: : VPM's daily newscast contains all your Central Virginia news in just 5 to 10 minutes. Hosted by Benjamin Dolle, episodes are recorded the night before so you can wake up prepared. Listeners can subscribe through NPR One, Apple Podcasts, Megaphone, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Friday, March 12, 2021: A panel of federal appeals court judges in Richmond heard arguments yesterday in Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax’s defamation suit against CBS. Fairfax accused the network of airing biased interviews with women who accused him of sexual assault.
Many Virginians are still being hospitalized for COVID-19. As of Thursday, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association is reporting 79% of intensive care beds are occupied. About 3,500 inpatient beds are available, while over 1,100 Virginians are currently hospitalized for COVID-19. Of the roughly 2,900 ventilators across the state, 30% are in use.