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Election Day in Virginia is just over a month away (Nov. 4) — with the state’s top three offices all up for grabs.

VPM News State Politics Reporter @jahd.bsky.social set out to interview all six candidates for those offices in order to highlight where they stand on key issues for Virginia voters.
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VPM News reached out to all six statewide candidates — Gov., Lt. Gov., AG — for in-person interviews at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

Fmr. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger spoke about the importance of creating jobs, improving public education and addressing affordability.
Abigail Spanberger: Governor needs to be 'steady' amid federal uncertainty
"It's an issue of leadership at this moment where we see chaos coming out of Washington."
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VPM News reached out to all six statewide candidates — Gov., Lt. Gov., AG — for in-person interviews at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture.

Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' campaign did not agree to an interview, so we used known info about her public stances, statements + policy positions.
VPM News' interview questions for Winsome Earle-Sears
The Lt. Gov.'s gubernatorial campaign did not agree to speak with VPM News.
www.vpm.org
Reposted by VPM News
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Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears also did not agree to an interview with VPM News.

We're sharing the questions we would have asked her and using known information about her background and public stances to inform voters about where she falls on key issues like education and federal job cuts.
VPM News' interview questions for Winsome Earle-Sears
The Lt. Gov.'s gubernatorial campaign did not agree to speak with VPM News.
www.vpm.org
Reposted by VPM News
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Abigail Spanberger (Dem., Governor): "You cannot contend with threats to your economy, you cannot contend with real fiscal issues, if you don't even assess them as real — or if you are choosing ... to put loyalty to a president and his talking points above the real economic impact on Virginians."
Abigail Spanberger: Governor needs to be 'steady' amid federal uncertainty
"It's an issue of leadership at this moment where we see chaos coming out of Washington."
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260+ homes in Hanover County have already been connected to new broadband internet service via the Connect Hanover initiative, but the project may face another set of delays as it nears completion.
Hanover County broadband expansion plan faces new delays
A key partner needs additional easements and permits to move forward.
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Democrat Abigail Spanberger is making a push for rural votes in the weeks leading up to Election Day: "You can't win in rural areas, but you can lose in rural areas," says one gov. campaign worker. www.vpm.org/elections/20... via @jahd.bsky.social #VAPol
Spanberger makes play for rural voters in Virginia governor's race
The former congresswoman is campaigning on affordable health care amid federal cuts.
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Some good MEWS: After a little adventure down to North Carolina, Francine is HOME!

She visited the vet today and received a clean bill of health ❤️
Francine, the West Broad Street Lowe’s cat, is back in Richmond
She was found Monday morning in a distribution center in North Carolina.
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Tavares Floyd — whose 2024 campaign for Richmond City Council drew scrutiny after the accuracy of his campaign finance filings was questioned — was indicted Monday on four counts of felony election fraud.

If convicted on the four Class 5 felony charges, Floyd could get up to 40 years in prison.
Tavares Floyd indicted on election fraud charges
A grand jury determined Monday that the case against Floyd could move forward.
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Albemarle County Circuit Court Clerk Jon Zug told VPM News that there’s “no doubt” that the April detentions have had a chilling effect in the months following, with everyone from court interpreters to crime victims uneasy about engaging with the court for fear of being detained.
Albemarle clerk fears courthouse ICE raid had chilling effect on legal system
He told VPM News court staff and victims are scared of being detained.
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Silviano Mora Vera has an active Social Security number and is currently in the process of adjusting his legal status by applying for a permanent resident green card.

It remains unclear why ICE detained him on Sept. 24.
ICE detains lawfully present Richmond father as son waits for school bus
Silviano Mora Vera's U visa should have insulated him from detention.
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Francine — an iconic Richmond cat who lives at the West Broad Street Lowe’s — has gone missing.

According to a social media post, an employee said the last time that Francine had been seen in the store was on Sept. 18.

An Instagram account was set up to share up-to-date information in her search.
Francine, the famous Richmond Lowe’s cat, has gone missing
A community search from Virginia to North Carolina is underway.
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Abigail Spanberger (Dem., Governor): "You cannot contend with threats to your economy, you cannot contend with real fiscal issues, if you don't even assess them as real — or if you are choosing ... to put loyalty to a president and his talking points above the real economic impact on Virginians."
Abigail Spanberger: Governor needs to be 'steady' amid federal uncertainty
"It's an issue of leadership at this moment where we see chaos coming out of Washington."
www.vpm.org
vpm.org
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears also did not agree to an interview with VPM News.

