Jazz began in America, and today this country hosts dozens of festivals that celebrate the music – New Orleans, Newport, Monterey. But Virginia is home to many jazz fans and performers who will converge next month on Charlottesville.

The FBI’s raid of Virginia Senator Louise Lucas’ Portsmouth office and cannabis dispensary made local, state and national headlines this week. Michael Pope and Radio IQ Politics Analyst Jeff Schapiro discuss that and more in state politics and government.

Senator Louise Lucas isn't the only elected official in Virginia who is in the crosshairs of federal officials.

“The more people are able to use electric vehicles the less demand for gas," Rep. Jennifery McClellan said.

Virginia has invested in recent years to become a leader in biotechnology. This week, city and state leaders cut the ribbon on a new facility in Roanoke.

Climate change is causing more extreme rainfall, and Dante is one of many places in Southwest Virginia with worsening flooding.

Virginia has experienced a huge explosion of gambling options in the last few years, with several new casinos and skill games at convenience stores and gambling apps on smartphones. That's also led to an explosion of problem gambling.

Virginia has had a ban on the open carry of some firearms in certain locations since the 90s, but that’s about to change.

The U.S. Forest Service is considering closing dozens of research facilities across the country, including one in Blacksburg. The closure is part of a larger restructuring plan.

For centuries, funerals in western cultures followed a traditional pattern. The deceased was laid out in a casket for visitation, followed by a religious service and a procession to the cemetery for burial. Now, however, funeral directors report a major shift with more than 63% of families opting for cremation and more than 61% of consumers considering green options.