We’re just getting started with this Fall Fundraiser… and thanks to a generous matching gift from couple in Staunton, combined with another matching gift honoring the memory of Marty Brown, a lifelong supporter of NPR, we've already raised over $20,000 in support of local and national journalism for our region!
This is a great day to become a first time member of WMRA.
This is a great day to become a first time member of WMRA.
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Aaron Schwartz/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesStephen Miran, who has served in both Trump administrations, said he will not resign from the White House if confirmed to the Federal Reserve Board, further stoking concerns about its independence. -
Wayne Lawrence/St. Lawrence PressTrymaine Lee spent years reporting on the deaths of men who look just like him. His new memoir, A Thousand Ways to Die, chronicles the impact of gun violence in Black communities. -
Over a four-year period between 2019 and 2023, about 1,000 people died annually in U.S. jails.
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Kiichiro Sato/APU.S. officials have announced a "framework" that would let Chinese-owned short video platform TikTok continue operations in the United States, although the two countries are still working out the details.
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Virginia legislators face a dilemma in paying for SNAP food benefits…Virginia spends significantly more than average for Medicaid than other states, driven largely by drug prices…A former Harrisonburg registrar will serve as interim director of elections for Albemarle County, where the former registrar is under investigation….
WMRA Local News Features
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On the 71st anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, students, educators, and civil rights leaders unveiled a new historical marker in Harrisonburg. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports. -
Heavy rains in the Harrisonburg area have washed large amounts of sediment into the city's raw water supply, prompting a mandatory water conservation notice and a local emergency declaration. -
Agriculture and forest industries provide more than $100 billion to Virginia’s economy. They also create nearly half a million jobs in the state. And Virginia exports products, such as cattle and wood commodities, around the world. So how is President Trump’s trade war affecting that? WMRA’s Ayse Pirge reports. -
Millions of dollars in previously awarded federal grants intended for cultural groups across the country have been canceled by the Trump administration. Among the affected organizations are state humanities councils, including Virginia Humanities, which produces the radio show "With Good Reason" and other history and arts programs. WMRA’s Meredith McCool reports. -
Community leaders and residents convened in Staunton on Saturday, for an annual forum about recent federal policy changes, their local impacts, and what they could do about it. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports. -
Recent federal policy changes are aimed at increasing timber sales in our national forests. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi spoke with a research ecologist and wilderness advocate about how these directives could play out locally. -
One local researcher has documented more than 11,000 graves in Highland County and the surrounding areas – uncovering tales of intrigue, tragedy, and joy. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports. -
Brian Noyes left a successful career in publishing to open the Red Truck Bakery with two locations in rural Virginia. -
The Trump administration is working to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. The two largest funding sources it oversees for public schools are Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA [can pronounce as "idea" or I-D-E-A]. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi looked at how that money is used by local schools. -
Last December, WMRA reported on the end of Virginia's subminimum wage program. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi now brings you an interview with one family who's been affected by this change. -
At the end of February, Steve Herman, chief national correspondent for the Voice of America, found out that he was on unexpected administrative leave. Thousands of fellow VOA employees were given similar notice this month, and then the VOA fell silent on March 16th. WMRA’s Bob Leweke spoke with Steve to find out what happened at VOA, and what’s next. -
In the midst of President Donald Trump's ongoing campaign against unauthorized immigration, Governor Glenn Youngkin directed Virginia's state and local law enforcement to assist federal officers with various operations. WMRA reporters Randi B. Hagi and Calvin Pynn teamed up to see how this is playing out on the ground. This is the second installment of a two-part report.
In an era of "fake news" claims, AI generated content and media distrust, WMRA maintains credibility through transparency, accuracy, and accountability. We correct our mistakes, cite our sources, and explain our methodology. That trust has allowed us to grow, adding more capacity to our local news team. And trust should be mutual. Which is why with the recent loss of our federal funding, we trust you to help sustain our local journalism.
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WMRA Briefs
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.
Watch WMRA’s September 2025 Books & Brews, featuring Henry & Priscilla Ireys discussing The Keep.
When WMRA reports on topics primarily about our Spanish-speaking community, you can read Spanish translations of those stories here.
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