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Exclusive: Richmond has more empty apartments — and rising rents

Vacancies have climbed as new units opened, yet Richmond renters are still paying more than last year.

News

There are a lot of apartments sitting empty in metro Richmond, per new vacancy data the CoStar Group shared exclusively with Axios. Why it matters: Richmond has more apartments available after a record building boom, but that hasn&#x27;t solved the region&#x27;s housing crisis — especially for renters who can&#x27;t afford the new supply.

Richmond wages rise even as the region sheds jobs

Metro Richmond lost 10,400 jobs over the past year, but base pay still rose 3.3% in August.

U.S. employers added <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="162,000 jobs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/04/august-jobs-federal-reserve-trump" data-vars-content-id="4e66d282-a91b-403a-8db7-617a1004c6ad" data-vars-headline="Richmond wages rise even as the region sheds jobs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/04/august-jobs-federal-reserve-trump" target="_self">162,000 jobs</a> in August, while the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unemployment rate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/02/august-jobs-manufacturing-adp" data-vars-content-id="4e66d282-a91b-403a-8db7-617a1004c6ad" data-vars-headline="Richmond wages rise even as the region sheds jobs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/09/02/august-jobs-manufacturing-adp" target="_self">unemployment rate</a> held steady at 4.1%, the Labor Department said on Friday.Why it matters: The better-than-expected report is fresh evidence of the labor market&#x27;s resilience, easing fears that a hiring slowdown had taken hold.

Scoop: Richmond wants to push Virginia to lower BAC limit

The idea, aimed at reducing traffic crashes, has struggled nationwide — and Richmond-area lawmakers aren't sold yet.

Richmond officials are considering asking Virginia lawmakers to drop the state&#x27;s blood alcohol content limit from 0.08 to 0.05, Axios has learned.Why it matters: The move could pull Virginia into a growing national debate over lowering BAC limits to reduce alcohol-related crashes — a push that&#x27;s repeatedly stalled in statehouses.

14 things to do in Richmond this Labor Day weekend

From First Fridays to Dolly karaoke, Richmond has plenty going on for the long holiday weekend.

Things to Do

It&#x27;s unofficially the last weekend of summer. Here are a few cool things to do if you&#x27;re stuck in town.

How Bliley's is reshaping the role of the funeral home

This local funeral home gives families more room to honor someone through rituals that reflect who they were.

Partners

Families often spend a loved one&#x27;s final days showing care in small, intimate ways.Carey Bliley, president of Bliley&#x27;s Funeral Homes, believes that care shouldn&#x27;t end when funeral planning begins.Why it&#x27;s important: After a loss, families need ways to begin adjusting to life without them, and ritual can give that process structure.

How Richmond became a hub for complex medical care

The most complicated medical cases can require more than standard care, from specialized clinical teams to research-informed treatment options.

Health

<div data-sponsor-disclosure="&quot;{&quot;logoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://images.axios.com/LFwy68Byrdsl_0wBvbyJx6FtAms=/2026/08/25/1787680939520.png&quot;,&quot;headline&quot;:&quot;A message from: VCU Health&quot;}&quot;"></div><div style="display:none"></div>The most complicated medical cases can require more than standard care, from specialized clinical teams to research-informed treatment options.The landscape: As care becomes more specialized, patients with serious or unusual conditions increasingly rely on medical centers that concentrate those resources close to home.

Your plans for America's 250th anniversary in Richmond

Explore Virginia's role in 250 years of American history at two free summer festivals.

The Virginia Museum of History &amp; Culture (VMHC) is marking America&#x27;s 250th anniversary with two free summer festivals that build community and shine a light on the stories that continue to define America.Why it&#x27;s important: The ideas that led to the American Revolution and a new democratic government began right here in Virginia.<ul><li>The VMHC&#x27;s work highlights the full American story, from the household names of America&#x27;s Founding Fathers to the everyday Virginians who made it all possible.</li></ul>

Make Memorial Day plans with rides, slides and savings

Build the perfect Memorial Day weekend at Kings Dominion with two parks in one.

