The arts keep thriving, even in a time of social upheaval and a pandemic. This year, there have been several new volumes, anthologies, and collections of Black poetry. WMRA’s Jason Barr looks at the relevance of such work today, and throughout our history.

A new podcast is available on our website called We Made You A Song – it’s a collaboration between WMRA and Harrisonburg’s The Steel Wheels - detailing the band writing and recording songs that were commissioned by fans of the band during the pandemic. WMRA’s Tina Owens recently spoke with the group’s lead singer and host of the podcast Trent Wagler. She asked him to describe how this idea was created. Trent Wagler: It was sort of in that early part of the pandemic when it was becoming clear

The Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro provides emergency healthcare to native wildlife – from sparrows, to eagles, to baby bears -- that are brought in sick, injured, or orphaned. The Center just held its 25th annual conference, taking it online for the first time. WMRA’s Randi B. Hagi reports.

The Claudius Crozet Blue Ridge Tunnel finally opens, but you’ll need to bring a flashlight… Virginia’s unemployment rate has fallen a bit, but still higher than this time last year… As with almost everything else this year, the 25th annual conference at the Wildlife Center of Virginia went virtual, and that actually enabled more people to attend and learn more about wildlife rescue….

A team of engineers and students at James Madison University has outfitted a golf cart to drive itself. And it’s not meant for the golf course. The autonomous cart is designed to help transport elderly passengers safely across retirement communities. The group test drove the cart on campus this week, and WMRA’s Calvin Pynn took it for a ride.

A financial expert tells Virginia lawmakers they could be in for a rough budgeting season next year, due to the pandemic… Meanwhile, extended unemployment benefits for out-of-work Virginians are ending... Restaurant owners react to new rules about when they can serve alcohol….

Governor Northam says it would be an act of love to stay away from big family gatherings on Thanksgiving… As the virus surges in Virginia, Northam says the state is ready to roll out vaccines as soon as they’re available… We meet one woman on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, dealing with a steadily rising sea level….

Former Speaker of the House Kirk Cox throws his hat into the ring for the governor’s race on the GOP side… Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, and other areas will receive state grants to help boost tourism, an industry hit hard by the pandemic… A congressman representing rural southwestern Virginia wants to do more to limit the supply of opioids….

Governor Northam says it’s time to legalize recreational pot in Virginia… Schools in many parts of the commonwealth are still racially segregated – so, what do we do about that?... Will wolves return to Virginia?

New social restrictions for Virginia begin today, as COVID-19 continues to spread… A JMU student is killed by a motorcyclist, who also died in the crash… For the first time in its history, VMI will have a Black superintendent, at least for a while….