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Virginia boy charged with threatening to bomb, shoot up Florida schools
An 11-year-old from Virginia is facing 43 charges for allegedly making more than 20 bomb or shooting threats to multiple Florida schools.The big picture: Henrico police arrested the boy on July 19, fulfilling an order a Florida judge made a day earlier, after police traced the calls to a home in Henrico, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a Thursday press conference. The main five schools he is charged with targeting in a nine-day span in late May were in Flagler County, which is near Daytona Beach and about an hour from Orlando.He made similar calls in Virginia, D.C.,...
Richmond airport bars saw sales boost during the CrowdStrike meltdown
Travelers stuck in Richmond during the massive IT meltdown that canceled and delayed flights everywhere drowned their sorrows at the Richmond airport bars. Why it matters: RIC saw a 16.3% increase in food and beverage sales across its restaurants between July 19-21 compared to the same weekend last year, airport spokesperson Troy Bell tells Axios. That translates to an additional $20,000 in sales over the three days from folks who bellied up to the bars while waiting (and waiting and waiting) for their flights. Sadly, a breakdown of sales by booze vs. food and lobby Applebee's vs. concourse bars was not available as the airport's third party concessionaires typically only report sales figures monthly. 💠Karri's thought bubble: Honestly, Richmond, I'm a little ashamed. You could've done better.
The Virginians to watch in the 2024 Paris Olympics
The Summer Olympics begin Friday in Paris, which means it's time to watch TV at odd hours and root for the athletes with Virginia ties.Why it matters: Nothing makes Americans more patriotic than when team USA goes against literally any other country — or when Europeans start trashing us (specifically the Brits with their beans-on-toast breakfast).Zoom in: Nearly 600 athletes make up Team USA, and 15 are from Virginia.Only one was born in Richmond (more on him below).At least three dozen Olympic athletes are current, former or incoming student-athletes at Virginia schools, including golfer Rafael Campos from VCU — though not all...
Virginia's latest viral highway sign: "ALL Y'ALL NEED TO SLOW DOWN"
For anyone still debating whether Virginia is the South, just look at our highway signs.The latest to go viral is telling drivers that "ALL Y'ALL NEED TO SLOW DOWN.""Virginia fed up," said an X user, whose Wednesday post has been viewed over a million times.VDOT in Northern Virginia responded with a Taylor Swift GIF of her looking smug.The big picture: People are seeing them everywhere from NoVa to Chesapeake and Bristol to Richmond.VDOT spokesperson Jessica Cowardin tells Axios it's part of a national speeding prevention campaign that uses "unique messaging."Yes, but: Virginia's highway signs have been the best in the game for a minute.VPM news editor Meghin Moore captured one in 2021 that said "2 MUCH TURKEY? SEAT BELTS S T R E T C H."And let's not forget "DRIVING FAST AND FURIOUS? THAT'S LUDACRIS."What's next: Friday's the last day all y'all might see the viral sign while driving, but if you miss it, there's always this bumper sticker from Amazon to hold you over.
Richmond Olive Oil Co. opens Sunday in Carytown
Richmond Olive Oil Co., maybe the cutest little standalone olive oil shop ever, opens Sunday at the top of Carytown. Why it matters: You've probably been buying crap olive oil your whole life. Driving the news: The shop is the brick-and-mortar version of the curated selection of imported and lab-tested olive oils shop owner Robert Granados has been selling at area farmers markets since 2021.Inside, shoppers will find more than 40 varieties and flavors of olive oil and balsamic vinegar (starting around $25 a bottle), plus imported European snacks, pastas, wine and beer. Plus, Granados will be there. He's...
How Richmond City Hall is planning for a new mayor and council
City administrators have two third-party reviews of department and city-wide operations in the works.Why it matters: The city is trying to get its house in order as officials prepare to transition to a new mayor and at least two (but up to seven) new City Council members come Jan. 1.The big picture: The reviews are part of the city's multiple-step plan to prepare for a new administration, the city's Chief Administration Officer Lincoln Saunders tells Axios.They build on the "not sexy" backbone issues the city's top administrator has been focused on since he was appointed to the role in 2021....
State Democrats push for free tax filing in Virginia
Members of Virginia's congressional delegation are calling on Gov. Youngkin to support an expansion of an IRS program that would let Virginians file their federal taxes for free.Why it matters: A 12-state pilot of the IRS' Direct File program that launched this tax season had overwhelmingly positive reviews and saved participants millions in filing fees, Axios' Emily Peck reported.Now, all 50 states are invited to participate in an expanded program for next tax season. The big picture: In a letter sent to Youngkin last week, Virginia's congressional Democrats urged the governor to work with the General Assembly and federal...
Richmond has a 50-person water balloon fight happening this weekend
Everyone, please clear your calendars. Richmond has a water balloon fight this weekend.The big picture: Fifty lucky people will be able to feel like a kid again at Main Line Brewery on Sunday starting at 2pm.The event is the second annual water balloon fight put on by "Trying to Adult RVA" which hosts multiple events per month to help Richmonders — usually in the 21-39 age range — make friends.There's nearly 34,000 people in their Facebook group.Between the lines: You have to be a "Trying to Adult RVA" member to get the $5 ticket. Memberships start at $5 per month and can...
Abuelita's in South Richmond now has a drive-thru
Die-hard Abuelita's fans, this is not a drill. The South Richmond restaurant known for its Mexican guisos has a drive-thru.Why it matters: Bad days where you want to hide from the world are now (maybe) less likely to stop you from getting some of the best comfort food in the city.The big picture: Abuelita's took to Instagram to announce the drive-thru's Wednesday opening day — on National Drive-Thru day, no less.The video includes audio from a George Lopez comedy skit about someone getting food at a drive-thru where a Mexican worker is taking the orders.Yes, but: Abuelita's still wants first-time visitors to "come inside for the best Abuelita's experience," per at least three new signs near the entrances.Returning customers: The drive-thru is fair game.Sabrina's thought bubble: I braved a flash flood warning for this drive-thru. And I'd do it again.The entire process — being greeted with "Hola, bienvenido a Abuelita's," my indecisiveness, the server's recommendations of the pollo con queso and carne ranchera guisos and me paying — took less than three minutes.And now I have another excuse to not leave my house until tomorrow.
Richmond's Carytown could become a business district
Richmond is starting the process of seeing whether Carytown could become a business district.Why it matters: The change would create a funding stream that puts money toward beautifying the area, promoting its businesses and potentially adding public bathrooms.And it'd serve as the blueprint for doing the same in more neglected parts of the city like Brookland Park and Hull Street.Driving the news: On Monday night, City Council gave Richmond the go-ahead to work with a consultant to establish a "Business Improvement and Recruitment District" (BIRD) in Carytown.This happened through a resolution that names potential future business district sites, like East...
The internet's obsession with "brat summer" has reached Tim Kaine
When Axios asked Sen. Tim Kaine's team for permission to use this photo, they excitedly said yes and wished us a "happy brat summer."It's a reference to the viral memes recently embraced by Vice President Harris' campaign that are inspired by Charli XCX's neon green album cover, which features "brat" in lowercase black letters.The pop singer, who has declared that "kamala IS brat," describes brat summer as including "a pack of cigs, a Bic lighter and a strappy white top with no bra."The latest: Kaine, a non-Gen Z-er, tweeted Tuesday that he's learning what it means after his team hung up a brat-inspired paper with "Tim Kaine" written on it last month.Mayor Stoney found out about brat from a Gen Z intern at CBS6.The bottom line: Gen Z is taking over. You're welcome.Go deeper: An Axios explainer on the brat and coconut memes.
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.
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