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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.

Where Virginia's college football players come from

Nearly 50% of football players at UVA and Virginia Tech — Virginia's Power 5 conference schools — came from our state in the past three years.

Sports

The era of hometown talent in college football is potentially becoming a thing of the past.Why it matters: The growing professionalization and commercialization of college athletics is reshaping the recruiting landscape,<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Axios&#x27; Simran Parwani reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/college-football-games-players-recruiting" data-vars-content-id="3d7a0379-b477-4c5e-9d24-86338bed2d42" data-vars-headline="Where Virginia&#x27;s college football players come from" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/college-football-games-players-recruiting" target="_self"> Axios&#x27; Simran Parwani reports</a>.

ESPN's College GameDay comes to JMU as postseason controversy mounts

Expect rowdiness and lots of snarky signs directed at the NCAA.

The biggest televised tailgate party in the country is in Harrisonburg this weekend, as a national movement continues to build around the undefeated and 18th-ranked <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Madison" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/10/24/james-madison-college-football-top-25-rankings" data-vars-content-id="2c28adce-2434-45fc-a148-167ecd59bae4" data-vars-headline="ESPN&#x27;s College GameDay comes to JMU as postseason controversy mounts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/10/24/james-madison-college-football-top-25-rankings" target="_self">James Madison</a> football team.Why it matters: Expect rowdiness and lots of snarky signs directed at the NCAA, the buzzkill governing body of college sports that continues to dampen the Dukes&#x27; magical season.

Ryan Odom leads new-look VCU men's basketball team

It's the start of a new era for the Rams, who are defending last season's A-10 tournament win.

Havoc is back — but with a twist this year. What&#x27;s happening: VCU men&#x27;s basketball and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new head coach Ryan Odom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/04/07/vcu-ryan-odom-basketball-uva" data-vars-content-id="fbb40c84-8763-4eb1-89a1-49066acdcdbd" data-vars-headline="Ryan Odom leads new-look VCU men&#x27;s basketball team" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2023/04/07/vcu-ryan-odom-basketball-uva" target="_self">new head coach Ryan Odom</a> tip the season off <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tonight at the Siegel Center" data-vars-click-url="https://vcutickets.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS%3AVCU%3AB23%3A02%3A&amp;linkID=vcu&amp;shopperContext=&amp;pc=&amp;caller=&amp;appCode=&amp;groupCode=MBKS&amp;cgc=&amp;dataAccId=738&amp;locale=en_US&amp;siteId=ev_vcu&amp;_ga=2.65338350.1150600264.1699013760-1586681686.1699013760" data-vars-content-id="fbb40c84-8763-4eb1-89a1-49066acdcdbd" data-vars-headline="Ryan Odom leads new-look VCU men&#x27;s basketball team" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://vcutickets.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS%3AVCU%3AB23%3A02%3A&amp;linkID=vcu&amp;shopperContext=&amp;pc=&amp;caller=&amp;appCode=&amp;groupCode=MBKS&amp;cgc=&amp;dataAccId=738&amp;locale=en_US&amp;siteId=ev_vcu&amp;_ga=2.65338350.1150600264.1699013760-1586681686.1699013760" target="_blank">tonight at the Siegel Center</a> against McNeese State.The intrigue: It&#x27;s the start of a new era for the Rams, who are defending <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="last season&#x27;s A-10 tournament win" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wric.com/sports/ncaa/ncaa-basketball/vcu-wins-a-10-championship-68-56-earn-ncaa-tournament-bid/" data-vars-content-id="fbb40c84-8763-4eb1-89a1-49066acdcdbd" data-vars-headline="Ryan Odom leads new-look VCU men&#x27;s basketball team" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wric.com/sports/ncaa/ncaa-basketball/vcu-wins-a-10-championship-68-56-earn-ncaa-tournament-bid/" target="_blank">last season&#x27;s A-10 tournament win</a> and NCAA Tournament bid with lots of new players and a new style of play.

