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.
VPM News is taking the weekend off. We'll back back in your inbox on May 27.
— The Morning Monitor crew at VPM News
Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of May 23, 2025:
Records from Red Onion say investigation found ‘no staff misconduct’
Reported by VPM News’ Dean Mirshahi
Public records obtained by VPM News show Virginia Department of Corrections staff were tasked with investigating claims of “brutality,” “racism” and “retaliation” at Red Onion State Prison — and they quickly reported they found “no staff misconduct.”
Amid continued concerns over conditions at the Wise County facility — including reports that prisoners were intentionally burning themselves as a form of protest — VPM News made a Freedom of Information Act request for text messages and emails from prison officials and Red Onion’s warden, David Anderson.
Most of the messages were withheld or redacted. The ones that were shared reveal that Anderson formed a task force to probe alleged misconduct at the prison and show details about how Red Onion staff responded to self-burning incidents at other Virginia state prisons.
An ombudsman unit formed within the state inspector general’s office late last year is investigating Red Onion, separately from the internal probe conducted by Anderson’s task force.
Loved ones and friends of men incarcerated at Red Onion said they’ve heard racist remarks and dealt with retaliation and “demeaning” behavior from prison staff in the past.
“The staff often treat us like we are incarcerated,” said Alison Chaffin, a justice reform advocate whose fiancé is incarcerated at Red Onion. “Like we did something. There’s something wrong with us for loving someone who made a mistake.”
Henrico County launches Global Business Gateway program with 3 companies
Reported by VPM News’ Lyndon German
Henrico County welcomed the inaugural cohort of companies participating in the county’s Global Business Gateway program Wednesday in a kick-off ceremony at the Gather coworking space at West Broad Village.
Henrico’s Economic Development Authority designed the program to strengthen economic growth and increase the county’s reputation as a global business hub by attracting international companies looking to expand to the US. The county is home to over 70 international firms, with three more joining the ranks as part of the GBG cohort.
The GBG is part of the Henrico Tomorrow campaign — a multi-stage effort to reimagine the county’s underused commercial spaces as centers for innovation and economic development.
“While there are other international incubators around, we're walking the extra mile with our businesses,” EDA Director Anthony Romanello said in his remarks Wednesday. “I would say no matter your native tongue, today we tell the world that Henrico translates to one word in every language — and that word is welcome.”
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth:
- For state police job, recruiters handed Youngkin a 'superstar' candidate. He hired an insider instead. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- Homeland Security officers train at Albemarle High School practice fields with local police — without permission from school division (Charlottesville Tomorrow)
- Va. transportation board approves nearly $1 billion in funding for SMART SCALE projects (Virginia Mercury)
- Senators including Virginia’s Warner push Trump to release broadband deployment funding (Cardinal News)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.