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VPM Daily Newscast: Crime commission, Chesterfield schools and Perdue Farms

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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 Jan. 21, 2025:

Crime Commission endorses deeper review of Mary Jane Burton cases
Reported by VPM News’ Megan Pauly

Lawmakers on the Virginia Crime Commission have endorsed legislation that, if passed, would require a deeper case review of all criminal cases that former state serologist Mary Jane Burtonhandled in the 1970s and ‘80s.

The legislation calls for creation of an expert panel — including, among others, a commonwealth’s attorney, a public defender, a retired circuit court judge and an independent serologist — to review Burton’s cases and determine if a “pattern of misconduct” could be established.

The Crime Commission voted unanimously Friday to approve the review, which was recommended by commission staff last year.


Virginia Senate pushes forward constitutional amendments
Reported by VPM News' Jahd Khalil

The General Assembly is set to forward three proposed changes to the Virginia Constitution after Senate debate Monday.

The measures would enshrine abortion access and marriage equality, and automatically restore voting rights to people who completed felony sentences.

The Virginia House of Delegates debated their versions of the resolutions last week and passed all three.

As part of the multiyear amendment process, the measures would need to be passed again next year — after voters elect a new House of Delegates — and then could head to voters in 2026.


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