-
The 2026 World Cup is playing out in communities across the country. Journalists from NPR and its member stations are in your city — capturing the excitement and asking the important questions.
-
In America, U.S.A., Princeton historian Eddie Glaude Jr. looks at the country through the lens of its previous anniversaries and centennials. "The divided soul of the nation is in full view," he says.
-
Adam Castillo, founder of AGS Myanmar, was detained Thursday at Yangon International Airport. The U.S. State Department is aware of a reported detention but hasn't commented further.
-
Luigi Mangione's legal team is back in court in New York City this week for a key pretrial hearing. He's accused of stalking and killing an insurance CEO. Donors have given $1.5 million to support his defense.
-
Health officials ask residents in Buckingham County to help contain the measles outbreak there… Drought conditions worsen, with nearly 40% of Virginia under extreme drought… The House of Delegates releases its budget proposal, which still includes a tax break for data centers, but also a commission to study them….
WMRA Local News Features
-
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.
-
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed new laws at ceremonies in Charlottesville on Tuesday, including one in the University of Virginia Rotunda just a few blocks away from the site of a 2022 triple murder. That legislation bans firearms on public college and university campuses, as WMRA’s Christine Kueter reports.
-
Recent hikes in fast food prices have left many diners cold, but the average American still goes out to eat between five and six times a week. Where they’re choosing to go, though, amid economic uncertainty, high gas and grocery prices, might surprise you. WMRA's Christine Kueter reports.
-
Electricity bills are rising across Virginia—and for many residents, it’s unclear why. WMRA’s Anjoleigh Schindler reports.
NPR News
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Sixteen host cities across North America, including Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Boston, Kansas City, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States. The NPR Network will have coverage from across the country leading up to and during the championship.
WMRA Briefs
News from our Public Broadcasting Partners
When WMRA reports on topics primarily about our Spanish-speaking community, you can read Spanish translations of those stories here.
WMRA Featured Events
NPR national and local news in your inbox every Friday afternoon.