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In a daring nighttime martime operation, U.S. veterans whisked Venezuela's María Corina Machado out of the country to claim her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo
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As they mark the first anniversary of toppling Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syrians also celebrate another coming milestone: the lifting of sanctions, which could help give the country a new start.
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The Department of Justice has sued four more states as part of the Trump administration's far-reaching attempt to access sensitive voter data. The DOJ is also suing Fulton County in Georgia.
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Record flooding in Washington state has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate after torrential rains this week.
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The trial over Confederate school names in Shenandoah County gets underway… Virginia will restrict residents on food assistance from using their benefits to buy soda… Analyst Jeff Schapiro takes a look at the governor-elect’s nascent cabinet….
WMRA Local News Features
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A court case filed against the Shenandoah County School Board for its decision to revert two schools to their original Confederate names began on Thursday morning. WMRA’s Bridget Manley reports.
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Virginia’s Cannabis Control Authority recently announced a new accredited physician training program for providers who want to better advise their patients on the safe use of cannabis related products. But how are those products made? WMRA’s Sara Prince toured a state-regulated dispensary to find out, and filed this report.
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Earlier this year, WMRA reported on a man living in Staunton who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in early June. Last month, an immigration judge denied his application to stay in the U.S., despite his credible fear of gang persecution in his home country. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi spoke with Bob Leweke with the latest.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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According to veteran journalist, Miranda Spivack, Americans are likely to encounter the effects of government malfeasance with their local officials.
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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.
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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.
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.
When you select our "Feed a Family" thank you gift, you unlock an additional $20 donation to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, courtesy of Kathy Moran Wealth Group.
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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 Monday December 15 through Thursday December 25.
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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.
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