The VPM Daily Newscast contains all your Central Virginia news in just 5 to 10 minutes. Episodes are recorded the night before.
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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Aug. 31, 2022:
Charlottesville city leaders move to toss out former police chief’s wrongful termination suit
Reported by VPM News’ Whittney Evans
Officials in the City of Charlottesville are asking a court to dismiss the wrongful termination lawsuit filed against them by former Charlottesville Police Chief RaShall Brackney. The motion filed Tuesday says the city manager’s decision to fire Brackney was due to quote “chaos and upheaval” in the police department and not discrimination or retaliation, which Brackney alleges.
Judge dismisses obscenity case seeking to bar two books from being sold to minors
Reported by WHRO News’ Ryan Murphy
A Virginia Beach judge threw out a lawsuit that would have prevented book sellers and libraries from selling or lending minors two books without parental consent. She said the requested restriction would mean any person who hands a copy of the book to a minor in the state would be guilty of a crime. With an impact that broad, the judge said it seems impossible to ensure that everyone who could be subject to the rule could respond to the lawsuit.
State-supported Amtrak routes see historically high ridership
Reported by VPM News’ Patrick Larsen
In July, 110,000 people took a state-subsidized Amtrak train route in Virginia. That’s more than any month on record and exceeds pre-pandemic ridership levels by about 30%, according to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority. Amtrak ridership nationally still lags slightly behind pre-pandemic levels, but the company is positioning itself for growth in coming years.
In other news:
Virginia won’t tax forgiven student loans, despite news reports - Virginia Mercury
Lots of effort, limited results spark Youngkin's call to change workforce training – Richmond Times-Dispatch
Richmond-area food pantries overwhelmed – Axios Richmond
How Henrico's roads can keep cyclists safer – VPM News
In case you missed it:
Williamsburg-area schools welcome 169 new teachers: ‘We’re here for your kids’ - The Virginia Gazette
Hazing charges dropped against 5 former Delta Chi members in death of Adam Oakes – Richmond Times-Dispatch
What the end of rent relief means for Virginia tenants – WHRO News
Petersburg’s first female Black mayor dies - The Progress-Index
