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 Dec. 19, 2024:
Youngkin proposes tax relief in budget amendments
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is seeking tax changes that include rebates for the car tax, eliminating state taxes on tips, changes to how corporations pay taxes and making a higher standard deduction permanent.
“My main point today is simple. Let's keep going,” Youngkin told a joint meeting of the legislature’s Democrat-controlled “money committees,” which are responsible for assessing the plan and offering a counterproposal. “There is reason to be optimistic about our economic outlook.”
Unlike last year, when a showdown between the Democrat-controlled General Assembly and the Republican governor raised the specter of a government shutdown, this year’s amendments are largely adjustments to spending and to utilize another batch of tax collections that beat estimates.
“There’s nothing that’s a nonstarter for us, because what we will do after today … we will see what is applicable, what we can do, what we can’t do, and what we need to visit with him on,” said Del. Luke Torian (D–Prince William), the House appropriations chair.
Planned Chesterfield fusion reactor would be first to connect to power grid
Reported by VPM News’ Patrick Larsen
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced at the state capitol that Virginia and Commonwealth Fusion Systems will attempt to build the world’s first commercial fusion reactor in Chesterfield County by the early 2030s.
“We need more power and this is part of the solution,” Youngkin told the crowd earlier this week.
Until recently, nobody on Earth was able to create a fusion reaction that produced more energy than was put in to start it. But Alex Creely, of CFS, is confident that the Massachusetts-based company can use new electromagnet technology to bridge the gap to commercial viability.
“We understand the science,” Creely said. “And we're now combining that with a new magnet technology, which lets you build this machine smaller, more compact, more efficient and get it that step from where it's no longer a science experiment, to the point where it's a real, practical energy source that you can build.”
In other news:
- Dozens of prisoners allege a culture of violence by guards at federal facility in Virginia (The Marshall Project)
- Wilder: Democrats risk same mistake that gave them Youngkin (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
In case you missed it:
- State housing authority asks court to appoint receiver for troubled Model Tobacco apartments in South Richmond (The Richmonder)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
