The Virginia Supreme Court overturned the results of the state's redistricting referendum, which voters narrowly approved last month.

Why it matters: The 4-3 ruling upends one of the most closely watched redistricting fights in the country.

The big picture: The Friday decision says the amendment process pushed by Democrats violated the state constitution, effectively blocking the effort to redraw congressional maps mid-decade.

• The state spent $5.2 million to pay for the special election, while outside groups raised nearly $100 million.
• The new map would've shifted the state's congressional split from 6-5 to a 10-1 favoring Democrats in November's midterms.

Between the lines: Democrats said the redraw would've countered GOP gains in a closely divided U.S. House from mid-decade redistricting in other states.

• Republicans called it illegal and hyperpartisan.

Zoom in: A central part of the case concerned what qualifies as the "next general election" under Virginia's constitution.

• Virginia amendments must pass two General Assembly sessions: one before a House election (last November) and one after.
• Republicans argued that lawmakers had improperly advanced the amendment after early voting had already begun.
• Democrats said an "election" is a single day in November.

What they're saying: Siding with Republicans, the high court ruled that Virginia's "general election" includes early voting, not just Election Day.

• That violation "incurably taints" the referendum and invalidates the vote, per the ruling.

The other side: Virginia House Speaker Don Scott, a Democrat, said, "We respect the decision of the Supreme Court of Virginia."

• But Attorney General Jay Jones blasted the ruling as politically motivated and accused the court of "silenc[ing] the voices" of voters.
• Jones said his office is reviewing "every legal pathway forward."

Context: The Virginia Supreme Court rarely overturns election results, but it did in a 1958 case involving an unconstitutional Arlington law, per Cardinal News.

What we're watching: Virginia Democrats signaled Friday that they plan to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Full story

The second wave of the city's red-light camera rollout comes online this month.

Why it matters: It'll nearly double the number of intersections where drivers are automatically fined $50 for blowing through a red light.

Driving the news: Cameras at three more Richmond intersections have been installed and will be fully operational this month.

A 30-day warning period will begin once they turn on at:

• Hull Street and Cowardin Avenue in Manchester.
• Commerce Road at Maury Street in Manchester.
• Hull Street and Warwick Road, further west into South Richmond.

Zoom in: After that, red-light runners will be mailed a $50 citation, as they are at the four that turned on earlier this year north of the river.

• The city's first wave of cameras — at 25th and Main in Shockoe Bottom, Belvidere and Cary by VCU, and on Chamberlayne at Brookland Park and Laburnum in Northside — went up in February.

Stunning stat: Since then, drivers were caught running red lights 15,903 times at those four intersections through April 29, per the city.

What's next: Three more red lights are in the works.

Tell a driver

🤖 VCU and other Virginia schools using Canvas may have had student and staff data exposed in a massive nationwide cyberattack claimed by the hacking group ShinyHunters. (WRIC)

🏛️ U.S. House Dems fell into a state of anguish after Virginia's Supreme Court struck down the redistricting vote, with one offering a simple reaction in a text to Axios: "F*****ck!!" (Axios)

A Richmond police officer fatally shot a woman at The Belt Atlantic apartments last week after responding to reports of gunfire. (WWBT)

• This marks the second time an RPD officer has shot a resident this year.

🦠 State health officials are monitoring one Virginia traveler who returned home from the cruise tied to a deadly Hantavirus outbreak but say the overall public risk is low. (News release)

📰 The Richmond Free Press donated its 34-year archive documenting the lives of city's Black residents to the Richmond Public Library ahead of the sale of its downtown building. (The Richmonder)

VCU Police just dropped a new video campaign reminding students not to junk up city alleys and curbs with their unwanted stuff when they move out.

Why it matters: Saturday's commencement marked the start of peak move-out season for students living off campus.

Driving the news: The new campaign is VCU's latest attempt to stop students' annual mass alley dumping.

• When students move out, they frequently dump furniture, clothes and household items in the alleys and on curbs, creating headaches for locals.
• Instead, VCU asks students to donate their unwanted stuff, "cram big items into cans" and hold furniture for their bulk pickup week.

Fun fact: VCU gets annual complaints from the neighborhood associations near campus during move-out season, VCUPD spokesperson Jake Burns tells Axios.

Yes, but: While the exodus annoys locals, it's a great time for alley shopping.

• The alley hot spots include the lower Fan, Oregon Hill, Jackson Ward and Carver.

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A two-toed sloth is coming to the Science Museum of Virginia.

Why it matters: You won't get to hold it, but you can get up close with the famously slow creature starting next Saturday.

Driving the news: The sloth is part of a touring exhibition called "Survival of the Slowest" that's in town this summer.

• It's an educational showcase from Little Ray's Exhibitions about how animals seen as lazy actually use those traits to stay alive.
• And will turn the museum into a mini zoo with live creatures, like a hedgehog and ball python.

😔 Yes, but: The sloth will stay in its enclosure, museum spokesperson Miles McQuiggan tells Axios.

If you go: The exhibit run May 23-Sept. 7.

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