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Virginia may unwind decades-old liquor sales mandate

Lawmakers approved a tiered system to replace a food sales mandate dating back to 1968.

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Legislation that would lower the Virginia restaurants&#x27; food-to-<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="liquor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/06/03/virginia-distilleries-generate-1-billion-a-year-for-the-states-economy" data-vars-content-id="71ad8b7c-f8b1-47e5-a9d8-d435474c04f6" data-vars-headline="Virginia may unwind decades-old liquor sales mandate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/06/03/virginia-distilleries-generate-1-billion-a-year-for-the-states-economy" target="_self">liquor</a> sales ratio is headed to Gov. Abigail Spanberger&#x27;s desk. Why it matters: Many in the restaurant industry have been pushing for a ratio change for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="more than a decade" data-vars-click-url="https://richmondbizsense.com/2016/01/21/bar-owners-take-shot-at-changing-45-percent-rule/" data-vars-content-id="71ad8b7c-f8b1-47e5-a9d8-d435474c04f6" data-vars-headline="Virginia may unwind decades-old liquor sales mandate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://richmondbizsense.com/2016/01/21/bar-owners-take-shot-at-changing-45-percent-rule/" target="_blank">more than a decade</a>.

Richmond police defend Flock cameras as backlash grows

Local activists want the city to end its contract with Flock Safety. Police say the cameras help solve crimes.

Richmond has become the latest flashpoint in the nationwide <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="backlash against surveillance technology" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/doorbell-cams-and-surveillance-tech-face-growing-public-backlash" data-vars-content-id="211a392c-1785-43dd-8761-18efe534f754" data-vars-headline="Richmond police defend Flock cameras as backlash grows" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/doorbell-cams-and-surveillance-tech-face-growing-public-backlash" target="_self">backlash against surveillance technology</a> as local activists urge the city to end its contract with Flock Safety.Why it matters: That doesn&#x27;t seem likely.

Driving in Richmond gets more expensive this weekend

All-electronic tolling begins Saturday and red light cameras start issuing $50 tickets March 1.

Driving around Richmond will get more expensive starting this weekend. Why it matters: If you&#x27;re a red light-runner or non-E-ZPass toll road user, your grace periods are up.

CarMax Park sign up as $6.5M dispute emerges

A behind-the-scenes funding fight is unfolding as Opening Day approaches at Richmond's new ballpark.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CarMax Park" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/12/richmond-vcu-flying-squirrels-deal-breakdown-taxpayer" data-vars-content-id="2ed6c64d-ac83-4c90-ae6a-a6926cd0fd07" data-vars-headline="CarMax Park sign up as $6.5M dispute emerges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/12/richmond-vcu-flying-squirrels-deal-breakdown-taxpayer" target="_self">CarMax Park</a> signs are officially up and crowning the city&#x27;s new ballpark.Why it matters: Behind the scenes, the Flying Squirrels&#x27; parent company is threatening legal action against the city&#x27;s Economic Development Authority over stadium-related costs.

How Virginia is trying to keep data centers off your power bill

Lawmakers aren't looking to stop the boom, but they want data centers to pay more.

Virginia isn&#x27;t pausing the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center boom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/08/virginia-no1-data-centers-richmond-growth-ai" data-vars-content-id="89b2517b-ae50-4ad5-875b-344981a937bb" data-vars-headline="How Virginia is trying to keep data centers off your power bill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/08/virginia-no1-data-centers-richmond-growth-ai" target="_self">data center boom</a>, but lawmakers are trying to keep residents from footing the bill for it.Why it matters: That&#x27;s easier said than done.

Winter storm watch in effect as Richmond eyes weekend snow

The snow is likely arriving Friday night with more on Saturday as ice is still on streets from the last storm.

Round two of more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="snow for Richmond" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/28/richmond-snow-forecast-repeat-winter-storm-weekend" data-vars-content-id="0e14e329-d71f-4cd5-b005-f7675f84971e" data-vars-headline="Winter storm watch in effect as Richmond eyes weekend snow" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/01/28/richmond-snow-forecast-repeat-winter-storm-weekend" target="_self">snow for Richmond</a> is looking increasingly likely for the weekend, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Weather Service." data-vars-click-url="https://www.weather.gov/media/akq/briefings/LatestBriefing.pdf" data-vars-content-id="0e14e329-d71f-4cd5-b005-f7675f84971e" data-vars-headline="Winter storm watch in effect as Richmond eyes weekend snow" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.weather.gov/media/akq/briefings/LatestBriefing.pdf" target="_blank">National Weather Service.</a>Why it matters: Many neighborhood streets are still covered in ice from the last storm.

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.

Virginia's electricity costs rise amid data center boom

But it still had one of the smallest electricity cost hikes nationwide this past year, per new federal data.

Virginia saw one of the smallest increases in electricity costs in the nation this past year, per new federal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/" data-vars-content-id="b2f64ec0-f351-4dfb-9c12-87f90eb19ffa" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s electricity costs rise amid data center boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/" target="_blank">data</a>, but it could get even higher as data centers proliferate statewide.Why it matters: Virginia is the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center capital of the world" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-07-29/loudon-county-data-center-growth-strains-residents-seeking-ai-regulation" data-vars-content-id="b2f64ec0-f351-4dfb-9c12-87f90eb19ffa" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s electricity costs rise amid data center boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-07-29/loudon-county-data-center-growth-strains-residents-seeking-ai-regulation" target="_blank">data center capital of the world</a>, and while those centers have previously been concentrated in NoVa, proposals for them have increasingly cropped up <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="in the Richmond area." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/02/06/data-center-boom-cost-power-bill" data-vars-content-id="b2f64ec0-f351-4dfb-9c12-87f90eb19ffa" data-vars-headline="Virginia&#x27;s electricity costs rise amid data center boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/02/06/data-center-boom-cost-power-bill" target="_self">in the Richmond area.</a>

Flash flood warnings swamp Richmond in 2025

Heavy rain and humidity have driven a deluge of flood alerts in Richmond this year.

