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VPM Daily Newscast: Oct. 22, 2024

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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 Oct. 22, 2024

Tavares Floyd’s past as a lawyer and CEO are uncertain
Reported by VPM News’ Sean McGoey

Tavares Floyd, a candidate running for Richmond’s 6th District City Council seat, describes himself as “a lawyer, small business owner, lecturer, public servant and community advocate” on his campaign website.

He has also been listed as a civil rights attorney in biography pages and blog posts from organizations he’s been involved with.

But whether Floyd — who is running against his former boss, Councilor Ellen Robertson — is a practicing attorney is unclear.

VPM News confirmed through web searches and phone calls with the Virginia State Bar on Monday that the organization had no record of Floyd being licensed to practice law in the commonwealth.

State epidemiologist says flu season will be similar to last year
Reported by VPM News’ Adrienne Hoar McGibbon

Dr. Laurie Forlano, Virginia’s state epidemiologist, says based on preliminary data, this year’s outlook for respiratory illnesses like the flu, RSV and COVID-19 will be similar to 2023.

The 2023-24 season was “moderately severe” and was similar to pre-COVID-19 infection rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The majority of illnesses spread from early November 2023 through the end of February.

Forlano said vaccination rates in the state aren’t as high as she’d like them to be, partially because of skepticism fueled by misinformation about the health impacts and efficacy of vaccines.

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