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Virginia medical weed prices rank among highest in U.S.

Patients pay about $10 a gram in Virginia, far above prices in states like Colorado.

News

Virginians are paying some of the highest weed prices in the nation through the state&#x27;s medical marijuana dispensaries. Why it matters: High prices have been cited as a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pain point" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/11/21/virginia-medical-weed-patients-high-prices-survey" data-vars-content-id="3647cb31-7c41-47ae-a1b9-781f6fbac46e" data-vars-headline="Virginia medical weed prices rank among highest in U.S." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/11/21/virginia-medical-weed-patients-high-prices-survey" target="_self">pain point</a> for Virginia medicinal weed patients, one that can push them out of state or to the black market.

NASA crew honors astronaut's late wife with Carroll moon crater

Carroll was a VCU and JMU grad born in Virginia Beach. She died in 2020 from cancer.

This week, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Artemis II" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/06/artemis-ii-distance-record-apollo-13" data-vars-content-id="e88fc89f-c24e-4dff-92a4-3cc7c9c1cc4b" data-vars-headline="NASA crew honors astronaut&#x27;s late wife with Carroll moon crater" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/06/artemis-ii-distance-record-apollo-13" target="_self">Artemis II</a> crew called down to mission control in Houston and asked to dedicate a moon crater to their commander&#x27;s late wife, Carroll Wiseman, who died from cancer in 2020.The big picture: The tribute carries her legacy into space, but Wiseman&#x27;s story started much closer to home.

What to know before going to CarMax Park

From parking and clear bag policies to food prices and fireworks nights, here's your full game-day guide.

Things to Do

Here&#x27;s everything to know if you&#x27;re planning to hit up a game for CarMax Park&#x27;s inaugural season.

CarMax Park suites, perks in Richmond range from $25 to $6,000

Fans can pay for everything from first pitches to party decks, with some luxury spaces sold out.

Sports

With CarMax Park, the Richmond Flying Squirrels are going all-in on game-day extras for 2026.Why it matters: If you want to book one of the premium, private suites, it might cost you anywhere from $800 to $6,000, according to figures shared with Axios.

Avula wants to bring back public spending data access — with limits

Officials have failed for years to follow Richmond's law. They say it's due to how labor intensive the process is.

Richmond hasn&#x27;t published a full public log of its spending, as required by its own law, since 2019.Why it matters: Now, city leaders say they want to amend the law to make compliance possible, a move past administrations attempted and were criticized for doing.

Top takeaways from Youngkin's Hannity interview

The former governor talked future plans, Trump ties and his Richmond election strategy.

Former Gov. Glenn Youngkin chatted with Sean Hannity about his time in office and future plans in an interview that aired this week. Why it matters: It&#x27;s the brief Richmonder&#x27;s first big interview since leaving office in January.

Shockoe Institute opens, confronting Richmond's role in slavery

How its exhibit begins: "American racial slavery began in Virginia. Richmond played a central role in its expansion."

One of the first messages visitors will see inside the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Shockoe Institute" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/04/07/shockoe-slave-trade-history-center" data-vars-content-id="4587d483-1ff5-4928-8783-4e756df83cfb" data-vars-headline="Shockoe Institute opens, confronting Richmond&#x27;s role in slavery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/04/07/shockoe-slave-trade-history-center" target="_self">Shockoe Institute</a> is a blunt, unflinching introduction to a history the city has long struggled to confront:<ul><li>&quot;American racial slavery began in Virginia. Richmond played a central role in its expansion.&quot;</li></ul><figure><img alt="Exhibition gallery with tall white panels bearing bold maroon text about hierarchy and racial slavery; maroon wall on left with white text; track lighting, curved white line on dark floor." height="4284" id="6af4fbc5-5c2f-48a8-8762-6e085e1fc64b" src="https://images.axios.com/uXrH_YlAZ1Omlb-O1IhyDH3fTg4=/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg" width="5712" srcset="https://images.axios.com/LwIdbm5oY7DHIsojoPJSJeSjtmI=/0x0:5712x4284/1920x1440/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=1920 1920w, https://images.axios.com/-Nm35MiE3_PmeavW19uL5QSsREI=/0x0:5712x4284/1600x1200/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=1600 1600w, https://images.axios.com/ZvlLWvLRDiF5LoHKkRi3VVOGzdY=/0x0:5712x4284/1366x1024/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=1366 1366w, https://images.axios.com/3qWT8-A8ZUjZ1ERUyXw-3gkWB98=/0x0:5712x4284/1024x768/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https://images.axios.com/uB4iplTZCTL_46sihpgkatfdQbU=/0x0:5712x4284/768x576/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=768 768w, https://images.axios.com/EKfTzWev4QfJ1eKCIME8FqUkElw=/0x0:5712x4284/640x480/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=640 640w, https://images.axios.com/WJ3UEx59v6PKnCydK8N8ENRYtl0=/0x0:5712x4284/320x240/2026/04/09/1775762471390.jpeg?w=320 320w"/><figcaption>Some of the first words you see upon entering the exhibit. Photo: Sabrina Moreno/Axios</figcaption></figure>State of play: The 12,000-square-foot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="institute" data-vars-click-url="https://www.shockoeinstitute.org/" data-vars-content-id="4587d483-1ff5-4928-8783-4e756df83cfb" data-vars-headline="Shockoe Institute opens, confronting Richmond&#x27;s role in slavery" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.shockoeinstitute.org/" target="_blank">institute</a>, housed within Main Street Station, is the first major piece of Richmond&#x27;s $265 million <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="4587d483-1ff5-4928-8783-4e756df83cfb" data-vars-headline="Shockoe Institute opens, confronting Richmond&#x27;s role in slavery" 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> — a sweeping, decades-in-the-making plan to memorialize the city&#x27;s part in the slave trade.

