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

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Virginia sightings detailed in UFO hearings

The pilots reported the sighting but said there was no further investigation by the military.

News

Hot new restaurant openings in Richmond

Treat yourself to something new and freshen up your Insta feed.

Food and Drink

Year-round school experiment kicks off in Richmond

Students at Fairfield and Cardinal elementary schools returned to class Monday, 20 instructional days before their peers.

Education

The Valentine museum is hiring a city historian

It's the first official historian job for the Richmond history museum in its 125 years.

Mapped: Virginia has third highest share of veterans in the country

Only Alaska and Wyoming have a higher share.

Nearly 615,000 Virginians are veterans, per 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data.<ul><li>That amounts to 9.2% of the state&#x27;s civilian population 18 and over — making Virginia home to the third highest share of veterans in the nation.</li><li>Only Alaska (10.1%) and Wyoming (9.4%) rank higher than the Old Dominion for percentage of veteran residents.</li></ul>

Charted: Number of Virginians who speak another language at home up sharply

7.4% of Virginians speak Spanish at home, up sharply from the 1.3% in 1980.

Newcomers

The share of Virginians who speak a language other than English at home has tripled compared with 40 years ago, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.What&#x27;s happening: Just over 16% of Virginians spoke a non-English language at home as of 2021.

Where Richmond ranks among the most educated cities in the U.S.

43.7% of Richmonders 25 and older have a bachelor's degree.

Richmond is the 35th most educated city in America.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Forbes Advisor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/most-educated-cities/" data-vars-content-id="129a2470-e933-4b15-bee3-48402599cb5f" data-vars-headline="Where Richmond ranks among the most educated cities in the U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/education/most-educated-cities/" target="_blank">Forbes Advisor</a> ranked the nation&#x27;s 100 most educated cities, looking at the percentage of degree holders, high school dropout rate, and gender and racial equity in college grads.

Illustration of a golden apple on a stack of books.

Richmond now has its own Monopoly game

The Monopoly makers took emailed suggestions for about two weeks in the spring.

Culture

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Richmond edition of Monopoly" data-vars-click-url="https://toptrumps.us/products/richmond-edition-monopoly-board-game" data-vars-content-id="9197e526-8a64-404c-8583-739a4e092c6c" data-vars-headline="Richmond now has its own Monopoly game" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://toptrumps.us/products/richmond-edition-monopoly-board-game" target="_blank">Richmond edition of Monopoly</a> is here.What&#x27;s happening: The makers of the classic Monopoly board game unveiled a Richmond-specific version on Monday.

Flashback: When Richmond had a castle

Englishman William Pratt built his self-named castle in 1854 atop Gamble's Hill.

If you hit up the Folk Festival over the weekend, you may have noticed a big white building atop the hill overlooking the festival.Once upon a time, that was the site of Richmond&#x27;s very own castle: Pratt&#x27;s Castle.

Charted: Virginia's plunging birth rates

Birth rates tend to fall as income rises.

Virginia&#x27;s birth rate fell dramatically between 2007 and 2022, dropping from 14.05 births per 1,000 people to 11.01, per new CDC data.The big picture: The nationwide birth rate declined significantly between 2007 and 2022, dropping from 14.3 births per 1,000 people to 11.1, or nearly 23%.

Most people born in Virginia still live in the state, study says

Virginia is right in the middle of the pack when it comes to "stickiness."

More than half of native-born Virginians just can&#x27;t quit Virginia.Driving the news: A new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dallas Fed study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.dallasfed.org/research/economics/2023/0829" data-vars-content-id="9cd679bb-9703-43b5-8dc6-3f9fae184b74" data-vars-headline="Most people born in Virginia still live in the state, study says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.dallasfed.org/research/economics/2023/0829" target="_blank">Dallas Fed study</a> using U.S. Census Bureau data to measure states&#x27; &quot;stickiness&quot; found that 65.7% of people born in Virginia still lived here as of 2021.

A local writer penned the ultimate Richmond bucket list

It highlights Richmond's stellar food and drink scene, including our craft breweries and beloved restaurants like Stella's, Edo's and L'Opossum.

There&#x27;s a new book out all about the must-experience Richmond happenings.Driving the news: &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="100 Things to Do in Richmond Before You Die" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reedypress.com/shop/100-things-to-do-in-richmond-before-you-die/" data-vars-content-id="e402870e-6b13-44db-8e49-cd4d96dfdbdf" data-vars-headline="A local writer penned the ultimate Richmond bucket list" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reedypress.com/shop/100-things-to-do-in-richmond-before-you-die/" target="_blank">100 Things to Do in Richmond Before You Die</a>&quot; from local beer columnist and editor Annie Tobey hit bookstores last month. It highlights some of the best local activities and traditions we all know and love:

Richmond metro saw a small population bump last year

Growth in the suburbs drove much of the increase.