Spring is giving way to summer — and around Richmond, Memorial Day weekend is the kickoff to hotter weather, longer days and cooling off the fun way.What you need to know: Kings Dominion is leaning into the season with Memorial Day weekend operations running May 22-25 and Soak City water park officially opening on May 23.<ul><li>Plus, the park&#x27;s Memorial Day Sale is live, offering up to 50% off tickets, passes and more through May 25.</li></ul>

Kings Dominion brings big coasters and family fun to Richmond

Kings Dominion's Spring Sale through April 5 includes a free upgrade to a Gold Pass with access to more parks and free parking.

Spring break is around the corner, and summer isn&#x27;t far behind — for families around Richmond, that means one thing: time to get out and make some memories.What you need to know: Kings Dominion is opening daily from March 28 to April 5, giving families a go-to destination during spring break.<ul><li>The park will stay open on select days afterward, keeping the momentum going as the 2026 season ramps up.</li><li>Plus, get free access to more parks — and free parking — with a free upgrade to a Gold Pass during the Six Flags&#x27; Spring Sale.</li></ul>

Explore the history of immigration in Virginia

"We the People" at Virginia Museum of History & Culture opens March 21 to tell 250 years of stories of U.S. immigrants.

People from around the world have shaped Virginia&#x27;s story for more than two centuries — building businesses, strengthening communities and redefining what it means to be American.What you need to know: A new exhibition at the Virginia Museum of History &amp; Culture, &quot;We the People: The World in Our Commonwealth,&quot; is a signature component of the museum&#x27;s multi-year slate commemorating America&#x27;s 250th anniversary.<ul><li>It opens March 21 and runs through Sept. 7 at the museum&#x27;s Arthur Ashe Boulevard campus.</li></ul>

RetirePath helps Virginians save for the future

RetirePath offers IRAs for all Virginians — no employer required.

Business

Roughly half of workers in the U.S. don&#x27;t have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan — and nearly one in five older Americans report having no retirement savings at all.A solution: In 2023, Virginia started a simple, state-sponsored solution called <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="RetirePath" data-vars-click-url="https://www.retirepathva.com/" data-vars-content-id="3067bd26-4f01-4334-bffa-dd37798d2980" data-vars-headline="RetirePath helps Virginians save for the future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.retirepathva.com/" target="_blank">RetirePath</a> that unlocks personal access to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) — without the need for an employer sponsor —and helps workers save directly from their paychecks.

Make history part of your holiday plans this season

Find family fun, festive events and inspiring exhibits at this Richmond museum this holiday season.

The holidays are here — and Richmond&#x27;s Virginia Museum of History &amp; Culture (VMHC) is a way to spend time with your community while making a difference.Why it&#x27;s important: Supporting VMHC helps ensure Virginia&#x27;s stories — from every community and era — continue to be preserved and shared in a fuller, more inclusive way.

New exhibition honors key role Virginia played in forging the nation

Virginia Museum of History & Culture's newest exhibit, "Give Me Liberty: Virginia & the Forging of a Nation," is now on display.

The Virginia Museum of History &amp; Culture (VMHC) is gearing up for a big year to honor the United States of America&#x27;s 250th anniversary in 2026.The story: The commemoration kicks off with a brand new exhibition — &quot;Give Me Liberty: Virginia &amp; The Forging of a Nation&quot; — on view at the museum from March 22, 2025 through Jan. 4, 2026.<ul><li>Developed in partnership with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and VA250, Virginia&#x27;s semiquincentennial planning commission, the groundbreaking exhibition will be the first of its kind to open in the nation.</li></ul>

Creations from 1 million LEGO® bricks on display at new exhibition

A 23.5-foot-long Titanic replica and more than 100 other model vehicles constructed from nearly 1 million LEGO® bricks are on view now at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture.

A 23.5-foot-long Titanic replica and more than 100 other model vehicles constructed from nearly 1 million LEGO® bricks are on view now at the Virginia Museum of History &amp; Culture.