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Wildfire smoke triggers Code Orange alert in Richmond

Sensitive groups should limit outdoor activity as smoky air and low visibility linger into Saturday.

News

Smoke from raging Canadian wildfires is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drifting into Central Virginia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/14/wildfire-smoke-boston-yellow-sky-air-quality-massachusetts-canadian-wednesday-forecast" data-vars-content-id="6ba5ce2a-0810-471d-8d8d-e9484affccda" data-vars-headline="Wildfire smoke triggers Code Orange alert in Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/boston/2026/07/14/wildfire-smoke-boston-yellow-sky-air-quality-massachusetts-canadian-wednesday-forecast" target="_self">drifting into Central Virginia</a>, putting Richmond under a poor air quality alert, per the National Weather Service. Why it matters: Poor air quality and low visibility from the smoke is expected to linger into Saturday.

Richmond unveils design for $18M Lumpkin's Slave Jail Pavilion

The project will preserve one of the nation's most significant slave-trading sites.

Richmond unveiled the design for the Lumpkin&#x27;s Slave Jail Pavilion, the next major piece of the city&#x27;s long-planned <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Shockoe Project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/29/richnmond-bfd-shockoe-project-slavery-museum" data-vars-content-id="a24220b6-96b5-43cc-b260-0850a860d086" data-vars-headline="Richmond unveils design for $18M Lumpkin&#x27;s Slave Jail Pavilion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/02/29/richnmond-bfd-shockoe-project-slavery-museum" target="_self">Shockoe Project</a>.The big picture: The $18 million pavilion will preserve and tell the story of one of the nation&#x27;s most significant surviving slave-trading sites, where thousands of enslaved people were imprisoned before being sold.

Virginia explores 3-year bachelor's degrees

The 90-credit programs could lower tuition and move graduates into the workforce sooner.

Virginia <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="higher education" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/29/what-to-know-before-starting-college-richmond" data-vars-content-id="dbbca08e-b37c-49ae-94ca-356fb6ccc6a5" data-vars-headline="Virginia explores 3-year bachelor&#x27;s degrees" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/29/what-to-know-before-starting-college-richmond" target="_self">higher education</a> leaders are exploring a three-year bachelor&#x27;s degree, joining a growing national push to shorten college.Why it matters: Students could enter the workforce a year sooner while potentially saving thousands in tuition and living expenses.

How Richmond's airport could feel more like, well, Richmond

The nearly 100-year-old airport wants to make a stronger first impression.

Richmond International Airport&#x27;s yearslong makeover isn&#x27;t just about <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="speedier security lines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/12/08/richmond-airport-tsa-upgrade-international-flight" data-vars-content-id="10bcf754-6699-4b6f-9b06-982d0e2513a9" data-vars-headline="How Richmond&#x27;s airport could feel more like, well, Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/12/08/richmond-airport-tsa-upgrade-international-flight" target="_self">speedier security lines</a>. The nearly 100-year-old airport also wants to make a stronger first impression. Why it matters: The goal is to make RIC feel more &quot;distinctly Richmond.&quot;

Drought puts new focus on data centers' water use

Public frustration over the drought has centered in part on data centers' water use.

Richmond-area households aren&#x27;t the only ones being asked to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="conserve water" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/22/richmong-drought-virginia-water-conservation-spanberger" data-vars-content-id="492d0f41-f531-481f-aab2-28cbf1c3256f" data-vars-headline="Drought puts new focus on data centers&#x27; water use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/22/richmong-drought-virginia-water-conservation-spanberger" target="_self">conserve water</a> during the ongoing drought: data centers and other large industrial water users are also facing calls to cut back. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Public" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/1uk5zz4/i_will_not_be_conserving_water_if_data_centers/" data-vars-content-id="492d0f41-f531-481f-aab2-28cbf1c3256f" data-vars-headline="Drought puts new focus on data centers&#x27; water use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/rva/comments/1uk5zz4/i_will_not_be_conserving_water_if_data_centers/" target="_blank">Public</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="frustration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaT-nXWoh0M/" data-vars-content-id="492d0f41-f531-481f-aab2-28cbf1c3256f" data-vars-headline="Drought puts new focus on data centers&#x27; water use" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaT-nXWoh0M/" target="_blank">frustration</a> over the drought has centered in part on data centers&#x27; water use, but local officials say data centers are also being asked to conserve — and aren&#x27;t among the region&#x27;s largest water consumers.

