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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.

Bettors grow more confident Virginia redistricting vote will pass

That optimism runs counter to the growing anxiety among Democrats.

People are betting that Virginia&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="redistricting referendum" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/06/virginia-redistricting-map-richmond-nova-midterms" data-vars-content-id="5a67a115-3355-437a-b350-5f8e905b73b6" data-vars-headline="Bettors grow more confident Virginia redistricting vote will pass" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/06/virginia-redistricting-map-richmond-nova-midterms" target="_self">redistricting referendum</a> will pass, and the odds have only grown more confident in recent days.Why it matters: That optimism runs counter to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="growing anxiety" data-vars-click-url="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/26/abigail-spanberger-virginia-redistricting-election-00845675" data-vars-content-id="5a67a115-3355-437a-b350-5f8e905b73b6" data-vars-headline="Bettors grow more confident Virginia redistricting vote will pass" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/26/abigail-spanberger-virginia-redistricting-election-00845675" target="_blank">growing anxiety</a> among Democrats due to strong early voting turnout in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Republican-leaning districts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/03/23/virginia-redistricting-referendum-early-voting-turnout-gop-vs-dem-richmond-vpap" data-vars-content-id="5a67a115-3355-437a-b350-5f8e905b73b6" data-vars-headline="Bettors grow more confident Virginia redistricting vote will pass" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/03/23/virginia-redistricting-referendum-early-voting-turnout-gop-vs-dem-richmond-vpap" target="_self">Republican-leaning districts</a>.

Mayor Avula bets on inspiration-first State of the City

It's unclear whether it'll resonate with residents navigating federal uncertainty and rising housing costs.

In an unusual change from past administrations, Mayor Danny Avula spent his State of the City passing the mic to local leaders instead of giving a traditional speech.Why it matters: The format showed his administration is betting on an inspiration-first governing style built around storytelling and community voices.<ul><li>It&#x27;s unclear whether it&#x27;ll resonate with residents navigating rising housing and utility costs, pedestrian deaths, and immigration crackdowns.</li></ul>

Richmond named "City of Darkness" over public records fight

A national watchdog criticized how the city handles FOIA documents as a high-stakes case unfolds.

Richmond is drawing national scrutiny over its transparency practices and how it&#x27;s handled the high-profile lawsuit involving <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Connie Clay." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/25/richmond-foia-lawsuit-connie-clay-costs" data-vars-content-id="b6993583-d400-4164-ae0a-a980302dfafb" data-vars-headline="Richmond named &quot;City of Darkness&quot; over public records fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/25/richmond-foia-lawsuit-connie-clay-costs" target="_self">Connie Clay.</a>Why it matters: That criticism is placing the city alongside prominent examples of secrecy or obstruction involving the Department of Homeland Security and DOGE.

Guns, wages, weed: The bills Virginia GA sent to Spanberger

How she handles them could define how far Democrats will be able to push their agenda under unified control.

The General Assembly may have adjourned this weekend without a budget deal, but it also passed and sent hundreds of other bills to Gov. Spanberger. Why it matters: How she handles them could define how far state Democrats will be able to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="push their agenda" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/19/virginia-minimum-wage-gun-ban-paid-leave-bills?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_richmond&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="bdfb8d6d-e3ab-49f3-8072-14903adca5c2" data-vars-headline="Guns, wages, weed: The bills Virginia GA sent to Spanberger" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2026/02/19/virginia-minimum-wage-gun-ban-paid-leave-bills?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_richmond&amp;stream=top" target="_self">push their agenda</a> under unified control.

Why Virginia still doesn't have a budget

The holdup: Data centers' massive tax breaks.

Virginia lawmakers blew past a key deadline to finalize the state&#x27;s two-year budget, and the holdup came down to a billion-dollar question: Should data centers keep their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="massive tax break" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/12/03/watchdog-report-virginia-data-centers-incentive-funds-2015-2024" data-vars-content-id="02804217-de8d-4e73-abd9-537cc5a4c9f9" data-vars-headline="Why Virginia still doesn&#x27;t have a budget" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/12/03/watchdog-report-virginia-data-centers-incentive-funds-2015-2024" target="_self">massive tax break</a>?Why it matters: The exemption saved the data center industry between $1.6 billion and $1.9 billion in taxes in fiscal year 2025.

Virginia's quirkiest bills: Porn tax, fungi and more

It's once again time to look at some of the interesting bills lawmakers proposed this session.

It&#x27;s once again time to look at some of the quirky or interesting bills lawmakers proposed this session. Why it matters: Hidden among the more than 3,000 bills filed are a few gems, like ones aimed at taxing porn, studying fungi and more.

Lawmakers launch caucus to save Virginia's NASCAR tracks

From Richmond Raceway to Martinsville, racing leaders warn Virginia's tracks are under threat.

Virginia gave NASCAR some of its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="earliest speedways" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nascar.com/gallery/historic-moments-at-martinsville/" data-vars-content-id="f596d3ba-c260-43a0-8500-dd4087d4888b" data-vars-headline="Lawmakers launch caucus to save Virginia&#x27;s NASCAR tracks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nascar.com/gallery/historic-moments-at-martinsville/" target="_blank">earliest speedways</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="legendary short tracks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/03/11/southside-speedway-racing-returns-chesterfield" data-vars-content-id="f596d3ba-c260-43a0-8500-dd4087d4888b" data-vars-headline="Lawmakers launch caucus to save Virginia&#x27;s NASCAR tracks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/03/11/southside-speedway-racing-returns-chesterfield" target="_self">legendary short tracks</a> and its first Black champion: Wendell Scott. Why it matters: Now the state is trying to figure out how to keep the struggling sport alive for the next generation of Virginians.

Richmond utility bills could rise under Mayor Avula's $1.1B budget

The record city budget boosts school funding and housing investment — with tradeoffs.

Mayor Avula presented the largest budget in Richmond&#x27;s history to City Council this week, calling it a &quot;roadmap to a thriving Richmond.&quot;Why it matters: That roadmap includes utility bills going up by nearly $14 a month, or $166 per year, starting this summer.

Politics 🇺🇸

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

Top takeaways from Youngkin's Hannity interview

Bettors grow more confident Virginia redistricting vote will pass

Mayor Avula bets on inspiration-first State of the City

Richmond named "City of Darkness" over public records fight