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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of June 12, 2025:
Alex Bastani says Democrats are ‘trying to out-Republican Republicans’
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
Alex Bastani is a labor and employment attorney who describes himself as a “lifelong union member.” The Northern Virginia Democrat is a member of the American Federation of Government Employees and fought for workers’ rights as the leader of his local union for more than a decade.
Now, he’s hoping to use his experience to become Virginia’s next lieutenant governor. He is one of six candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the June 17 primary. The winner will face Republican John Reid for the office currently occupied by Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears.
VPM News state politics reporter Jahd Khalil recently spoke to Bastani about his campaign, as part of a series of conversations with all six Democratic candidates for the state’s No. 2 job.
Bastani says Democrats have lost their way and are no longer fighting for working-class Virginians. He says he supports universal health care, a $20 minimum wage and repealing Virginia’s right to work law.
Chesterfield County Farmers Market producers grapple with impact of tariffs
Reported by VPM News’ Billy Shields
Bernie Richardson retired in 2021 after many years as a special education assistant at Chesterfield County’s Manchester High School. Now, she sells her baked goods every summer Wednesday at the Chesterfield County Farmers Market.
She specializes in unique flavor combinations, such as buttermilk coconut pie bars and 7-Up cheesecake bars. But with bird flu driving up the cost of eggs and tariffs instituted by President Donald Trump increasing prices on many other goods, she’s been scrambling to keep up.
“I have to base my prices on the eggs, that kind of drives up the prices,” she told VPM News.
Richardson is not alone. The market, located near the county’s government complex on Iron Bridge Road, is part of a circuit that Powhatan-based Melrose Farm hits to sell their jellies, jams and pickles. But the rising cost of ingredients for those things is rippling through their wares.
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth:
- 31 more City Hall positions may soon be required to live in Richmond (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- Miyares breaks with Trump over pardon of convicted ex-Culpeper sheriff (Virginia Mercury)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.