After a year of investigations and interventions, the Nelson County Department of Social Services is rebuilding. In the second of a three-part series, WMRA's Meredith McCool explores a statewide tool to guide local departments, and the staffing challenges faced by small rural agencies. Please be aware that this story contains details of child abuse and neglect.

Over the last year, the Nelson County Department of Social Services, or DSS, has faced state and local investigations and interventions over practices that led to kids being left in unsafe situations. Now, the county is working to rebuild the department – along with public trust. WMRA's Meredith McCool reports in the first of a three-part series. Please be aware that this story contains details of child abuse and neglect.

Mary Page Marlowe tells the story of a woman’s life over the course of several decades, complicated by her personal choices and circumstances. The play, produced by local theater company ShenanArts, debuts in Staunton on Friday, June 19, and runs through Sunday, June 28. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn, spoke with the director and filed this report.

Several prosecutors around the state, including in Page County, have vowed not to enforce a new law banning the sale and manufacture of weapons referred to as "assault firearms." In the meantime, gun sales are up, and local gun shop owners are trying to figure out how to navigate the restrictions. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.

Agriculture is Virginia’s biggest private industry. The war in Iran has caused a significant uptick in fuel and fertilizer prices, which is impacting farmers who rely on them. WMRA’s Ayse Pirge reports.

It’s wedding season across Virginia. That means bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, and, sometimes, IV infusions and energy shots for brides, grooms, and their guests, even as some experts warn that their risks outweigh their benefits. WMRA’s Christine Kueter reports.

A group of artists, local leaders and community members is working to revive a historic theater in downtown Staunton as a multipurpose performing arts venue and community center. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn checked in with The Arcadia Project and filed this report.

Scientists at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute's campus in Front Royal work to conserve ecosystems and threatened wildlife species. One of their ongoing projects has been to study a specific population of wood turtles for over 20 years. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.

Law enforcement's mishandling of a 2022 murder case in Harrisonburg led to a state police investigation of local officers' actions, multiple lawsuits against the agencies and officials involved, and the persistent question of whether some of those responsible for killing a young man have yet to face justice. Please be aware that this story contains graphic details of the murder and crime scene. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.

Hemp – the type of cannabis plant bred for its strong fibers and health benefits rather than psychoactive properties – has a long and storied history in the commonwealth. WMRA’s Sara Prince talked with local hemp businesses about how they process the crop and the regulatory challenges they face, and filed this report.

A measles outbreak spreading through Buckingham County has infected at least 17 people as of Thursday, prompting health officials to warn that additional cases are likely still unidentified, and highlighting childhood vaccination gaps across parts of Central Virginia. WMRA’s Anjoleigh Schindler reports.

This spring, Broadway became the third small town in the Shenandoah Valley in about a year to decide to stop fluoridating its drinking water. The move mirrors statewide fluoride bans in Utah and Florida, and skepticism from the U.S. Health Secretary, but remains rare among Virginia municipalities. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.