Richmond breweries are adding in-house restaurants, wine and more

1 big thing: 🍻 Richmond breweries' evolution 

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New jobs to check out

This week at the Virginia Capitol: GOP’s trans sports ban

2. This week at the Capitol: GOP’s trans sports ban

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3. The Current: 📚 Youngkin’s new history standards advance

Illustration of a lighted sign resembling the Hotel John Marshall sign in Richmond, but that says Axios The Current instead. 

How Richmond is celebrating National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day

4. 🍦 Breakfast of champions 

🌤 Today's weather: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 40. 

Today's newsletter is 915 words — a 3.5-minute read.

☃️ Karri tried super hard to find another dead animal anecdote to share and struck out, so she's offering pics of Maymont animals playing in the snow instead. 

🪠 Ned is planning a bathroom renovation after discovering yet another problem with the very old plumbing in his home.

Thanks to Fadel Allassan for editing and Carlin Becker for copy editing this newsletter.

Richmond

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Richmond.

Axios Richmond

Richmond-Petersburg casino fight a toss-up at session’s midway point

1 big thing: 🎰 Casino fight in flux

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Your future begins here

Richmond a leader in Black business ownership

2. 💼 Richmond a leader in Black business ownership

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3. The Current: News from around the state 

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Richmond is poised to add 6 more restaurants in February

4. 😋 Restaurant news: 6 new spots in February 

It's Monday. We hope you have a great week. 

😎 Today's weather: Sunny, with a high near 57.

Today's newsletter is 864 words — a 3-minute read.

🧳 Ned and Karri are heading to D.C. today to meet with colleagues at Axios’ company-wide retreat. 

🥴 Karri is packing roadies and Advil. 

🤫 Ned is bringing Meat Juice for a company giveaway. 

A VCU student's custom sneaker art is being worn by pro athletes

1 big thing: 👟 VCU student's kicks go pro

2. 🃏 Illegal gambling crackdown

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3. The Current: 🏛 Assault weapon ban clears Senate

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Virginia union membership drops

4. Map du jour: 📉 Union membership drops  

Plan your future

5. 💞 Our most romantic restaurants 

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And it's Feb. 1. Happy Black History Month!

☂️ Today's weather: Rain and sleet before 7am, with a high near 41.

Today's newsletter is 835 words — a 3-minute read.

🐧 Ned is wishing a belated happy birthday to ET, an African penguin at the Metro Richmond Zoo who turned 43 yesterday and is (maybe?) the oldest living member of her species.

🦝 Karri will forever love any and all local rabid raccoon stories, even sad ones like the one yesterday that one attacked a dog, because they remind her of the time a 75-year-old woman choked one to death at Lewis Ginter. 

1 big thing: 🚨 Redefining local news

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Richmond saw its 5th-warmest January on record

2. 🔥 Chart du jour: January was warm AF 

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Richmond restaurant soft opening: Torchy's Tacos in Carytown

4. 🌮 Soft opening: Torchy’s Tacos

☀️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Situational awareness: Today's newsletter is a little shorter than usual because we're in D.C. for a few days for our company retreat. 

Today's newsletter is 815 words — a 3-minute read.

🚙 Karri thought Richmonders were bad at merging. Then she took the Rock Creek Parkway into D.C. and was reminded that lanes are considered guidelines in the district.  

Virginia lawmakers mull increasing film and TV incentives

1 big thing: 🎬 Virginia's Hollywood dreams

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Virginia Democrats poised to block more Youngkin nominees

2. 🥊 Nomination fight, Round 2

Photo illustration of Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin with lines radiating from him. 

The Main Street Station Clock Tower canoeing down a river. 

4. 🧶 1 weekend pick: Yarn bombs of love 

A new career is waiting for you

5. Charted: 🌺 Phil's success rate 

❄️ Today's weather: A slight chance of rain, snow and sleet before 10am, but no accumulation expected, with a high near 44. 

Today's newsletter is 968 words — a 3.5-minute read.

