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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of April 28, 2025:
Albemarle ICE detainees are being held in Farmville
Reported by VPM News’ Hannah Davis-Reid and Meghin Moore
Two men who were detained last week in Charlottesville are being held at the Farmville Detention Center with pending hearings — and possible deportation from the United States.
A Farmville Detention Center employee confirmed by phone on Friday that Honduran national Teodoro Dominguez-Rodriguez and Pablo Aparicio-Marcelino, a Mexican citizen, arrived Thursday and are being held at the center. It was not immediately clear where they were held between their Tuesday arrests and their arrival in Farmville.
An ICE spokesperson told VPM News in an emailed statement on Saturday that “ICE and federal law enforcement partners coordinated a lawful arrest with the Albemarle General District Court.” While the statement did not verify either man’s identity or refer to Dominguez-Rodriguez or Aparicio-Marcelino by name, it referenced Dominguez-Rodriguez’s country of origin.
The statement also said that the US Attorney’s Office intends to prosecute two bystanders who “unsuccessfully attempted to obstruct enforcement efforts.” VPM News has been unable to independently verify the charges behind federal law enforcement’s detainment of both men, as well as pending federal charges against the bystanders.
Richmond nonprofits fear budget cuts will end youth programming
Reported by VPM News’ Dean Mirshahi
Mayor Danny Avula’s budget for fiscal year 2026 proposes $500,000 for the Positive Youth Development Fund — a 50% cut from last year’s budget of $1 million — and reduces funding available for nonprofits by $4.1 million compared to last year’s budget.
The Positive Youth Development Fund initiative, overseen by the nonprofit NextUp RVA, offers small grants to groups that provide after-school and summer programming, hold events that help youth develop life skills and aim to reduce gun violence.
CEO Traymanesha Lamy said NextUp would have to “significantly scale back or altogether do away with” after-school programming for the 2025-26 school year if the budget cut is adopted.
“We know we still have a long way to go,” Lamy told VPM News. “Scaling back would be turning back time.”
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth
- In first campaign appearance after Youngkin’s attempted ouster, Reid wins applause from Republicans in Abingdon (Cardinal News)
- Federal cuts to NOAA could be an ‘incredible blow’ for Chesapeake Bay, storm reporting (Virginian–Pilot)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
