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How Virginia shaped Biden's decision to drop out
The possibility President Biden could lose Virginia was part of what drove his decision to end his re-election campaign, Reuters reported.Why it matters: Internal polling commissioned by the campaign last week and shown to the president on Saturday indicated his support was "collapsing" in Virginia, in addition to New Mexico and all six swing states, sources told Politico.The polls were the first the campaign had conducted of swing states and Virginia voters in more than two months. The big picture: Virginia has swung Democratic in every presidential election since 2008. That year, former President Obama won the state by 6...
Richmond wants you to pay for being loud
Richmond City Council wants to make sure you're getting fined for making too much noise.Why it matters: It's taken years for the city to figure out how to enforce violations.Driving the news: On Monday night, City Council voted to amend the sound ordinance in three main ways.Outlining that residents can only report alleged violations by verbally telling an officer or calling the non-emergency line at 804-646-5100.Removing violations that are difficult for police to enforce, like moving cars or motorcycles exceeding certain decibel levels.Giving people 15 days to pay the fines listed on the violation notice and specifying that failure to...
WSJ: Northern Virginia is America's next great wine region
Northern Virginia could be America's next great wine region, according to the Wall Street Journal's longtime wine columnist. Why it matters: The northern part of the state is probably better known for traffic jams, suburban sprawl and transplanting folks to Richmond than for its viticulture. The big picture: Virginia has been in the news for consistently producing great wine for more than a decade.It was famously Thomas Jefferson's dream, after all, for world-renowned wine to come out of Virginia. And he and the state are both credited for the birth of American wine. Yes, but: The wineries around Charlottesville and...
Richmond run clubs could be the new dating app
Goodbye, dating apps. Hello, Richmond run clubs.The big picture: As running dominates other sports across fitness trackers nationwide, single people are joining running clubs to find dates.It speaks to an increasingly shifting dating landscape that has Gen Z and millennials opting for in-person connection instead of the dating app trenches.Running is also a stress reliever and a way to make friends during a loneliness crisis and remote work era.What they're saying: "I would jokingly say that running is legitimately the sixth love language," says Chris Mason, a marathon training coach and social media coordinator for Richmond Road Runners Club, which...
Whole Foods adds "surprise bags" of discounted food in Richmond
Too Good To Go, an app that allows consumers to snag cheap eats and helps businesses reduce food waste, expanded to Richmond-area Whole Foods stores last week.Why it matters: Virginia consumers and businesses produce over 2 million tons of food waste annually, per data from the nonprofit ReFED.The big picture: The Too Good To Go app allows local restaurants and grocers to list surplus food at about one-third of its retail price.Richmond's two Whole Foods stores — West Broad near the Fan and Short Pump — launched on the free app last week, Too Good To Go tells Axios.They join...
Virginia's aging workforce
Data: BLS; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosVirginia has the highest share of 65-and-up adults in the workforce in the Southeast, according to preliminary 2023 census data.The big picture: It's not uncommon these days for older Americans to stay in the workforce, particularly in states with older populations.In Virginia, 21.1% of adults 65 and over are still working. Nationally, the average is 18.7%.Vermont (25.6%), Iowa (23.9%) and Maryland (23.4%) have the highest share of 65-and-up adults in the workforce.Today's older workers are better educated, working more hours and more likely to receiving employer benefits compared to past decades, per a 2023 Pew Research Center report.The intrigue: The share of older adults in the workforce has been generally rising since the late '80s, Axios' Emily Peck reports.Meanwhile: The 65-and-up population grew in all of America's biggest cities from 2020 to 2023.Richmond had a 11.5% increase, more than than the 9.4% national average. Raleigh, BTW, saw one of the largest surges in retirement-age residents in the nation with an 18.3% increase. Go deeper: America's senior cities, mapped.
A new docuseries about Edna Lewis, the "Grande Dame" of Southern food, premieres Friday
A new docuseries exploring the life and legacy of Edna Lewis — the Virginia native and "Grande Dame" of Southern food — premieres Friday on VPM online.Why it matters: She's well known in the food world, but Lewis has never achieved the same widespread household name recognition as other chefs of her caliber and era, like Julia Child and James Beard. State of play: Richmond-based food writer Deb Freeman hopes to change that with "Finding Edna Lewis," the first major documentary about her life. The series will stream in eight monthly installments on VPM's YouTube channel before being packaged into...
Richmond school speed cameras are issuing 76 tickets a day, and more cameras are in the works
The city has approved permits for speed enforcement cameras in three more Richmond school zones, and applications are pending for five more after that.Why it matters: The cameras, and the $50-$100 fines that will come with them, are meant to deter speeding around schools.The latest: The three newly approved speed cameras will soon go up around Swansboro Elementary and Thomas C. Boushall Middle in South Richmond and Martin Luther King Middle in the East End.Permit applications are pending for five more schools:Westover Hills Elementary, River City Middle and Huguenot High in South Richmond.Mary Munford Elementary in the Near West End.Frances...
