Richmond

Richmond Alerts

Alert

blue

Axios Richmond Partners

Axios Richmond

Standard

A picture of the Richmond skyline with the letters RIC

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Richmond.

Axios Richmond Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Richmond Members

Membership

Why Richmonders are rethinking their OBX summer vacations

More than 100 Axios Richmond readers shared their summer plans, and most aren't headed to the Outer Banks.

Travel

The Outer Banks still have Richmond in a chokehold, but the region&#x27;s summer travel habits are getting less predictable.Why it matters: A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="survey" data-vars-click-url="https://www.opinionstage.com/page/8b011bf4-cfdf-4b56-8c33-93be52ce1903" data-vars-content-id="c7167818-584e-4f25-ae2a-ac6c29376ffc" data-vars-headline="Why Richmonders are rethinking their OBX summer vacations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.opinionstage.com/page/8b011bf4-cfdf-4b56-8c33-93be52ce1903" target="_blank">survey</a> of over 100 Axios Richmond readers suggests Richmond&#x27;s summer vacation identity is becoming more diverse, shaped by rising costs, crowds and adventure.

Hundreds of travel influencers are taking over Richmond this week

Hundreds of creators from around the world are expected to share Richmond with their audiences.

News

Hundreds of travel content creators from across the globe converge on Richmond this week for the world&#x27;s largest trade conference of travel influencers. Why it matters: Locals can expect to see a lot #travel #content about #RVA popping up in their feeds this week and possibly beyond.

Richmond has taxed 2.8 million plastic bags — but who's paying?

The city has collected nearly $115,000 in revenue, but the state hasn't given them retailer-level data yet.

Richmond&#x27;s 5-cent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plastic bag tax" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/06/03/richmond-plastic-bag-tax-2026" data-vars-content-id="3e130dbf-2abf-4d68-bec7-55fa9679b208" data-vars-headline="Richmond has taxed 2.8 million plastic bags — but who&#x27;s paying?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/06/03/richmond-plastic-bag-tax-2026" target="_self">plastic bag tax</a> has generated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nearly $115,000" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rvagreen2050.com/bag-tax#revenue" data-vars-content-id="3e130dbf-2abf-4d68-bec7-55fa9679b208" data-vars-headline="Richmond has taxed 2.8 million plastic bags — but who&#x27;s paying?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rvagreen2050.com/bag-tax#revenue" target="_blank">nearly $115,000</a> in revenue and taxed 2.8 million bags since launching in January, but the city doesn&#x27;t know how many retailers are paying it — or which ones.Why it matters: That&#x27;s because enforcement falls to Virginia Tax, and a city official tells Axios that Richmond still hasn&#x27;t received a response from the state about how many businesses are participating.

12 Juneteenth events happening around Richmond this weekend

Free Lewis Ginter admission, Black history tours, live music, and fireworks are all on the calendar this weekend.

Things to Do

It&#x27;s Juneteenth weekend, which means the Richmond region is once again having celebration after celebration to commemorate the holiday.Why it matters: Juneteenth marks the day that enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free 2.5 years after the passing of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Emancipation Proclamation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/emancipation-proclamation?_ga=2.99815709.2051678155.1718302964-1692953947.1718131671" data-vars-content-id="7994a7bd-f2ba-465f-a99c-390c7fa079a9" data-vars-headline="12 Juneteenth events happening around Richmond this weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/emancipation-proclamation?_ga=2.99815709.2051678155.1718302964-1692953947.1718131671" target="_blank">Emancipation Proclamation</a>.

Endangered mussels return to Richmond-area waters

Hundreds of alewife floaters were planted in Hanover as part of efforts to improve Bay waterways.

A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="freshwater" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/07/02/virginia-maryland-chesapeake-bay-blue-crab" data-vars-content-id="5a389b8b-09c6-4333-8890-edbcf2d27610" data-vars-headline="Endangered mussels return to Richmond-area waters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2024/07/02/virginia-maryland-chesapeake-bay-blue-crab" target="_self">freshwater</a> mussel long extinct from some of the waters around Richmond is making a comeback: the alewife floater.Why it matters: Their return will help the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay and all its tributaries, including the James.

Henrico to start $300M water main construction this summer

That's two years ahead of schedule, reflecting the urgency around Henrico having a backup water source.

Water

Henrico is fast-tracking part of its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$300 million water main" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/10/07/henrico-county-water-pipeline-project-reduce-reliance-on-richmond" data-vars-content-id="2f28cfd3-bdaa-4e7e-856e-b27c9144010a" data-vars-headline="Henrico to start $300M water main construction this summer" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/10/07/henrico-county-water-pipeline-project-reduce-reliance-on-richmond" target="_self">$300 million water main</a> project, with construction starting this summer — about two years ahead of schedule.Why it matters: The accelerated timeline reflects Henrico officials&#x27; urgency around having a backup to Richmond&#x27;s water system, after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="last year&#x27;s crisis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/13/richmond-water-crisis-timeline" data-vars-content-id="2f28cfd3-bdaa-4e7e-856e-b27c9144010a" data-vars-headline="Henrico to start $300M water main construction this summer" 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">last year&#x27;s crisis</a> left parts of the region without drinkable water for days.

Free water refill station debuts in Richmond to mixed reaction

Some people joke they don't trust it after last year's water crisis. But the water is fully filtered.

