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 Thursday, May 20, 2021:
A majority of Virginia voters support efforts to reduce flooding. They believe climate change and sea level rise seriously impact the state. Those are the key findings of a new poll released by the advocacy group, the Environmental Defense Action Fund. Sam Turken, from our partner station WHRV, has more.
Petersburg City Council has appointed Stuart Turille Junior as its new city manager. Turille is currently the deputy county commissioner in Essex County, and he’s held top roles in two towns in North Carolina. His appointment comes after Petersburg City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides left in February to run the Dallas suburb of Duncanville, Texas. She oversaw Petersburg's recovery from near bankruptcy just a few years ago.
The Vice Chair of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia resigned in protest this week of the agency’s handling of the Virginia Military Institute investigation. The inquiry began four months ago after allegations of racism. According to theRoanoke Times, Tom Slater was disappointed the superintendent of the military college won’t be able to review the findings before they’re released. A final report and policy recommendations are expected to be made public in the coming weeks.
Slated improvements and dates for closures on Otterdale Road in Chesterfield will be the subject of avirtual meeting tonight. It’s a thoroughfare that sees major flooding on a regular basis.Parts of the road will be raised to almost 7-feet to allow for better drainage. And three new bridge crossings will also be built. Each new bridge will take about 6 months to complete. Construction should start in December. Tonight’s meeting is from 6 to 7:30 and will NOT be livestreamed. Registration and information can be found at chesterfield.gov.
- Federal and local officials in DC toured the new Frederick Douglass Bridge, over the Anacostia River. As Jacob Fenston from our partner station WAMU reports, the new bridge will open next fall.
