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Virginia felony voting errors collide with Question 3

Hundreds of registrations were wrongly denied or canceled, and it's unclear whether that impacted voting.

News

Virginians are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deciding whether to overhaul felony voting rights" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/09/21/virginia-early-voting-2026-elections-guide" data-vars-content-id="6a14108b-0934-45c4-9fbb-042894a7a336" data-vars-headline="Virginia felony voting errors collide with Question 3" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/09/21/virginia-early-voting-2026-elections-guide" target="_self">deciding whether to overhaul felony voting rights</a> as the state cleans up hundreds of voter registrations wrongly denied or canceled over felony records — including dozens in the Richmond area.Why it matters: It&#x27;s still unclear how many eligible voters couldn&#x27;t cast ballots in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Virginia&#x27;s August primary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/08/03/virginia-primary-election-guide-whats-next-voters" data-vars-content-id="6a14108b-0934-45c4-9fbb-042894a7a336" data-vars-headline="Virginia felony voting errors collide with Question 3" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/08/03/virginia-primary-election-guide-whats-next-voters" target="_self">Virginia&#x27;s August primary</a> because of the errors, or whether any have encountered problems during early voting.

VMFA makes historic restitution of enslaved artist's work

The deal marks the first time VMFA has recognized an enslaved artist's heirs as a work's owners.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Virginia Museum of Fine Arts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/22/vmfa-s-next-chapter" data-vars-content-id="44a0107e-fc76-4478-98f7-cd99c73d6448" data-vars-headline="VMFA makes historic restitution of enslaved artist&#x27;s work" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/22/vmfa-s-next-chapter" target="_self">Virginia Museum of Fine Arts</a> restored ownership of a stoneware jug in its collection to the descendants of the enslaved artist who created it nearly 200 years ago, the museum <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.vmfa.museum/press/vmfa-restores-ownership-of-work-by-enslaved-artist-david-drake" data-vars-content-id="44a0107e-fc76-4478-98f7-cd99c73d6448" data-vars-headline="VMFA makes historic restitution of enslaved artist&#x27;s work" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.vmfa.museum/press/vmfa-restores-ownership-of-work-by-enslaved-artist-david-drake" target="_blank">announced</a> this week. Why it matters: David Drake couldn&#x27;t own or profit from the pottery he created while enslaved. Nearly two centuries later, VMFA is recognizing his descendants as the jug&#x27;s rightful owners — and paying them to reacquire it.

Report: Hundreds of homeless Richmond-area students live in hotels

Nearly 1 in 3 local students experiencing homelessness were living in hotels or motels in 2022-23.

Hotels have become an increasingly common last resort for Richmond-area families experiencing homelessness, according to a new report from Henrico-based advocacy group <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Housing Families First" data-vars-click-url="https://housingfamiliesfirst.org/" data-vars-content-id="d13f735d-b948-4bab-b7e0-412c64d50dfa" data-vars-headline="Report: Hundreds of homeless Richmond-area students live in hotels" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://housingfamiliesfirst.org/" target="_blank">Housing Families First</a>.Why it matters: Hotels are increasingly filling the gap for local families who may be able to afford monthly rent but can&#x27;t overcome the barriers to securing long-term housing.

Henrico takes first crack at RVA's recreational weed rules

Henrico's first zoning proposal offers an early look at how local governments may shape the new market.

Henrico is laying out rules for where recreational marijuana businesses can operate ahead of next year&#x27;s launch of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Virginia&#x27;s retail market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/09/21/virginia-marijuana-dispensaries-licenses-delivery-rules" data-vars-content-id="26594ed2-3206-4321-bbba-0f6d55bb14f5" data-vars-headline="Henrico takes first crack at RVA&#x27;s recreational weed rules" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/09/21/virginia-marijuana-dispensaries-licenses-delivery-rules" target="_self">Virginia&#x27;s retail market</a>.Why it matters: It&#x27;s the first RVA locality to release publicly plans for how it could regulate the coming market within its borders.

Hardywood buys Starr Hill in major Virginia beer deal

Hardywood's Starr Hill acquisition gives the combined company nine taprooms across Virginia.

Richmond&#x27;s own <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hardywood" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/29/hardywood-low-cal-beer-james-river-richmond" data-vars-content-id="261ed640-e9ae-4b95-af9d-edbb50a3e8ef" data-vars-headline="Hardywood buys Starr Hill in major Virginia beer deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/29/hardywood-low-cal-beer-james-river-richmond" target="_self">Hardywood</a> Park Craft Brewery just acquired Starr Hill, bringing Virginia&#x27;s two largest craft brewers under one company.Why it matters: Hardywood is becoming an even bigger force in Virginia&#x27;s craft beer industry, just months after it took over some production for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Legend Brewing Co" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/25/richmond-breweries-legend-hardywood-partnership" data-vars-content-id="261ed640-e9ae-4b95-af9d-edbb50a3e8ef" data-vars-headline="Hardywood buys Starr Hill in major Virginia beer deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/25/richmond-breweries-legend-hardywood-partnership" target="_self">Legend Brewing Co</a>.

Richmond college students launch reusable moving box company

JMU and CNU students launched RVATotes after one collapsing cardboard box sparked the idea.

