Jan. 27 Newsletter: On the roads again
Weather: High of 51. It might get almost pleasant this afternoon.
On this date in 1926, Virginia's peanut farmers successfully protest an attempt to increase freight rates. The Interstate Commerce Commission rules that the railroads increasing prices from 53.5 to 84 cents per 100 pounds of peanuts was "unreasonable" compared to other crops.
A Richmond program that offers parents in need free rides to work is set to expand
Over the past three years, Richmond's Free-Rides-to-Work Program has been one of the city's most successful initiatives.
Sarah Vogelsong heard from some of the program's participants, like Ebony Lyons, who previously had to pay for Lyft rides to work because she doesn't live on a bus line.
A third of the participants said they were able to get a job that increased their living wage while getting the rides.
Read more on the program, and its participants, here.
Richmond officials want to test a new kind of bus stop. The Planning Commission is skeptical.
Richmond traffic officials are hoping to try out a new type of bus stop where riders would get on and off using a platform built in the street that would also slow down traffic.
- The platform being proposed would require buses to stop in the traffic lane instead of pulling to the side of the road, a system traffic officials said is working as intended in other cities.
The commission will hear more information on the proposed stops at its February meeting.
Read more on the new bus stops here.
Richmond to conduct review of urban park ranger shooting on Belle Isle
The Jan. 19 shooting of an urban park ranger on Belle Isle has called attention to a relatively new City of Richmond program.
The ranger was wearing his own bulletproof vest at the time, though the rangers are not armed.
- A Parks and Rec spokesperson said urban park rangers had been fitted for city-provided bulletproof vests on Jan. 14, five days before the shooting, and the vests “are currently being procured.”
Rangers have been patrolling Richmond's parks since 2023, and are viewed more as ambassadors than police.
Whether or not park rangers should be considered a form of law enforcement is a long-running debate nationwide.
Read more on the position, and what comes next, here.
Henry Marsh, Richmond’s first Black mayor, dies at 91
Henry Marsh — a towering Richmond civil rights figure who served as the first Black mayor of the former capital of the Confederacy — died Friday at the age of 91.
Tributes poured in from all corners of Virginia to Marsh, who also served as a state senator and has a Richmond school named after him.
In other news
- Richmond residents sought out the city’s natural springs during water crisis (Virginia Mercury)
- Water crisis recovery funds will be available starting Friday (City of Richmond)
- Why this organization is urging businesses to help address affordable housing needs in Henrico, Richmond region (Henrico Citizen)
The editor's desk
Greetings from chilly Philadelphia, where the Washington Commanders' magic carpet ride of a season came to an end last night against the division rival Eagles. It was fun to see pride in the team restored over the past season, as burgundy and gold became colors seen around town again. As for training camp? No worries — it's not coming back.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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