Our December Drive is launching today with a special matching challenge from Kathy Moran Wealth Group, they are backing a $5,000 matching challenge for this first day of the drive.
When you give today, your support of local news, trusted information and smart entertainment is matched dollar-for-dollar!
-
The Supreme Court will hear arguments today in a case about President Trump's firing of a Federal Trade Commissioner. And, Senate Democrats are set to pitch a plan to extend ACA subsidies this week.
-
Trump has prompted a redistricting race as he tries to maintain Republican control of the House in the 2026 elections. Democrats have fewer options to counter, as the battle heads into next year.
-
The U.S. has become a "side character" in the global story of renewable energy, experts say. China dominates the sector, with positive implications for the climate and their economy.
-
The talks signal fresh support from European allies. But they follow stalled U.S. negotiations in Miami and comments from President Trump's son suggesting Washington is ready to pull back.
-
The November election of a school board member in Shenandoah County is being challenged by his opponent… After a Supreme Court ruling, Democrats say redistricting in Virginia is full speed ahead… Will the next General Assembly get rid of Virginia’s Right-to-Work law?
WMRA Local News Features
-
Another winter storm has some school systems closed today, and others opening late.
-
A letter that Rockingham County leaders sent to the city of Harrisonburg back in June circulated on social media this week. In it, the county expresses their intention to terminate the legal agreement governing the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
-
Virginia's 44th state park opened last month in the mountains of Highland County. Its backstory includes agriculture, hunting tours, and a battle over the defunct Atlantic Coast Pipeline. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
-
Open enrollment is underway for Virginia’s health insurance marketplace. However, with federal tax subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, per the federal spending bill that was signed this week, Virginians could see much higher monthly premiums. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn spoke with Keven Patchett, the director of Virginia’s Health Benefit Exchange, about what to expect.
-
As more extreme weather events, such as heatwaves are occurring more frequently during the summer, physicians are paying close attention to their impact on the human body. Dr. Abigail Hankin-Wei is an emergency medicine doctor in the Shenandoah Valley and a board member on the committee Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action. WMRA's Calvin Pynn asked her about the health impacts of climate change that she’s seen in her patients.
-
While more than 800,000 Virginians await the resumption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, farmers and farmers markets are helping to keep food on their tables. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
-
The Confident Caregiver Conference took place recently at Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, with speakers, breakout sessions, and a resource fair for caregivers. The conference was organized by the Valley Program for Aging Services, or V-PAS. WMRA’s Ayse Pirge reports.
-
According to veteran journalist, Miranda Spivack, Americans are likely to encounter the effects of government malfeasance with their local officials.
-
Stray, feral, and outdoor cats are abundant across the Shenandoah Valley, with colonies bearing litters of kittens year-round. Through spay and neuter programs, fostering, and adoption, shelters and volunteers are trying to stem the feline tide. Listeners should be advised this story mentions some graphic veterinary problems. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
-
On Saturday, Indivisible Charlottesville organized a New Orleans-style funeral march on the downtown mall to mourn what they see as a loss of civil liberties in America – and celebrate hope for the future. WMRA’s Meredith McCool followed the procession.
-
Required scores for Standards of Learning tests, or SOLs, will be raised for Virginia’s K-12 students. These so-called “cut” scores measure the minimum outcome students need to achieve proficiency in the tests. WMRA’s Ayse Pirge reports.
-
A man is in custody after an hours-long standoff with Harrisonburg police near EMU Sunday.
WMRA keeps you connected to the stories shaping life here in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia. This December, as we report on everything from winter weather impacts to local government decisions, your support keeps our expanded news team out in the community. With federal funding permanently reduced by $170,000, your monthly gift of $15 or $20 helps us strengthen local journalism heading into the new year.
NPR News
WMRA Briefs
When WMRA reports on topics primarily about our Spanish-speaking community, you can read Spanish translations of those stories here.
Join us Tuesday, Dec. 16th at 7pm. Gabrielle Cerberville, author of Gathered: On Foraging, Feasting, and the Seasonal Life, shares adventures in local foraging that awaken us to the beauty of the seasons and the world we live in. Discover the world of foraged edibles and various ways to eat and prepare them.
Enjoy a few special holiday broadcasts on WMRA & WEMC, from Saturday December 20 through Thursday December 25.
News from our Public Broadcasting Partners
The loss of $170,000 in federal funding is a significant challenge for WMRA, but it does not define our future. The heart of WMRA has always been the collaboration and resilience of our listeners, neighbors, and supporters. Even as we adapt to changing circumstances, our mission to serve our region of Virginia with trusted journalism and inspiring stories remains unwavering.
NPR national and local news in your inbox every Friday afternoon.
WMRA Featured Events