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 Wednesday, April 28, 2021:
- More than 55,000 Virginians have signed up to be delegates for the GOP convention on May 8. Delegates will vote at over three dozen sites across the state, ranking their picks for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Party chair Rich Anderson says he’s confident the process will produce strong candidates. It could take several days for the party to announce winners after the convention. The GOP hasn’t won a statewide election since 2009.
- The Virginia Department of Education has responded to confusion resulting from media reports that VDOE would be eliminating advanced math courses. Ian Stewart reports.
- The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts created a new web portal to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine. People can now reserve a vaccine appointment directly, rather than pre-registering. Nearly 84,000 city residents have received their first dose and about 59,000 are fully vaccinated. Virginians 16 and older are currently eligible to be vaccinated. To schedule an appointment, visit vax.RCHD.com or call 804-205-3501.
- Richmond City Council is backing off of instituting a new pay plan for police officers and firefighters. The measure, proposed by the police and firefighter unions, would have cost the city millions of dollars. The majority of city council members voted instead to ask a third-party to fully vet it. City council members could take up this issue again. They have to approve a final budget by mid-May.
- Starting yesterday, the City of Petersburg has begun converting almost 3,200 street lights to LED’s. Officials say this will be a 4-phase process. The initial outlay will be around half-a-million dollars, but once the new lights are installed, the city expects to save over $125,000 a year. LED light bulbs are up to80% more efficient and can last up to 25-times longer than incandescents, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The project should be completed by next year.
- To those who knew her, Adele Johnson was a graceful visionary. She served as the executive director of the Virginia Museum of Black History. Johnson died this week from pancreatic cancer. VPM’s Whittney Evans spoke with friends and colleagues about her legacy.
