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. 24, 2024:
Richmond water crisis ‘completely avoidable,’ state notice says
Reported by Dean Mirshahi and Dave Cantor
The Virginia Department of Health detailed observations officials made during Richmond’s recent water outage in a report Thursday, saying that better training and preparation would have prevented the situation.
“[The Office of Drinking Water] asserts that the water crisis should never have happened and was completely avoidable,” the report said.
VDH’s report offers initial impressions and expectations, and seeks the city's commitment to work together to prevent another similar crisis. It also pinpoints portions of the Virginia Public Water Supplies Law and sections of the state’s waterworks regulations the city might have violated during early January.
City spokesperson Julian Walker described the notice to VPM News as another expected step in the process, adding that it would give DPU staff and city officials another opportunity to review ways to improve plant operations.
Bill defining, affirming tribal sovereignty advances
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
The General Assembly advanced a bill reforming state law’s relationship with Virginia’s tribal nations in a meeting Thursday.
The bill would create a new state code section with key legal definitions that were missing from the Virginia code. The proposal also changes different sections to make terminology uniform and affirms the “inherent sovereignty” of federally recognized tribes, a government-to-government relationship.
“Sovereignty is a great thing to have. However, if it's not in the Virginia code, then we're lacking,” said Lou Wratchford, assistant chief of the Upper Mattaponi Tribe. “So, I think we're on the right path on this.”
The passage of the bill would be a significant development in the changing relationship between the commonwealth and Virginia’s tribes, which the federal government first recognized in 2015.
In other news:
- Who's running to be Virginia's lieutenant governor in 2025? (VPM News)
- Chesterfield passes stricter leash law (VPM News)
- UVA provost to leave university, named president of Middlebury College (The Daily Progress)*
In case you missed it:
- Is it time for Virginia to implement rent control laws? A look at legislation. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
