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 May 2, 2025:
Public comment period open for Mountain Valley Pipeline’s Southgate extension
Reported by VPM News’ Patrick Larsen
Public comment on the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate extension, which was once denied a key permit in Virginia, is underway. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released public notices on the project Wednesday.
The extension would run 31 miles from the main pipeline’s terminus near Chatham, Virginia, to Rockingham County, North Carolina.
Virginia regulators killed a version of this extension in 2021 under the state’s environmental justice law, after Pittsylvania County residents expressed concern over emissions from compressor stations that would be part of the project. Those stations, powered by natural gas, would have added emissions to a community already impacted by compressor stations on the Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line.
The USACE Wilmington and Norfolk districts found that MVP’s permit request falls under President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring a national energy emergency, and may be subject to shorter public comment and agency review timelines.
Charlottesville City Schools to acquire Federal Executive Institute property
Reported by VPM News’ Hannah Davis-Reid and Elliott Robinson
Charlottesville City Schools announced Wednesday that the US Department of Education has approved its application to acquire the former Federal Executive Institute property.
The property transfer comes at no cost to the division through the Department of Education’s Federal Real Property Assistance Program because it would be used for educational purposes.
“I think someone said there's an Abbott Elementary reference about ‘free is my jam.’ And so I think our community is excited, as we are, that we're acquiring this for free,” CCS Superintendent Royal Gurley said at Wednesday’s press conference.
CCS plans to use the property primarily to consolidate its preschools into one central location slated to open in August 2026. It also will move administrative offices from Walker Upper Elementary School to the roughly 14-acre parcel — which will free up other CCS properties for expanded alternative education and special needs programming.
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth
- Richmond-area cops target sex trafficking — but mostly arrest victims (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- National ranking shows despite hike, Virginia teachers’ pay is stagnant compared to other states (Virginia Mercury)
- Virginia Humanities will move forward despite federal funding cuts, but ‘there’s going to be a lot of pain’ (Charlottesville Tomorrow)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
