May 6 Newsletter: Payment register
Weather: Warmth continues with scattered showers. High of 79.
On this date in 1992, Arthur Ashe makes an appearance in Richmond for the first time since revealing his AIDS diagnosis.
Today's newsletter sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University: As a top 50 public research institution, Virginia Commonwealth University has an unparalleled drive to discover, innovate and create. VCU impacts the human experience and tackles the problems of tomorrow. It's a university unlike any you’ve ever seen.
City officials republish some financial data after FOIA request from The Richmonder
Richmond officials have republished several years of data showing City Hall’s financial transactions after The Richmonder filed a Freedom of Information Act request asking for the information.
Officials complied with the payment register law for about four years, but stopped publishing new data in 2019. They also took down the old data in 2024 out of fear it might contain confidential or private information that wasn’t caught in the initial review process.
Regarding the resumption of publishing data, one Councilor said he’s confident City Council and the administration can work together to find a solution, but “the current proposal isn’t there yet.” Read more here.
Flight from Richmond to Cancun will be the first to use new customs facility
Breeze Airways announced it will begin flying nonstop between Richmond International Airport and Cancun, Mexico twice a week starting in January, 2027.
The flight will be the first to use the airport's newly renovated customs facility, which received more than $4 million in federal funding in 2022 for the $7.2 million project. Read more here.
City asks court to throw out water crisis lawsuit filed by former DPU director
April Bingham’s $1 million lawsuit against Mayor Danny Avula and the city essentially claims she was unfairly blamed for the failure of the city’s water treatment plant in January of 2025.
The legal filing argued nothing Avula said about the water crisis timeline cast blame on Bingham specifically, and that his comments after her departure were complimentary of her efforts. Read more here.
Data centers, GRTC fares dominate forum with Richmond lawmakers
Richmond-area General Assembly members got an earful Monday night from constituents concerned about the financial and environmental impacts of data centers.
Representatives said they're working to make sure data centers pay their fair share, but one also said he wouldn’t place too much blame on the industry, arguing data centers create jobs and meet public demand for AI and other tech products. “Who’s using the data? We are,” he said. Read more here.
Chesterfield students showcase AI skills at district’s first generative tech fair
Students presented ideas integrated with AI platforms that could be used in school, in the workforce or in their personal lives, like an AI-powered study coach.
Chad Maclin, the division’s career technology education director, was asked about potential concerns with the technology.
“It's here; it's not going to roll back. So how can we ensure we're using it for really good, substantial improvements?” he said. Read more here.
Today's sponsor:
VCU drives economic value across Virginia
VCU’s academic and medical operations generate $18.5 billion in economic activity annually and support 95,000 jobs – according to a recent report examining VCU’s impact.
“This report highlights the prodigious economic impact of VCU on the entire commonwealth,” said VCU President Michael Rao. “But beyond the data, it shows that as a major, national research institution, VCU is uniquely positioned to improve the lives of Virginians, prepare the next generation of Virginia’s workforce, heal and save patients' lives, and strengthen the social and economic fabric of the communities we serve.” Read more.
In other news
- 'Insanity' at Wawa after crash closes Midlothian Turnpike (CBS 6)
- Drivers were routed through the convenience store after power lines fell onto the road.
- Iron Blossom Goes Big in ’26 (Style Weekly)
- Performers at the festival will include Jack White, LCD Soundsystem, Geese, Dijon, Angine de Poitrine, Portugal the Man, Phantogram, Kevin Morby and Die Spitz.
- Lewis Ginter workers protest against 'low pay,' 'unsafe' working conditions (Henrico Citizen)
- After unionizing, employees say they asked management for an across-the-board raise of $3.50 an hour, but were offered about 30-40 cents an hour.
The editor's desk
RIP Spirit Airlines. It wasn't glamorous, but $29 to end up in Florida was never a bad deal.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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