Feb. 2 Newsletter: Walking with the monks
Weather: High temperatures are expected to reach 38, which would be enough to begin melting the ice.
On this date in 1994, the General Assembly debates a $142 million incentive package for the Walt Disney Company to build "Disney's America," a theme park next to the Manassas battlefield.
The 'Walk for Peace' enters Richmond on Monday. This is what it's like to walk with the monks
Peace moves at a brisk pace, roughly 3 miles per hour. The days of walking for the 17 Venerable Buddhist Monks begin around sunrise, and continue until sunset.
Today is day 100 of their journey, the Walk for Peace, and they'll stop at Richmond's City Hall at 3 p.m. to share their message of kindness and compassion on their route to Washington, D.C.
The Richmonder walked alongside the monks as they worked their way through Virginia. Despite frigid temperatures, thousands lined the roads, and were visibly moved by what they saw. Read more here.
As ice lingers in Richmond, Avula asks residents for a few more days of patience
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula said Saturday that officials are doing what they can to clear streets that are still frozen from the winter storm that hit a week ago.
The city’s options are somewhat limited, Avula said, by the unusually low temperatures that have left thick layers of ice intact on some roads and hampered the effectiveness of the salt used to treat the roads.
Officials in Richmond and beyond have been facing mounting frustration from residents upset that hazardous conditions could persist for so long.
“People are at the end of their rope," Avula said Saturday. "It’s been a long week. People have been stuck and they’re frustrated about getting out of their houses and getting back to normal life. We will get there.” Read more here.
Four Richmond public housing tenants flagged in federal review of residents’ immigration status
The federal government has initiated a sweeping nationwide review of the citizenship status of people who either live in public housing or hold a voucher that provides them with rental assistance.
The RRHA said it “is actively working with affected families to obtain the required documentation.” Read more here.
As Richmond tries to improve budget process, delays persist with yearly financial audit
The fiscal year 2025 report was due Dec. 15, but officials now say they don’t expect it to be finished until late February, just before the mayor is set to introduce his proposed budget for fiscal year 2027.
- City spokesman Michael Hinkle said the timeline changed “to ensure the completeness and accuracy of our audit.”
In December, Donald said the city was still waiting to get FY25 financial data from Richmond Public Schools. An RPS spokesperson said the division filed its report in early January. Read more here.
Also today in The Richmonder:
- City plans Spring Forward initiative to combat youth violence over spring break
- Former WRIR leader Melissa Vaughn dies after battle with cancer
- Canadian company will not sell Hanover building to Homeland Security for ICE facility
In other news
- Richmonder Jada Samitt (22), a Deep Run grad, was aboard a fishing vessel that sank off the Massachusetts coast this weekend (Fall River Reporter)
- Richmond hip-hop artist Mad Skillz wins first Grammy: 'This is for Virginia' (CBS 6)
- Crashes involving cars and pedestrians rising at VCU, despite years of work to stop them (Times-Dispatch)
The editor's desk
Richmond's record for most consecutive days below freezing is 11, set in 1936. While we've had nine days of cold this time around, the temperature reached 34 degrees last Tuesday, so we are not in contention for the record.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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