We're sharing the questions we would have asked her and using known information about her background and public stances to inform voters about where she falls on key issues like education and federal job cuts.
VPM News' interview questions for Winsome Earle-Sears
The Lt. Gov.'s gubernatorial campaign did not agree to speak with VPM News.
www.vpm.org
vpm.org
GOP Attorney General Jason Miyares did not agree to an interview with VPM News.

Instead, we're sharing the questions we would have asked him and using known information about his background and policy positions to inform voters about where he stands on key issues like public safety and energy costs
VPM News' interview questions for Jason Miyares
The attorney general's campaign did not agree to speak with VPM News.
www.vpm.org
vpm.org
Jay Jones (Democrat, Attorney General):
“People are being squeezed. It is hard for families to put food on the table. Costs continue to rise. Housing affordability continues to be a problem. We want to use every tool in our toolbox to make sure that we’re attacking that problem head-on.”
Jay Jones: Families 'desperate' for attorney general to put Virginia first
"I don't work for Donald Trump. I don't work for Washington."
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John Reid (Republican, Lt. Gov.): "I think the government is poised to overreach in a lot of different places, and I would like to be one of the people to tug on the reins — where it's responsible — and say: No, let's let the people live their lives and not become dependent on the government."
John Reid: Lt. Gov. is 'an ambassador for the state of Virginia'
"Everything I'd be advocating ... Does it make the people more free?"
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Ghazala Hashmi (Democrat, Lt. Gov.): "I think we're in a historic moment where we have a competing vision — not just about who and what we are as a country, who and what we are as a commonwealth, but also, significantly, about the role of government."
Ghazala Hashmi: Virginia's No. 2 has 'critical role to play'
"After spending six years in the Virginia Senate, I'm ready."
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Election Day in Virginia is just over a month away (Nov. 4) — with the state’s top three offices all up for grabs.

VPM News State Politics Reporter @jahd.bsky.social set out to interview all six candidates for those offices in order to highlight where they stand on key issues for Virginia voters.
vpm.org
The CDC's vaccine advisory panel voted on Friday to drop a recommendation that most adults get the COVID-19 vaccine, but ruled that the vaccine should remain available without a prescription and covered by insurance for those who want it.
Federal vaccine panel maintains COVID-19 booster availability
Updated: Health experts, doctors urged ACIP to keep the shots accessible.
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vpm.org
A new study found that 21 of the 25 Richmond neighborhoods facing the highest average energy cost burdens were majority-Black, including several historically redlined areas in the East End and Southside.
Study: 1 in 5 Richmond households spends 10% of income on energy
Many of the most burdened areas are heavily Black, poorer neighborhoods.
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We asked you how it was going if you were trying to get the new 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine in Central Virginia. The overwhelming response was: It's a little bit (or a lot) confusing!

Patrick Larsen on the current landscape — which could change again next week:
Confusion around vaccine rules making it tough to get updated COVID-19 shot
Pharmacy policies could change again next week after a CDC committee meeting.
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Reposted by VPM News
hannahdavisreid.bsky.social
At the upcoming University of Virginia Board of Visitors Finance Committee meeting on Sept. 12, the university is expected to lease and transfer the historic Oak Lawn home to Charlottesville City Schools for a “nominal fee.”

www.vpm.org/news/2025-09...
UVA board expected to transfer Oak Lawn site to Charlottesville schools
The property could help the city expand early childhood and career programs.
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VPM News @vpm.org · Sep 4
Speaking of GWAR, our staff are big fans of the @npr.org Tiny Desk featuring the band from 2023...where the desk may or may not have been destroyed.

Did you know that Blöthar is also a big fan of supporting public media?
GWAR: Tiny Desk Concert
For nearly four decades, the band has terrorized planet Earth with its raucous stage shows, raunchy metal songs and grotesque satire. GWAR finally came to destroy the Tiny Desk, once and for all.
www.npr.org