VPM's daily newscast contains all your Central Virginia news in just 5 to 10 minutes. Hosted by Benjamin Dolle, episodes are recorded the night before so you can wake up prepared.
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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Tuesday, February 2, 2021:
Virginia Democrats say they hope to give people with criminal histories a second chance by scrubbing those records once they’ve served their sentences. But they keep disagreeing over key details, including which crimes should be eligible for expungement and if it should happen automatically. Advocates say requiring people to apply for expungement can compound inequities, as those without resources often can’t access the legal system.
The Virginia House approved a new Voting Rights Act for the state Monday. The proposal would bar localities from discriminating on the basis of race when making changes to voting, such as changing poll locations. The bill now makes its way to the Senate for consideration.
The House of Delegates also approved a measure that would allow undocumented students access to state financial aid and scholarship. Students would still have to meet the criteria for in-state tuition to qualify for the aid. The Commonwealth Institute estimates there are 250,000 undocumented immigrants in the state, paying over $150 million in state taxes each year.
Wells Fargo is eliminating 320 jobs from its Henrico County office. According to Richmond Bizsense, some of those employees are transferring to the company’s locations in St. Louis or Minneapolis. Others have the option of applying for different jobs within the company or taking severance packages. Over 2,000 Wells Fargo employees will remain at the Innsbrook office.
Many Chesterfield County elementary students are set to return to in-person learning this week. For Chesterfield parents, education in the pandemic has been a challenge. Some parents told VPM News that while virtual learning was going well at first, their children have lost interest and are struggling to focus. Others criticized the district, saying the school board’s decision to return students to the classroom wasn’t based on science. The school board will take up bringing back middle and high school students later this month.
- In preparation for the return of some elementary students this week, Chesterfield County Public Schools is changing its meal distribution schedule. Curbside-pickup will now only be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The county will also cut back the number of distribution sites it runs off school campuses to four. Free meals will still be available to students regardless of it they’re attending virtually or in person. More information can be found at the CCPS website.
