A leaking steamship. A silent mosquito. And a summer that rewrote the map of fear along the Elizabeth River. We sit down with author and veteran journalist Lon Wagner to uncover the 1855 yellow fever outbreak that ravaged Portsmouth and Norfolk—and somehow faded from local memory. What begins with a “rat lady” explaining vector control becomes a gripping true story of a captain’s denials, a health system built on miasma theory, and a minister’s meticulous letters that tracked the spread long before germ theory took hold.

Lon takes us aboard the Benjamin Franklin, a ship detouring from St. Thomas with sickness in its wake, and into the crowded Irish tenements of Barry’s Row where proximity and poverty turned risk into catastrophe. We explore the misguided remedies—tar barrels, lime-dusted streets, towering wooden walls—and the human calculus of who fled, who stayed, and who served as the city’s nerves frayed. Along the way, we draw clear lines to our present: Aedes aegypti still thrives; dengue, Zika, and West Nile still surface; and the tension between public health and commerce is as old as the docks themselves.

This is a story about vectors and victims, but also about memory and readiness. Lon’s book, The Fever, restores names, places, and decisions to a crisis that once commanded national headlines. If you care about how cities actually work in a crisis—movement, communication, trust, and the physics of spread—you’ll find hard-won lessons here, told with empathy and detail. Press play, then tell a friend, and if the conversation hits home, subscribe, leave a review, and share your biggest takeaway so more people can find this story before the next one arrives.

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What happens when a coal miner's daughter from Virginia's mountains becomes a college president? Dr. Debbie Sydow's remarkable journey reveals how education transforms lives and how she's working to ensure others have the same opportunities that changed her trajectory.

Growing up in Wise County with coal miners, moonshiners, and preachers for family, Dr. Sydow's path shifted when a teacher intervened, encouraging her to pursue college preparatory courses instead of vocational training. This seemingly small act altered her entire future, demonstrating the power of mentorship that would become central to her educational philosophy.

Dr. Sydow takes listeners through Virginia's fascinating higher education history, explaining the surprising connections between universities across the Commonwealth. Richard Bland College emerges as a unique institution – the last college to gain independence from William & Mary's governance and still under a Supreme Court injunction preventing it from offering four-year degrees despite dramatic changes in demographics since the civil rights era.

The conversation illuminates Richard Bland's distinctive position in Virginia's educational landscape as a "university parallel" institution. Unlike community colleges, it offers a residential campus experience with full-time faculty holding terminal degrees, yet remains more affordable than four-year universities. Dr. Sydow explains how this model provides crucial scaffolding for students who need additional support, particularly first-generation college attendees.

Most compelling is Dr. Sydow's vision for the future – from innovative partnerships with drone technology companies to a business innovation park designed to provide on-campus internships for every student. She articulates how artificial intelligence might revolutionize education by customizing learning experiences while preserving the essential human connection between teacher and student.

As she prepares for retirement after 14 years at Richard Bland's helm, Dr. Sydow reflects on what drives her: giving students from backgrounds like hers the opportunity to broaden their horizons and dream bigger dreams. Her story reminds us that higher education's true purpose isn't just conferring degrees but transforming lives and communities.

Listen to this episode to understand how Virginia's educational past shapes its present, and how leaders like Dr. Sydow are working to ensure its future serves all Virginians, regardless of their zip code or circumstances.

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Standing in Thomas Jefferson's bedroom at Monticello, hearing how both he and John Adams died on July 4th, 1826—exactly 50 years after American independence—creates a moment where you don't just learn history but feel it viscerally. This "power of place" forms the heart of Virginia's approach to commemorating America's 250th anniversary.

Cheryl Wilson, Executive Director of Virginia's America 250 Commission, reveals how the Commonwealth is orchestrating a statewide celebration honoring Virginia's pivotal role in founding our nation. Unlike traditional historical commemorations, Virginia's approach weaves together past and present, connecting revolutionary principles to our ongoing work of forming "a more perfect union."

