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!!

This weekend on THE PEOPLE’S PHARMACY: “Ticks, Fleas & Mystery Disease”. Most people are familiar with tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or LYME disease, but other diseases transmitted by ticks and fleas and biting flies may be flying under the radar – including Bartonella. Joint pain, brain fog and chronic fatigue may all be symptoms of a difficult-to-detect Bartonella infection. Find out more on the next Peoples Pharmacy - Saturday morning at 7 on WVTF and Saturday & Sunday afternoons at 4 on RADIO IQ! (Saturday morning call-in #: 888-472-3366.)

Weather journalist Kevin Myatt will join Beverly Amsler at 4:30 this afternoon to explain what happened to cause yesterday's strong thunderstorms and the forecast for Father's Day weekend.

A Photographer's Project: The View Outside from the Insidewvtf.orgMore than 33,000 people live behind bars in Virginia, and from their cells few have a view of the outside world, but a Richmond artist aims to change that

Virginia Hopes to Simplify Process for Dual Enrollees - Several organizations are still advocating for Virginia lawmakers to expand Medicaid within the Commonwealth. Opponents have argued that it is already too costly, is the largest single item in the state budget, and is in need of many reforms. But as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, the Department of Medical Assistance Services says it is addressing one major expense-by simplifying the process for prov...

Crews are still working to restore power and communication services. A partial breakdown shows that APPALACHIAN POWER still has more than 100-thousand customers without power. DOMINION POWER reports just about 96-thousand affected as well. SHENANDOAH VALLEY ELECTRIC CO-OP estimates about 88-thousand of its customers without power and SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC reporting about 15-thousand affected. Cox Communications is also reporting some outages.

There are reports of trees down throughout the listening area. A tree crashed into a home in Blacksburg. Winds were clocked at 56 miles an hour in Roanoke earlier this afternoon. More severe weather is to come.

Severe weather is hitting the WVTF/Radio IQ listening area. Fredericksburg is under a tornado watch until 8pm. There's a flash flood watch for the Staunton/Charlottesville area until 5pm and for Fredericksburg until 8pm. Stay tuned for the latest weather information.

In Memory of a Civil Rights Activist - One of the nation’s most controversial artists has announced a surprising new work. It's a  living tribute to W.E.B. Dubois. Carrie Mae Weems is a photographer who has reached back in history to honor millions of people who never got their due – women, people of color, and now the early civil rights activist W.E.B. Dubois. On the 50th anniversary of his death, she began thinking about her favorite flower – and an unusual ...

The Roanoke Times to Present Medicaid Series - The Roanoke Times will tackle the major parts of the Affordable Care Act over the next several months.  The first installment of the series will run in Sunday's edition.  Beverly Amsler talked with Laurence Hammack, who's one of the writers of the series.

Great music for Thursday: Debussy's LA MER, Ralph Vaughan Williams' THE LARK ASCENDING, Beethoven's LEONORE OVERTURE 1, a FRENCH SUITE and a PRELUDE AND FUGUE by J.S. Bach and Victor Herbert's FIRST CELLO CONCERTO. Cara Modisett's on for Morning and Afternoon Classics today on WVTF!Fotos de la biografíaWhat is your soundtrack for summer - your favorite hot-weather/vacation/beach/mountain music?

Keep an eye on the weather today. Things could get a little bit bumpy! Listen to WVTF/Radio IQ for the latest updates.

The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs is one of 5 resorts being purchased by Omni Hotels & Resorts based in Irving, Texas. The others are located in North Carolina, California, and Texas. Omni currently owns nearly 60 luxury resort complexes. The Homestead is currently owned by KSL Capital Partners LLC which purchased it from ClubCorp in 2006.

Virginia Democrats Show a United Frontwww.wvtf.orgPainting themselves as the "mainstream ticket," the Democratic nominees for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General say Virginians have a clear

Will Free Clinics Still Be Needed with the ACA? - On the surface, one could assume that the comprehensive nature of the Affordable Care Act will provide some level of medical care for all Americans. As such, what is the future of free clinics? Tab O’Neal reports:

Coming up on Morning Edition with Tab O'Neal, a closer look at the "Fox Hound Training" controversy also known as Fox Penning. Plus, a story on whether Free Clinics will still be a need in Virginia, once the Affordable Care Act takes hold.