Richmond's viral hangover cure combines rosé and red Gatorade
Richmond's unlikely hangover cure involves rosé, red Gatorade and a man named Joe.The big picture: The Roséderade at Joe's Inn in the Fan went viral on X in May for being a $10 cocktail that combines rosé with red Gatorade. It's also served over ice with a lime. So obviously we ordered three (we figured out the location because the menu was wildly recognizable). Then we paired it with a classic Joe's Inn breakfast sandwich: the Nickwich. That one has two fried eggs, Provolone, crispy bacon and tomatoes on white, wheat or rye and comes with home fries. $9.95. The...
How Richmond’s zoo animals beat the extreme summer heat
If you're unsure how to beat the extreme heat, maybe take some advice from the animals of the Metro Richmond Zoo.The big picture: The likely hotter-than-usual summer Virginians are facing is impacting them too, leading Richmond's zookeepers to "work extra hard on these hot days so the animals can feel comfortable," spokesperson Taylor Andelin tells Axios.Here are some ways they're keeping them cool, per Andelin:🩸 Blood popsicles for the carnivores and frozen veggie ice treats for herbivores.🦦 Max the otter sometimes gets a mound of ice to play in "which he loves."🦏 Rhinos and warthogs have mud wallows to rest...
Duke's Hot Tomato Summer is back in Richmond and bigger than ever
Duke's Mayo's Hot Tomato Summer is back for the fourth year in row, starting Thursday and running through Sunday, July 28. Why it matters: The event is a celebration of summer's best food combo: Richmond-owned Duke's Mayo and tomatoes.State of play: This year's event is the biggest and longest yet, running 10 days (as requested by local chefs and restaurant owners), including more restaurants, and now happening in six cities throughout the South (welcome, Raleigh and Knoxville). Zoom in: More than 100 Richmond restaurants are participating this year by serving up specials, per the website, like:Eazzy Burger's Carolina Caviar Burger,...
This weekend's Richmond events: Black Pride, roller derby and dance parties
It's about to be the best part of the week: the end. Here's where you can celebrate it in Richmond.Thursday, July 18💃🏻 Salsa night at Barrio in the Fan includes an intro salsa lesson starting at 8:30pm. Bachata and merengue will also be playing until midnight. $5 cash or $6 card.Friday, July 19🎷 Plunky's Day in RVA at Kanawha Plaza celebrates local jazz artist Plunky's 77th birthday and his 50th year performing in Richmond. 5-10pm. Tickets for adults start at $40.🪩 After 5 Fridays at the VMFA has a '90s-inspired dance party at the Sculpture Garden. 6pm. Free.Saturday, July 20🏳️🌈...
Virginia health department warns against swimming in James River around Richmond after sewage release
Locals (and their pets) should stay out of the James River from the Manchester Bridge (around Ninth Street) to Osborne Landing in Henrico, the Virginia Department of Health announced Wednesday. Why it matters: "Ongoing sewage release" from a city pipe near the Pipeline Trail has contaminated the water, per VDH. The big picture: A leak in a sewage pipe on the Pipeline Trail was reported to officials Tuesday, and crews responded immediately, the city said in a news release. They found a bypass pump had gone offline, and they were able to temporarily re-establish the pump, "severely diminishing the sewage...
Why a giant inflatable IUD named Freeda was in Richmond
She's purple. She's 20-feet tall. And her name is Freeda.Why it matters: She's also a giant inflatable IUD on a nationwide tour to advocate for the protection of birth control access. Her latest stop was Richmond.Driving the news: Freeda was posted up at the Virginia Capitol building Wednesday morning and later at Diversity Richmond, where the IUD was visible from the highway.Beside her were postcards from the cities Freeda has visited (which include D.C., Miami and Nashville).Earlier this week, she was in Virginia Beach.The big picture: The massive IUD, an idea from Americans for Contraception, went viral after the organization debuted it at Union Station on June 5 — when the U.S. Senate was voting on the Right to Contraception Act.Nearly all Republicans blocked the bill.In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed legislation in May aimed at ensuring that residents have the right to contraceptives regardless of any federal law changes.He said while he supports access to contraception, "we cannot trample on the religious freedoms of Virginians."Between the lines: When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas said in a concurring opinion that the court should reconsider decisions protecting birth control access.What's next: Freeda is headed to Philly.
"Heat islands" are worsening extreme temperatures in Richmond
Data: Climate Central; Map: Kavya Beheraj/AxiosAs dangerously high temperatures hit Richmond this summer, a new analysis finds urban "heat islands" significantly exacerbate such extreme weather.Why it matters: A stifling, widespread heat wave is bringing some of the hottest and most perilous temperatures of the summer to more than 40% of the U.S. population this week.The big picture: Urban heat islands (UHI) are boosting temperatures within 65 major U.S. cities that are home to 50 million people, or 15% of the total U.S. population, according to Climate Central's analysis.Zoom in: In the city of Richmond, more than 125,000 people live in environments where...
Where to celebrate National Hot Dog Day in Richmond
In honor of National Hot Dog Day, made possible thanks to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (yes, it's real), we're rounding up where to get your sausage fix today. First up, we've got City Dogs, which foodie outlet "loveFOOD" recently named as one of the best hot dog restaurants in the U.S.
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