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VPM News
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News and information from VPM News, Virginia's home for public media 📰
Who we are: vpm.org/newsroom
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SOON.
A composite photo of four members of GWAR with a white background. From left to right: Grodius Maximus, Jizmak da Gusha, Blöthar the Beserker and Sawborg Destructo. They are aliens from outer space.
September 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
vpm.org
Hey #RVA! What brings you joy?

Phil Liles and the crew are at RPL Main Branch (101 East Franklin St.) until 1 p.m. recording your answers :)
Phil Liles smiles from the entrance of a mobile audio booth
August 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
vpm.org
Congress will claw back $1.1B from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. VPM, which is a PBS and NPR affiliate, will lose more than $2.5M over the next two years in lost funds. VPM President Jayme Swain says the cuts could result in the loss of Central Virginia local programming.
July 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
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Congress has voted to claw back $9 billion in funding for various aid programs and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting that President Donald Trump is expected to approve. But what, who and where, exactly, would be impacted by the funding loss in Virginia?
www.vpm.org/news/2025-07...
A map of Virginia showing public media stations who all stand to lose money due to federal cuts to Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding.
July 18, 2025 at 2:54 PM
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Students, faculty and community members gathered Saturday morning to show support for outgoing UVA President Jim Ryan.

Ryan announced his resignation last week after the school faced scrutiny from federal investigators related to its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices.
July 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
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Drone photo by @theshabomb.com in Charlottesville taken shortly after the protest started this afternoon.
A photo taken from a drone at the Charlottesville No Kings protest that shows people lined up on sidewalks and grassy areas.
June 14, 2025 at 8:28 PM
vpm.org
UPDATE: The localized boil water advisory has been expanded and impacts residents served by the Cofer Road Tank on the Southside of the City, which includes residents in the orange area of the map below.
A map outlines an area in orange where a boil water advisory has been expanded in Richmond. These are the impacted communities or portions of: Commerce Road and Richmond Highway corridors, including communities of Ancarrow’s Landing, Bellemeade, Blackwell, Commerce Road Industrial Area, Hillside Court, Davee Gardens, Manchester, Oak Grove, and Windsor (NOT Windsor Farms).
May 27, 2025 at 10:11 PM
vpm.org
INBOX: A boil water advisory has been issued for some Richmond city neighborhoods after the city's water treatment plant experienced an "operational issue" this morning that led to clogged filters.
A screenshot of a press release that reads: Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, has issued a localized Boil Water Advisory immediately and until further notice for all residents served by the Ginter Park Tank, which includes residents in the orange area of the map below. The map includes (among others) Byrd Park, Brookland Park, Carver, Carytown, Chamberlayne, the Fan, Ginter Park, Jackson Ward, Laburnum Park, the Museum District, the North Side, Oregon Hill, Randolph, Scott’s Addition, VCU’s Monroe Park campus, Windsor Farms, and parts of the city center. Some customers in this area may experience a total loss of water service, while others may experience varying degrees of loss in water pressure. Impacted residents are encouraged to take conservation steps immediately, and boil water before consuming it. The list of impacted residents may also expand as water usage continues; residents in all neighborhoods are encouraged to conserve water and to stay up-to-date at rva.gov or on the City’s social media pages. This advisory comes after the City’s Water Treatment Plant experienced an operational issue in the early morning hours on Tuesday, May 27, and after the water system had been restored to full production. The filters reclogged after running at full production for over an hour. The resulting issue diminished pressure in the distribution system and has impacted the Ginter Park Tank, which provides water to residents in the area shaded in orange on the map. However, officials continue to monitor the timeline to restore the affected tank to full water pressure and will issue additional updates or advisories if needed. As a cautionary measure, all residents are asked to conserve water to ensure all needs are met during this time. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates to our customers as new information becomes available. (an orange map highlights the areas affected)
May 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
vpm.org
VPM News wants to know: What brings you joy? Do you, your family or your community engage in a unique activity in Central Virginia that enriches your life and brings a smile to your face?

We’d love to learn more about it and share it with our audience over the summer! Email us at tips@vpm.org ☀️
Local artist Bukuru Nyandwi is photographed on Friday, July 12, 2024 at Studio Two Three in Richmond, Virginia.
May 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
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A curious viewer asked, “What happened to the German school on German School Road?” Billy Shields found out what happened, and how the road got its name.
May 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM
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More than 1/3 of Virginia's hospitals are operating "in the red." Providers worry that federal cuts would hurt the already-struggling health care system. Here's @vpmadrienne.bsky.social in the latest VPM News Short.
May 12, 2025 at 1:29 PM
vpm.org
Richmond community members gathered on Friday to ride in honor of Mary Munford Elementary School's Principal Greg Muzik, who is currently recovering from life-threatening injuries he sustained while riding his bike.

More photos by @theshabomb.com here: www.vpm.org/news/2025-03...
Community members are seen with their bicycles geared up for a bike parade. A small child holds up a blue card that reads "HEART to Mr. Muzik!" A mother is seen kissing her child on the forehead during a bike parade. An aerial view of the Ride for Muzik bike parade passing Patterson Ave.
March 17, 2025 at 8:04 PM
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Henrico County wrote out where all the detours and road closures are for the Staples Mill water main break are but didn't make a picture, so we did, because it's just a little confusing.

