RICHMOND POLITICS




more in politics

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Virginia’s effort to revisit outdated cannabis convictions is moving forward again, though in a revised form that shifts how people access relief.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...

New Bill to Allow Psilocybin Treatment, per FDA Approval

Lawmakers are clearing the way for use of the psychedelic mushroom compound psilocybin as a potential medical treatment, once a formulation is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Senate Bill 379 directs the state Board of Pharmacy to reschedule psilocybin...

Can Richmond Have Bars? New Virginia Law Eases Food-to-Alcohol Rules

Virginia lawmakers have approved changes to the state’s long-standing food-to-alcohol sales requirement for restaurants, easing restrictions that many operators have said no longer reflect how the industry works. The legislation, HB975, passed during the 2026 General...

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...

Key Gun Control Bills Advance in Virginia as Firearm Sales Surge

Early indicators suggest Virginians responded to a slate of proposed gun control legislation with a noticeable increase in firearm background checks. The bills mark one the most significant shifts in the state’s firearm laws in recent years, and build on previously...

Everything I Built for My Family Is Being Taken Away

Editor’s Note: RVA Magazine has been covering Virginia’s evolving hemp and cannabis regulations, including proposed changes to THC limits and retail licensing. The following is a guest opinion from a Virginia hemp business owner directly affected by SB 542. By Barbara...

Sen. Warner Warns of Election Power Grab. Now What?

Senator Mark Warner went to the pages of The New York Times this week to warn that the biggest threat to American elections may no longer be foreign interference, but the federal government itself. That sounds dramatic until you realize we’ve been heading in this...

The Richmond 34 Sat Down. What Are We Standing Up For?

Sixty-five years ago, a group of brave young Black Richmonders walked into a department store, sat down at a lunch counter, and refused to leave. That’s what they did. That’s what got them arrested. They just sat in a segregated space where their presence alone was considered a crime.  https://vimeo.com/9827740?share=copy That moment—the...

Read More

Richmond-34-protest_courtesy-of-Virginia-History-Museum_RVA-Magazine-2025

50501 Movement Plans Presidents Day Protest at Capitol Square

Following the nationwide protests on February 5th, which saw demonstrations in all 50 states, the Virginia chapter of 50501 has announced another major rally set for Monday, February 17th, at 2 PM in Capitol Square. This Presidents Day Protest aims to push back against what organizers describe as “fascism and...

Read More

50501-Movement-Richmond-Protest_photo-by-Ben-Lahoussine_RVA-Magazine-2025

The $3 Million Dollar Question! What Will Richmond Residents Choose?

Richmond’s journey into participatory budgeting has reached an impressive milestone. Following up on our earlier coverage, where we explored how residents could influence the allocation of $3 million, the Richmond People’s Budget initiative has completed its first idea collection cycle—and the results are worth celebrating. A Record-Breaking...

Read More

Update-Richmond-Peoples-Budget_RVA-Magazine-2025

Redefining Dry January, RVA Style

The start of every New Year often comes with people making resolutions to do more exercise, choose better eating habits, and make changes to improve one’s life. One of the newer traditions in recent years has been Dry January, which started in England but has spread worldwide and challenges people to spend the first 31 days of the year alcohol...

Read More

Redefining-Dry-January-RVA-Style_Jon-Baliles_RVA-Magazine-2025_photo-by-Denny-Muller

Opinion | Water Fiasco’s Silver Lining? by Paul Goldman

Mayor Danny Avula is at a defining moment. The same for the 2004 Elected Mayor law. Here’s why. Then a win-win-win. The 16-year era of the race-baiting politics of former Mayors Dwight Jones and Levar Stoney needs to come to an end. They and their cronies have used race to enrich too many, for far too long, with contracts they don’t deserve, jobs...

Read More

Water-fiascos-silver-lining_Paul-Goldman_RVA-MAgazine-2025