Sept. 4 Newsletter: A slimming strategy

Weather: High of 96, watch out for scattered afternoon storms.

On this date in 1998, Busch Gardens announces the “Apollo’s Chariot” roller coaster, whose debut the next year is marred when model Fabio is hit by a goose on the initial ride.

Nearly 8% of Chesterfield employees are on Ozempic-style drugs. The county says they prevent costlier issues later

Both government and school employees use Chesterfield’s insurance, which covers about 20,600 people.

“The thought process was we were seeing a lot of chronic conditions tied to diabetes and other related illnesses, so we really set out just on that sort of simple basis of trying to curtail some of those things in the early stages,” the county's finance director said.

Chesterfield officials said there isn't a direct correlation between GLP-1 use and skyrocketing premiums, as other factors are also driving the increase. Read more here.

Avula to Squirrels’ owner: Stop suing and start negotiating

The Richmond Flying Squirrels and VCU missed a deadline to resolve a contract issue over the Rams’ baseball team playing at CarMax Park, leading the EDA to set a new deadline of Dec. 31.

The dispute is one of many things that has angered Flying Squirrels owner Lou DiBella during a tumultuous first season at the new baseball stadium.

• DiBella added more material to his defamation lawsuit against Diamond District developers this week.
• Mayor Danny Avula responded in a BizSense article:

“I wish the (Squirrels) would focus their energy on engaging VCU in good faith to get an agreement done, so that we can all see both the Squirrels and VCU playing baseball at CarMax Park next season,” he said. Read more here.

City councilor wants third-party inquiry into alleged sexual misconduct; RRHA board chair says investigation was handled appropriately

The claims, which were reported by The Richmond Times-Dispatch on Aug. 25, stem from complaints made by two different public housing residents in fall 2025 that maintenance workers were seeking sexual favors in exchange for fulfilling work orders. 

Asked if RRHA had brought in any third-party investigator to look into misconduct cases in the past five years, a spokesperson said RRHA “has utilized a third-party investigator in the form of outside legal counsel.” Read more here.

Midlo bounces back; city rivalry game called due to heat on busy football evening

• Midlothian defeated Douglas Freeman 28-14 (above) as the weekend’s action began. Read more and see photos from that game.
• The rivalry matchup between Armstrong and Thomas Jefferson was postponed in the third quarter after multiple players had to be stretchered off the field due to extreme heat. Read more from 8News.
• Thomas Dale prevailed 24-6 in the Battle of Chester. More on the rivalry.

Dr. Jeff Mapp goes the distance to provide pediatric care

His organization is a medical mission that travels to small, out-of-the-way villages in El Salvador and Guatemala to provide repeated pediatric care to communities that don’t have access to treatment.  

“I found myself saying, ‘Man, it's really hard for me to actually reassure these moms or these dads. And what would make it much more effective is if I could see you again in six months.’ And so that kind of became the basis for Extra Mile Pediatrics,” he said. Read more here.

In other news

• Virginia law requires school districts to submit a mold plan. Only 15 have.
  • The law does not give the department enforcing authority, the VDH spokesperson said.
• Hadad’s Lake reimagined: Plans filed to bring Varina swim spot back to life as ‘Oasis Point’ (Richmond BizSense)
  • The new concept would bring back many of Hadad’s Lake’s former mainstays, like pools, sand volleyball courts, a fishing pier, banquet hall and outdoor patio, and add a restaurant.
• Flying Squirrels mascot Nutasha has date to celebrate at New York's Citi Field Saturday (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
  • She is among 11 female mascots invited to join the New York Mets’ Saturday celebration of Mrs. Met’s induction to the Mascot Hall of Fame.
• First Friday goes big in September (Style Weekly)
  • “About two years ago businesses began developing external programming utilizing the sidewalks, parking areas and alleyways, and we’ve seen a steady growth in attendance.”
• At least 20 Virginia localities have pulled away from Flock Safety devices since July (Cardinal News)
  • On Thursday night, the Lynchburg City Council voted to initiate a process to end the city’s contract with Flock.

The editor's desk

I'll take Kings Dominion over Busch Gardens, but the footage of Fabio is undeniably the funniest video to ever emerge from a Virginia theme park.

Michael Phillips, founder
mphillips@richmonder.org

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