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What's next for Chesterfield's $173M Shoosmith Landfill cleanup

The bigger fights over test results, long-term funding and accountability are just beginning.

News

Virginia lawmakers are demanding the release of environmental test results at the bankrupt Shoosmith Landfill as work to stabilize the site moves forward, saying they want proof that it poses no public health risks.Why it matters: The Chesterfield landfill has become one of Virginia&#x27;s biggest environmental cleanup challenges, with an estimated $173 million cleanup cost that may ultimately fall to taxpayers.

Richmond's potato building gets the love it deserves

An architecture-loving creator spotlighted the quirky Markel Building and its baked potato inspiration.

Real Estate

Richmond&#x27;s baked potato-inspired office building is finally getting the love it deserves, thanks to a roving <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="architecture-loving content creator." data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DadrEcutX2I/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="feefba92-8865-4318-bfe4-37b437f379b2" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s potato building gets the love it deserves" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DadrEcutX2I/?hl=en" target="_blank">architecture-loving content creator.</a> Why it matters: Once maligned as one of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;10 ugliest buildings in the world" data-vars-click-url="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-markel-building-richmond-virginia" data-vars-content-id="feefba92-8865-4318-bfe4-37b437f379b2" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s potato building gets the love it deserves" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-markel-building-richmond-virginia" target="_blank">&quot;10 ugliest buildings in the world</a>,&quot; The Markel Building is a local treasure and now at least one influencer seems to agree.

A make-your-own ramen bar in Short Pump has 100+ flavors

The Ramyum Zip has floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with over 100 different ramen flavors.

Food and Drink

There&#x27;s a newish make-your-own ramen bar in Short Pump.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ramyun Zip" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/theramyunzip.richmond/" data-vars-content-id="73fbfe21-5cf8-4571-a1cb-0b608029bd52" data-vars-headline="A make-your-own ramen bar in Short Pump has 100+ flavors" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/theramyunzip.richmond/" target="_blank">Ramyun Zip</a> has floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with over 100 different ramen flavors.

Virginia's best-paying jobs are most exposed to AI, report says

Virginia ranks fifth for workplace AI adoption, putting many white-collar jobs at greater risk of change.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/02/richmond-ai-job-impact-young-workers-entry-level-hiring-decline-virginia" data-vars-content-id="b85c5a9e-11c9-4835-8490-fecd80d34dd9" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s best-paying jobs are most exposed to AI, report says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/02/richmond-ai-job-impact-young-workers-entry-level-hiring-decline-virginia" target="_self">AI</a> is rapidly reshaping Virginia workplaces and it&#x27;s doing so faster than previous technology shifts, according to a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://virginiaworks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/AI-Implications-Report-June-2026-FINAL-LOCKED.pdf" data-vars-content-id="b85c5a9e-11c9-4835-8490-fecd80d34dd9" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s best-paying jobs are most exposed to AI, report says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://virginiaworks.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/AI-Implications-Report-June-2026-FINAL-LOCKED.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> from the state&#x27;s workforce development agency. Why it matters: Virginia&#x27;s high-paying, higher education-backed jobs are the ones most vulnerable to AI-driven disruptions.

Richmond's time capsule picks: Drunk raccoon, Gun Hole, Marlboros

We asked what should represent Virginia 250 years from now. Here's what Richmonders said.

Culture

This week, after being underwhelmed that Virginia&#x27;s entry in &quot;America&#x27;s Time Capsule&quot; was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a coin" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/07/02/virginia-americas-time-capsule-2276" data-vars-content-id="9954ddc9-63a6-45ae-b220-8fddc17e8a5a" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s time capsule picks: Drunk raccoon, Gun Hole, Marlboros" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/07/02/virginia-americas-time-capsule-2276" target="_self">a coin</a>, we asked readers what they would&#x27;ve picked instead.Why it matters: The responses were very Richmond — arguably the best city to represent our state for Americans 250 years from now.

Lucy Dacus' new video puts Richmond in the spotlight

Shot across Richmond, the video highlights Pony Pasture, Hollywood Cemetery and more local favorites.

Lucy Dacus just dropped a new self-directed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="music video" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxTszF9_58M" data-vars-content-id="e19cf367-5eb7-484f-8d88-6faf595ee644" data-vars-headline="Lucy Dacus&#x27; new video puts Richmond in the spotlight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxTszF9_58M" target="_blank">music video</a> for her latest song &quot;Planting Tomatoes.&quot;Why it matters: The video was shot entirely in Richmond and features some of the Grammy-winning singer&#x27;s favorite local spots, per a news release.

Virginia councilman goes viral campaigning for more sidewalks

The video has people nationwide saying they now want to move to Danville.

A Virginia councilman&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="viral campaign video" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaBiHMTBUMW/" data-vars-content-id="3e34d85d-ab95-41c9-94aa-1193e0e1ab55" data-vars-headline="Virginia councilman goes viral campaigning for more sidewalks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaBiHMTBUMW/" target="_blank">viral campaign video</a> about building more sidewalks has people nationwide saying they want to move to Danville.Why it matters: The internet&#x27;s love for Councilman Gary Miller and his high-waisted pants suggests that there&#x27;s at least one thing Americans can agree on: a good sidewalk.

