Axios Richmond

April 02, 2026
Woohoo! It's Thursday.
π§οΈ Today's weather: Mostly sunny then slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high of 86 and a low of 61.
π§ Sounds like: "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley.
π Happy birthday to our Axios Richmond members Karen Redford and Julia Mattingly!
Today's newsletter is 1,063 words β a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: π€ Richmond jobs at risk
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the local job market and is likely to hit entry-level and younger workers particularly hard, a pair of recent reports found.
Why it matters: Younger workers and college grads were already facing a grim and "frozen" job market and AI is likely to make it worse.
The big picture: Roughly 1.5 million Virginia jobs could be affected by AI in the coming years, per a Virginia Chamber Foundation report looking at the effect of the technology on statewide jobs.
- "Affected" here doesn't mean eliminated, the report notes, but that some tasks are likely to be automated or augmented by AI, which could ultimately lead to fewer roles in the future.
- Software developers, retail salespeople, managers, customer service reps and office clerks are among the careers in Virginia with the "greatest AI exposure" risk, for workers of all ages.
- But younger workers (ages 21β35) are likely to feel the risk exposure more acutely for those fields and more because entry-level tasks are the ones most likely to be automated.
By the numbers: In the Richmond region, 240,000 jobs (34.3% of all jobs) face AI exposure β that's the second-highest share in Virginia behind Northern Virginia, per the report.
- That includes 77,300 "young worker jobs."
- Statewide, nearly 500,000 young worker jobs are at risk of AI exposure.
Meanwhile, a separate report from the Greater Washington Partnership looking at the tech labor market in the Baltimore-to-Richmond region found that AI is already reshaping entry-level roles.
- Between 2022 and 2025 the number of tech job postings in the Baltimore-to-Richmond region plummeted, dropping by 45%β54% for financial managers, data scientists and other computer-related jobs.
- Senior-level job postings also declined for the same fields over the same period, but only by 4%β28%.
The bottom line: AI isn't wiping out jobs β yet β but it's rapidly shifting work and hiring.
2. π Gilpin Court residents still waiting
It's been over three months since Mayor Avula and RRHA struck a deal to work together on redeveloping Gilpin Court, the city's largest public housing complex.
Why it matters: Officials hailed it as a move that put residents first. Residents say they're still waiting to see what's actually changed.
State of play: In a statement last week, the resident-led Gilpin Informed Residents group called for "immediate accountability" on the standards Avula set for the project last fall, saying they haven't been met.
- The group wants a pause on evictions until those promises are put in writing.
- Their conditions include a tenants' bill of rights, resident-involved oversight committee and guaranteed one-for-one, on-site replacement of all 781 Gilpin units.
The latest: The city and the public housing authority haven't signed off on the agreements needed to make the plan legally binding, city spokesperson Ross Catrow confirmed to Axios.
- Catrow said they expect to introduce it to City Council "in the coming weeks," where it'll later be up for public comment.
- RRHA and the tenants group didn't respond to Axios' requests for comment.
What they're saying: "This is not just a public housing issue," the group wrote, warning that displacement "creates a ripple effect of housing instability" that affects Richmond's schools and workforce.
3. π The Current: Another toll hike
πΈ Pocahontas Parkway tolls went up yesterday and are now $6.15 (up from $5.95) at the Main Toll Plaza and $3.55 (up from $3.45) at the Laburnum/New Market and Airport Drive ramps. (News release)
π The city's Operation Vaporize vape shop building code enforcement initiative restarts Tuesday. It's been on pause since early March. (The Richmonder)
ποΈ A NoVa-based developer bought a 6-acre former parking lot at at 4400 W. Broad St. last week for $11.5 million. (BizSense)
- A 300-unit apartment complex will rise on the site, which straddles the Richmond-Henrico line.
π Richmond is reducing the speed limit on Westover Hills Boulevard, between Forest Hill Avenue and the Nickel Bridge, to 25mph in mid-April. (News release)
βΎοΈ The Flying Squirrels will televise six games on CW Richmond this season. (News release)
4. π£ Easter weekend plans
Richmond is packed with ways to get out and explore this Easter weekend.
Friday
π First Fridays Artwalk is on in the Arts District, with the free trolley back for the season and expanded pop-up markets. Starts at 5pm. Free.
π₯ Marvels of Media Festival, a sensory-friendly film fest featuring short flicks from media makers with autism, runs through Saturday at the Byrd Theatre. Tickets start at $6.33.
Saturday
π Dominion Energy Family Easter at Maymont is on, with kid-friendly activities, dancing Easter egg hunt and more. 9am-3pm. $7 for adults.
π€ There's a Back to the 80s: Sing-Along Brunch at Harry's at Hofheimer with a DJ spinning all the "classics." 11am and 1:30pm. $15, not including brunch.
πΆ Take your pup to get a pic with the Easter Bunny at Ruff Canine Club's Easter Party. 1-4pm. $10.
Sunday
π£ Easter on Parade βΒ the bonnet-wearing, kid face-painting, dog-costume stroll you never want to miss β is back on Monument Avenue. 1-5pm. Free.
Keep reading for Easter egg hunts and an Easter Bunny DJ
Things to do
π Upcoming events around the city.
Spring Break at Kings Dominion now through Apr 5: There's no better way to enjoy Spring Break with friends and family than creating new memories at Kings Dominion with some of your favorite rides and attractions!
- For the best value, take advantage of the Spring Sale that provides a Free Upgrade to a Gold Pass for the price of a Silver at $89.
5. π€€ 1 black and gold mayo to go
Sabrina here, back with our annual roundup of the best local April Fools' jokes that popped up on the worst holiday for gullible people.
Why it matters: I wish some of them had been real.
π VCU's Black and Gold mayonnaise
In a full blown hype video, VCU introduced a limited edition black and gold mayo (mostly gobs of black goo) that reps the Rams "one spread at a time."
- They also had students do a taste test.
π Cable car over the James River
Richmond was this close to being more European after Venture Richmond said plans had been approved for a cable system over the James River.
- At $2 per ride, it would've been the cheapest romantic date around.
βοΈ A nonstop flight to Norfolk
Richmond airport capitalized on how many people hate the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and announced a 30-minute nonstop to Norfolk β starting April 31.
Keep reading for ones about goats and bike lanes
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that it's the Hampton Roads tunnel (not the Chesapeake Bay Bridge one) that Richmonders take to get to Norfolk.
β½οΈ Sabrina just saw regular gas prices that started at over $4 and now thinks it's time to start walking everywhere.
π€ Karri paid $4.01 a gallon this week and is still pissed about it.
Thanks to Karri Peifer for editing today's edition
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