Angie Miles

One of the most volatile topics in public safety relates to solitary confinement in Virginia prisons. Prisoner rights advocates have been pushing for years to end a practice which Virginia prison administrators say, technically, does not exist in our state. What they describe instead as “restorative housing” is the subject of a new report... Mandated this year by the general assembly and published on December first. The Virginia Coalition on Solitary Confinement was also assigned as a partner to study the restorative housing program and determine how to safely curb use of the practice. But the coalition pulled out of the research and issued its own report. Citing a refusal by corrections officials to allow outside oversight of the research. In fact, they say that the lack of oversight of daily prison practices can mean life or death for the incarcerated. And can impact all of us when prisoners are released into society.

Charlottesville has drawn national attention because of the horrific murders of three student athletes in November. But prior to the tragedy, gun-related murders had decreased in the city over the past two years, bucking both statewide trends. That may be due to the crime-prevention efforts of those committed to interrupting violence. Two such non-profits have received city funding to resolve conflicts before they become violent. One is Peace in the Streets. The other is the BUCK Squad.

Saving lives is the core mission of many mental health organizations, including the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which aims to save lives by taking strides, literally.

So far this year, there have been over 600 mass shootings in the United States, including two deadly ones in Virginia in recent weeks. We spoke with Congressman Bobby Scott, who represents Virginia's third district where the Chesapeake Walmart mass shooting occurred, for his thoughts on what needs to happen to stop these deadly recurring shootings.

Mental health issues are a growing concern for young people. A CDC report found more than one in six youths said in 2019 that they’d made a suicide plan within the past year.But there is good news. There are evidence-based training workshops – that help adults identify signs of distress in youth and deal with them proactively. One such program is the youth mental health first aid course offered by the Virginia Home For Boys And Girls ... and it’s free.

Content warning: Be advised that this story contains sensitive subject matter about suicide and self-harm that may be difficult for some. The suicide rate in the United States had been increasing. Up more than thirty percent from 2000 through 2018. Then, interestingly, the rate dropped for two years. But in 2021, it began rising again.

For decades, small and medium farms have been disappearing—both in Virginia and across the country. Angie Miles interviews experts on Virginia agriculture, including a young farmer, an agriculture professor and the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture talk about the challenges and opportunities of farming

Virginia has lost five million acres of farmland over the past fifty years. And while agricultural production remains high, there are fewer farms producing more product more efficiently. Where does that leave the small farm, the family farm? Some who have farmed for generations share that they have to innovate to maintain their bottom line, especially given current inflationary pressures. Even global operations are having to answer new demands created during and since the pandemic. Yet they remain determined to succeed.

The first years of life are vitally important in setting the trajectory for an individual's entire life. Increasingly, research shows that the extent to which children feel safe, loved and connected influences everything that happens afterwards. Are we doing enough to meet the needs of very young children, including before and right after birth? And how concerning is it that childcare is experiencing a staffing crisis with no end in sight?

Children are the future. We hear this rather frequently, but do we fully grasp what it means? If past is prologue, then to what extent does the quality of a person’s childhood influence their future... And our future? We talked with professionals who work directly with Virginia’s children, to gauge their needs and learn how we can support their development.