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.
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 Friday, May 14, 2021:
Children 12 to 15 years old are now approved to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Local health districts are expanding how Richmond and Henrico children can get the shot.
Virginia will receive more than $7 billion in COVID relief funds from the American Rescue Plan.Richmond will get more than $150 million and Henrico over $64 million. Senator Tim Kaine spoke with reporters Thursday about how the legislation will help rebuild the nation’s economy. Kaine says he’s now shifting his focus to rebuilding the economy and trying to pass the Biden administration's infrastructure proposal, which he says would transform the commonwealth.
Virginia officials hope the gasoline supply chain will be fully back to normal by this weekend or early next week. Colonial Pipeline, which supplies 45% of the East Coast’s fuel, came back online Wednesday night. But it takes time for gas to flow through the massive 5,500-mile pipeline. In the meantime, the Virginia Department of Transportation says that, to conserve fuel, its “safety service patrol” will station cars in “high-crash areas” to limit time spent roaming highways. Officials and experts continue to urge drivers to avoid “panic buying,” which has led to gas shortages.
A nationwide virtual vigil is planned tonight for correctional officers and prison staff who have died from COVID-19. At least 2,500 people who are incarcerated in the U.S. have died, as well as about 250 prison and jail employees.
Yesterday, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from state Sen. Amanda Chase seeking to overturn her censure by the Virginia Senate. The censure came in response to Chase’s attendance of the Jan. 6 rally that led to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. In the motion to dismiss the case, Attorney General Mark Herring argued the Senate acted appropriately when issuing the censure. Herring also pointed to Chase’s refusal to condemn the mob, instead calling them “patriots who love their country.” Chase has described the censure as a “political hit job,” saying she never encouraged anyone to breach the capitol.
On Thursday, Mayor Levar Stoney announced plans to declare gun violence a public health crisis in Richmond. The city is collaborating with community organizers, law enforcement and VCU Health’s trauma center to develop a plan aimed at interrupting the cycle of violence. The mayor’s declaration won’t affect policy, but Stoney says it lays the foundation to work with the community.
- The “Dominion Energy Riverrock” sports and music festival returns this weekend after being cancelled last year. The three-day event will include youth clinics led by Black athletes.