JMU crashes college football Top 25 rankings

The Dukes rank 25th in both the media and coaches polls

Well, well. The center of Virginia&#x27;s college football universe in 2023 is not Blacksburg or Charlottesville — it&#x27;s Harrisonburg.Driving the news: Undefeated JMU nudged its way into the Top 25 after walloping Georgia Southern on Oct. 14 and defeating Marshall last Thursday. The Dukes are at No. 25 in both the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national media" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll" data-vars-content-id="60de75b6-a88c-4a09-bf13-baa961f30186" data-vars-headline="JMU crashes college football Top 25 rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll" target="_blank">national media</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="coaches" data-vars-click-url="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/ncaaf/coaches-poll" data-vars-content-id="60de75b6-a88c-4a09-bf13-baa961f30186" data-vars-headline="JMU crashes college football Top 25 rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sportsdata.usatoday.com/football/ncaaf/coaches-poll" target="_blank">coaches</a> polls.

Illustration of a spinning football on fire.

Squirrels CEO Todd “Parney” Parnell on his best Richmond day ever

The Squirrels' official mascot may be Nutzy, but true fans know the heart of the team is an energetic middle-aged man in goofy pants.

The Squirrels&#x27; official mascot may be Nutzy, but true fans know the heart of the team is an energetic middle-aged man in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="goofy pants" data-vars-click-url="https://richmond.com/sports/professional/parney-pants---bold-colorful-britches-with-distinctive-prints---get-day-at/article_44817853-23a8-545b-97ec-bf0e1a5fbdeb.html" data-vars-content-id="fed02736-1d3f-4931-b586-ee254b12bb58" data-vars-headline="Squirrels CEO Todd “Parney” Parnell on his best Richmond day ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://richmond.com/sports/professional/parney-pants---bold-colorful-britches-with-distinctive-prints---get-day-at/article_44817853-23a8-545b-97ec-bf0e1a5fbdeb.html" target="_blank">goofy pants</a>.What&#x27;s happening: Todd &quot;Parney&quot; Parnell, longtime CEO of the minor league team, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="stepped down Sept. 30" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wtvr.com/sports/parney-richmond-flying-squirrels-update-september-6-2023#:~:text=Todd%20%22Parney%22%20Parnell%2C%20the,for%20the%20next%20five%20years.&amp;text=RICHMOND%2C%20Va." data-vars-content-id="fed02736-1d3f-4931-b586-ee254b12bb58" data-vars-headline="Squirrels CEO Todd “Parney” Parnell on his best Richmond day ever" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wtvr.com/sports/parney-richmond-flying-squirrels-update-september-6-2023#:~:text=Todd%20%22Parney%22%20Parnell%2C%20the,for%20the%20next%20five%20years.&amp;text=RICHMOND%2C%20Va." target="_blank">stepped down Sept. 30</a>.<ul><li>He plans to stay in Richmond and continue working for the team as a part-time adviser.</li></ul>

Former Haxall Canal hydro plant could become a pickleball facility

The canal walk passes right through the mural-covered building.

Development

Canal-front pickleball could be coming to downtown Richmond.What&#x27;s happening: The developer behind a major pickleball facility in Henrico is under contract to buy the former Haxall Canal hydro plant, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per Richmond BizSense" data-vars-click-url="https://richmondbizsense.com/2023/09/27/pickleball-on-haxall-canal-developer-eyes-racquet-sports-venue-at-old-hydro-plant-building/" data-vars-content-id="9d546381-c48c-4b62-ac8f-6b2cba77a6f8" data-vars-headline="Former Haxall Canal hydro plant could become a pickleball facility" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://richmondbizsense.com/2023/09/27/pickleball-on-haxall-canal-developer-eyes-racquet-sports-venue-at-old-hydro-plant-building/" target="_blank">per Richmond BizSense</a>.

Flying Squirrels head to minor league playoffs

The Squirrels are once again up against the Erie SeaWolves.

The Richmond Flying Squirrels are in the Minor League Baseball Eastern League playoffs for the second year in a row.What&#x27;s happening: Game 1 is Tuesday at The Diamond, and the only one of the possible three games to take place in Richmond.

A new women's soccer team is coming to Richmond

The new team will be affiliated with the Richmond Kickers and play at City Stadium.

A new pre-professional soccer team is heading to Richmond.Driving the news: After a 15 year hiatus, a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="USL W league" data-vars-click-url="https://www.uslwleague.com/" data-vars-content-id="b40230f4-2199-411e-9389-54479cfaeaa0" data-vars-headline="A new women&#x27;s soccer team is coming to Richmond" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.uslwleague.com/" target="_blank">USL W league</a> back to Richmond for the summer 2024 season.

