Weather: Sunny, high of 68.

On this date in 1996, Richmond restaurant Havana 59 files for bankruptcy over more than $500,000 in unpaid back taxes, though the restaurant remained opened as it restructured.

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.

Richmond officials set to choose between two competing ideas for a FOIA library

Mayor Danny Avula and numerous City Council members campaigned last year on boosting transparency at City Hall. The FOIA library debate will force policymakers to decide just how much transparency they’re comfortable with.

• Kenya Gibson (3rd District) has pushed for a FOIA library as broad as possible, though she has amended her legislation to exempt many documents related to public safety and social services. (Note: This paragraph has been updated since publication to note the exemptions in Gibson's proposal.)
• Under the administration’s FOIA library proposal, the city would only publish documents that fall under a to-be-determined rubric laying out what records are and aren’t suitable for broad release.

Read more on the two options here.

At VCU and JMU, athletic success drives interest in the university

During Tuesday night's Richmonder Speaker Series event, the two athletic directors acknowledged the college sports world has changed dramatically over the past few years, with some student-athletes receiving six-figure paychecks, but said it's important to keep a focus on providing a full college experience.

"We don't believe that the word student-athlete is archaic yet," JMU's Matt Roan said. "We still think that it's in its proper order, and we emphasize that. You are a part of this institution, not apart from it."

Ed McLaughlin noted that VCU has renowned research programs, but most people nationally came to know the school through its men's basketball program, particularly its run to the Final Four in 2011, which provided the type of publicity you can't buy. Read more here.

Also today in sports:
New golf tournament will bring rising stars to Richmond next fall

Richmond's Zac Jones returns to the NHL in Buffalo (Jerry Lindquist)

RPS, unions begin negotiations on negotiating process

Richmond Public Schools administrators and representatives from employee unions have completed the first week of an intense monthlong series of discussions about changes to the collective bargaining process. Read more here.

Richmond to seek proposals to redevelop city-owned parking lots in Shockoe, Manchester into affordable housing

While the city identifies surplus properties that it’s willing to sell every year, the two sites under discussion are unusually desirable locations in densely occupied neighborhoods. 

For the right proposal that achieves goals like creating deeply affordable housing, the city could choose to sell the lots for less than their assessed value. Read more here.

Secret Sandwich Society gets padlocked and closed over unpaid taxes

Downtown Richmond’s Secret Sandwich Society was closed by Virginia tax officials this week, who padlocked the East Grace Street restaurant’s doors amid a continuing legal battle between the business’ current operators and the owners of the restaurant brand. Read more here.

Today's sponsor:

Uncommon Minds: VCU’s Class of 2029 Arrives Ready—and Unstoppable

In August, 4,500+ first-years joined Virginia Commonwealth University’s Ramily. Thousands of different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences are coming together to shape one shared journey.

Here’s a snapshot of the VCU freshman class:

• Students have an average high school GPA of 3.65, with 26% of all first-years earning a 4.0 or higher (weighted).
• 57% are starting with some college credit.
• 38% of first-years are first-generation.
• 41% are Pell Grant-eligible
• $25 million+ in financial aid awarded. 

Read more.

In other news

• Police say teens used electric unicycle to steal motorcycle: 'Never seen something like that before' (CBS 6)
• City gave over $1M to nonprofits to run homeless shelters. Now they’re closed — and under investigation (Times-Dispatch)
• Early voting satellite locations open across Greater Richmond (VPM)

The editor's desk

Last Monday's lead story from Victoria A. Ifatusin about a nonprofit receiving city funding through an alternate channel was spotlighted as one of the week's best stories nationally by the Investigative Reporters & Editors, a group that promotes public service reporting.

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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