Spanberger urges water conservation as Richmond drought persists

Much of Virginia is under drought warnings, and officials are asking residents to cut water use.

Gov. Spanberger is urging Virginians to voluntarily conserve water as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="drought conditions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/05/richmond-severe-drought-april-rainfall-james-river-brush-fire" data-vars-content-id="d2b3be14-2069-4d8e-8215-fc3e3519db52" data-vars-headline="Spanberger urges water conservation as Richmond drought persists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/05/05/richmond-severe-drought-april-rainfall-james-river-brush-fire" target="_self">drought conditions</a> persist in the Richmond region and across the state.Why it matters: Despite the recent rain, Richmond has been in severe drought for more than two months, while <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="conditions are worsening" data-vars-click-url="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/" data-vars-content-id="d2b3be14-2069-4d8e-8215-fc3e3519db52" data-vars-headline="Spanberger urges water conservation as Richmond drought persists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/" target="_blank">conditions are worsening</a> in parts of the suburbs.

Richmond shifts icy sidewalk duty from renters to landlords

It's in response to January's ice storm leaving sidewalks slick and dangerous to navigate for weeks.

Richmond landlords — not renters — are now responsible for clearing icy sidewalks at larger apartment buildings.Why it matters: January&#x27;s ice storm left sidewalks slick and dangerous to navigate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="for weeks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/05/richmond-icy-sidewalks-up-to-landlords-residents" data-vars-content-id="3a90822d-ddd8-4a16-8c67-6d4832793a62" data-vars-headline="Richmond shifts icy sidewalk duty from renters to landlords" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/05/richmond-icy-sidewalks-up-to-landlords-residents" target="_self">for weeks</a>, and sparked confusion over who was expected to clear them.

More than 4,000 Richmond-area households lack AC

And temperatures are hitting 95 degrees this weekend.

Health

Roughly 4,100 households in the Richmond region lacked air conditioning in 2023, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new census data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/2023-lace.html" data-vars-content-id="28ac5c44-9c32-4bd2-bf54-0a1dd09ec2aa" data-vars-headline="More than 4,000 Richmond-area households lack AC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/2023-lace.html" target="_blank">new census data</a>.Why it matters: It&#x27;s about to be 95 degrees <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="this weekend." data-vars-click-url="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.55305&amp;lon=-77.459003" data-vars-content-id="28ac5c44-9c32-4bd2-bf54-0a1dd09ec2aa" data-vars-headline="More than 4,000 Richmond-area households lack AC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.55305&amp;lon=-77.459003" target="_blank">this weekend.</a>

Richmond mosquito season delayed by weird spring weather

A snowy winter pointed to a potentially brutal mosquito season. Then Virginia's weather flipped again.

Richmond&#x27;s mosquitoes appeared ready for a breakout year after the region&#x27;s snowy winter and early spring heat. Then temperatures crashed again.Why it matters: The same weather whiplash Richmonders have dealt with for weeks may also be delaying mosquito season — at least temporarily, Connor King, owner of Mosquito Shield of Richmond, told Axios.

Richmond pollen surge to bring more weeks of allergy misery

Don&#x27;t expect relief from the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pollen" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/03/10/get-ready-for-the-pollening" data-vars-content-id="d7b41dbd-dc1d-4868-819c-780c96c304c2" data-vars-headline="Richmond pollen surge to bring more weeks of allergy misery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/03/10/get-ready-for-the-pollening" target="_self">pollen</a> blanketing Richmond for another few weeks.Why it matters: While the yellowish stuff is a sign of springtime plant reproduction, it&#x27;s a literal headache for anyone who suffers from seasonal allergies and asthma.

Richmond says clearing icy sidewalks is up to residents and landlords

Over a week after the storm hit, many sidewalks remain unusable and dangerous for pedestrians.

