VPM Daily Newscast

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Mike Platania discuss the Richmond region's top business stories starting with the recent sale of the historic Richmond Free Press building, a pizzeria opening in Northside and Stella's new storefront in Chesterfield County.

Read more from VPM News:  Richmond judges press city councilors on poor conditions at John Marshall building  Richmond Virtual Academy to close amid budget constraints    Other links:  Why Richmond may move polling locations away from city schools (WTVR)  NAACP asks US Supreme Court to overturn Virginia redistricting decision (Virginia Mercury)  ‘Chill’ bear tranquilized after journey into Oregon Hill (The Richmonder)  Virginia DEQ expands drought warning to 94 counties, 33 cities (WRIC)  Hyperscale, Hyperspeed: What do more data centers mean for North Carolina's water? (NC Public Radio)  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

A developer offered the city $7 million in cash for the Southside site. Read more from VPM News:  Enrollment still open for Virginia Preschool Initiative  2026 Dominion Energy Riverrock road closures    Other links:  Hyperscale, Hyperspeed: North Carolina residents worry about rate hikes to power AI data centers (WUNC)  Virginia students continue to struggle in reading but show signs of recovery (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Locked doors and emergency buttons: UVA professors raise safety concerns amidst growing online scrutiny and records requests (Charlottesville Tomorrow)  Central Virginia nonprofit granted 60 acres in Henrico where BIPOC farmers can live and work (Virginia Mercury)  Dominion Energy converts closed landfill into solar farm in Albemarle County (29News)  *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:  Spanberger signs landmark paid family and medical leave bill into law  Richmond School Board votes to surplus Southside property marked for development    Other links:  Richmond's top judge orders City Hall to justify failure to improve downtown courthouse (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Deal inked to sell Richmond Free Press building to local developer for $2.4M (Richmond BizSense)  After late-night procedural maneuvering, Lavender Hill event space permit is voted down by City Council (The Richmonder)  Hiring new Virginia Tech president likely to take 6 to 8 months, search firm says (Cardinal News)  Hyperscale, Hyperspeed: Developers are moving NC data center projects forward at hyperspeed (WFAE/WUNC)  *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:  Richmond councilors sign off on $3.5B budget for FY27  Updated: Virginia Democrats ask US Supreme Court to step in on redistricting case Dominion Energy plans for state’s biggest gas plant in Cumberland (VPM News)  New study highlights importance of home repair assistance programs    Other links:  City seeks dismissal of water crisis lawsuit from former DPU director (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Hyperscale, Hyperspeed: Data centers in NC don't pay taxes on their supplies or their electricity. Should that change? (WUNC)  Richmond native 1st Lt. Kendrick Key found dead after going missing in Morocco (WTVR) *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:  Democrats ask SCOVA to halt order nullifying redistricting vote  New law will require Virginia colleges to ask students if they're parents  Virginia politicians react to SCOVA overturning redistricting vote  On the agenda: Budget votes for City of Richmond, Chesterfield schools    Other links:  Questions linger in wake of FBI raid of Sen. Lucas, Norfolk CBD shop (The Virginian-Pilot)*    VDH investigating confirmed measles case, possible unreported cases in Buckingham County (WSLS)    Hopewell plant ammonia vapor leak prompts shelter-in-place order (The Progress-Index)*    *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:  Questions remain around FBI search linked to Sen. L. Louise Lucas  Henrico expands support to Salvation Army’s Northside Richmond shelter    Other links:  Justice Department launches civil rights probe into prosecutor in Virginia (The Washington Post)*  Virginia Beach works to woo tourists after curfew, 2 recent shootings (Virginian-Pilot)*  Charlottesville ‘Roots of Care’ seminar aims to help caregivers confidently care for natural hair (29News) Va. hemp growers worry about the future of their industry amid state and federal shifts (Virginia Mercury) Longtime Richmond musician, media producer reflects on the attention his AI video is getting (The Richmonder) *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:  FBI searches Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas' office, businesses in Portsmouth Community groups question Richmond police’s use of Flock Safety cameras    Other links:  VCU expands nursing programs as Virginia faces statewide shortage (WRIC)  Menhaden board punts vote to increase Virginia reduction fishery quota restrictions (Virginia Mercury)  Historic USS Gerald Ford deployment takes toll on military families (WHRO)  City asks court to throw out water crisis lawsuit filed by former DPU director (The Richmonder)  As Virginia Supreme Court weighs redistricting ruling, another appeal appears (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

