Multiple fights broke out at a packed World Cup watch party outside of Cochiloco in Scott's Addition before police pepper sprayed fans Tuesday night to disperse the crowd.

• Witnesses told Axios the scene left people inside scrambling out the kitchen, confused about what happened.

Why it matters: The Mexican restaurant has become one of Richmond's go-to spots for World Cup matches, with crowds regularly spilling onto the sidewalk before kickoff — especially when Mexico plays.

• Now, Cochiloco management tells Axios "we will not be hosting big matches until further notice."

The big picture: Axios spoke with six attendees who said Richmond police entered Cochiloco moments after hundreds of fans celebrated Mexico scoring its first goal against Ecuador around 10:22pm.

• That's "when everything started going bad," says Chris Ford, who had stepped outside before the goal.
• All six told Axios that officers deployed pepper spray, including near the Cochiloco's front entrance, sending some customers rushing the other way.
• "There were girls crying because it got in their eyes," Ford says.

RPD says officers deployed "department-issued foggers" — which contain the same ingredients as pepper spray — when fights broke out and the crowds made it "difficult to safely access the building."

• RPD denies using the chemical agent inside. One man was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge, according to police.
• Officers also called the Richmond Fire Marshal to determine whether the venue was safe.

Zoom in: A video viewed over 174,000 times shows dozens of people chaotically dispersing through Cochiloco's kitchen to exit as someone yells, "They're macing people."

• Another video shared with Axios, timestamped 10:28pm, shows multiple fights outside that RPD appears to break up with a chemical agent from a red canister.
• By 10:31pm, Cochiloco was empty.

What they're saying: Cochiloco says it's reviewing staffing, capacity and event procedures and will remain closed Sunday, as usual, when Mexico plays again.

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America's big 250th birthday is finally here, as is extreme heat.

Why it matters: The city cancelled its annual Fourth of July celebration at Dogwood Dell due to the forecast and others pushed back their start times.

• What they're saying: "City leaders determined that proceeding with the event would present unacceptable health and safety risks," officials wrote in a news release.

Here are some other ways to celebrate America's big birthday this year:

🎆 Fireworks shows

A Henrico Fourth

Henrico celebrates the Fourth of July with a free laser light show instead of fireworks, and this year, for America's 250th, it's doing it twice.

• On Friday, the show will be at Dorey Park from 7-10pm with live music, food vendors, kids' activities and a hot air balloon display.

On Saturday, it's at Crump Park, the usual spot with the usual festivities, from 6-10pm, and the show is accompanied by the Richmond Symphony.

Fireworks at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds

The festivities start at 6pm at Chesterfield's free event with live music, food vendors and kids' activities.

Star-Spangled Squirrels Fest at CarMax Park

The Flying Squirrels are out of town, but their annual fireworks show and party starts at 5:30pm. Tickets start at $17.05; $27.75 gets you onto the field for the fireworks.

Keep reading for even more ways to celebrate in town

👀 The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Virginia over its new assault weapons ban arguing it violates the Second Amendment. (Times-Dispatch)

⚾️ The owners of the Flying Squirrels are asking city official for a sit-down so they can discuss their issues with the Diamond District developer and concerns over where the project will materialize as promised when the contract was awarded. (BizSense)

• "That can be addressed in litigation, if necessary," their attorney wrote.

🚰 Voluntary water conservation measures to help protect the region's water supply amid the ongoing drought are now in effect for Richmond, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico and Powhatan. (News release)

• Officials ask residents not to water lawns or gardens on Mondays and adhere to dusk/dawn schedule for the rest: odd property addresses on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, even addresses the other days.
• Additional conservation methods are online.

✈️ The task forcing helping the Richmond airport secure the "likely $10 million+" it needs to land flights to Europe is making "significant progress" with its private sector fundraising. (BizSense)

• It will likely need state money to meet its goal, though.

Richmonders have donated so much to the Venezuelan earthquake relief effort that local collection centers have paused physical donations, Ven Conmigo organizers tell Axios.

Why it matters: Now the focus shifts to sorting, shipping and raising money for immediate needs, nonprofit leader Eduvigis Rincón says.

What's next: Here's how you can still help:

📦 Today: Volunteers are needed to help load and transport hundreds of donated boxes.

• 3-5pm, starting at First English Lutheran Church and ending at an office complex in Sandston.

🌮 Friday: 10% of Taco Vegana's sales will go to Ven Conmigo.

💰 Evergreen: Donate or share the fundraising link. Ven Conmigo recently donated 500 body bags using the money raised, Rincón tells Axios.

Full list

📅 Upcoming events around the city.

• Front Lawn Fun at Virginia Museum of History & Culture Jun 16-Aug 11: Join VMHC educators on Tuesdays this summer to play games from history and around the world, including yut nori, al rein, stick horse races, kanche, and more. Fun for all ages, recommended for elementary-middle school.
• July 4 Naturalization Ceremony at Virginia Museum of History & Culture Jul 4: Welcome America's newest citizens at a special Naturalization Ceremony honoring freedom, opportunity, and civic participation on America's 250th anniversary. Stay after for cake and to visit the We The People exhibition.

If you're heading to D.C. for America's 250th birthday, you can probably plan on skipping the Great American State Fair.

Why it matters: The fair is getting some decidedly poor reviews, as is Virginia's booth.

What they're saying: The Washington Post deemed the event "crushingly dull" while the Washingtonian called it "bleak," Axios D.C.'s Anna Spiegel and Mimi Montgomery report.

• Online, people are posting photos of sparse crowds, flimsy-looking booths, and underwhelming state exhibits, including Virginia's, which Redditors say is "lame."

Zoom in: Virginia's booth features a LOVE sign and banners with historical facts and is, in fact, "a little lackluster," Spiegel confirms.

• "I definitely wouldn't truck down to the National Mall on a 100 degree day for it," she says.

Follow the money: The state spent $5,000 on its booth, Virginia Tourism spokesperson Juliana Thomas tells Axios.

Keep reading for how much other states spent