💀 Karri is leaning into the dead animal theme this week and wants to remind folks that Virginia used to have an official groundhog for predictions, but it killed itself 69 years ago — on Groundhog Day. 

💒 Ned attended a wedding in rural Pennsylvania a few years ago that featured a meet-and-greet with Punxsutawney Phil during the reception. 

Another fight over Gov. Youngkin's nominees to key state posts is brewing in the General Assembly.

What’s happening: Senate Democrats signaled this week they might reject Youngkin's pick to lead the Virginia Department of Health and one of his appointees to the UVA Board of Visitors.

Details: Youngkin’s health director, Colin Greene, came under fire last year for his remarks downplaying the impact of racism on public health.

He told the Washington Post at the time that, "If you say 'racism,' you're blaming white people" — remarks that drew public rebuke even from Youngkin.

On the UVA Board of Visitors, Democrats targeted Youngkin's appointment of Bert Ellis, a South Carolina businessman who graduated from the school in '75.

Since then, he has written decrying the school’s "path to wokeness" and reportedly traveled to campus in 2020 with plans to remove a "F--- UVA" sign a student living on the Lawn had posted on her door.

What they’re saying: "I just don’t think a 60-something-year-old man who goes to the grounds with a razor blade of any kind in his pocket intent on taking something off a student's door, I don’t think that's appropriate," Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, said earlier this week, per the Virginia Mercury.

Youngkin’s press secretary, Macaulay Porter, said Youngkin “believes both Dr. Greene and Mr. Ellis are well-qualified for their posts.”

Flashback: Last year Democrats blocked Youngkin's appointment of Trump's former EPA director, Andrew Wheeler, to be his secretary of natural resources.

The standoff prompted Republicans in the House to block a handful of routine appointments by former Gov. Ralph Northam that had not yet been approved.

Youngkin ended up creating a new post in his administration for Wheeler that did not require General Assembly confirmation.

Democrats last year blocked Youngkin's appointment of Trump's former EPA director, Andrew Wheeler.

Photo Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios; Photo: Robb Hill/Washington Post via Getty Images

Virginia

Another fight over Gov. Youngkin&#x27;s nominees to key state posts is brewing in the General Assembly.What’s happening: Senate Democrats signaled this week they might reject Youngkin&#x27;s pick to lead the Virginia Department of Health and one of his appointees to the UVA Board of Visitors.

News

What’s happening: Torchy’s Tacos, an Austin-based chain, just opened its first two Richmond locations in Short Pump and Carytown.

The openings drew lines out the door and included an appearance by the chain’s mascot — a creepy-looking devil wearing a diaper whom I am trying very hard not to let influence my opinion of the food.

I checked out the Carytown location last week for lunch.

Of the three tacos I tried, my favorite was the Trailer Park ($5.65), which comes with fried chicken, green chiles, pico, cheese and a poblano sauce on a flour tortilla. The chicken was crispy, and my server did not steer me wrong when he upsold me with a queso add-on.

The Brushfire ($5.20) — jerk chicken, jalapeños, mango and sour cream — was pretty basic but had a nice grilled flavor.

The only real let down was the Democrat ($5.90), a barbacoa taco that came out as a minced, gelatinous mess.

Worth noting: The fresh churros ($5.45) were the best part of my meal.

I got an order to go, and they came out hot and crispy but still just a little gooey inside.

Reality check: I asked my colleague Asher Price at Axios Austin for a read on the chain’s reputation in its hometown.

“Torchy's has become immensely popular, in ways that have earned it some scorn from Austin connoisseurs of traditional taco trucks,” he writes. “But the tacos they sling are undeniably yummy — we like the baja shrimp and the green chile pork — and totally filling.”

The bottom line: Give Torchy’s a shot, and definitely let them upsell you on their delicious queso.

But don’t forget about all the great homegrown options. Soul Taco downtown comes to mind as checking a lot of the same nontraditional boxes, but with more creativity and no creepy devil mascots.

