ENVIRONMENTAL




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Finding A Light at Maymont’s Garden Glow

Editor's Note: This essay includes a personal account of a mental health crisis. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, support is available. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. Richmond-area...

Tim Barry Part 2 | Richmond, Family & November Fest

Tim Barry just released his ninth full album, Clear Blocks Ahead. He and I had a long, overdue conversation about everything and nothing, but sometimes about that new album. In part one of this three-part series, I brought up my first AVAIL show and found out that it...

Richmond is Dropping Flock, But the Technology Could Remain

On October 10, Avula announced that Richmond would not renew its contract with Flock Safety, following a similar decision by Henrico County, whose contract expires in November. Richmond's agreement runs through June 30, 2027. Mayor Avula raised the possibility of a...

It’s Still Our City Ep. 26 | Mac Wood & the Historic Pump House

RVA Mag and NODDERLY presents It’s Still Our City, a podcast hosted by Harrison Christy and with Clair Morgan as co-host and producer through NODDERLY. "Mac Wood is an illustrator and a welder, spending much of his time hauling racing simulators around the country...

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 ethylene oxide story_RVA Magazine 2026

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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