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 June 3, 2025:
Richmond City Council OKs plastic bag tax, delays vote on speed cameras
Reported by VPM News’ Keyris Manzanares
In a 6–2 vote Monday night, Richmond City Council passed a proposal to institute a 5-cent tax per plastic bag on purchases at grocery, drug and convenience stores in the city starting January 1, 2026. 6th District Councilor Ellen Robertson and 8th District Councilor Reva Trammell voted against the proposal, while 9th District Councilor Nicole Jones abstained.
Laura Thomas, director of Richmond’s Office of Sustainability, said the bag tax — which is expected to generate nearly $400,000 in revenue in its first year — would reduce capital maintenance costs and improve the city’s overall environmental quality.
Council also opted to delay a vote on expanding its speed camera program until next week’s meeting.
Earlier in the meeting — rescheduled following last week’s multiday boil water advisory — Richmond resident Andre Tolleris delivered an impassioned public comment, saying he was “tired of living in a city where the most basic public health standard — clean, safe drinking water — is not a guarantee.” He accused veteran councilors of letting the city’s water treatment plant languish on their watch.
“This is not just an inconvenience. This is a failure of leadership. This isn't about bad luck. It's not about weather events. It's about decades of neglect,” Tolleris said.
Hillside Mini Farm brings fresh food and fresh experiences
Reported by VPM News’ Patrick Larsen
In Southside Richmond’s Hillside Court, there is an oasis. Partly shaded by great oak trees, tended by young people from the neighborhood and often picked over by eager residents, nonprofit GroundworkRVA’s Hillside Mini Farm has become a hub of the community.
Darquan Robertson spent much of his childhood in Hillside Court, when the field where the farm is situated now was just that — an empty field. He took an interest in working outdoors when he was young and saw the big riding mowers used to cut the grass.
Now, Robertson says he sees endless possibilities in the formerly empty field and feels like he was called to it to help kids see those possibilities too.
“Like I said, I was that kid looking out the window. Seeing someone mow the grass was just inspiring to me cause I didn’t see much,” he said. “So you could just imagine what it’s like now to the kids that’s out here… seeing their community grow actually edible food to eat.”
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth:
- State probe into Black communities’ displacement surges forward with infusion of funds (Virginia Mercury)
- FBI shows up at Charlottesville public defender's home unannounced after ICE raid (The Daily Progress)*
- Trailblazing civil rights leader, state delegate and longtime Norfolk judge Jerrauld Jones dies at 70 (The Virginian-Pilot)*
- City Hall, downtown courts building, Main Library top list of city-owned facilities with maintenance backlogs (The Richmonder)
- Virginia DMV, state police warn of text message scam (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.