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 April 1, 2025:
Federal cuts could inhibit progress on developmental disability care
Reported by VPM News’ Adrienne Hoar McGibbon
The clock is ticking for Catherine and Mike Rey, of Bon Air. Their sons — J.P., 12, and Louie, 10 — were both born with alpha thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder that affects their motor skills and ability to communicate. They require assistance walking and feeding themselves.
Federal law mandates that students like J.P. and Louie receive occupational, physical and speech therapies at school — all paid for through Medicaid. But once the boys leave school, the Reys will need to provide care for them day and night.
Mike’s work provides the family’s primary health insurance; Medicaid is their secondary insurance, which pays for the durable equipment the siblings require to sleep, eat and get around.
J.P. and Louie are also eligible for waiver services through Medicaid, which allow them to live at home and get care in their community.
Virginia developed its waiver system in 1990 in an effort to divert people from full-time nursing facilities. The waivers cover the cost of home care and community-based support services for children and adults who qualify for Medicaid.
Youngkin amendment would create school notice for students’ ‘gender incongruence’
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is recommending the General Assembly include language that could out students’ gender identities in a bill through one of his amendments.
As passed by the General Assembly, HB1678 and SB1048 would require school boards to inform students’ families about how to safely store prescription drugs and firearms.
Youngkin’s recommended amendment added language that would require parents to be notified if a student requests faculty or staff to affirm the student’s “gender incongruence” — such as by using pronouns that do not match their legal documents. Any counseling on gender would require a parent’s permission under the recommendation.
Del. Laura Jane Cohen (D–Fairfax), who introduced the bill and has a transgender child, said the amendment is not relevant to the original bill and saw Youngkin’s addition as political.
“I was surprised this time, maybe naively, to see the recommendations that came back from him, that had nothing to do with actually helping keep kids safe and had everything to do with just bullying kids,” she said.
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth
- Ex-deputy's class action suit seeks $12M from Hanover (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- Voting opens Tuesday for People’s Budget projects (The Richmonder)
- A new state law could help nurse midwives alleviate Virginia’s maternity care shortages. Will hospitals resist the change? (Cardinal News)
- Charlottesville to bring back school resource officers (The Daily Progress)*
- Trump administration upends Chesapeake Bay cleanup work (Bay Journal)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