The Commission's collaborative structure reflects Virginia's inclusive vision, with advisory councils ensuring African American and Tribal Nations' perspectives are represented. All 134 localities across Virginia have established their own 250th commissions, creating a grassroots network that's already planned over 1,700 events. From a mobile museum traveling to schools to commemorative ceremonies at St. John's Church and Colonial Williamsburg, these initiatives make history accessible to all Virginians.

Most compelling is how Virginia has launched initiatives that transcend state boundaries. The "Two Lights for Tomorrow" movement—inspired by Paul Revere's famous signal—began as a small Virginia Commission idea and grew into an international phenomenon, with twin lights appearing everywhere from statehouses to the International Space Station, symbolizing our shared commitment to America's founding principles.

Visit va250.org to discover upcoming events, sign up for newsletters, and learn how you can participate in this historic commemoration. As we approach July 4th, 2026, join us in experiencing the places where American independence was conceived, declared, and ultimately won—right here in Virginia.

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What happens when you take a lifelong Virginian with experience in both Democratic and Republican administrations and ask him about the biggest challenges facing the Commonwealth? Grant Neely delivers a masterclass in crossing political divides to solve real problems.

Neely's journey began in Henrico County during the post-busing era, where attending a diverse public high school taught him to connect with people unlike himself. This foundation served him well as he moved through careers in politics, government, and corporate America before returning to his beloved Virginia. With experiences ranging from Mark Warner's gubernatorial campaign to serving as Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones' chief of staff, Neely brings a unique perspective on how government can work effectively across partisan lines.

Now focused on systemic reform, Neely is tackling Virginia's foster care crisis head-on. The stark contrast is jarring: Virginia ranks as the best state for business while simultaneously ranking 47th-49th for outcomes of children aging out of foster care. Through the Virginia Children's Partnership, he's bringing business-minded efficiency and accountability to a fragmented system, while maintaining the humility to learn from those who've dedicated their lives to this work. "We deserve better," he insists, outlining a 10-year strategy to transform how Virginia supports its most vulnerable children.

Equally passionate about Virginia's educational heritage, Neely partners with Virginia Union University—an HBCU with origins in a former slave jail that now stands as a testament to resilience and opportunity. As the university expands its reach through innovative programs and property development, it builds on 160 years of history while securing its future for generations to come.

Perhaps most refreshing is Neely's call for civility in our public discourse. In an age of algorithmic outrage and partisan entrenchment, he reminds us that solving real problems requires coming together across political divides. "If my starting point is I'm right and you're wrong," he warns, "it's a small step to 'I must eliminate you.'" Instead, he suggests focusing on common challenges that affect all Virginians.

Ready to move beyond the politics of division? Listen now to discover how civility, competence, and compassion can transform Virginia's toughest challenges into opportunities for meaningful change.

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When Dwayne Yancey founded Cardinal News four years ago, he never imagined how quickly it would transform Virginia's media landscape. What began as a modest effort to fill the void left by shrinking newspapers in Southwest and Southside Virginia has blossomed into a vital statewide news source with ten reporters and an audience extending far beyond its coverage area.

"We blew past our five-year goals in 18 months," Yancey reveals, explaining how readers in Richmond and Northern Virginia regularly follow Cardinal News despite its regional focus. When asked why they're interested in coverage of areas far from their homes, these readers consistently respond, "You're telling us about a part of the state we know nothing about." This bridge-building function represents perhaps Cardinal's most unexpected achievement—connecting Virginians across regional divides through authentic, nuanced storytelling.

The conversation weaves through several compelling narratives of rural Virginia's transformation. Danville emerges as a powerful success story, rebuilding its once-collapsed textile economy through advanced manufacturing and now attracting more new residents than much larger cities. Similarly, the impact of the Virginia Tobacco Commission's investments in broadband and education have fundamentally altered the trajectory of previously struggling regions, proving that strategic public investment can catalyze genuine economic rebirth.