<figure><img alt="a video of a hand with a water bottle filling up at a refill station behind a fence." height="450" id="48a0b0d5-d330-4b32-87fd-843b226847ef" src="https://images.axios.com/rOelxf-YatXqzrEb1lwLZs5ZZRk=/2026/04/16/1776299986527.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>I went to the Broad Street refill station after hours so I had to reach through a gate to access it. Still worked, though. Video: Sabrina Moreno/Axios</figcaption></figure>A local marketing agency just put up a free, filtered water refill station on Broad Street.Why it matters: Not everyone <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="on social media" data-vars-click-url="https://bit.ly/4dQ4UfI" data-vars-content-id="075ee406-0596-485d-806d-28c3c5af9625" data-vars-headline="Free water refill station debuts in Richmond to mixed reaction" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bit.ly/4dQ4UfI" target="_blank">on social media</a> is convinced, even in this heat.

There are 500 trout in Byrd Park waiting to be caught

Here's what to know about the spot state officials call "one of the best-kept secrets" for trout fishing.

State officials (and yours truly) delivered a fresh batch of about 500 rainbow and brown trout into <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Byrd Park&#x27;s Shields Lake" data-vars-click-url="https://dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/shields-lake/" data-vars-content-id="969c42ce-b7d1-470b-bf06-1723c1064fb3" data-vars-headline="There are 500 trout in Byrd Park waiting to be caught" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dwr.virginia.gov/waterbody/shields-lake/" target="_blank">Byrd Park&#x27;s Shields Lake</a> on Monday.Why it matters: Trout stocking season in Richmond has begun.

New Virginia law requires water emergency alerts within 2 hours

It was partly prompted by Richmond's water crisis and goes into effect July 1.

A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Virginia law" data-vars-click-url="https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2749" data-vars-content-id="decf1381-d896-4543-8fbf-3e980b3225d3" data-vars-headline="New Virginia law requires water emergency alerts within 2 hours" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2749" target="_blank">new Virginia law</a> will require waterworks operators to tell state officials of severe water emergencies within two hours of finding the problem.Why it matters: The legislation was partly prompted by — you guessed it – the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="January crisis " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/13/richmond-water-crisis-timeline" data-vars-content-id="decf1381-d896-4543-8fbf-3e980b3225d3" data-vars-headline="New Virginia law requires water emergency alerts within 2 hours" 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">January crisis </a>that had hundreds of thousands of residents in the Richmond area without running water for days.

April Bingham breaks silence on Richmond water crisis

In an interview with WTVR, she said "You needed a scapegoat and April Bingham was it."

April Bingham, Richmond&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="former public utilities director" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/15/richmond-department-utilities-director-resigns" data-vars-content-id="586f24ad-32c0-46c1-8899-047d938d2baa" data-vars-headline="April Bingham breaks silence on Richmond water crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/15/richmond-department-utilities-director-resigns" target="_self">former public utilities director</a>, sat down with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="WTVR" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/tyler-layne-april-bingham-interview-march-19-2025" data-vars-content-id="586f24ad-32c0-46c1-8899-047d938d2baa" data-vars-headline="April Bingham breaks silence on Richmond water crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/tyler-layne-april-bingham-interview-march-19-2025" target="_blank">WTVR</a> to share her side of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the water crisis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/13/richmond-water-crisis-timeline" data-vars-content-id="586f24ad-32c0-46c1-8899-047d938d2baa" data-vars-headline="April Bingham breaks silence on Richmond water crisis" 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">the water crisis</a> for the first time.The big picture: Her version of the events that <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="left residents without water" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/13/richmond-water-crisis-timeline" data-vars-content-id="586f24ad-32c0-46c1-8899-047d938d2baa" data-vars-headline="April Bingham breaks silence on Richmond water crisis" 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">left residents without water</a> for nearly three days, and ultimately led to her firing, can be summed up with one of her quotes: &quot;You needed a scapegoat, and April Bingham was it.&quot;

Stove explosion goes viral for creating Virginia-shaped shard

By Monday afternoon, the TikTok from Richmond resident Daisy Charette had over 3.3 million views.

When a Richmonder went to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="boil the tap water" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/11/richmond-henrico-lift-boil-water-advisory-ends" data-vars-content-id="580d953a-044e-4932-b535-a36d563af4be" data-vars-headline="Stove explosion goes viral for creating Virginia-shaped shard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/11/richmond-henrico-lift-boil-water-advisory-ends" target="_self">boil the tap water</a> last week, the electric stove blew up.Why it matters: One of the pieces shattered into a shard shaped like Virginia sans the Eastern Shore, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="per a TikTok" data-vars-click-url="https://bitly.cx/3xDD" data-vars-content-id="580d953a-044e-4932-b535-a36d563af4be" data-vars-headline="Stove explosion goes viral for creating Virginia-shaped shard" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bitly.cx/3xDD" target="_blank">per a TikTok</a> — and people can&#x27;t get enough of it.

From pooping outside to brushing with La Croix: how Richmonders survived the water crisis

Some pooped outside, brushed their teeth with La Croix and questioned whether to boil their bong water.

When Richmond&#x27;s<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" running water" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/08/richmond-water-crisis-update-hanover-henrico" data-vars-content-id="3a543628-5e7c-426f-9695-7b2e85005226" data-vars-headline="From pooping outside to brushing with La Croix: how Richmonders survived the water crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/01/08/richmond-water-crisis-update-hanover-henrico" target="_self"> running water</a> ran out last week, people resorted to pooping in bags, throwing snow in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="toilet tanks" data-vars-click-url="https://bitly.cx/gQoLu" data-vars-content-id="3a543628-5e7c-426f-9695-7b2e85005226" data-vars-headline="From pooping outside to brushing with La Croix: how Richmonders survived the water crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bitly.cx/gQoLu" target="_blank">toilet tanks</a> and brushing their teeth with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="La Croix" data-vars-click-url="https://bitly.cx/c8gD" data-vars-content-id="3a543628-5e7c-426f-9695-7b2e85005226" data-vars-headline="From pooping outside to brushing with La Croix: how Richmonders survived the water crisis" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://bitly.cx/c8gD" target="_blank">La Croix</a>.