Curious Commonwealth asks: Why does Richmond have so many tattoo parlors?

Publicity about escalating penalties and fees tied to multiple Richmond restaurants’ meals tax payments are prompting changes to the city’s tax collection practices on a broader scale; US Foods is planning to build a new location of its Chef’Store retail chain in Henrico County; Construction began this month on a 7 Brew coffee shop in Midlothian; and a local entrepreneur has brought an indoor playground to Stony Point Fashion Park.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s office has advanced regulations meant to hold law enforcement officers accountable; On Thursday Democrats on a House subcommittee pushed forward a bill that would raise Virginia’s minimum wage next year; Virginia lawmakers have gotten bipartisan support for their legislation to raise educator salaries to the national average or higher.

1/18/24 - Richmond Public Schools has made a third-party report on the Huguenot graduation shooting available to the public; General Assembly Democrats reject bills to repeal California vehicle emissions standards; and other stories

A Virginia scientific advisory panel recently recommended alerting all parties in thousands of past criminal cases involving former state serologist Mary Jane Burton; The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care will conduct its semi-annual count of people experiencing homelessness on January 25 ; Richmond City Council recently approved a plan to develop a program that will extend benefits to city employees in domestic partnerships.

The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority has assumed oversight of the state’s medical marijuana program.

A new COVID-19 variant is spreading across the U.S.

Mayo Island is now set to become part of the James River Park System; VPM has taken another step forward with its plans to relocate to downtown Richmond; For the second time in recent years, an effort to bring a food hall concept to Scott’s Addition has fallen through; and it’s out with cider, in with simple syrups for a Shockoe Bottom storefront.

This week officials with Henrico and Hanover Counties appointed new leaders to their respective board of supervisors ; The 2024 General Assembly session is underway. Among the hundreds of bills already introduced are a handful focused on transportation ; Richmond Delegate Betsy Carr has filed legislation that, if passed, would disallow Richmond from having a casino built within city limits.

The General Assembly opened on Wednesday; Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered the annual state of the commonwealth speech Wednesday

A scientific advisory panel for the Virginia Forensic Science Board recommends that anyone impacted by Mary Jane Burton's past lab work be notified about potential testing errors; The Virginia Restaurant Association aims for new state legislation to help with Richmond's meals tax issues; and other stories

1/9/24 - Virginia's oyster harvest hits milestone; Norfolk casino plans; and other stories

Why are cities independent from counties in Virginia?

With a $1 billion manufacturing plant still in the offing in Chesterfield, Lego Group recently kicked off operations at a temporary product packaging facility elsewhere in the county; As the General Assembly prepares to convene for its 2024 session in its brand new building in Richmond next week, the state government is taking a closer look at the overall layout and development potential of Capitol Square; and as design work continues on its anchor baseball stadium, efforts to tee up the first phase of Richmond’s Diamond District project are getting a funding boost from the city’s Economic Development Authority.

Richmond’s Chief Administrative Officer addressed complaints Thursday from local restaurant owners who claim they were not being properly notified of meals tax payment issues; Community Health Workers are public health workers who come from the communities they serve; The new RSV vaccine for babies is in short supply.

Several Richmond-area restaurant owners are objecting to penalties, they say the city’s finance department has unfairly charged them in connection with the meals tax; On Tuesday, the Charlottesville City Council unanimously voted to elect Councilor Juandiego Wade as the new mayor; On Tuesday, Richmond’s City Council elected a new president and vice president.

How “healthy” is any Richmonder’s access to what’s needed to survive and thrive in 2023?

Exploring how Richmond's neighborhoods promote — or hinder — residents' well-being.

More residential units are in store for Regency; The home of a longtime West End bakery is being eyed for redevelopment; A Short Pump site once floated for a car vending machine tower is now slated for a slightly shorter hotel; and other local business stories.

Also: Candidates are set for Senate District 9's special election, that RVA–RAL train is years off and some Central Virginia holiday resources.

Governor Glenn Youngkin proposed his two-year budget on wednesday; The Arlington County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously voted to continue ranked choice voting in all future County Board primary elections; The Richmond Police Department has launched its version of a powerful surveillance network known as a real time crime center.

Governor Glenn Youngkin will propose $50 million dollars in the state budget for the city of Richmond’s Combined Sewer Overflow projects – city leaders say that’s not enough; The United Network of Organ Sharing says a recent data breach may impact up to 1 point 2 million patient records; The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has named a suspect in its investigation into the death of a well-known Richmond buck.

A new state inspector general report has been released about the incorrect removal of 3,400 eligible voters from Virginia’s rolls; Gov. Youngkin announces proposed mental health bill in honor of Irvo Otieno; and other stories

The Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services has withheld funding from local agencies for most of 2023, pending an investigation.