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. 28, 2024
Federal judge issues order to pause, reverse Virginia voter purge
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil and WAMU’s Margaret Barthel
A federal judge ruled Virginia must reinstate hundreds of people removed from voter rolls under a recently-adjusted process the state uses to identify registered voters who may not be U.S. citizens.
Lawsuits by the U.S. Justice Department and a collection of civic groups argue the process violates a provision of the National Voter Registration Act, which prohibits states from conducting systematic voter roll removals in the 90-day “quiet period” before a federal election.
In a Friday ruling, U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles granted the DOJ and the civic groups’ request for a preliminary injunction to pause the program until after Election Day, and to re-enroll the roughly 1,600 people removed from the rolls since Aug. 7.
“This court does not know that all people removed [from the rolls] were noncitizens,” she said. “What the evidence shows is that these are the individuals who failed to return a form attesting they are citizens.”
How will Richmond’s next mayor approach climate and sustainability?
Reported by VPM News’ Patrick Larsen
Climate change is a global issue. Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to changes in weather systems, temperatures, ocean currents and more across the planet.
That means climate change is a local issue, too. Richmonders have to adapt to more dangerously hot days and increasingly torrential downpours that threaten property and water quality. How will we keep our neighbors cool? What will we do to reduce runoff pollution?
Each of the five candidates vying to replace Levar Stoney as Richmond’s mayor responded to an environmental questionnaire from VPM News, laying out their positions on key climate and sustainability issues.
In other news:
- The VPM News 2024 Elections Voter Guide (VPM News)
- Virginia considering future building code updates that could help with infill development (Virginia Mercury)
- Where does the 5th District Republican Party go from here? (Cardinal News)
In case you missed it:
- Richmond School Board candidate has had 3 convictions since 2009 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- Protests resume at UVa as students call on university to divest from Israel (The Daily Progress)*
- Court Square Theater welcomes Justin Reiter as managing director (Daily News-Record)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.