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VPM Daily Newscast: July 20, 2023

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VPM Daily Newscast

VPM Daily Newscast: June 20, 2023

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 July 20, 2023:   

NAACP Virginia calls for clear voting rights restoration criteria
Reported by VPM News’ Omega Ilijevich

The president of the Virginia NAACP said this week that a voting rights restoration process implemented by Gov. Glenn Youngkin lacks clear criteria for people returning from incarceration.

At a Tuesday press conference, the organization argued the lack of clear guidance could lead to racial discrimination, a claim the governor’s administration denied.

The new policy reversed moves by three of Youngkin’s predecessors to ease the process of rights restoration. In a letter, the secretary of the commonwealth argued the changes were needed to satisfy a 2016 ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court.

Rick Edwards to become permanent Richmond police chief
Reported by VPM News

Rick Edwards will be at least the fourth person to lead the department since protests criticizing race and policing began in 2020, which led to the ouster of Chief William Smith.

The city characterized Edwards’ tenure since his October 2022 appointment as interim chief as working “tirelessly to re-establish trust both within the department and the community.”

Edwards was initially appointed following a July 2022 incident, when then-Chief Gerald Smith said RPD had thwarted a mass shooting plot at the Dogwood Dell amphitheater despite no evidence connecting a potential shooting to the location.

In other news: 

In case you missed it: 

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