The early Saturday morning mass shooting in Shockoe Bottom was the latest in a string of violence going back decades in one of Richmond's oldest neighborhoods.

Why it matters: The Bottom's recent history shows that high-profile violence can become a tipping point prompting lasting policy changes.

State of play: Shockoe Bottom has a long and complicated history, but the flood-prone valley as a Richmond nightlife destination didn't really begin until the mid-1980s and super-charged in the mid-'90s, after the Floodwall was completed.

• After the district was mostly protected from frequent flooding, developers flocked in, converting old warehouses and buildings into apartments and retail, Style Weekly reported.
• New restaurants, clubs and music venues quickly joined existing Shockoe spots, like Bird in Hand, Chetti's, Moondance and the Flood Zone.
• By the early aughts, Shockoe Bottom had arrived. The nightlife destination offered high-end restaurants like Havana '59 and Julep's, live music at Alley Katz and The Bottom Line and dancing and debauchery in Tiki Bob's and Have a Nice Day Cafe, plus dozens more.

Zoom in: Just as the Bottom's upswing began, so did the violence. By mid-2004, Richmond Police started ramping up patrols in the neighborhood after nine people were shot, per Style.

• It wouldn't matter. The end of summer brought Hurricane Gaston, which left much of the Bottom submerged. It took some businesses two years to recover. Some never did.
• In 2010, the Bottom was back, but not the same. Another spate of violence brought another round of increased police attention, Style reported.

Yes, but: The Bottom was improving. Between 2005 and 2010, Shockoe Bottom was on track to see a 50% decline in major crimes, per Style.

• But by then, the Bottom had a perception problem, it seemed.

The latest: Guns — the sheer number of them on the streets and in the hands of crowds flocking to Shockoe Bottom on the weekends — are the problem, Richmond Police chief Rick Edwards said in response to the Saturday shooting.

• RPD Major Crimes is investigating the shooting and asking anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.

Go deeper

Virginia health officials are reporting a rise in measles cases as vaccination rates in most localities fall below the threshold experts say is needed to prevent outbreaks.

Why it matters: The state has already reported 10 cases this year, double the total recorded in 2025. Six involve among children younger than 5.

Zoom in: Nearly all of those cases are from NoVa, including two that the Virginia Department of Health confirmed last week.

By the numbers: The CDC recommends two doses of the measles vaccine for children by age 6 and a 95% vaccination coverage rate to limit spread.

• Recent VDH data updated last week shows the two-dose rate for 5-year-olds statewide is 73% and rises to 86% by age 7.
• Among 5-year-olds in the Richmond area, only Richmond (80%) and Petersburg (75%) are above 70%.
• Some of the lowest rates: Goochland (63%) and Hanover (66%).

Threat level: These rates figures are well below Virginia's 2024 vaccination rates among kindergarteners, according to a Washington Post analysis.

• That year, dozens of Virginia cities and counties were above the 95% threshold.
• Others — including Henrico, Chesterfield, Richmond and Petersburg — fell short but were close to the benchmark.
• Goochland, which now has one of the lowest rates in the area, had the highest (97%).

What the first-dose coverage looks like

🎰 Two state lawmakers are questioning the legality of Richmond's Rosie's location on Midlo Turnpike expanding from the state-approved number of 700 slots-like gambling machines to nearly 1,200. (The Richmonder)

• A former Virginia Racing Commission staffer approved the additional ones via email in late 2024.

A local defense attorney told RTD that all seven Richmond Circuit Court judges likely recused themselves from former DPU director April Bingham's wrongful termination lawsuit because they live within city limits. (Times-Dispatch)

• That means they were probably affected like the rest of us by the January 2025 water crisis.
• Richmond Circuit Court Clerk Edward Jewett declined to comment to RTD.

🍼 The Children's Hospital of Richmond has opened the state's first breast milk depot, where pre-screened parents can donate milk for premature and medically fragile babies. (WTVR)

• The milk will then be pasteurized and distributed to hospitals across the East Coast.

🍗 Lillie Pearl is now open in its new digs in the old And Dim Sum in Jackson Ward. (Instagram)

Sabrina here. I can't stop going back to Griffin, the new Carytown coffee shop in front of Tokyo Market.

Why it matters: Hanging out there feels like being at your favorite family member's house.

The big picture: Griffin, a Yemeni-style coffee shop from the owners of a Petersburg cafe with the same name, soft-opened this month in the former Claudia's Bake Shop space.

• It's aiming for a grand opening in the coming weeks, according to staff.

Zoom in: The coffee is delicious, its baklava and carrot cake decadent and the space intimate.

• But one of the real stars is owner Faris Al Sanabani, who lights up when asked about the sand-brewed Turkish coffee on the menu.
• If you're lucky, he'll show you the centuries-old tradition of nestling a metal pot of coffee and water in hot sand, which has long symbolized friendship and community.

Tell a friend

It's Girl Scouts cookie season.

Why it matters: You can find them at over 50 places in the Richmond area this week, including near VCU and on Midlothian Turnpike, per an Axios review of the Cookie Finder's booth listings.

Plus: There's a new cookie this season called Exploremores — a rocky road-inspired cookie featuring chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond-flavored crème.

• Fan favorites like Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs are returning to the roster too.

🍪 Dig in: Use the Cookie Finder to find the closest booth near you.