can a Canadian approach help treat the opioid crisis in Virginia?

What is the best practice to address the epidemics related to opioid use in Virginia – and in the nation? Last month, WMRA’s Marguerite Gallorini reported on alternatives to prescribing opiates . This week, a group of Canadian health care professionals are in Charlottesville as part of a two-day conference on the subject organized by the Center for Global Health at UVa. Marguerite has more.

Confusion over health insurance markets may mean that fewer people in Virginia enroll this year… a UVa monuments expert visits JMU to talk about the link between Confederate monuments and white supremacy… and, we meet the Harrisonburg family that brings traditional Aztec dance to the city’s International Festival….

Frank Dukes, a fellow at the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at UVa, is one of two presenters at an event today at JMU called "Why Confederate Monuments Matter: Charlottesville and Beyond." WMRA's Marguerite Gallorini has this report.

Democrats still showing a lead over Republicans in the latest statewide election poll… thousands of people enjoyed Dave Matthews’ Unity concert at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville on Sunday… and, one year after becoming a state park, Natural Bridge visits are way up….

This Saturday [Sept. 30], the 20th International Festival in Harrisonburg will again include Aztec dancing as part of the celebration of the city’s cultural and language diversity. The dancers are led by a Harrisonburg couple who are working to keep alive the Aztec traditions in their Mexican roots, as WMRA’s Christopher Clymer Kurtz reports.

Charlottesville Congressman Tom Garrett is working for the release of two pastors imprisoned in Sudan… we have a preview of Tomtoberfest… and, the next installment in our Women of Interest series, a woman on a mission to heal as much of the world as she can….

For the latest installment of our Women of Interest series, WMRA’s Jordy Yager met a woman who is dedicated to breaking down not just barriers to mental wellness, but also barriers for African Americans in Charlottesville.

Tomtoberfest is here! Today and tomorrow, the Tom Tom Fall festival is celebrating creative community and local innovation with, among other things, two free days of concert at Emancipation Park in Charlottesville. WMRA's Marguerite Gallorini talked with founder Tom Beyer about how the fall’s events differ from the big festival in the Spring.

Tens of thousands more kids in Virginia are eating school breakfasts, according to the Governor… another concern facing state lawmakers is how to better serve children who face violence or trauma at home… and, we meet the members of a collaborative effort in Charlottesville to provide counseling and healing after the traumatic events of August….