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Paula Bronstein/for NPRArtificial intelligence is making drones faster and more capable. Russia and Ukraine both use AI-powered drones, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that AI could lead decisions on the battlefield as soon as next year. -
Charlie Neibergall/Getty ImagesAn NPR analysis finds 70 House districts where Democrats and Republicans are each investing more than six figures in advertising during the final few days of the election, including in deep red areas. -
Allison Robbert/APMissouri voters could ban abortion - after they just removed a ban two years ago. California voters could tax billionaires 5% of their wealth. -
The campaign to defend access to transgender healthcare for young people in Missouri is taking an unhurried approach to talking with voters about the proposed ban.
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Strasburg residents gather at an open house to consider a proposed data center… Sabato’s Crystal Ball now rates the race in Virginia’s traditionally red 5th District as a “toss-up”… We profile the candidates for U.S. Senate in Virginia….
WMRA Local News Features
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Employees at the Molson Coors brewery in Elkton voted to join the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union at the end of September. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports. -
In the wake of a string of sexual abuse and misconduct allegations in Albemarle County Public Schools, community members are struggling to understand what went wrong. But are the state’s mandatory reporting guidelines clear? WMRA’s Christine Kueter reports. -
Harrisonburg’s beloved DIY venue Crayola House had its final show in 2024. Since then, a group has worked to document the show house’s more-than three-decade history in the film “No More Punk Time.” It debuts this weekend at the Virginia Film Festival. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn spoke with producer Pat Jarrett about the film and filed this report. -
Walk through an old Shenandoah Valley orchard and you’ll see apples with names, stories, and flavors passed down through family heirloom varieties. -
Alleged sexual abuse, teacher and administrator arrests, and school employee suspensions, have rocked Albemarle County Public Schools. Teachers are uneasily continuing their work as the county’s six remaining school board members are trying to get things back on track. WMRA’s Christine Kueter reports. -
In the 5th Congressional District race, Democratic challenger Tom Perriello has out-raised incumbent Republican John McGuire, as WMRA previously reported. But those numbers only tell part of the voter engagement story. WMRA’s Meredith McCool reports. -
Republicans from the Shenandoah Valley and even West Virginia attended the 21st annual Oysters with Obenshain fundraiser at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on Wednesday night. WMRA’s Bridget Manley reports. -
It’s not just abundant jobs and high wages that draw folks into the skilled trades. Many say it feeds their passion for working with their hands. Here’s the third and final installment of our series, “Trading Up.” WMRA’s Christine Kueter reports. -
The number of registered apprenticeships in Virginia has grown six-fold in the last decade. They’re good investments for employers, who “grow their own” to meet labor force needs. WMRA’s Christine Kueter continues in this second part of our three-part series “Trading Up.” -
Economic, job, and education changes are luring more young people to skilled trades such as construction, electrical work, plumbing, and auto maintenance. In part one of our three-part series, we'll explore who’s opting in and why. WMRA’s Christine Kueter digs in. -
In 1990, Earl Swift backpacked the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. Early on his trek, he spent time with a friendly couple who were murdered weeks later at a mountaintop campsite. Earl’s new book, Up On Cove Mountain, chronicles that hike and his return to the trail thirty years later to make sense of the violence. -
Virginia legalized sports betting, and casino gambling for some cities, in 2020. Since then, demand for help with gambling addiction has ballooned. A statewide initiative launched treatment services in 2022 to help people struggling with problem gambling. WMRA’s Ayse Pirge reports.
Given the extraordinary nature of the 2026 election cycle, Virginia's five public media news stations — WMRA, VPM, WAMU, WHRO and Radio IQ — are partnering to ensure voters across the state get the full breadth of the federal midterms, state and local elections.
From early voting through Election Day and the results, the Virginia Elections Collaborative will provide you with coverage on the candidates and issues so you can make informed decisions at the ballot box.
From early voting through Election Day and the results, the Virginia Elections Collaborative will provide you with coverage on the candidates and issues so you can make informed decisions at the ballot box.
NPR News
WMRA Briefs
Join us Tuesday, Nov. 10th at Pale Fire Brewing at 7pm as author Gregory Smithers, discusses The Water Carriers: A Journey Through Cherokee History and the Secret Life of Rivers.
News from our Public Broadcasting Partners
Watch WMRA’s October 2026 Books & Brews, featuring Earl Swift, author of Up on Cove Mountain: Adventure, Tragedy, and a Quest for Meaning on the Appalachian Trail.
When WMRA reports on topics primarily about our Spanish-speaking community, you can read Spanish translations of those stories here.
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