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 Nov. 13, 2024
Richmond council votes to hold real estate tax rate steady
Reported by VPM News’ Keyris Manzanares
Richmond’s real estate tax rate won’t change this year, city councilors decided Tuesday. The panel voted 5-4 to keep the rate at $1.20 per $100 of assessed value — one of the highest in the region.
Councilor Katherine Jordan, as well as other members of the board, said they supported keeping the rate steady because of uncertainties facing the city.
“We have no idea what the next president is going to do and how it's going to affect our budget,” said Jordan, who also expressed concern over how a reduction could impact the city’s borrowing capacity.
During the meeting, council members also approved Mayor Levar Stoney’s real estate tax relief program, RVA Stay, which includes a freeze on payments for qualifying residents 65 and older, as well as a one-time rebate of 4-cents per $100 of assessed value.
Virginia opioid overdose deaths nearing pre-pandemic levels
Reported by VPM News’ Adrienne Hoar McGibbon
Newly released numbers from Virginia’s chief medical examiner show the state is nearing its pre-pandemic rate of fentanyl overdose deaths after major spikes in 2020 and 2021. The VDH report, which released preliminary data through the first half of 2024, predicts a total of 1,552 opioid-related deaths in Virginia this year — down just over 30% from 2021.
State and local agencies have made mitigating opioid overdose deaths a priority. In 2023, Gov. Glenn Youngkin launched a plan to address the fentanyl crisis that included a training program called REVIVE! It teaches citizens without medical training to provide aid — including administering naloxone, a medication that can quickly reverse opioid overdoses.
There are more than 800 trainers who conduct REVIVE! sessions across the state, according to the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services. REVIVE! health education specialist Tiana Vazquez led a session in October for employees of the state’s department of labor and industry.
In other news:
- Former Del. Jay Jones officially announces run for Va. attorney general (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- VDOT awards $22 million in federal funding for EV chargers along Virginia interstates and highways (Virginia Mercury)
In case you missed it:
- Decisión 2024: carreras locales de Richmond (VPM News)
- To help older veterans, a Virginia group gives each a ‘battle buddy’ (The Washington Post)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