Beverly Amsler takes a look at the statewide effort to add more jobs in the rural regions of Virginia.Workforce Training a Priority in Rural Parts of the Statewww.wvtf.orgGovernor McDonnell’s Rural Jobs Council is out with its final report with recommendations on how to create and retain jobs in the rural parts of the

There's a major traffic accident in the Roanoke area that's been causing backups since about 5:00. I-581 is shut down in both directions at Exit 3 (the Valley View Mall exit). It involves at least two tractor trailers and some smaller vehicles. Other roads are now becoming congested as motorists try to avoid the area.

Virginia Democrats Show a United Front - Painting themselves as the mainstream ticket, the Democratic nominees for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General say Virginians have a clear contrast between them and the Republican nominees, which the Democrats have dubbed “the Tea Party ticket.” And as Virginia Public Radio’s Tommie McNeil reports, as a show of solidarity, the defeated primary candidates announced that they’re now committing themselves to getting t...

Beverly Amsler will interview Lt. Governor Bill Bolling later this afternoon about final recommendations from the Governor's Rural Jobs Council. You can hear the story tomorrow on Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

The Homestead Resort in Hot Springs is being sold. Beverly Amsler will have the details on All Things Considered.

Fox Penning in Virginia - One of the most contentious issues the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has faced in recent years, is regulation of an activity known as ‘Fox Hound Training.” Opponents call it “Fox Penning” and consider it a cruel practice for the animals involved.  Supporters say their dogs are being trained to hunt under controlled conditions aimed at protecting all the animals involved. The DGIF board will vote Thursday on new safe...

Saint-Saens’ EGYPTIAN PIANO CONCERTO is featured on Wednesday’s music on WVTF, and Steve Brown’s also got Schubert’s THIRD SYMPHONY, Mozart’s POSTHORN SERENADE, John Ireland’s stirring EPIC MARCH, and Rachmaninoff’s THIRD PIANO CONCERTO for you. Another full day of great music!

Today’s INTERFAITH VOICES explores moral principles that divide us with Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion. Also - the Coptic Christians of Egypt and a chat with Phillip Patterson, scribe of the handwritten King James Bible completed in 2013! Listen at Noon on RADIO IQ.

At 9 this morning on RADIO IQ, it’s ON BEING! Today’s guest is 24-year-old spoken word poet and teacher Sarah Kay, who's become a role model for teenagers around the world. She believes listening is just as important as speaking, and explains to Krista Tippett how she works with words to make connections - inside people and between them!

On WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY, Rachel Martin speaks with Karim Sadjadpour, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, to learn more about Iran's president-elect, cleric Hassan Rouhani. Then Rachel talks to Sahar Delijani about her debut novel, "Children of the Jacaranda Tree," which is set during the Iranian revolution. Later, Will Shortz’ Word Puzzle and the singing group Hanson! On WVTF starting at 8 o’clock.

This week, A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION comes to us from Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, Washington! It’s a live broadcast with special guests, banjo-making folksinger Jason Romero and pianist Fred Kronacher. Plus, the Royal Academy of Radio Actors, Tim Russell, Sue Scott, and Fred Newman, The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, and the latest News from Lake Wobegon. Join Garrison Keillor and company tonight at 6 on WVTF!

On FRESH AIR WEEKEND, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg talk about their new film "This is the End." Also, we hear from back-up singer Merry Clayton. She's featured in the new documentary about the lives of back-up singers called "20 Feet From Stardom". (We'll also hear from the film’s director Morgan Neville.) And film critic David Edelstein reviews Joss Whedon's adaptation of "Much Ado About Nothing". At Noon on RADIO IQ!

Its summer movies in Studio 360 this week on RADIO IQ! Big directors going small, small actors going big, and girls committing felonies! Vampire auteur Joss Whedon explains the appeal of a micro-budget Shakespeare film. Michael Shannon attempts to thwart the man of steel. Nancy Jo Sales, author of The Bling Ring, explains how Hollywood's bad girls keep getting worse. And graphic design makes the news as Apple's new operating system breaks a bad habit. It all starts at 11 this morning on RADIO IQ.

June 16th isn't just Father's Day, it’s also National Fudge Day! By most accounts, the first batch of fudge was concocted in Baltimore in the 1880's, but by the turn of the century, fudge-making arrived in northern Michigan which now has a legitimate claim as the modern-day Fudge Capital. More coming up at 9:35 on WEEKEND EDITION on WVTF. And on this Father's Day weekend, Scott Simon spends some time with jazz guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli and his son John. That’s this morning at 9:47 on WVTF – Classical, Jazz, NPR.