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 Feb. 27, 2025:
Youngkin has about 900 bills to sign or veto by March 24
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
Most bills get signed, but Gov. Glenn Youngkin has the distinction of vetoing the most bills of any governor in Virginia history. He took an active approach to amending bills and the state budget last year, and in a statement, Youngkin alluded to this year potentially being a repeat.
“We will have much to address at the reconvene session,” he wrote in an emailed statement last week.
In 2024, most of the 112 bills that Youngkin amended (including two budget bills) became law after legislators accepted his changes, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project.
When legislators rejected Youngkin’s amendments last year, he vetoed the bill in all but seven cases.
In addition to budget amendments, VPM News reporter Jahd Khalil rounds up legislation heading to the governor’s desk this year.
State guidance on VMSDEP stipend causing confusion for veteran families
Reported by VPM News’ Megan Pauly
Emma Costanzo was on the phone with her mom when she got the email from a Christopher Newport University official: She was ineligible for a Virginia-specific benefit designed for certain veteran families.
The VMSDEP stipend is part of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program — but is separate from the tuition and fees waiver. It’s reserved for the dependents of qualifying veterans with a combat-related disability or death.
Emma and her mother, Stacey Costanzo, had been going back and forth with the university for months trying to get clarity about when the stipend would be awarded.
“It is very frustrating to have to fight for something that was promised to you,” said Emma Costanzo. “We’re trying to do it the right way, and we’re not getting what we were guaranteed, what we were promised.”
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth
- LaRock enters GOP primary race for governor (VPM News)
- Morris to lead Richmond utilities department (VPM News)
- 'Secret police' case tossed by Virginia Court of Appeals (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- Lawsuits seek to force sale of stalled ‘co-housing’ development site on Arthur Ashe Blvd. (Richmond BizSense)*
- Southwest Virginia awaits decision on federal disaster declaration, 10 days after catastrophic flooding (Cardinal News)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
