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.

After an election recount on Thursday, incumbent Jackie Lohr maintained her victory in the Rockingham County School Board race for the District 1 seat. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.

Testimony concluded on Wednesday in the trial over the Shenandoah County school board's decision to reinstate Confederate names on two schools – but a federal judge won't rule on the case until next year. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.

Tuesday marked the fourth day of trial over the Shenandoah County School Board's decision to reinstate Confederate names on two schools last year. Three witnesses testified, including two school board members. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.

Workers at the Starbucks on Port Republic Road in Harrisonburg are in the process of unionizing. They went on strike last week and are expected to vote on unionization this Friday, December 19. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn spoke with barista and union rep Michael Hulleman and asked what led to the decision to unionize.