There have been 68 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="flash food warnings issued" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/16/flood-rain-climate-change-storms-texas-new-york" data-vars-content-id="1124c45f-75b5-498c-bfc8-d2cd17ab0b64" data-vars-headline="Flash flood warnings swamp Richmond in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/16/flood-rain-climate-change-storms-texas-new-york" target="_self">flash food warnings issued</a> for metro Richmond so far this year, according to data from the National Weather Service.Why it matters: The NWS has issued <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="more flash flood warnings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/17/flash-flood-warnings-record-nws" data-vars-content-id="1124c45f-75b5-498c-bfc8-d2cd17ab0b64" data-vars-headline="Flash flood warnings swamp Richmond in 2025" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/17/flash-flood-warnings-record-nws" target="_self">more flash flood warnings</a> nationwide thus far in 2025 than in any other year on record.

Storms could bring flash flooding to Richmond

Here are some safety tips for what to do if you come across flooded roads.

There&#x27;s a chance this week&#x27;s showers and thunderstorms lead to flash <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="flooding" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/06/24/richmond-flood-zones-fema-update-2025" data-vars-content-id="9d15176b-df2b-4f6b-9c29-26e5ca365072" data-vars-headline="Storms could bring flash flooding to Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/06/24/richmond-flood-zones-fema-update-2025" target="_self">flooding</a> in the Richmond region, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Weather Service." data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/NWSWakefieldVA/status/1942616670935134268" data-vars-content-id="9d15176b-df2b-4f6b-9c29-26e5ca365072" data-vars-headline="Storms could bring flash flooding to Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/NWSWakefieldVA/status/1942616670935134268" target="_blank">National Weather Service.</a>Why it matters: It only takes six inches of fast-moving water to sweep you off your feet, 12 inches to carry a small car and 18 inches to make SUVs unsafe to drive, Richmond officials said on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tuesday." data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DL2TUTROjmt/?img_index=1" data-vars-content-id="9d15176b-df2b-4f6b-9c29-26e5ca365072" data-vars-headline="Storms could bring flash flooding to Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DL2TUTROjmt/?img_index=1" target="_blank">Tuesday.</a>

Extreme heat risk lingers as Virginia hits record temperatures

Virginia's scorching heat might feel like over 105°F through Saturday. Here's how to stay safe.

Nearly all of Virginia is still under &quot;major&quot; or &quot;extreme&quot; heat risk, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Weather Service" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/" data-vars-content-id="15709597-e3d6-4ba6-9f58-f104247bc457" data-vars-headline="Extreme heat risk lingers as Virginia hits record temperatures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/" target="_blank">National Weather Service</a>.Why it matters: The hottest of this <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="early summer heat wave" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/06/23/heat-dome-virginia-richmond-forecast" data-vars-content-id="15709597-e3d6-4ba6-9f58-f104247bc457" data-vars-headline="Extreme heat risk lingers as Virginia hits record temperatures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/06/23/heat-dome-virginia-richmond-forecast" target="_self">early summer heat wave</a> might be past us by Wednesday night, but there&#x27;s a chance it feels like it&#x27;s over 105°F through Saturday, per the local NWS office.

Richmond's summer nights are getting hotter

Richmond evenings are much warmer than decades ago, raising health concerns and straining energy systems.

You&#x27;re not imagining it: Your summer evening porch hangs are getting hotter — and it&#x27;s not just because of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="this week&#x27;s heat dome. " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/06/23/heat-dome-virginia-richmond-forecast" data-vars-content-id="b214706d-91c3-4280-9aa2-752890dafdc1" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s summer nights are getting hotter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/06/23/heat-dome-virginia-richmond-forecast" target="_self">this week&#x27;s heat dome. </a> Why it matters: Higher overnight temperatures can have health consequences for vulnerable groups, as well as increase demand for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="air conditioning" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2018/05/14/cooling-the-earth-without-cooking-it" data-vars-content-id="b214706d-91c3-4280-9aa2-752890dafdc1" data-vars-headline="Richmond&#x27;s summer nights are getting hotter" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2018/05/14/cooling-the-earth-without-cooking-it" target="_self">air conditioning</a>.

Heat dome scorches Richmond this week

Richmond could feel like 112°F as a Gulf-driven heat dome intensifies.

Welcome to the heat dome — the region is bracing for extended periods of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="extreme temperatures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/05/27/d-c-braces-for-another-scorching-summer" data-vars-content-id="2850c4c3-44e0-4277-af3b-9333cbe408d2" data-vars-headline="Heat dome scorches Richmond this week" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/05/27/d-c-braces-for-another-scorching-summer" target="_self">extreme temperatures</a> and humidity.Why it matters: Take your usual terrible Richmond summer and dial it up to &quot;steam room.&quot;

Expect a hotter, muggier Richmond summer

A rising heat index and climate trends are turning up the temperature.

The Richmond region has a 40% to 50% chance of summer being hotter than average, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php?lead=1" data-vars-content-id="7c256758-831c-47e5-b3e5-5ab163526a6a" data-vars-headline="Expect a hotter, muggier Richmond summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php?lead=1" target="_blank">according to</a> the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center.Why it matters: Richmond summers typically feel like one is standing at the gates of hell to begin with.

Environment

How Virginia is trying to keep data centers off your power bill

Winter storm watch in effect as Richmond eyes weekend snow

How Spanberger plans to lower Virginia's electric bills

Virginia's electricity costs rise amid data center boom

Flash flood warnings swamp Richmond in 2025