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Cannabis Justice Moves Forward in Virginia After Years of Debate

Virginia’s effort to revisit outdated cannabis convictions is moving forward again, though in a revised form that shifts how people access relief. Governor Abigail Spanberger’s amendments to SB 62 / HB 26 replace the bill’s original automatic resentencing framework...

A New Stadium, an Old Feeling, and Opening Night

There are seats that stretch the wall in left field next to the foul pole fifty feet from the opposing team’s bullpen. I was sitting four bar chairs down from the pole waiting for my friend to arrive so we could get a dog and a burger before there were any lines. I’d...

Virginia Lawmakers Clash Over $1.6B Data Center Tax Breaks

State lawmakers will soon return to the Capitol after ending the General Assembly session without a budget, in part due to some debate whether to continue current tax breaks for data centers. The Democratic-led Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee put forth a...

Love Thy Neighbor

There was a new guy that moved across the street from me, a new neighbor, and every time he saw me on the front porch puffing away, he asked to bum a smoke. It got so incessant that I had begun smoking in the backyard instead, not wishing to part with any of my...

The Richmond Animation Festival Doubles Down This Year

For the 4th Richmond Animation Festival, the program expands to two nights of screenings.  First, on Saturday, April 25th, the Shorts program curated by Jordan Bruner and Zack Williams will screen at Studio Two Three, and the feature screening of Julian Glander’s...

Writer’s Block | Two Poems by Cameron Ritter

Writer’s Block is RVA Magazine’s series highlighting contemporary writers working in Richmond and across the Commonwealth. Each week, we feature original poems, short stories, or essays. Just real voices writing right now. This week, we’re featuring two poems by...

The Era of Straight-Up Greed (Or, Can I Live?)

I stopped for gas the other day, it’s $4.19 a gallon. You swipe your card, you move on. That’s just the baseline price of existing now in Richmond. Inside, I grabbed a couple things without thinking. A two-pack of Reese’s and an iced tea. The kind of purchase made a...

Farid Alan Schintzius, A Man of ‘Good Trouble’ Has Passed Away

“We need a little good trouble, don’t we?” Alan would say, his tall frame casting a shadow and that familiar twinkle in his eye. Farid Alan Schintzius passed away last Thursday, and I’ve been reflecting on the loss of someone I deeply admired. A true master of “good trouble,” he pulled me into plenty over the years, and I’m better for it. Despite...

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Community Rallies to Support Sub Rosa Bakery Following Fire

Sub Rosa Bakery, a cornerstone of Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood, is closed indefinitely after a fire early last Sunday morning caused severe roof damage. The community has quickly mobilized to support the bakery’s recovery. A GoFundMe campaign launched shortly after the fire has already raised over $40,000 toward its $50,000 goal. Siblings...

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Richmond’s Unsung Hero! Health Brigade Fights For Survival

For over half a century, Health Brigade—formerly the Fan Free Clinic—has been Richmond’s quiet, unshakable healthcare safety net. No glitz, no glamour, no trophies on the wall. Just care for anyone who walks through their doors, no questions asked. But now, they’re reaching out. An email landed in our inbox the other day—direct, urgent, and...

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Perfect 100! Richmond’s Commitment To LGBTQ+ Rights

Richmond has achieved a perfect score of 100 on the 2024 Municipal Equality Index (MEI), a comprehensive assessment of LGBTQ+ inclusion in municipal policies, services, and laws. Released annually by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC), this year’s MEI evaluated 11 cities and towns in Virginia, with Richmond standing proudly alongside nine...

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How Should Richmond Spend $3 Million? Residents Now Have A Say

Richmond has $3 million up for grabs—money meant to improve the city, boost its neighborhoods, and maybe even change a few lives. But here’s the twist: for once, city hall isn’t the ones calling the shots. Instead, they’re turning to the people, asking a deceptively simple question: what do you want? It’s a bold move, giving the public the reins...

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Bright Lights, Carytown Nights: New Art Deco Sign Debuts

Carytown just got a serious facelift, and it’s bringing some retro swagger to one of Richmond’s most iconic spots. On Friday night, the shopping district unveiled its new Art Deco-style sign—a sleek, neon gateway hanging over Cary Street. According to The Richmonder, Mayor Levar Stoney was in full “let’s make history” mode as he led the charge,...

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