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VPM Daily Newscast: May 23, 2023

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VPM Daily Newscast

The VPM Daily Newscast contains all your Central Virginia news in just 5 to 10 minutes. Episodes are recorded the night before.

Listeners can subscribe through NPR One, Apple Podcasts, Megaphone, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. 

Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of May 23, 2023:   

Self-described whistleblower fired from Virginia Department of Corrections
Reported by VPM News’ Ben Paviour

The Virginia Department of Corrections fired an officer Thursday who previously criticized leadership at the agency.

Lt. Kelsey Haley said he believes the punishment’s severity differs from an unnamed VADOC warden whom the department found bullied lower-level employees and made racist remarks. among other infractions. That warden was suspended for a week and transferred to a new facility, according to VADOC paperwork.

The differing discipline reinforces the need for an oversight panel focused on the corrections department, according to Shawn Waneta, a policy strategist at the ACLU of Virginia. The department has faced several lawsuits in recent years over its use of solitary confinement and one of its facilities has repeatedly failed to meet the terms of a federal consent decree over poor health care and deaths of incarcerated people.

Navy probe prompted by suicides: 'We let our people down'
Reported by The Associated Press

Navy leaders said they already have taken steps to improve conditions in Newport News. Recommended increases in sailor pay, housing benefits, food, health care, job choices and counseling could affect service members across the board.

In a memo accompanying its report, Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro and Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval operations, concluded that "collectively, Navy senior leadership, officer and civilian, let our standards slip — and in doing so we let our people down."

The investigation began last year after seven service members assigned to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington died over a 12-month period ending April 2022, including three in one week.

In other news: 

In case you missed it: 

VPM News is the staff byline for articles and podcasts written and produced by multiple reporters and editors.