The openings drew lines out the door and included an appearance by the chain’s mascot.

The Brushfire and the Trailer Park at Torchy's. Photo: Ned Oliver/Axios

Ned here, once again eating food.What’s happening: Torchy’s Tacos, an Austin-based chain, just opened its first two Richmond locations in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Short Pump" data-vars-click-url="https://torchystacos.com/location/short-pump/" data-vars-content-id="09bec643-0b7b-42e5-92b0-fdd84eac807e" data-vars-headline="Richmond restaurant soft opening: Torchy&#x27;s Tacos in Carytown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://torchystacos.com/location/short-pump/" target="_blank">Short Pump</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Carytown" data-vars-click-url="https://torchystacos.com/location/carytown/" data-vars-content-id="09bec643-0b7b-42e5-92b0-fdd84eac807e" data-vars-headline="Richmond restaurant soft opening: Torchy&#x27;s Tacos in Carytown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://torchystacos.com/location/carytown/" target="_blank">Carytown</a>.

Food and Drink

The battle over casino rights between Richmond and Petersburg is still squarely in toss-up territory halfway through the General Assembly's 2023 session.

Why it matters: Leaders in Richmond desperately want to hold a second casino referendum after voters rejected their first effort.

Meanwhile, Petersburg officials argue they deserve a crack at what they’ve pitched as a major economic development project.

State of play: At this point, neither side has a clear advantage.

The House of Delegates advanced legislation backed by Petersburg that would block Richmond from holding a second referendum.

Meanwhile, the Senate rejected the same bill, with some key lawmakers arguing Richmond voters should get another shot. 

What they’re saying: Petersburg's chief advocate in the legislature, Sen. Joe Morrissey, called it "the final piece of the puzzle that will help revitalize the city."

He touted a deal the city struck with the Cordish Companies, the developer behind the Live! brand, to build a resort that would create 2,000 projected jobs.

The other side: Richmond has a powerful ally on its side in the Senate, Finance Chair Janet Howell, who says she opposes the proliferation of casinos beyond the five originally sanctioned by the legislature in 2020.

"I support another Richmond attempt, and then I think that should be it. Period," she told Axios.

Between the lines: Petersburg faced a major setback when the Senate Finance Committee voted down the measure last week.

But it still has a few things going in its favor, including a Republican sponsor ushering the bill through the GOP-controlled House.

And when the House version gets back to the Senate, it could win back some of the Republican votes it lost last week over the Senate’s decision to include pro-union language.

Worth noting: Richmond's official stance is that both it and Petersburg should be allowed to move forward with casino projects, but developers behind the Petersburg project say they can only move forward if they are the sole licensee in the region.

What’s next: Expect more twists and turns.

This is the kind of legislative debate that won’t be resolved until the final days of the legislative session.

At this point, neither Richmond nor Petersburg has a clear advantage.

Casinos

The battle over casino rights between Richmond and Petersburg is still squarely in toss-up territory halfway through the General Assembly&#x27;s 2023 session.Why it matters: Leaders in Richmond desperately want to hold a second casino referendum after voters rejected their first effort.

Politics

House Republicans are advancing a ban on transgender girls and women competing in K-12 women’s sports.

Why it matters: The legislation is part of a nationwide push in the GOP to roll back transgender rights.

What’s happening: The Virginia bill cleared its first subcommittee on a party-line vote earlier this week.

The bill’s sponsor, Del. Karen Greenhalgh, called it a matter of fairness.

“Today, even the strongest, fastest girls in Virginia must step up to the starting line and know, ‘I can’t win,'” she said, per WRIC.

The other side: Opponents called the measure mean-spirited and a nonissue in Virginia.

“We have had transgender youth living in the commonwealth, and there has been no takeover of women’s sports,” said Del. Eileen Filler-Corn, a Fairfax County Democrat, per the Virginian-Pilot. “I just don’t understand why this conversation continues.”

The big picture: The Virginia High School League already has regulations in place addressing the issue, making decisions on a case-by-case basis.

