There are more than 23-thousand people in Virginia prisons – costing taxpayers one and a half billion dollars a year. State legislators have tried to reduce that number by making it easier for model prisoners to get out early, but the Department of Corrections is also doing its part – helping those accused of drug crimes to avoid prison and recover from addiction. Sandy Hausman has that story:

Political campaigns can be hard work – ringing doorbells, stuffing envelopes and making phone calls, but here in Virginia some people are finding creative ways to campaign for the candidates of their choice. Sandy Hausman has that story.

When the aurora borealis made a rare appearance in Virginian skies earlier this year, the vivid colors were the result of highly charged particles that reached the top layer of our atmosphere. Scientists want to better understand what future events like this could mean for satellite and space technologies.

LIS had some superficial improvements over the years, but it’s basically stayed the same since it was first introduced in 1994.

United States Senator Tim Kaine is on the ballot this year. And he has a comfortable lead over his Republican opponent — Hung Cao — in the polls.

Over the course of the three hour meeting, colleges explained their free speech policies, students shared their experiences being arrested and pepper sprayed and elected officials considered future action.

The guidelines define cell phone-free education as “bell-to-bell” – meaning phones should be turned off and stored away the entire school day – including during lunch and between class periods.

Earlier this year, lawmakers considered legislation to legalize devices that look like slot machines at truck stops and convenience stores. They ended up rejecting those bills, but now they’re popping up anyway.

Virginia’s constitution says the state must fund public schools through the Standards of Quality.

A case involving the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative was debated in court Monday. Virginia’s Air Pollution Board voted to pull out of the program last June. Plaintiffs argued the move inflicted economic harm to conservation groups that help low-income residents weatherize their homes.