College Students & Loan Debt - The average college graduate has racked up more than $26,000 in student loan debt by the time they’re out of school, and if Congress fails to act, the federal interest rate on those loans will double July 1st.To try and get their message across to lawmakers, Virginia Young Democrats and student leaders from Old Dominion University and George Mason University are asking Congressmen Frank Wolf and Scott Rigell to stop the rate hike from happ...

Reviewing Tax Breaks - A panel of state lawmakers has begun a serious review of Virginia’s tax credits, exemptions, deductions, and similar “preferences.” The evaluation comes after the Joint Audit and Legislative Review Commission found that the tax breaks did not always perform as intended, were often inefficient, and cost the state billions of dollars in revenues.

Independence Day Naturalization Ceremony - It’s an annual Independence Day tradition at Monticello—and this year marks the 51st Naturalization Ceremony in Charlottesville.80 people from 38 countries will become U-S citizens at the event.Musician Dave Matthews, who heads the Dave Matthews band, will be a featured speaker at the event.  Born in South Africa in 1967, he became a naturalized American citizen in 1980.

Recent college graduates and the head of the Virginia Education Association are speaking against rising interest rates for some federal college loans. Beverly Amsler will have the story on All Things Considered.

Division Over Medicaid Overhaul - The General Assembly panel tasked with deciding whether Virginia should expand its Medicaid program or not held its first meeting–in a room packed with expansion opponents, many representing groups such as Americans for Prosperity.The Senators and Delegates wasted no time getting up to speed on the complex facts about how the program currently operates.

Pittsylvania County Moonshine Bust - Law enforcement officials say a moonshine bust near Danville this week should result in multiple felony and misdemeanor indictments for a man caught with 339 gallons of illegal whiskey and 18 weapons.It was part of a joint four-month investigation between the State’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.The moonshine was found in the home of 63-year-old Ronald Bray, and was packaged in...

Sandy Hausman has the story on the Red Knots and what could be an endangered species.Red Knots: A Bird Species on the Declinewvtf.orgMillions of birds passed through Virginia this spring, and the National Wildlife Federation says many are in trouble, in part because of climate change. A

Good morning and Happy Tuesday! Looks like a damp day ahead for most of the state, so keep those umbrellas handy.

Preventing Blindess - More than 25 million Americans have diabetes, putting them at risk for eye damage that can lead to blindness. Often, problems occur before the disease is diagnosed, but doctors at the University of Virginia have made an exciting discovery that could protect or even restore vision.Dr. Paul Yates is frustrated.  As a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Virginia, he often sees people with diabetes who are going blind.  They ...

Some Red Cross volunteers took their training from the classroom into the field following last Thursday's storm. Beverly Amsler will have the story on All Things Considered.

VaNews for 06.17.13 - Stories about a congressman’s hubcaps and a climbing wall arms race among universities were at the top of the list of most-clicked newspaper reports for the past week on the Virginia Public Access Project’s V-A News link at V-PAP-dot-org. Fred Echols reports.VaNews is a free public service of the Virginia Public Access Project and can be found at vpap.org.

Classics for Monday... Haydn's London Symphony and more from Steve Brown and Cara Modisett. Visit WVTF music on Facebook atde la biografíaStart your week right with great music on WVTF. Today, Steve and Cara have works like Haydn’s LONDON SYMPHONY, Mozart’s 29th SYMPHONY, the POLONAISE from Tchaikovsky’s EUGENE ONEGIN, Stravinsky’s PETROUCHKA, the SECOND PEER GYNT SUITE by Grieg, and the popular WALTZ from Gounod’s FAUST. Some really great tunes on today’s playlist!

Tommie McNeil takes a look at the continuing debate over immigration.Virginians Weigh In on House vs. Senate Immigration Billwvtf.orgA comprehensive immigration reform bill in the U.S. Senate that survived an effort to expand its border-security requirements still has a long way to go

Good Morning!!