Illustration of a soccer ball wearing a crown

Richmond scores low in national bikeability ranking

The organization rated 1,484 U.S. cities on a scale of 0 to 100.

Richmond has some work to do when it comes to its bikeability, according to PeopleForBikes&#x27;s recent &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Best Places to Bike" data-vars-click-url="https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/2023s-best-places-to-bike" data-vars-content-id="50ad6b45-09a1-48e0-b8cf-02c2c479ea71" data-vars-headline="Richmond scores low in national bikeability ranking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.peopleforbikes.org/news/2023s-best-places-to-bike" target="_blank">Best Places to Bike</a>&quot; report.Driving the news: The organization rated 1,484 U.S. cities on a scale of 0 to 100, using factors like protected bike lanes, safe crossings, speed limits and connections throughout the city. A score of 50 or higher represents &quot;a great place to bike.&quot;

Horse racing returns to Colonial Downs with weekend dates

Churchill Downs Inc. — the parent company of the famed Kentucky Derby — bought the Colonial Downs track last year.

Weekend thoroughbred horse racing is back in Virginia starting this week and running through September at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Colonial Downs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.colonialdowns.com/racing/" data-vars-content-id="38e3ff55-df97-4a85-8807-9b1b1123537e" data-vars-headline="Horse racing returns to Colonial Downs with weekend dates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.colonialdowns.com/racing/" target="_blank">Colonial Downs</a> in New Kent.Driving the news: Churchill Downs Inc. — the parent company of the famed Kentucky Derby — bought the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Colonial Downs track last year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/churchill-downs-to-buy-colonial-downs-rosies-parent-company/" data-vars-content-id="38e3ff55-df97-4a85-8807-9b1b1123537e" data-vars-headline="Horse racing returns to Colonial Downs with weekend dates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/churchill-downs-to-buy-colonial-downs-rosies-parent-company/" target="_blank">Colonial Downs track last year</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced that races" data-vars-click-url="https://www.virginiahorseracing.com/2022/12/15/colonial-downs-receives-2023-race-date-approval-that-features-a-thursday-friday-saturday-schedule/" data-vars-content-id="38e3ff55-df97-4a85-8807-9b1b1123537e" data-vars-headline="Horse racing returns to Colonial Downs with weekend dates" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.virginiahorseracing.com/2022/12/15/colonial-downs-receives-2023-race-date-approval-that-features-a-thursday-friday-saturday-schedule/" target="_blank">announced that races</a> would move to weekends for the 2023 season.

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.

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.

“How’s that going for you”: Newsom zings DeSantis over Trump at Fox News debate

The debate put the governors' escalating public feud on stark display.

In a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="prime-time debate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/desantis-newsom-debate-2024-fox-news" data-vars-content-id="f40a8543-f36a-4dae-8b03-147f8d0b3d60" data-vars-headline="“How’s that going for you”: Newsom zings DeSantis over Trump at Fox News debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/30/desantis-newsom-debate-2024-fox-news" target="_self">prime-time debate</a> Thursday often dominated by Fox News host Sean Hannity trying to stop the two from shouting over each other, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="California Gov. Gavin Newsom" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/09/gavin-newsom-california-election-results" data-vars-content-id="f40a8543-f36a-4dae-8b03-147f8d0b3d60" data-vars-headline="“How’s that going for you”: Newsom zings DeSantis over Trump at Fox News debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/09/gavin-newsom-california-election-results" target="_self">California Gov. Gavin Newsom</a> repeatedly used former President Trump against <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/11/30/ron-desantis-gavin-newsom-debate-where-to-watch" data-vars-content-id="f40a8543-f36a-4dae-8b03-147f8d0b3d60" data-vars-headline="“How’s that going for you”: Newsom zings DeSantis over Trump at Fox News debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/11/30/ron-desantis-gavin-newsom-debate-where-to-watch" target="_self">Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis</a>.Driving the news: Newsom came in with a theme — that DeSantis is &quot;trying to out-Trump Trump&quot; in the GOP 2024 presidential primary race — and hammered the point home.

Florida Governor and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis (L) and California Governor Gavin Newsom (R) appear on screen from the press room during a debate held by Fox News, in Alpharetta, Georgia, on November 30, 2023.

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