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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.

14 things to do around Richmond this fall-filled weekend

Catch the 2nd Street Festival, DachtoberFest, haunted hayrides, live music and plenty more.

Things to Do

Don&#x27;t let the temperatures this late week fool you, Richmond is in full fall mode this weekend with street festivals, pumpkin patches, haunted attractions and an entire celebration of wiener dogs (again!).

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 weighs hiring freeze as $17M budget deficit looms

Mayor Avula still wants to cut taxes, but a new financial forecast could complicate those plans.

Richmond is considering a temporary hiring freeze as slowing revenue growth threatens to push City Hall into the red and complicate Mayor Avula&#x27;s plans to cut taxes next year.Why it matters: City leaders are heading into the next budget cycle with less financial breathing room, potentially forcing tougher choices on taxes, employee raises and services.

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.

Danger Pie opens Friday inside of Blanchard's on Morris 

The backyard pizza obsession turned Richmond pop-up is starting a residency at the Morris Street spot.

After years of backyard pizzas and occasional pop-ups, Nick Walthall&#x27;s Danger Pie is opening Friday inside of Blanchard&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="on Morris Street." data-vars-click-url="https://www.google.com/maps?sca_esv=99fa615e217dff4e&amp;rlz=1C5FPJB_en___US1207&amp;output=search&amp;q=blanchard%27s+morris+street+location&amp;source=lnms&amp;fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8c4u0nXx4bEIpwm1lnNH832U1CFDVh7aOiOPRjGOuZstt_nxzrSnOg4tchlRbr2-t3jWBY1u5bgZssstUoe13f3UsjJHcQKeEgIN3HUVv0jhdJ0AUH86KOaRUiiUJrtT4Jbt1kCiK3reFVhmDMWz8b7gGrnUZgkjnBZEpCRXQvchQGTx-VYx3caZrBHOXUtni53wzLJg&amp;entry=mc&amp;ved=1t:200715&amp;ictx=111" data-vars-content-id="c42ff11c-aebb-487e-a471-caf2cb2ed2af" data-vars-headline="Danger Pie opens Friday inside of Blanchard&#x27;s on Morris " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.google.com/maps?sca_esv=99fa615e217dff4e&amp;rlz=1C5FPJB_en___US1207&amp;output=search&amp;q=blanchard%27s+morris+street+location&amp;source=lnms&amp;fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8c4u0nXx4bEIpwm1lnNH832U1CFDVh7aOiOPRjGOuZstt_nxzrSnOg4tchlRbr2-t3jWBY1u5bgZssstUoe13f3UsjJHcQKeEgIN3HUVv0jhdJ0AUH86KOaRUiiUJrtT4Jbt1kCiK3reFVhmDMWz8b7gGrnUZgkjnBZEpCRXQvchQGTx-VYx3caZrBHOXUtni53wzLJg&amp;entry=mc&amp;ved=1t:200715&amp;ictx=111" target="_blank">on Morris Street.</a>Why it matters: The open-ended residency is the biggest step yet for the brewer-turned-pizza maker&#x27;s pizza obsession — one he hopes could eventually become a full-time job.

Henrico to end Flock contract over privacy concerns

The county's reversal comes less than three months after it agreed to another year with the surveillance company.

Henrico is cutting ties with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Flock" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/09/09/richmond-flock-cameras-contracts-goochland" data-vars-content-id="f9286bac-bbfb-4128-a7e8-70246496c6f3" data-vars-headline="Henrico to end Flock contract over privacy concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/09/09/richmond-flock-cameras-contracts-goochland" target="_self">Flock</a> and its 122 license plate readers, reversing course less than three months after agreeing to another year with the controversial surveillance company.Why it matters: It&#x27;s the region&#x27;s largest locality yet to abandon Flock, and the decision comes days after a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chesterfield Police employee was charged" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/ccpdva/posts/news-release-police-department-employee-arrestedchesterfield-va-on-august-27-202/1419416950382513/" data-vars-content-id="f9286bac-bbfb-4128-a7e8-70246496c6f3" data-vars-headline="Henrico to end Flock contract over privacy concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/ccpdva/posts/news-release-police-department-employee-arrestedchesterfield-va-on-august-27-202/1419416950382513/" target="_blank">Chesterfield Police employee was charged</a> with illegally using the system and other police databases.

Henrico HVAC woes reveal a bigger school maintenance problem

Henrico, Richmond and Chesterfield are confronting massive repair needs tied partly to aging HVAC systems.

The heat may be gone, but Henrico schools&#x27; HVAC problem isn&#x27;t, as weeks of mechanical failures exposed a much larger maintenance problem across the division.Why it matters: HVAC problems — and the money needed to fix them — have plagued Richmond-area school districts this year and, in some cases, cut into instructional time.

More stink bugs are invading Virginia homes this fall

The state's drought might explain why. But whatever you do, don't squish them.

Stink bugs are descending on Virginia.Why it matters: The invasive, famously smelly houseguests are popping up more than usual this fall, Virginia Tech entomologist Tom Kuhar tells Axios.<ul><li>And they&#x27;re currently crawling into attics, siding and sheds in search of a place to hibernate for the winter.</li></ul>

Richmond solar deal collapses as new investigation opens

Council didn't have the votes to bring it back. Then another problem emerged.

Mayor Avula formally pulled the plug on Richmond&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="embattled solar deal " data-vars-click-url="https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-solar-energy-proposal-fails-to-pass-as-council-meeting-turns-chaotic/" data-vars-content-id="518d7c6a-4707-403a-a81d-5dff24236372" data-vars-headline="Richmond solar deal collapses as new investigation opens" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.richmonder.org/richmond-solar-energy-proposal-fails-to-pass-as-council-meeting-turns-chaotic/" target="_blank">embattled solar deal </a>Friday night after learning of a potential relationship inside a city department that he said could jeopardize the legitimacy of the project.Why it matters: The revelation came after a last-ditch effort to revive part of the 25-year deal had already failed. Now the scrutiny is only growing, with a new City Hall review on top of the inspector general&#x27;s probe.

News 🗞

Hardywood buys Starr Hill in major Virginia beer deal

Richmond weighs hiring freeze as $17M budget deficit looms

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

Henrico takes first crack at RVA's recreational weed rules

Danger Pie opens Friday inside of Blanchard's on Morris