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 June 16, 2025:
Thousands gather across Virginia Saturday for ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil, Hannah Davis-Reid, Meghin Moore and Shaban Athuman
Elizabeth Prom-Wormley was one of thousands that gathered at the Virginia Capitol Saturday, as thousands more protested across the commonwealth the actions of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The demonstrations in Richmond, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia and Washington, DC were among thousands of planned protests in the US, offering contentious counterprogramming to a military parade for the Army’s 250th birthday, which coincided with Trump’s 79th birthday.
In Charlottesville, protesters lined both sides of US 29 despite 60% humidity and temperatures in the 80s, waving flags and hoisting signs bearing logans about no kings. In Richmond, they donned papier-mache Trump masks, colonial-style tricorn hats and even a suit of armor.
Saturday was the first time Prom-Wormley had protested, she told VPM News.
“Enough's enough already,” she said. “I feel hurt. I feel angry. I feel hopeless, and I don't like feeling that way as somebody who pays their taxes on time and gives to my community over and over and over again.”
Who's running for Virginia's lieutenant governor in 2025?
Reported by VPM News’ Jahd Khalil
VPM News state politics reporter Jahd Khalil sat down for conversations with five of the six Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor. (State Sen. Aaron Rouse’s campaign did not make him available for an interview.)
The winner of Tuesday’s primary will go on to face Republican John Reid in November for the commonwealth’s No. 2 position, currently occupied by GOP gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears.
Check out Jahd’s interviews with the candidates below (in order of when the candidates were available):
- Former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, who says his executive experience and previous statewide office make him “ready to go on day one”
- State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, who has made health care and reproductive rights issues central to her campaign
- Babur Lateef, who says his successes as the chair of Prince William County’s school board and a UVA Health executive will serve him well at the Capitol
- Retired labor attorney and union leader Alex Bastani, who says Democrats need to stop trying to “out-Republican Republicans” and focus on workers
- Former federal prosecutor Victor Salgado, who envisions the lieutenant governorship as a “workhorse” position with real political power
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth:
- GRTC reduces frequency of Pulse bus during midday periods, rejects potential cuts to Whitcomb route (The Richmonder)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.