What Virginia put in America's time capsule for 2276

Plus: Tell us what you would've put instead.

When U.S. officials crack open &quot;America&#x27;s Time Capsule&quot; 250 years from now, Virginia will be represented by a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="commemorative coin" data-vars-click-url="https://america250.org/time-capsule/contents/#VA" data-vars-content-id="701e735c-8532-4577-b041-5848927248ec" data-vars-headline="What Virginia put in America&#x27;s time capsule for 2276" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://america250.org/time-capsule/contents/#VA" target="_blank">commemorative coin</a>.Why it matters: It&#x27;s not that we don&#x27;t love it but … <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Maine sent a whale bone" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/46332632.87/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL2hvdXN0b24vMjAyNi8wNi8yMi90ZXhhcy1hbWVyaWNhLTI1MC10aW1lLWNhcHN1bGU_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/647f5d356ef6125956d9ec60Bf2f0b0d2" data-vars-content-id="701e735c-8532-4577-b041-5848927248ec" data-vars-headline="What Virginia put in America&#x27;s time capsule for 2276" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/46332632.87/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tL2xvY2FsL2hvdXN0b24vMjAyNi8wNi8yMi90ZXhhcy1hbWVyaWNhLTI1MC10aW1lLWNhcHN1bGU_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPXNlbmR0b19sb2NhbG5ld3NsZXR0ZXJ0ZXN0JnN0cmVhbT10b3A/647f5d356ef6125956d9ec60Bf2f0b0d2" target="_self">Maine sent a whale bone</a>.

America's 250 state fair is getting roasted. How Virginia compares

Critics panned the event overall, but Virginia's display landed somewhere in the middle of the pack.

If you&#x27;re heading to D.C. for America&#x27;s 250th birthday, you can probably plan on skipping the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Great American State Fair" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/05/29/trump-freedom-250-concert-state-fair-backlash" data-vars-content-id="fdbd0842-3043-4f42-aa84-e5820373c2a3" data-vars-headline="America&#x27;s 250 state fair is getting roasted. How Virginia compares" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/05/29/trump-freedom-250-concert-state-fair-backlash" target="_self">Great American State Fair</a>.Why it matters: The fair is getting some decidedly poor reviews, as is Virginia&#x27;s booth.

Updated: Richmond's guide to celebrating America's 250th

From fireworks to Patrick Henry and parades, here's where to celebrate the Fourth across Richmond.

America&#x27;s big <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="250th birthday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/09/virginia-250-richmond-events-museums-sailfest" data-vars-content-id="3afc24ee-6726-401e-b851-5e9ca617afab" data-vars-headline="Updated: Richmond&#x27;s guide to celebrating America&#x27;s 250th" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/04/09/virginia-250-richmond-events-museums-sailfest" target="_self">250th birthday</a> is finally here.Why it matters: If there was ever a Fourth of July in your lifetime worth celebrating, it&#x27;s this one.

Where to cool off around Richmond this holiday week

Find water parks, pools, splash pads, ice rinks and river floats to stay cool this week.

If you&#x27;re looking for ways to stay cool during this <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="brutally hot week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/29/richmond-worst-heat-wave-years-extreme-heat-risk " data-vars-content-id="5cffb352-43bc-4da4-8e8e-b4502415c987" data-vars-headline="Where to cool off around Richmond this holiday week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/06/29/richmond-worst-heat-wave-years-extreme-heat-risk " target="_self">brutally hot week</a>, we&#x27;ve got you covered. Zoom in: Here are six ways you can beat the heat and have fun.

East Coast-exclusive alebrijes arrive at Lewis Ginter

The sculptures blend Mexican folk art traditions with nature through a limited-run garden exhibition.

An exhibition of colorful and larger-than-life creature sculptures is at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden through September. Why it matters: It&#x27;s the first time the works have been available to view anywhere on the East Coast, per the garden.

60 corgis raced at Colonial Downs in Virginia this weekend

<figure><img alt="a video of corgis running on a horse racetrack" height="450" id="ff7ab6dd-34fe-407b-b358-f9ec2a9433dd" src="https://images.axios.com/nvbKerUBZRw21ZhgxOu8VZ1_I7c=/2026/06/28/1782683054344.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>I&#x27;m not fully convinced the corgis knew they were racing for a title. Video: Sabrina Moreno/Axios</figcaption></figure>Roughly 60 corgis took over Colonial Downs this week to compete for the No. 1 spot in the track&#x27;s first-ever corgi races.Why it matters: The wiggle butts are faster than they look.

Richmond's Putt-Putt is gone. Its elephant's fate is up in the air

A self-storage facility is replacing the beloved mini-golf destination, but one famous resident's next stop is unknown.

Demolition is underway at the former Putt-Putt Fun Center on Midlothian Turnpike, and the fate of its giant elephant is unclear.Why it matters: For more than 50 years, the Midlo Putt-Putt was a rite of passage for generations of Richmonders.