Politically, Virginia reflects the national trend toward polarization, with Yancey lamenting the disappearance of figures like former Delegate Barney Day—a "conservative Democrat" from Patrick County whose authentic, independent voice would struggle to find a place in either party today. Looking ahead to the historic gubernatorial race between Winsome Sears and Abigail Spanberger, Yancey offers insights into how national politics increasingly overshadow state issues, with candidates navigating complex dynamics around President Trump's influence and Virginia's history of voting against the party in the White House.

As traditional newspapers continue their decline "for the same reason vinyl records and 8-track tapes declined," Yancey remains cautiously optimistic about journalism's future. The rise of nonprofit news sites across America suggests a new model is emerging—one focused on quality reporting rather than opinion, delivering news how and when readers want it. Subscribe to our newsletter at cardinalmuseorg to follow this evolution in Virginia journalism and join our growing community of engaged readers.

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What if America's founders were right all along about divided government? As our nation approaches its 250th birthday amid unprecedented polarization, Virginia might hold the blueprint for making democracy work again.

Frank Atkinson, attorney, author, and veteran of both the Reagan administration and Virginia politics, takes us on a fascinating journey through the Commonwealth's political evolution. With remarkable clarity, he reveals how Virginia—the cradle of American democracy—has become a laboratory for successful divided government in modern times.

Drawing from his forthcoming book and decades of firsthand experience, Atkinson argues that Virginia's competitive two-party system has produced better outcomes than one-party dominance. Since 2000, no state has experienced more divided government than Virginia, creating a political environment where collaboration isn't just desired—it's required.

The conversation explores transformational figures who shaped Virginia's political landscape: Mills Godwin, who served as governor as both Democrat and Republican; the populist firebrand Henry Howell; and George Allen, whose policy-driven governorship succeeded despite facing a Democrat-controlled legislature. Through these stories, Atkinson illuminates how Virginia managed to implement major reforms through bipartisan cooperation.

Perhaps most remarkably, even after court-ordered redistricting created entirely new legislative districts in 2023, Virginia's elections resulted in extraordinarily narrow margins—51-49 in the House and 21-19 in the Senate. This persistent competitiveness defies the national trend toward partisan entrenchment.

Atkinson doesn't paint an idealized picture. He acknowledges the challenges of redistricting, geographic sorting of voters along partisan lines, and the nationalization of state politics. Yet he maintains that Virginia's experience offers hope that divided government can foster the compromise and problem-solving that seems increasingly elusive at the national level.

As we struggle to overcome deadlock and dysfunction in Washington, this conversation offers a compelling vision for how our democratic system—when functioning as the founders intended—can still deliver results even amid fierce partisan competition. Listen and discover why Virginia's political model might just be what America needs in its next quarter millennium.

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Paul Steiner from Fairfax County Public Schools shares how Virginia's approach to workforce development and apprenticeship programs has evolved to meet critical needs in trades, healthcare, and technology sectors. He explains the paradigm shift occurring as more young people seek alternatives to four-year degrees that allow them to enter the workforce quickly without accruing significant student debt.

• Programs offer flexible pathways to licensure in fields like plumbing, electrical work, HVAC, nursing, and EMT certification
• Many employers pay for students' education costs, creating debt-free career pathways
• Classes range from 5-25 students with a focus on practical skills and industry certifications
• Modern manufacturing involves high-tech skills like programming automated systems and working with 3D printing
• Finding qualified instructors remains the biggest barrier to expanding program capacity
• Trade careers offer tangible satisfaction from seeing completed work and are highly resistant to automation
• Adult Education programs are open to students as young as 16, with some traveling from neighboring states
• Breaking down "blue-collar bias" remains crucial to helping students understand valuable career opportunities

If you're interested in learning more about Fairfax County's adult education and apprenticeship programs, visit FCPSace.org or search for "Fairfax County adult education" to browse over 800 course offerings. And if you have professional skills, consider giving back by becoming an instructor to help train the next generation of skilled workers.

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