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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Aug. 22, 2025:
Providers, families fear the effects of federal Head Start funding cuts
Reported by VPM News’ Megan Pauly
Earlier this year, advocates anticipated the White House would cut federal funding for Head Start, the longest-running national school readiness program in the country, after a leaked internal document proposed eliminating the program.
President Donald Trump’s budget proposal for next year ultimately left the program intact — though Congress has yet to sign off on funding for the next federal fiscal year, which begins October 1. (Virginia’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.)
However, child care providers, as well as parents and guardians who rely on Head Start, say it’s a crucial support system that must be protected. The program serves about 14,000 children ages birth to 5 in Virginia.
Head Start centers are often some of the only child care providers localities have to offer residents in Southwest Virginia, a region recognized as a child care desert: the Giles Health & Family Center in Pearisburg is one of only three licensed child care providers in Giles County — which has over 800 children under the age of 5, according to the US Census Bureau.
Ripple effects of federal immigration raids play out in Richmond
Reported by VPM News’ Keyris Manzanares
Federal immigration raids in Richmond over the last several months have left communities on edge and some in hiding. Advocates say the ripple effects are far-reaching, impacting multi-generational, mixed-status households, courtrooms and emergency services in Greater Richmond.
According to immigration detention statistics collected by Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, 872 people are currently being detained at Virginia’s two US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers in Farmville and Caroline County.
While the exact number of raids in Richmond are unknown, advocates said last month that at least 20 community members have been taken by immigration agents since February.
Domestic violence advocates said the impact of federal immigration policies on their work has been immediate. Survivors are now more afraid of deportation than of their abuser, according to Elvira De la Cruz, CEO of Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center.
News you might have missed from around the commonwealth:
- Some of Richmond’s old-school toll booths are going away. Here’s how the new system will work (The Richmonder)
- City school-zone cameras caught 58,000 speeders so far in 2025 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- Virginians say housing costs are a crisis, want lawmakers to act (Virginia Mercury)
- UVa requests more time to ‘respond in full’ to questions regarding Ryan resignation (The Daily Progress)*
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
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