PS: Our alt text explains this...situation a lot better than we can in the character limits!
Staples Mill Road is currently shut down from W. Broad to Thalbro (the solid red line). Southbound traffic on Staples Mill is being detoured to W. Broad by way of Thalbro and Maywill streets (the dashed green line), and eastbound drivers on W. Broad looking to access Staples Mill can detour by turning left onto Bishop Road (the dashed blue line). WHAT THIS PHOTO ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE: A solid red line shows the section of Staples Mill Road that is closed, from West Broad Street to Thalbro Street. The dashed blue and green lines show detours that have been set up for drivers who need to get from Staples Mill Road to West Broad Street or vice versa
January 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
vpm.org
The city is currently offering bottled water to residents at 10 locations between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., as well as 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Bellemeade Community Center, 1800 Lynhaven Ave • Broad Rock Library, 4820 Old Warwick Rd. • East End District Initiative, 701 N. 25th St. • Hickory Hill Community Center, 3000 Belt Blvd. • Midtown Green, 2401 W. Leigh St. • Pine Camp Community Center, 4901 Old Brook Rd. • Randolph Community Center, 1415 Grayland Ave. • Southside Plaza, 4100 Hull Street Rd. • West End Library, 5420 Patterson Ave. • Westover Hills Community Center, 1301 Jahnke Rd.
January 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
vpm.org
He's just a cool guy.

Meet Cole the raccoon, Chesterfield County's newest mascot. He made his grand entrance during the State of the County event on Wednesday.

Did you know his name is a tribute to the county’s mining history?

📸: @theshabomb.com
Cole, an anthropomorphic raccoon, is seen giving someone a high five in a hallway. The raccoon is wearing a blue checked shirt, a red neckerchief, blue overalls, orange shoes and has a white mining hat on his head with a blue C on it. Cole, an anthropomorphic raccoon is wearing a blue checked shirt, a red neckerchief, blue overalls, orange shoes and has a white mining hat on his head with a blue C on it. He is seen here casually leaning against a white wall. Cole, an anthropomorphic raccoon, is jumping for joy. He is wearing a blue checked shirt, blue overalls and orange shoes in this photo. His fluffy grey and black tail is also seen popping out of his overalls. Cole, an anthropomorphic raccoon, is seen walking into a giant inflatable gingerbread house decorated with green, red, yellow and blue gumdrops. Red and white candy cane accents are also seen on the house. A man in a green sequin jacket is seen in the photo behind the raccoon.
December 11, 2024 at 10:16 PM
vpm.org
A rare solar storm brought the Northern lights to a variety of places that don't normally see them. Our news editor, @meghin.bsky.social, captured this on her flight from Tampa to Charlotte Friday night. Want to see more? @npr.org has you covered: www.vpm.org/npr-news/npr...
An aurora seen somewhere over South Carolina from an airplane. There is a green/blue blob in the right hand corner that highlights the Northern lights.
May 12, 2024 at 1:16 AM
vpm.org
PHOTO GALLERY: Students at Virginia Commonwealth University clashed with police as they used force against protests on Monday night.

13 people — including six students — were arrested and charged with unlawful assembly and trespassing.

www.vpm.org/antiwar-prot...
The VCU compass is seen with FREE PALESTINE chalked on it. Students are seen walking through. A line of police officers are seen at VCU. Protesters are seen clashing with police at VCU. Virginia State Police are seen holding their shields up against student protesters at VCU.
April 30, 2024 at 6:45 PM
vpm.org
Gray-Sparks said learning about redlining as an adult made her realize that where she grew up were geographies of isolation, deliberately limiting access to opportunities.

Harland Bartholomew labeled places where Black Americans lived as “blighted” and “obsolete,” making way for slum clearance.
This Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) Map of Richmond from 1937 color-coded neighborhoods by neighborhood security — a practice known as redlining.
October 10, 2023 at 8:52 PM
vpm.org
Hi there! We're more focused on Central Virginia than we are on national events, but we're trying to branch out and get our footing over here!

Good things: we're an NPR/PBS member station and have delightful characters greeting folks in our current office building!
A cardboard cutout of Big Bird is seen waving to people. Big Bird is standing in front of a giant tapestry that showcases the WCVE coverage area.
October 10, 2023 at 7:17 PM
vpm.org
INBOX: Democrats in Virginia's Congressional Delegation wrote a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland Friday calling for a DOJ investigation of the removals, which we first reported.
www.vpm.org/news/2023-10...
Virginia’s Democratic Congressional Delegation Calls on Justice Department to Investigate Youngkin Administration’s Purging of Voter Rolls “This is being reported just weeks before election day and after early voting has already begun in the Commonwealth. We urge the DOJ to investigate these reports as possible violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act or other federal laws.” there is more text on this screenshot but there is not enough space to put it all in our alt text.
October 10, 2023 at 5:55 PM
vpm.org
As Virginia's state malacologist (also known as a mollusk scientist) said, “You cannot come close to addressing the needs with 2 biologists.”

But, 2 agencies can come together to help protect the green floater mussel — a species under consideration for federal protection
www.vpm.org/news/2023-10...
a meme of two muscled people. the left arm represents the department of wildlife resources. the right arm represents the fish and wildlife service. their hands have come together in support of green floater mussels.
October 4, 2023 at 9:36 PM