More than a week after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="storm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/27/richmond-snow-ice-black-ice-street-conditions-vdot-henrico" data-vars-content-id="77b35be5-f84d-42d6-944e-edca1a8ef18b" data-vars-headline="Richmond says clearing icy sidewalks is up to residents and landlords" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/27/richmond-snow-ice-black-ice-street-conditions-vdot-henrico" target="_self">storm</a>, sidewalks across Richmond remain icy and dangerous to use.Why it matters: City officials are largely banking on residents, landlords or warmer temperatures to resolve the pedestrian safety hazard.

Henrico plans Dominion Energy solar farm on 1970s landfill

Henrico joins a growing wave of localities converting old landfills into clean energy sites.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Henrico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/10/07/henrico-county-water-pipeline-project-reduce-reliance-on-richmond" data-vars-content-id="d02ef577-9583-4272-97dd-e79379b4fcea" data-vars-headline="Henrico plans Dominion Energy solar farm on 1970s landfill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/10/07/henrico-county-water-pipeline-project-reduce-reliance-on-richmond" target="_self">Henrico</a> OK&#x27;d plans this week to turn a decommissioned 1970s landfill into a solar farm. Why it matters: The project would transform part of a long-vacant 58-acre property in Varina into one of the county&#x27;s more unusual clean energy sites.

How Spanberger plans to lower Virginia's electric bills

Lowering energy costs was one of Democrats' winning messages. Now they have to deliver on it.

With Democrats soon to control the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="governor&#x27;s mansion" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/11/05/virginia-governor-first-woman-abigail-spanberger" data-vars-content-id="b65fcd86-5349-43ef-82f2-a170e815300c" data-vars-headline="How Spanberger plans to lower Virginia&#x27;s electric bills" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/11/05/virginia-governor-first-woman-abigail-spanberger" target="_self">governor&#x27;s mansion</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="both chambers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/11/05/virginia-democrats-win-historic-election" data-vars-content-id="b65fcd86-5349-43ef-82f2-a170e815300c" data-vars-headline="How Spanberger plans to lower Virginia&#x27;s electric bills" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/11/05/virginia-democrats-win-historic-election" target="_self">both chambers</a> of the General Assembly, Virginia&#x27;s energy policy is set to veer from Gov. Youngkin&#x27;s approach these past four years.Why it matters: Lowering energy costs was one of Democrats&#x27; winning messages. Now they have to deliver on it.

Richmond to open new winter shelter for homeless residents

Starting Dec. 1, CARITAS will be another emergency option if the Chamberlayne shelter gets full.

Richmond is getting a new shelter for severe winter weather days.Why it matters: The city has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="long faced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2022/10/14/richmond-cold-weather-shelter" data-vars-content-id="b2d18e27-daa1-41a1-85e6-4055a4ba2c8c" data-vars-headline="Richmond to open new winter shelter for homeless residents" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2022/10/14/richmond-cold-weather-shelter" target="_self">long faced</a> limited shelter space during extreme cold, often leaving residents scrambling when beds quickly fill up.

Bar chart showing estimated U.S. water use by sector. Cattle and power plants are the largest users, while data centers use a small fraction of the water consumed by major industries and households.

Estimated U.S. water use, select industries

Data: Cleanview analysis of government, industry and academic sources, including 2024 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study; Note: Power plants include fossil fuel and nuclear facilities. Data centers include on-site cooling and associated electricity generation; Chart: Amy Harder/Axios

A choropleth map of the United States showing the estimated share of households without any form of air conditioning, by county, in 2023. Overall, 6.9% of households in the U.S. lacked AC. Rates were much higher in Alaska, Hawaii, the west, and Appalachia. The county in the contiguous U.S. with the highest share without AC was San Francisco County in California, at 65.4%. The county with the highest number of households without AC was Los Angeles County, at 702 thousand.

Climate 🌿

Drought puts new focus on data centers' water use

Spanberger urges water conservation as Richmond drought persists

Richmond shifts icy sidewalk duty from renters to landlords

More than 4,000 Richmond-area households lack AC

Richmond mosquito season delayed by weird spring weather