Since the rules were implemented in 2014, 28 students applied to play on teams aligning with their gender identity and 25 were approved, WRIC reports.

What’s next: The measure is expected to clear the House but unlikely to make it past Democrats in the Senate.

🌿 House Republicans look like they’re going to block any effort to legalize retail recreational marijuana sales. (Virginia Mercury)

🤑 A House panel voted down a bill that would have prohibited lawmakers from spending campaign money on personal expenses. (AP)

“I would suggest that donors need to not donate to the people they don’t trust,” said GOP Del. Wren Williams.

⚖️ Lawmakers in the Senate rejected a proposal by Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration to relieve pressure on the state’s unemployment insurance program by cutting the time applicants have to appeal claims. (AP)

The legislation is part of a nationwide push in the GOP to roll back transgender rights.

House Republicans are advancing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a ban" data-vars-click-url="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1387" data-vars-content-id="24c367ea-b2fe-4c15-afa7-5d651b43ce99" data-vars-headline="This week at the Virginia Capitol: GOP’s trans sports ban" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1387" target="_blank">a ban</a> on transgender girls and women competing in K-12 women’s sports.Why it matters: The legislation is part of a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nationwide push in the GOP" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/us/politics/transgender-laws-republicans.html" data-vars-content-id="24c367ea-b2fe-4c15-afa7-5d651b43ce99" data-vars-headline="This week at the Virginia Capitol: GOP’s trans sports ban" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/us/politics/transgender-laws-republicans.html" target="_blank">nationwide push in the GOP</a> to roll back transgender rights.

Virginia’s film industry is hoping to transform itself into a year-round operation.

Yes, but: First it has to convince the General Assembly to write a few checks.

What’s happening: Lawmakers are fielding an array of proposals to boost the state’s existing film incentives, which in recent years brought productions like "The Good Lord Bird," two seasons of "Swagger," "Dope Sick" and a "The Walking Dead" spinoff.

Why it matters: Lawmakers backing the change argue that the current cap of $10.5 million a year isn’t enough to sustain jobs locally for the mostly Richmond-based crew and production companies that work on set.

And because productions basically only go to locations with incentives, they say the only way to land more jobs is to dole out more cash.

What they’re saying: People who work in film in Virginia say they spend much of the year traveling to staff productions in other states because work in Virginia dries up as soon as the year’s incentives run out.

"I'm literally on a job in New York City right now as we speak," Jarrod Russell, a camera operator and gaffer from Richmond, told Axios this week. "It's either go out of state or try to have another line of work."

By the numbers: The state's incentive program, created in its current form by former Gov. Bob McDonnell in 2013, lags behind neighbors, according to the Virginia Film Office.

North Carolina offers $31 million a year. Kentucky offers $75 million, and West Virginia has no limit.

Worth noting: A 2019 review of the state’s incentive program by legislative auditors took a dim view of the incentives, finding that while they supported 580 jobs and $51 million in spending, the return in revenue to the state was just about 25 cents per dollar spent.

Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, says her proposal addresses some of those concerns by targeting television series.

She says TV has a greater local economic impact because production companies build infrastructure like soundstages, hire local employees for longer periods and return every year.

What to watch: Lawmakers will decide whether any of the new programs get funded during budget negotiations later this month.

Virginia’s film industry wants to be a year-round operation.

Virginia’s film industry is hoping to transform itself into a year-round operation.Yes, but: First it has to convince the General Assembly to write a few checks.

Ned Oliver

Stories

Richmond restaurant soft opening: Torchy's Tacos in Carytown

Richmond-Petersburg casino fight a toss-up at session’s midway point

This week at the Virginia Capitol: GOP’s trans sports ban

Virginia Democrats poised to block more Youngkin nominees

Virginia lawmakers mull increasing film and TV incentives

Newsletter editions

🔥 Record warmth

🎰 Casino fight deadlocked

🍻 Breweries' latest move

🎬 Hollywood hopes

👟 Custom kicks