Host Intro: It seemed like Court Square Theater in Downtown Harrisonburg would close its doors for good at the end of last year. But in a matter of days, a coalition met to keep the theater open. The Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority owns the space and will host a series of community meetings for input on the theater’s future starting later this week. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn asked the agency's Executive Director, Michael Wong about their interest in Court Square Theater.

Last Friday, Jan. 23, all charges were dismissed against three protesters who were arrested and cited during two separate demonstrations in Shenandoah County last year. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.

The address occurred January 19, 2026.

The Virginia governor inauguration ceremony from Saturday, January 17, 2026.

The General Assembly started its 2026 legislative session this week. Several bills related to firearm safety are among the many issues that will be considered in the House of Delegates and State Senate. Joshua Horwitz is a professor in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who has been following the legislative efforts with a Democratic majority Richmond. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn asked him what this session could mean for gun violence intervention in the Commonwealth.

Governor Glenn Youngkin - 2026 State of the Commonwealth Address

After suffering from a stroke in 2011 in Massachusetts, Rachel Bowman has made progress in her recovery with the support of friends, family, and the Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley. WMRA’s Ayse Pirge reports.

UVA Astronomer Kelsey Johnson takes us to the edge of scientific understanding about the universe in her new book Into The Unknown.

Local lawmakers and advocates are calling on the Commonwealth Transportation Board to slow down their surprise push to move forward with a nearly $700 million plan for a recreational trail that would also preserve a dilapidated rail line through the Shenandoah Valley for potential future use. WMRA’s Bridget Manley reports.

Throughout this year, WMRA has followed the story of a young family of four living in Staunton. The father, Olman, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since June. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi attended his wife's asylum hearing earlier this month and discussed the outcome with Bob Leweke.

Last month, Harrisonburg City Council member Laura Dent travelled to Belém, Brazil, to participate in the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, better known as COP30. Currently in her second term, Dent has advocated for environmentally-friendly initiatives in the city since she was elected in 2020. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn asked Dent what led to her attendance at COP30.

The Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro treats hundreds of injured animals every year, from possums, to eagles, to bear cubs. But one fledgling barn owl that fell from its nest in a grain silo in Augusta County has a unique story. WMRA's Meredith McCool reports.