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. 22, 2023:
Energy efficiency savings bill passes General Assembly
Reported by VPM News’ Patrick Larsen
The General Assembly approved a bill on Tuesday that proponents say would guarantee more energy efficiency savings for low-income, elderly, disabled and veteran customers of Dominion Energy.
If signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, it will guide regulators at the State Corporation Commission to set savings targets for programs conducted by Dominion at 1% or more of the total yearly sales to customers in those categories from 2025 until 2031.
Jennifer McClellan elected first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress
Reported by VPM News’ Ben Paviour
Virginia state Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D–Richmond) cruised to an easy victory in Tuesday’s special election for Virginia’s 4th Congressional District, making her the first Black woman to represent the state in Congress.
“It blows my mind that we're still having firsts in 2023,” McClellan said. “But it is an incredible honor.”
PolitiFact VA: Earle-Sears offers flawed view of Brown v. Board
Reported by VPM News’ Warren Fiske
In her efforts to win state tuition funds for private and charter schools, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears has offered a faulty analysis of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision — which banned government-enforced segregation of public schools.
In other news:
- Distinctive but often overlooked, a set of public artworks welcomes visitors to the city of Richmond (Richmond magazine)
- Bourne will not seek re-election to House, opening way for Carr (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
- Full-service bike store Blue Ridge Cyclery to open at Libbie Mill-Midtown. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
In case you missed it:
- U.S. probe into racial bias in Henrico Schools prompts overhaul of gifted program. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
- At VMI, two classmates — one Black, one White — war over school’s future (The Washington Post)
- Mortar found at Ivy Material Utilization Center (The Daily Progress)