ENVIRONMENTAL




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Richmond Loves Dolly Parton

I was gonna kill my husband in a cab in Peru, but “Islands in the Stream” came on the radio, and we stopped arguing and started singing. She could do that to you. You could totally be feeling some type of way, but if you put some Dolly Parton on, well, then you got a...

Read the Virginia Pride 2026 Pride Guide 🏳️‍🌈

For more than a decade, RVA Magazine has worked with Virginia Pride to produce the Official VA PrideFest Guide, bringing together stories from Richmond’s LGBTQ+ community and everything you need to know for PrideFest this Saturday, September 12,...

A Quick Guide For This Labor Day Weekend in Richmond

Labor Day weekend is here, and if your plan was to sit around doing absolutely nothing for four days, Richmond has other ideas. Here are ten things worth getting out of the house for this Labor Day weekend. Commonwealth Sound ExchangeThursday, Sept. 3 through...

For These Artists, PrideFest Is More Than Performance 🏳️‍🌈

Editor’s Note: RVA Magazine is proud to partner with Virginia PrideFest, happening Saturday, September 12, and to produce the annual Pride Guide celebrating Richmond and Virginia’s LGBTQ+ community.  We’d also like to thank the following sponsors who made the 2026...

Why Richmond Residents Should Be Paying Attention to Shoosmith Landfill

A growing environmental concern in Chesterfield County could have consequences far beyond the county line.The Shoosmith Landfill, located in Chesterfield County near Iron Bridge Road, stopped accepting waste on December 30, 2022. More than three years later, the site continues to generate tens of thousands of gallons of leachate every day. Since...

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Viral Video Sparks Questions About Cancer-Causing Gas in Richmond

A new Instagram video circulating among Richmond residents is raising questions about ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing gas used to sterilize medical equipment, and whether local facilities and warehouses could be contributing to an underrecognized public health risk.  Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen, and long-term exposure has been...

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Richmond Is a Top Ten City for Seasonal Allergies.

If you’ve lived here long enough, you know the moment. Your car suddenly looks like it’s been dusted with powdered mustard. Your eyes itch. Your sinuses start to close up. Spring in Richmond has arrived, and with it comes the pollen. After several weeks of freezing or near-freezing temperatures, Richmond is heading into a stretch of warm weather...

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Richmond seasonal allergies_photo by James Peacock RVA Magazine 2026

When Art Meets Activism: Environment at Risk at Glen Allen

The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen is hosting Environment at Risk, a group show curated by Appalachian Voices’ Virginia field coordinator Jessica Sims. Installed in the Gumenick Family Gallery, the exhibition gathers paintings, prints, collage, sculpture, photography, and fiber works from more than 35 regional artists grappling with the...

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Working Families Party Brings Its “Wolf Pack” to Richmond

This Saturday, the Working Families Party (WFP) is making its Virginia debut with the launch of the Virginia Wolf Pack, a new grassroots arm dedicated to electing working-class champions and building political power across the Commonwealth. Their first in-person Welcome Gathering happens August 23, 2–4 PM at the Crescent Collective (1800 Decatur...

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Richmond’s Parks Are Something the City Is Getting Right

We spend a lot of time calling out what the City of Richmond gets wrong. And honestly, it’s not hard—just follow the trail of half-fixed potholes, stalled projects, or meetings where words go to die. But every now and then, there something worth pointing to and saying, see, that’s how it’s done. Today, it’s our parks. The city just landed at #16...

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Mayo Island to Become Richmond’s Next Great Public Park by 2026

As reported by The Richmonder last week, the city is moving forward with plans to transform Mayo Island into a public park, with construction expected to begin later this year and the park scheduled to open in fall 2026. The 15-acre island, located in the James River between downtown and Manchester, was purchased by the city in 2024 for $15...

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