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 Oct. 3, 2023:
How Richmond noise pollution affects health
Reported by VPM News’ Ian Stewart
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a direct line can be traced from noise pollution to people’s health. And the amount and levels of noise people are subjected to depends on where they live.
“Studies have consistently shown that poor communities of color tend to have higher ambient noise levels, than wealthier, whiter communities within the same city,” said Jeremy Hoffman, director of climate justice and impact at Groundwork USA.
He pointed to Richmond’s Jackson Ward — bisected by Interstate 95 — as a prime example.
Virginia’s public universities have history of displacing Black residents
Reported by VCIJ’s Louis Hansen
In the second half of the 20th century, the establishment and expansion of public universities across Virginia uprooted hundreds of Black families, hindering them from accumulating wealth in the most American way — homeownership.
Old Dominion University and the University of Virginia — the system’s flagship, founded by Thomas Jefferson — dislodged Black communities, according to contemporary news accounts, the universities’ official histories and former residents. They either acquired properties through legal takings or families sold them because they faced the prospect of an eminent-domain seizure.
In other news:
- Ellwood Thompson's grocer sold to Florida-based conglomerate (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- VDOE found to exclude students with disabilities from SOL test (The Free Lance–Star)*
- As Va. officials review SMART SCALE, some regional planners worry about shifting priorities (Virginia Mercury)
ICYMI:
- ‘He won’t stop’: Health system CEO fought for VCU leadership to reconsider costly downtown development (Richmond BizSense)*
- Gov. Glenn Youngkin to woo national GOP megadonors at retreat (The Washington Post)*
- DEQ proposes fine for eastern Henrico landfill after stream was contaminated in 2019 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
