It's a new year, and it's already shaping up to be a big one in RVA.

• Here are 12 things we're keeping an eye on this year.

🎉 New city officials

This year brings a whole new administration and representatives to City Hall.

• Mayor Danny Avula was sworn in on New Year's Eve, giving Richmond its first new mayor in eight years. We'll have more on what Richmond can expect from an Avula administration in the coming days.
• Meanwhile, there are three new members on City Council representing the 1st, 3rd and 4th districts; and new School Board reps for the 1st through 4th districts.

🗳️ Governor's race

Virginians will decide on a new governor (and the other top state jobs) this year. The state having a woman governor seems likely, as it's shaping up to be a race between Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger.

☢️ Our nuclear-powered future

As we learned just before the holidays, a Massachusetts-based firm is planning to build the world's first commercial nuclear fusion power plant in Chesterfield.

💰Tax cuts

Gov. Youngkin proposed two big-deal tax cuts as part of his revised budget last year: exempting tips from the state sales tax and eliminating the car tax, which he called Virginia's "most hated tax since the tax on tea," per the Virginia Mercury.

🍃 Retail weed marketplace

Speaking of statehouse Dems, they plan to re-up their push for a legal retail marijuana marketplace in Virginia this session, per VPM.

• Last year, a bill garnered enough bipartisan support to pass both chambers of the General Assembly before Youngkin vetoed it.
• Yes, but: It looks like both sides could have issues they care about and are willing to negotiate for this year.

Keep reading for more

Richmond renters likely shelled extra bucks spent last year because of pricing algorithms used by landlords.

• That's according to an analysis from the White House Council of Economic Advisers first shared with Axios' Emily Peck.

Why it matters: The report puts some hard numbers to accusations that have piled up against RealPage, a company that makes software that helps big landlords and property managers set prices.

• In August, the Department of Justice filed an antitrust suit against the company, alleging its pricing algorithm allows landlords to collectively push rents higher.

The big picture: Nationwide, the software cost renters an extra $3.8 billion last year, per the CEA.

Zoom in: On average, landlords that used the software added around $70 a month to renters' costs.

• At least two property management companies that used RealPage — Cushman and Wakefield and Greystar — manage or managed multiple apartment complexes in the area, per an Axios review of their listings.
• The companies' involvement with RealPage was reported by Times-Dispatch and ProPublica.

Reality check: Even if these algorithms were pushing up rents, as the CEA suggests, they wouldn't be the driving force behind rising housing prices.

Go deeper

🤑 VCU will start paying its student athletes next year as part of a settlement the school is opting into. (Times-Dispatch)

• It'll cost between $4-$5 million a year and means VCU's athletic department will have to find new revenue streams to make up the difference.

A nurse in Henrico Doctors' Hospital NICU was charged with felony counts of child abuse and malicious wounding after three infants were found to have unexplained fractures in November and December. (WTVR)

🗳️ 7th District council rep Cynthia Newbille was unanimously elected City Council president. (The Richmonder)

🌯 Scott's Shawarma will open a second Richmond location by spring in the former Sincero space at 404 N. Second St. in Jackson Ward. (BizSense)

• The owners are planning to close their West End location on Glenside.

Dry January has arrived, and so have new nonalcoholic beers.

Why it matters: The decision to take a month-long break from drinking alcohol is increasingly popular, and breweries are cranking out NA beers to meet the moment.

State of play: The quality of NA beers improves each year as brewers refine their process and capture the essence of the beverage without the alcohol.

• Here are seven favorites:

Kernza Lager: Made by Oregon's Deschutes Brewery, in partnership with outdoor company Patagonia's food division, this beer features climate-friendly ingredients and offers a classic and clean-flavored sip that perfectly mimics the real thing.

Designated Dale's NA Pils: From Colorado's Oskar Blues Brewery, this crisp pilsner offers a light hop touch that lends a lemon-like kiss.

Electro-Lime Cerca de Cerveza: This Best Day Brewing beer gives Mexican lager vibes with a dose of lime and sea salt. It's refreshing and quaffable.

Keep reading for more

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Richmond's Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront will open in June.

Why it matters: The new venue is shaping up to be one of the most exciting additions to Richmond this year.

The big picture: Live Nation and Charlottesville-based Red Light Ventures are behind the amphitheater, which was announced in 2022 and has been under construction on a 4-acre site owned by NewMarket Corp near Tredegar Iron Works.

• Their goal is to host 30 shows a season at the 7,500-seat venue.

Here's who's been announced so far:

• Jun 21: Country singer Dwight Yoakam
• Jun 26: Country singer Parker McCollum
• Jul 19: Rock group Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
• Aug 6: Rock group Styx & Kevin Cronin + Don Felder
• Aug 29: Country singer Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
• Sept. 22: "Weird Al" Yankovic with Puddles Pity Party

Tickets for all the shows are on-sale now and prices start at $49.

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