More from VPM News:  Greater Richmond celebrates National Bike Month with multimodal solutions Charlottesville’s ‘State of Homelessness’ report identifies greater need Watch RVA Bike Month Kick(stand)s Off (YouTube) Other links: RVA Bike Month calendar Historic USS Gerald Ford deployment takes toll on military families (WHRO for NPR) Spring Valley Orchard to be closed for the 2026 season (CBS 19) Spanberger weighs legislation to allow class action lawsuits in Virginia courts (Virginia Mercury) AI bills faced a logjam in the General Assembly due to a Trump executive order, but Congress is working to fill the gap (Cardinal News) Texts, emails show officials trying to find path forward for controversial outdoor event space in West End (Richmond Times-Dispatch)* *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:  Chesterfield students turn to generative AI for problem solving  ICYMI: Central Virginia public meetings for the week of May 4    Other links:  Report: Pricey transmission upgrades stalling much-needed Virginia energy projects (WHRO)  Richmond expands no-parking rules for bike lanes to include buffer zones (The Richmonder)  Can a carbon price lower power bills? Virginia is betting yes. (Grist)  Bilingual telehealth service launches in Virginia and West Virginia (Virginia Mercury)  Despite guilty verdict, jury lets Virginia town leader stay in office for now (The Washington Post)*  Iron Blossom Goes Big in ’26 (Style Weekly)  *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:  Spirit Airlines shuts down amid high oil prices  On the agenda: Proposed multifamily housing in Richmond; Petersburg casino    Other links:  Spanberger signs bill to decriminalize suicide (VCU CNS)  Who’s getting Richmond’s money? New city spending records have $1.4 billion in redactions (WRIC)  New court challenge targets Virginia abortion amendment ballot language (Virginia Mercury)  Redeveloping Coliseum will require public money, Avula says (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  Virginia Tech to buy Canadian land in first acquisition outside U.S. (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.

‘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. In this episode we chat with VPAP's Executive Director Cat Anthony about trends in this year's General Assembly, how each side voted and which legislation got passed, and early voting data from April's special election attempting to redistrict Virginia ahead of the November elections. You can follow along and stay up to date on the latest developments at vpap.org.

VPM News Host Lyndon German and BizSense Reporter Jackie DiBartolomeo discuss the Richmond region's top business stories, starting t Richmond International Airport's renovations plans, new management taking over the Richmond social club Common House, and the soon-to-be demolished former Best Products headquarters in Henrico County.

More from VPM News:  Immigration enforcement in Virginia has risen sharply in the last year King lawsuit deadline for voting rights restoration moves to June 1  Other links: USS Ford to return to Norfolk after record-breaking deployment (Associated Press) Fairfax Co. orders work on viral Greenbriar home addition to stop (WTOP) ‘We don’t exist’: Fifeville and West Main student housing plans cast a shadow on community-led efforts (Charlottesville Tomorrow) Public comment invited on bicycle and pedestrian improvement project in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania (Fredericksburg Free Press) Military members and their families can visit Colonial Williamsburg for free in May (Virginian-Pilot)* *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:  Curious Commonwealth asks: Why doesn’t Virginia have universal preschool? 'Plug-in' solar could revolutionize Virginians' at-home renewables  Other links: Richmond CAO floats possibility of reducing real estate tax rate next year (The Richmonder) The US Supreme Court strikes another severe blow to the Voting Rights Act (NPR) Here’s what House lawmakers want to require of data centers to keep their sales tax break (Virginia Mercury) Developer drops Digital Gateway appeal, leaving project's fate in doubt (Prince William Times) All four chicks have hatched on Richmond Falcon Cam (WRIC)  *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:  Richmond City Council approves budget changes  Henrico County begins demolition of Best Products building    Other links:  Fired Norfolk housing head directed no-bid contracts to former associates for 2 years (WHRO News)  Blue crabs spotted in James River amid drought conditions (12 On Your Side)  Cerina and Justin Fairfax tragedy underscores new Va. laws that could help prevent similar violence (Virginia Mercury) West Virginia’s governor courts data center industry as Virginia mulls ending tax exemptions (Cardinal News)  U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in Chesterfield bank robbery, 'geofence' case (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*  *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.

More from VPM News:  Virginia Supreme Court hears arguments to nullify redistricting vote  ICYMI: What are the Virginia redistricting lawsuits? Here's what you should know.  ⚖️. Redistricting Goes to Court ⚖️ (YouTube)    Other links:  Explainer: Why is political gerrymandering legal in the US? (Associated Press)  Richmond nonprofit teams up with NASA on organ delivery drones (Axios Richmond)  Anne Holton will run for her Richmond School Board seat in November’s special election (The Richmonder)  WAMU at White House Correspondents’ Dinner: ‘Is there someone in this ballroom who’s going to hurt us?’ (WAMU)  Rotunda Great Fire occurred 25 years ago (Farmville Herald)*   How Montgomery County departments responded to recent Flock camera regulations (Roanoke Times)*    *This outlet uses a paywall.  Our award-winning work is made possible with your donations. Visit vpm.org/donate to support local journalism.