The metro area saw a modest 1.8% population bump last year, per the latest U.S. Census estimates.By the numbers: The region is now home to 1.34 million smiling faces.

Why so many people are moving to Richmond

The trend of people moving here from pricey NoVa in search of more affordable housing hasn't let up.

Most pre-pandemic moves were motivated by job changes. Now, housing affordability is driving cross-state relocations, experts say.Why it matters: The Richmond region <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="added nearly 30,000 new residents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/02/13/richmond-fastest-growing-virginia" data-vars-content-id="28fc5071-10cb-4cf7-aad3-69379e190193" data-vars-headline="Why so many people are moving 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/2023/02/13/richmond-fastest-growing-virginia" target="_self">added nearly 30,000 new residents</a> between 2020 and mid-2022, many of whom moved here from pricey NoVa in search <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="of more affordable housing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/01/16/northern-virginia-nova-richmond" data-vars-content-id="28fc5071-10cb-4cf7-aad3-69379e190193" data-vars-headline="Why so many people are moving 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/2023/01/16/northern-virginia-nova-richmond" target="_self">of more affordable housing</a>.

George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress

The House is slated to vote to expel Santos on Friday.

Politics & Policy

Ahead of a vote that could make him the first House lawmaker to be expelled in more than 20 years, Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/george-santos-expulsion-vote-republicans-majority" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) is introducing an expulsion resolution on Thursday targeting a House lawmaker from his own state. Why it matters: Santos — who faces an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="uphill battle in a vote" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/28/republicans-george-santos-resign-expulsion" target="_self">uphill battle in a vote</a> to remove him from office following a scathing House Ethics report — is seeking an expulsion vote on Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jamaal Bowman" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" data-vars-content-id="c7450d99-da7b-4552-a983-4be840a7ed9c" data-vars-headline="George Santos introduces expulsion resolution in potential final act in Congress" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/22/house-ethics-jamaal-bowman-fire-alarm" target="_self">Jamaal Bowman</a> (D-N.Y.), who pulled a fire alarm in one of the House office buildings.

George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers

Rep. Robert Garcia encouraged fellow Democrats to support Republicans' expulsion measure.

House Democrats and Republicans finally have something they agree on: booting Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" data-vars-content-id="4eec0a24-5338-46c4-8b6e-5526cda73c0f" data-vars-headline="George Santos expulsion spurs rare bipartisanship among House lawmakers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/george-santos-jamaal-bowman-expulsion-resolution" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) from Congress.Driving the news: In an email sent to Democratic congressional offices on Thursday, Rep. Robert Garcia&#x27;s (D-Calif.) office advocated for Republicans&#x27; resolution to expel the embattled Long Islander.

GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early

Multiple GOP lawmakers expect former House Speaker <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kevin McCarthy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" data-vars-content-id="dbdacc28-b2ed-40c2-a4cb-3bf4792a4d9b" data-vars-headline="GOP speculation mounts that McCarthy will exit Congress early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/12/mccarthy-gop-elections-2024" target="_self">Kevin McCarthy</a> (R-Calif.) to step down from his seat before the end of the year, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The potential exit of McCarthy — who privately told donors he is looking to &quot;get the hell out,&quot; according to a source familiar with the conversation — could leave the House GOP with an even narrower majority.

Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social

Trump warned that his indictments have opened up a "very big and dangerous Pandora's Box."

Former President Trump has spent the last 24 hours on Truth Social unleashing a torrent of grievances, vengeful promises and links to online conspiracy theories about his political rivals.Why it matters: Trump&#x27;s online rhetoric has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="frequently dipped into violent extremism" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" data-vars-content-id="4ce9173c-4439-425e-8986-ec54c92037e6" data-vars-headline="Trump unleashes grievances, warnings in wild 24 hours on Truth Social" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/04/trumps-words-turn-violent-pressure-builds" target="_self">frequently dipped into violent extremism</a> since he left office, escalating as his legal troubles have mounted. Public fatigue and the pro-Trump echo chamber created by Truth Social have at times softened the shock value of the GOP front-runner&#x27;s daily musings.

Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote

Santos is the first Republican to be expelled from the House.

The House on Friday voted to expel Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="George Santos" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/19/george-santos-republican-congress-biography" target="_self">George Santos</a> (R-N.Y.) over his many fabrications on the 2022 campaign trail and his two federal indictments.Why it matters: The vote makes Santos just the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sixth lawmaker" data-vars-click-url="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" data-vars-content-id="235bb126-9767-4b36-a5c3-4560ae03474e" data-vars-headline="Rep. George Santos expelled from Congress in historic vote" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://history.house.gov/Institution/Discipline/Expulsion-Censure-Reprimand/" target="_blank">sixth lawmaker</a> – and first Republican – to be expelled from the House in U.S. history.

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