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 Jan. 6, 2025:
Would Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons affect the commonwealth?
Reported by VPM News’ Dave Cantor
More than 80 Virginia residents have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection. If incoming President Donald Trump follows through on promises he’s repeatedly made, some of the accused could receive a pardon.
The president-elect has mentioned the potential pardons on social media, and in interviews with NBC’s Kristen Welker during Meet the Press and in Time magazine.
Charges against Virginians accused of participating in the J6 riot range from disorderly conduct and destruction of property to assaulting law enforcement officers, according to a database compiled by NPR. The FBI most recently arrested a Virginia resident on Dec. 19 who "allegedly interfered with multiple law enforcement officers at the Capitol."
To date, more than 1,500 people nationwide have been charged in connection to the attack.
“This really is fundamentally about how we do law enforcement,” said Brandy Faulkner, a Virginia Tech political science professor, while discussing the potential pardons. “Why is this being seen as an exception? If it weren't about a presidential election, if it were about some other crime, would we even be having this conversation? I think it highlights a lot of the inequities in our criminal justice system.”
Hanover prioritizing authority over boards, land use for 2025 legislative session
Reported by VPM News’ Lyndon German
In preparation for the upcoming General Assembly session, which begins Jan. 8, Hanover County’s Board of Supervisors approved its legislative agenda late last year.
County Attorney Dennis Walter presented several key issues to the board, including proposals around cannabis use, enhancing local governing bodies' authority and maintaining local authority on land-use issues.
“Hanover County is fortunate to have good working relationships with Sen. [Ryan] McDougle, Del. [Buddy] Fowler and Del. [Scott] Wyatt, and the county will continue to work with them on pending legislation and the state budget bill,” Walter told VPM News.
In other news:
- With Trump's return, Spanberger and other House Dems look for influence outside Washington (NPR)
- The Virginia Press Room podcast premieres today (VPM)
- ‘Droughtflation’ drives up costs for livestock farmers during winter (WHSV)
In case you missed it:
- Tracking cellphone-free school policies across Central Virginia (VPM News)
- An exit interview with Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (VPM News)
- Three Black men were lynched. A rural Virginia county has cleared their names.(The Washington Post)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
