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Jan. 23 Newsletter: Sleet dreams

Weather: Temperate weather lasts until the sun goes down tonight. After that, it may stay below freezing for most of the week.

On this date in 1974, Richmond's high temperature of 76 degrees sets a record that still hasn't been broken.

Possible power outages a top concern as Richmond officials prep for winter storm

City leaders said Thursday that they’re doing everything they can to prepare for a major winter storm this weekend, but are expecting some combination of snow and ice to cause power outages.

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Snow is expected to begin after sunset on Saturday night, with about 3-6 inches falling overnight. Sunday morning the snow turns to freezing rain, which carries the highest potential for damage to trees and power lines.

Dominion said it expects a “severe storm and multi-day power restoration effort.” Read more here.

Proposed RPS budget has no new raises, central office layoffs, and eliminates summer school

Superintendent Jason Kamras said last night that the district's expenses will increase by $31 million next year, but state and local funding won't increase by as much, creating a budget crunch. His proposed solutions:

  • After three consecutive years of collectively-bargained raises, those would be paused in the upcoming year.
  • Eliminating summer school and the Richmond Virtual Academy
  • Laying off 46 central office workers

“Highly regrettable reductions, but I’m trying to make the numbers work,” Kamras told the School Board. Read more here.

ICE informs Hanover of its intent to build a processing facility off I-95

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement documents identify the warehouse as a possible site for a processing facility that could hold up to 1,500 people.

The Hanover County Board of Supervisors said it did not solicit the group, and will discuss potential next steps at its meeting next Wednesday. Read more here.

‘We’ve heard clearly that it is a priority for the community’: Bike lanes remain a sticking point on Mayo Bridge proposal

Over more than two hours of discussion on Tuesday, numerous Planning Commission members expressed major heartburn with early plans, and particularly their lack of physical barriers to separate two proposed bike lanes from car traffic. 

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“You’ve got to find a compromise for separation for bike safety,” Commission Chair Rodney Poole told engineers and planners. “I’m willing to give y’all the opportunity to do that.”

The Fire Department said that any physical barriers would keep cars from getting out of the way of fire trucks crossing the bridge.

“We’re going to look into something like rumble strips,” the city's bridge engineer said. “We need to give (the fire marshal) options that they can approve. Rumble strips is one that they can approve.” Read more here.

Richmond School Board hears from five candidates competing for open seat

Five candidates made their case to the governing body Tuesday night explaining why they would be the best fit. Read more, and hear from all five, here.

Monacan's Amare Cooper reaches 1,000 points in comeback win over Manchester

Manchester's only two boys basketball losses this season have been to the intra-county opponent, each time in a tight game. Read more here.

In other news

The editor's desk

I never understood why bread was the go-to food for snowstorms, but good luck to everyone trying to find some at grocery stores today.

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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