Business

Forget cardboard boxes. Moving in Richmond just got a little sturdier thanks to a new Hanover-based business from two Virginia college students.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="RVATotes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rvatotes.com/" data-vars-content-id="2bfffa49-1cce-48b7-8412-50de88c99b25" data-vars-headline="Richmond college students launch reusable moving box company" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rvatotes.com/" target="_blank">RVATotes</a>, a moving-box rental company that uses reusable plastic totes instead of cardboard, launched this spring, per the company.

Papi's Creamery brings cult-favorite ice cream drops to Richmond

The Yorktown ice cream maker will sell limited weekly pint drops from a pickup spot near Willow Lawn.

Food and Drink

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Papi&#x27;s Creamery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.papiscreamery.com/" data-vars-content-id="b0e6f94c-d101-4cc3-97f3-1b1f7cc0164a" data-vars-headline="Papi&#x27;s Creamery brings cult-favorite ice cream drops to Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.papiscreamery.com/" target="_blank">Papi&#x27;s Creamery</a> — a scratch-made ice cream business out of Yorktown — is opening a Richmond pickup spot.Why it matters: Papi&#x27;s has developed a cult following in Hampton Roads — and Richmonders can get in on the fun starting this week.

Report ranks Richmond's coworking day passes among nation's priciest

A day at a Richmond coworking space costs a median $50 by one measure — but booking direct can be cheaper.

Richmond has some of the priciest coworking day passes in the country, according to a new report.Why it matters: If you mostly work from home and are looking for an office for the day, it&#x27;s going to cost you.

Spirit Halloween haunts Richmond's retail ghosts

Six Richmond-area shops are popping up in former Joann, Sears, CVS and Painted Tree stores.

Spirit Halloween is haunting the shells of former big-box stores again this fall as it opens 1,500 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="locations" data-vars-click-url="https://stores.spirithalloween.com/" data-vars-content-id="486d9f20-5752-4858-ae59-c5f86f720419" data-vars-headline="Spirit Halloween haunts Richmond&#x27;s retail ghosts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://stores.spirithalloween.com/" target="_blank">locations</a> nationwide.Why it matters: The self-styled <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="largest Halloween retailer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.spirithalloween.com/content.jsp?pageName=About" data-vars-content-id="486d9f20-5752-4858-ae59-c5f86f720419" data-vars-headline="Spirit Halloween haunts Richmond&#x27;s retail ghosts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.spirithalloween.com/content.jsp?pageName=About" target="_blank">largest Halloween retailer</a> in North America appears and vanishes each fall, so finding this year&#x27;s store often involves local shorthand, like &quot;Where the old Party City used to be.&quot;

Richmond's Paix Coffee wins two international medals

The Museum District roaster earned medals for two coffees in a blind U.S. and Canada competition.

Richmond&#x27;s own <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Paix Coffee" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/paixcoffeeroasters/" data-vars-content-id="a28a6af9-d188-4c31-a1f1-f34924c2a4a8" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s Paix Coffee wins two international medals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/paixcoffeeroasters/" target="_blank">Paix Coffee</a> won two medals at this year&#x27;s Global Coffee Awards.Why it matters: Richmond coffee is now internationally acclaimed.

Cheba Hut brings its stoner sandwich shtick to RVA

The Midlothian shop opens Friday with toasted subs, local beer, giveaways and a $420 cash drop.

Virginia&#x27;s first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cheba Hut location" data-vars-click-url="https://www.chebahut.com/locations" data-vars-content-id="a592a478-da0f-4aeb-9bec-1268e75f71ad" data-vars-headline="Cheba Hut brings its stoner sandwich shtick to RVA" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.chebahut.com/locations" target="_blank">Cheba Hut location</a> opens Friday in Midlothian, bringing the Colorado-based chain&#x27;s full stoner shtick to RVA. Why it matters: The marijuana-themed sandwich joint is known for toasted subs like White Widow and Kali Mist that are &quot;alright, alright, alright.&quot;

Richmond's video store revival is here

Blue Rose Video is tapping nostalgia with DVD rentals and a monthly movie club in Chesterfield.

Video rentals are back, apparently, and Richmond is having a mini-revival.Why it matters: Everything old is in again, including DVD and Blu-ray rentals — and even mall shopping.

Former Palani Drive becomes Lily's Italian Bistro

The former Palani Drive is now an Italian bistro from the couple who previously owned Lola's.

The longtime owners of Goochland restaurant Lola&#x27;s Farmhouse Bistro are back in the kitchen — this time with a smaller neighborhood spot in the Near West End: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lily&#x27;s Italian Bistro" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lilysbistrorva.com/" data-vars-content-id="6ea5eff6-51f1-44c7-9f9a-4e0940f2eadd" data-vars-headline="Former Palani Drive becomes Lily&#x27;s Italian Bistro" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lilysbistrorva.com/" target="_blank">Lily&#x27;s Italian Bistro</a>.Why it matters: The owners — Ronnie Hussey and her chef-husband Tommy Hussey — came out of retirement to breathe new life into the former <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Palani Drive" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/palanidrive/" data-vars-content-id="6ea5eff6-51f1-44c7-9f9a-4e0940f2eadd" data-vars-headline="Former Palani Drive becomes Lily&#x27;s Italian Bistro" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/palanidrive/" target="_blank">Palani Drive</a>, which closed over the summer after nearly 30 years in business.

Business 🏦

Hardywood buys Starr Hill in major Virginia beer deal

Henrico takes first crack at RVA's recreational weed rules

Richmond college students launch reusable moving box company

Papi's Creamery brings cult-favorite ice cream drops to Richmond

Report ranks Richmond's coworking day passes among nation's priciest