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Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesThe statue honors Trump's "long-lasting bond" with Epstein, which the president denies. The National Park Service took down the statue after one day last week, saying it didn't comply with its permit. -
Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesThe White House and GOP lawmakers say a provision in the Big Beautiful Bill that Democrats want rolled back keeps undocumented people from getting health benefits — a claim experts say is misleading. -
Buffalo Toronto Public Media/Embassy RowMychal Threets, a social media star librarian, is hosting the new iteration of the series. It's back for four episodes starting on Saturday. -
Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty ImagesPresident Trump said that if Hamas does not agree to the 20-point plan, as presented by Israel and the U.S., then "all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas."
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An investigation clears the Augusta County sheriff's office in the May death of a man who was in custody…Shenandoah National Park remains open despite the government shutdown, but advocates warn visitors about limited staffing…Jeff Schapiro weighs in on whether the shutdown might affect this year’s elections in Virginia….
WMRA Local News Features
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The Super Gr8 Film Festival returns to Harrisonburg this weekend after a several-year hiatus. It’s chance for aspiring filmmakers to shoot a short movie with a Super 8 camcorder and a single roll of film, with the final product shown for the first time to participants and audiences alike. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn spoke with Paul Somers, one of Super Gr8’s founders, who detailed the festival’s return. -
Cathy Rec is the democratic candidate running for Virginia’s House of Delegates representing the 33rd district, which includes Shenandoah and Page Counties. -
Public schools in Virginia are now required to ban student cell phone usage during school hours, a result of legislation signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin in late May. But what does that mean now that school is back in session? WMRA’s Ayse Pirge reports. -
Andrew Payton is the Democratic candidate running to represent Virginia’s 34th district, which includes the city of Harrisonburg and part of Rockingham County. He’s running against Republican incumbent Tony Wilt, who has represented the district since 2010. Payton is an educator and has long been a community organizer in Harrisonburg, although this is his first time as a political candidate. WMRA's Calvin Pynn asked him why he decided to run for office. -
Tony Wilt is the incumbent candidate running to represent Virginia’s 34th District, which is comprised of the city of Harrisonburg and part of Rockingham County. A republican, Wilt has represented the district in Virginia’s House of Delegates since he was first elected in 2010. WMRA’s Calvin Pynn asked Wilt what he’s learned in his 15 years as Delegate. -
Keisha Nicholson started the Love Forward Foundation in 2015 as a grassroots movement to help the families of the incarcerated heal and grow. Today, the foundation’s "Creative Haven" in downtown Staunton provides a space for creative coping. WMRA’s Meredith McCool paid a visit and filed this report. -
WMRA previously reported on the arrests of two protesters on the Quicksburg I-81 overpass on Labor Day. Their accounts of the incident raised questions of whether due process was followed, and what motivated the state troopers involved. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi spoke with the local prosecutor and a retired state police officer, and filed this report. -
More than 500 people gathered in Winchester on Wednesday evening in memory of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA who was murdered in Utah last week. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports. -
'Degenerate: the DeJarnette Project' is an original play by the Staunton arts organization 'The Off Center.' It incorporates a variety of performance styles - including clown cabaret and experimental puppetry - to explore the legacy of American eugenics at Staunton's Western State Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Joseph DeJarnette, a eugenicist who forcibly sterilized dozens of patients in the early 20th century. WMRA's Calvin Pynn spoke with co-writers Diana Black - who conducted research for the story - and Davey White, who directed the play. -
Data centers need a lot of power, big buildings, and cooling systems in order to process the big needs of AI and cloud storage. Proponents of the facilities in Albemarle County say they will diversify the economy. But detractors argue they will increase costs for Virginians. WMRA’s Sara Prince has this overview. -
WMRA previously reported on a group of anti-Trump protesters who were issued citations and warnings for "non-travel" use of the I-81 overpass bridge in Woodstock. About a week later, another group of protesters assembled on a different overpass in Shenandoah County – and two of them were arrested. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports. -
When Henry and Priscilla Ireys (EYE-REES) found an old farm that promised refuge from hectic lives and encroaching illness, their world opened to unexpected adventures and led to surprising moments of beauty.
NPR News
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Another alternative is to say "Play NPR" and when prompted, say “WMRA”. If your Play NPR request does not go to WMRA, you should be able to change your station by saying, "Alexa, ask NPR to change my station." You can also say, "Alexa, ask NPR to play WMRA".
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Join us Tuesday, Oct. 9th at 7pm - when we will feature David Poole, author of of Trusted Source: How a Virginia Nonprofit Gained Bipartisan Support in an Era of Political Polarization about money in politics, the crisis of American newspapers, the fracturing of information sources, and the precipitous erosion of confidence in our institutions.
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