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 29, 2025:
Where do 2025's statewide candidates stand on skill games?
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
Skill games are machines that resemble slot machines, and get their name because manufacturers say there is an element of skill that determines winnings.
The devices have been in a whiplash of legislation and litigation since the General Assembly originally passed legislation to ban the devices in 2020. Then, former Gov. Ralph Northam and the Assembly amended the legislation to allow for a brief legal period, before a judge paused the ban in 2021.
In 2023, the Supreme Court of Virginia upheld the ban.
The frequent litigation surrounding skill games means that Virginia’s next attorney general will likely be involved in the issue. Two candidates for AG in different political parties were on the same side in a case; in November, a major games operator Queen of Virginia sued Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, and Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor, a Democrat.
Reid says he won't exit lieutenant governor race despite Youngkin's push
Reported by The Associated Press
Republican John Reid said he will continue his campaign to be Virginia’s lieutenant governor and denied he had anything to do with a social media account containing sexually explicit photos that had prompted Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin to call for him to quit the race.
Reid, the first openly gay man to run statewide in Virginia and a supporter of Youngkin, posted a video response to the governor's attempt to stymie his candidacy after the governor learned of the photos on a Tumblr account with a username matching the candidate’s Instagram handle. Reid said the account was a fabrication that comes as he grapples with increasing pressure to exit the race by members of his party.
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth
- Virginia finds systemic problems at Henrico Doctors' NICU (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- Russell County considers 3 small solar projects, as interest in Southwest Virginia grows among solar developers (Cardinal News)
- Fighter jet falls off deck of Norfolk-based Truman; 1 injured (The Virginian-Pilot)*
- Longtime NoVa congressman Gerry Connolly will not seek reelection after cancer resurgence (The Virginia Mercury)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
