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 July 2, 2025:
Curious Commonwealth asks: Why does Virginia only have 2 natural lakes?
Reported by VPM News’ Megan Pauly and Jack Glagola
Richmonder Kirk Millikan has visited state parks all around Virginia, including Bear Lake and Twin Lakes. He recently noticed something interesting about these lakes: They’re nearly all manmade.
Virginia has built plenty of man-made dams (also known as reservoirs) to generate electricity, and help with flood control and water storage over the years — but only has two natural lakes.
“And I’m curious, why does Virginia only have two natural lakes?” Millikan asked.
Curious Commonwealth went searching for answers and got to the bottom of this mysterious query by heading southwest to one of the two lakes: Mountain Lake in Giles County — which you may recognize as the primary filming location for the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing.
Virginia faces Medicaid cuts after US Senate passes Trump budget bill
Reported by VPM News’ Adrienne Hoar McGibbon
On Tuesday, the US Senate passed its version of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” by a narrow 51–50 margin, with Vice President JD Vance casting the deciding vote after three Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — joined Democrats in voting against the bill.
The bill will cut roughly $1 trillion from Medicaid, according to a preliminary review done by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The legislation will now head back to the House of Representatives, where at least two Republican members of Virginia’s congressional delegation have said they opposed it.
Last week, US Reps. Rob Wittman (1st) and Jen Kiggans (2nd) signed a letter opposing an earlier version of the Senate’s legislation. The representatives urged the Senate to consider the reforms in the House’s version, which they say “strengthen the program’s ability to serve children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities.”
Health care advocates in Virginia warn the cuts would reduce access to medical care across the commonwealth and could put half a dozen hospitals — including Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center in Emporia — at risk of closure.
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth:
- Youngkin ignores assembly on vetoes as budget takes effect (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- Pell Grant changes could raise college cost for Virginia students (Virginia Mercury)
- Google to buy power from Chesterfield's planned nuclear fusion plant (Axios Richmond)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