Virginia 250 celebrations ramp up across Richmond this month

From museum exhibits to reenactments, Richmond is already marking America's 250th anniversary.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="America&#x27;s 250th" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/trump-america-250-celebration-new-years-eve-dc" data-vars-content-id="a961e407-9fcd-43eb-a08d-5e0be16afdd9" data-vars-headline="Virginia 250 celebrations ramp up across Richmond this month" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/trump-america-250-celebration-new-years-eve-dc" target="_self">America&#x27;s 250th</a> is less than 100 days away, but you don&#x27;t have to wait until July 4 to celebrate. There&#x27;s already plenty happening just this month. Why it matters: A nation only turns 250 once, and Virginia played a pivotal role in its founding.

Meet Echo and Ozzy: Richmond's new Capitol Police pups

Echo was rescued from a shelter and Ozzy trained from scratch. Both are now on duty downtown.

Virginia Capitol Police just added two newly certified K-9s to its downtown Richmond unit. Why it matters: Echo and Ozzy are local pups who are now on duty, helping patrol the state government complex, per a news release.

VCU Health said it'd stop suing patients in 2019. Did it?

A new report says they didn't. VCU is disputing those findings.

VCU Health was one of the country&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most aggressive hospital debt collectors" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/hospital-billing" data-vars-content-id="084a6807-3a49-4bff-80e2-3499b398dd1b" data-vars-headline="VCU Health said it&#x27;d stop suing patients in 2019. Did it?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/hospital-billing" target="_self">most aggressive hospital debt collectors</a> until late 2019, when the Richmond-based hospital system <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pledged" data-vars-click-url="https://virginiamercury.com/2019/10/10/vcu-will-halt-lawsuits-against-patients-for-unpaid-bills/" data-vars-content-id="084a6807-3a49-4bff-80e2-3499b398dd1b" data-vars-headline="VCU Health said it&#x27;d stop suing patients in 2019. Did it?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://virginiamercury.com/2019/10/10/vcu-will-halt-lawsuits-against-patients-for-unpaid-bills/" target="_blank">pledged</a> to stop suing patients over unpaid bills.Why it matters: A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/cerc/documents/publications/research-data/Medical%20Debt%20Ecosystem-The%20Mechanized%20Wealth%20Extraction%20from%20Americas%20Patients.pdf" data-vars-content-id="084a6807-3a49-4bff-80e2-3499b398dd1b" data-vars-headline="VCU Health said it&#x27;d stop suing patients in 2019. Did it?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://med.stanford.edu/content/dam/sm/cerc/documents/publications/research-data/Medical%20Debt%20Ecosystem-The%20Mechanized%20Wealth%20Extraction%20from%20Americas%20Patients.pdf" target="_blank">new report</a> from Stanford and George Washington universities says it didn&#x27;t fully follow through — a finding VCU disputes.

Water flows again into Richmond's Byrd Park Reservoir

The west basin is filling for the first time in years as Richmond works to restore full capacity.

Water is flowing into the Byrd Park Reservoir west basin for the first time in nearly three years. Why it matters: The January 2025 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="water crisis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/13/richmond-water-crisis-timeline" data-vars-content-id="e5042f03-b5b3-4529-a74a-2b511bc616c4" data-vars-headline="Water flows again into Richmond&#x27;s Byrd Park Reservoir" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/13/richmond-water-crisis-timeline" target="_self">water crisis</a> may not have been as bad if the reservoir had been full when it happened.

CarMax Park opens amid $6.5M dispute, unclear VCU deal

As opening day arrives, there are unresolved questions about money and whether VCU will play at the ballpark.

A legal threat, a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$6.5 million funding dispute" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/27/carmax-park-flying-squirrels-funding-fight" data-vars-content-id="224f8fab-af0e-49e6-8397-bf7ba5c9bbd7" data-vars-headline="CarMax Park opens amid $6.5M dispute, unclear VCU deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/27/carmax-park-flying-squirrels-funding-fight" target="_self">$6.5 million funding dispute</a> and an unresolved VCU deal are hanging over Richmond&#x27;s new ballpark on opening day. Why it matters: Officials aren&#x27;t publicly saying where those fights stand, and taxpayer money <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="is on the line" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/03/05/diamond-district-taxpayer-risk-richmond-avula" data-vars-content-id="224f8fab-af0e-49e6-8397-bf7ba5c9bbd7" data-vars-headline="CarMax Park opens amid $6.5M dispute, unclear VCU deal" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/03/05/diamond-district-taxpayer-risk-richmond-avula" target="_self">is on the line</a>.

Virginia news deserts doubled in recent years

A new report shows 16 Virginia counties now lack local news, with rural areas hit hardest.

The number of &quot;news deserts&quot; in Virginia more than doubled between <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2023 and 2025" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/12/04/virginias-newspaper-decline" data-vars-content-id="eb5c34a8-4644-465c-83fa-becd69630b30" data-vars-headline="Virginia news deserts doubled in recent years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/12/04/virginias-newspaper-decline" target="_self">2023 and 2025</a>, per Northwestern&#x27;s Medill School of Journalism&#x27;s ongoing State of Local News project. Why it matters: Newspapers owned by small, independent groups are rapidly shuttering compared to those owned by large companies, usually leaving largely rural areas without a source of news.

News 🗞

Avula wants to bring back public spending data access — with limits

Top takeaways from Youngkin's Hannity interview

Shockoe Institute opens, confronting Richmond's role in slavery

Virginia 250 celebrations ramp up across Richmond this month

Meet Echo and Ozzy: Richmond's new Capitol Police pups