Whittney Evans
@whittneye.bsky.social
VPM News editor, producer and occasional legal reporter in RVA. Rancho Gordo Bean Club member. Tell me what you're curious about https://www.vpm.org/curious-commonwealth.
@vpm.org got a little help from Richmond reporter Mallory Noe-Payne for this month's Curious Commonwealth story. "Wildlife experts expect suburban and urban encounters with bears to continue to trend upward." www.vpm.org/news/2026-06...
Curious Commonwealth asks: Are bears living among Virginians?
Yes, many.
vpm.org
It's local budget season in Central Virginia. Richmond Mayor Danny Avula delivered his second spending proposal to city council Wednesday, including $257 million for Richmond Public Schools — the city's largest ever investment in its school system, but still below what the division requested.
Mayor Danny Avula proposes Richmond’s $3.4B spending plan
Avula said the budget was “constrained” by a real estate assessment freeze.
vpm.org
Votes on four constitutional amendments on abortion, voting rights, marriage equality and mid-decade redistricting were the opening act of the 2026 legislative session for the Virginia General Assembly. @vpm.org www.vpm.org/generalassem...
Virginia House committee advances 4 proposed constitutional amendments
The state Senate is expected to pass the amendments later this week.
vpm.org
"And you can make a good argument that having elections all the time is too much," he said. "It overloads the electorate with information, and with candidates, and with advertisements and decisions." -Brent Tarter SEND QUESTIONS AT VPM.ORG/CURIOUS @vpm.org www.vpm.org/news/2025-08...
Curious Commonwealth asks: What's with Virginia's off-year elections?
Why does every year feature a major election in the commonwealth?
vpm.org
The latest from @vpm.org Curious Commonwealth. Submit a question at VPM.org/Curious. www.vpm.org/news/2025-08...
Curious Commonwealth asks: Why don’t the Seven Cities get along?
The region’s historical tension has its roots in segregation, economics.
vpm.org
VPM News wants to know: What brings you joy? Do you, your family or your community engage in a unique activity in Central Virginia that enriches your life and brings a smile to your face? We’d love to learn more about it and share it with our audience over the summer! Email us at tips@vpm.org ☀️
Calder emphasized the importance of maintaining and beautifying parks, including Byrd Park and Shields Lake. He advocated for accessible green spaces for the community, even allowing children to play on the grass, which was uncommon at the time. @vpm.org www.vpm.org/news/2025-05...
Curious Commonwealth asks: Who was Humphrey Calder?
Who are a playground and community center in Richmond’s Museum District named after?
vpm.org
“The status quo for a long time is just to rely on the goodwill of people wanting to be environmental stewards,” Wilson said. “We kind of need to move away from that and actually set up things that encourage recycling in a real way.” @ellywilson.bsky.social @vpm.org www.vpm.org/news/2025-04...
A ‘recycled’ Curious Commonwealth update
What does the data tell us about how much Virginia recycles?
vpm.org
NEW from @jahd.bsky.social at @vpm.org — Curious Commonwealth: Why is Virginia a Dillon Rule state? www.vpm.org/news/2025-03...
Why is Virginia a Dillon Rule state?
Who’s Dillon, and why does the commonwealth follow his rule?
vpm.org
From the incomparable @jahd.bsky.social and Patrick Larsen: The @chesapeakebayfdn.bsky.social hosts an annual oyster eating "contest" at the Virginia State Capitol to keep the conservation conversation on the table. @vpm.org www.vpm.org/news/2025-02...
Oyster eating focuses state lawmakers on Chesapeake Bay restoration
The waterway’s foundation hosts an annual event to celebrate progress, advocacy.
vpm.org
@vpm.org The league’s executive committee voted to bring the organization into compliance with President Donald Trump’s Feb. 5 executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” — a reversal from the organization’s initially published stance. www.vpm.org/news/2025-02...
Virginia High School League bans trans students from girls’ sports
The organization initially said it would maintain its existing policy.
vpm.org
@vpm.org Official miscommunications during the crisis affected the county’s response. www.vpm.org/news/2025-02...
Henrico County reviews internal reports on January water outage
Official miscommunications during the crisis affected the county’s response.
vpm.org
Legal fight against AI-generated child pornography is complicated – a legal scholar explains why, and how the law could catch up
Legal fight against AI-generated child pornography is complicated – a legal scholar explains why, and how the law could catch up
US law tries to strike a balance between free speech and protecting people from harm. When it comes to child pornography, AI makes that task all the more difficult.
theconversation.com
State Sen. Danica Roem, the first openly transgender member of the Virginia legislature, said there are only four trans student-athletes out of 1.2 million Virginia public school students who have been allowed to play sports. richmond.com/news/state-r...
VHSL reverses transgender athlete participation policy to align with Trump's executive order
The Virginia High School League (VHSL) has changed its policy regarding transgender athlete participation.
richmond.com
