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 March 3, 2025:
Local law enforcement’s plans for cooperating with ICE vary
Reported by VPM News’ Billy Shields
Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Thursday executive order directing state public safety agencies to cooperate with federal immigration officials begins by linking specific crimes — including two outside of Virginia — to people in the country illegally. But few details as to what that cooperation will look like have been made available.
Matthew Demlein, a Virginia State Police spokesperson, told VPM News in an email the order “will provide for a Virginia State Police Task Force with a select group of federally deputized officers” — but didn’t specify how many would be a part of that contingent.
VPM News reached out to a number of other law enforcement agencies in Central Virginia for comment. Some didn’t reply, while others — like the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office — declined to comment. At least two local departments told VPM News on Thursday the request for comment was the first they’d heard of Youngkin’s immigration order.
Rohmah Javed, legal director of the Legal Aid Justice Center’s Immigrant Justice Program, called it fearmongering. “The EO perpetuates the same sort of tired rhetoric that immigrants are criminals,” he said. “It’s going to send all undocumented immigrants further into the shadows.”
Henrico, Hanover officials discuss FY26 budget
Reported by VPM News’ Lyndon German
Henrico and Hanover county administrators detailed their upcoming budget priorities for the fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Each introduced myriad fiscal 2026 policies aimed at addressing fluctuating housing assessments as the nation's housing market develops at a slow rate. Both budgets would expand tax relief for residents, strengthen benefits for government workers and prioritize education and public safety.
Although elected officials expressed some concern over the potential absence of federal funds and the shared, looming fear of another regional water crisis, Hanover County Administrator John Budesky expressed confidence in the county’s ability to continue to fund critical social services.
Budesky recently addressed the board and presented a budget “that aligns with what we’re hearing from our residents.”
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth
- Richmond moves business tax filings online, extends deadline through March (Richmond BizSense)*
- JMU students plan walkout to protest Trump education, DEI policies (The News Virginian)*
- Can one stairwell help solve Virginia’s housing crisis? Lawmakers think so (Virginia Mercury)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
