Jan. 7 Newsletter: Traffic fatalities take center stage
Weather: A delightful day awaits. Sunny and 63.
On this date in 1832, after nearly three decades of staunchly defending slavery, the Richmond Enquirer newspaper runs an editorial calling for emancipation. A decade later, it would reverse stance again in the lead-up to the Civil War.
Today's newsletter sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University: As a top 20% global university, Virginia Commonwealth University is an unparalleled powerhouse of innovation and creative problem solving. VCU attacks challenges as opportunities. It's truly a university unlike any you’ve ever seen.
For the fourth straight year, 'Vision Zero' deaths were above the 2017 baseline
The Vision Zero project was adopted by the city in 2017, with the goal of eliminating road fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula is asking for immediate action to curb pedestrian deaths after a hit-and-run fatality on Semmes Avenue over the weekend. Yesterday, a pedestrian was hit by a dump truck near VCU, making two deaths already this year. Read more here.
Still no resolution from sheriff on Turnstile pepper spray controversy
The scene of a Richmond Sheriff’s Office employee pepper spraying a young concert-goer on Brown’s Island was captured on video at a public event attended by thousands.
But it’s been a long wait for anyone expecting the sheriff’s office to say anything substantive about it.
In the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 24 concert, Sheriff Antionette Irving announced there would be an internal investigation. As of December, Irving said that investigation remains ongoing. Read more here.
Richmond's airport wants to move from two security checkpoints to one. Here's what it will look like
At the most recent meeting of the Capital Region Airport Commission, board members were shown renderings of what a major future renovation could look like at Richmond International Airport.
The group also discussed reestablishing international service with a direct flight from Richmond to Europe.
- Carriers like British Airways are in high demand, and generally require unproven cities to provide financial subsidies or guarantees before entering a new market.
“As we meet with leaders of big organizations, we plan to communicate the plan to raise $20 million for this effort," one airport official said. Read more here.
Richmond officials deny FOIA request for water bill projections
Officials are refusing to release a financial planning document that shows how much Richmonders’ monthly water bills could potentially increase in order to fund the $1.4 billion in water infrastructure upgrades the city hopes to complete over the next decade.
The document being kept confidential as mayoral working papers, the city told The Richmonder, is a single Excel file with “three worksheets of rate model outputs outlining various scenarios of funding for the city’s water infrastructure investments.” Read more here.
Today's sponsor:
A VCU faculty member is putting addiction therapy in the hands, and headsets, of patients
Jarrod Reisweber’s self-directed virtual reality program extends the impact of professional care.
“Your therapist can’t always be there,” he said. “So we asked, what if the treatment could always be there?”
Reisweber has created a new world to address a harsh reality of addiction, it strikes at the most inconvenient times. Patients wear a VR headset and are transported to a lakeside cabin, and amid the retreat, dozens of sessions help them quiet cravings, develop coping strategies and connect with others in recovery. Read more.
In other news
- Benedictine High quarterback gives his reason for crashing a stolen car into Chesterfield fire station (CBS 6)
- Schmidt, Jones win in special elections (Virginia Mercury)
- J.R. Tucker squeaks by Maggie Walker GS to remain undefeated in girls basketball
- Valentine sets Feb. 7 for Bill Martin open house, pauses most events
The editor's desk
I've still got one of these at home. And I'm still confused as to why water has a 10-year shelf life.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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