The VPM Daily Newscast contains all your Central Virginia news in just 5 to 10 minutes. Episodes are recorded the night before.
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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Feb. 17, 2023:
More Richmond city employees file for union elections
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
Three groups of city employees announced they were filing for elections Thursday. Workers from the administrative and technical unit, alongside the professionals unit, filed to join the Service Employees International Union. Labor and trades workers filed for an election to join Teamsters Local 322. About 2,000 workers make up these three units, about half of Richmond's municipal workforce.
Youngkin won’t commit to legalizing retail cannabis while in office
Reported by VPM News’ Ben Paviour
Gov. Glenn Youngkin said on Thursday it’s up to lawmakers to resolve an impasse over recreational cannabis sales and declined to say whether he’d ever sign legislation related to the issue during his tenure.
His comments come after the administration spoke out against the sole surviving bill to legalize cannabis sales for adults age 21 and over, which failed in a Republican-controlled House subcommittee on Tuesday.
In other news:
- Residents frustrated as skyrocketing caseloads, staffing shortages ‘wreak havoc’ on Richmond Social Services (WTVR)
- Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail presents funding plan for $49 million jail renovation (NBC29)
- Rare 19th-century log cabin restored near Lake Mooney (The Free Lance–Star)
In case you missed it:
- Unite the Right marcher captured in viral photo dies by suicide before trial (The Washington Post)
- Chinese firms, individuals own 14K acres of Virginia farmland: USDA (VPM News)
- Virginia Union University can keep its logo sign atop historic tower (Richmond Times-Dispatch)