Yesterday, Governor Youngkin announced Matt Hanley as his nominee to lead the Virginia State Police. We report that Hanley nearly lost his job in 1996 after drinking, driving, and crashing a state police cruiser.

richmond.com/news/state-r...

“These other courts, whatever the officer says, is just viewed as the gospel,” Villalon said. “Judge Hicks looks at these issues skeptically, and he holds them to a constitutional standard.”

Former DPU Director April Bingham was fired from her post, and did not resign.

Mayor Avula had said her departure was voluntary and "amicable." But today, a city spokesperson said Bingham rescinded her resignation and was then issued a termination letter.
richmond.com/news/local/g...

Five days into a city-wide water outage (still no potable water), @richmond.com reports that problems with our city water treatment plant were well-known, just not addressed.

That includes positive indicators for E. Coli, severely outdated pumps, and corroded, algae overgrown equipment.

Records show officials since 2016 have considered replacing the water treatment plant component that failed Monday, leaving Richmond without drinkable water.

But they didn't follow through.

The part is at least 25 years old.
richmond.com/news/local/g...

In a leaked email I obtained, an official in Va.'s Department of Environmental Quality says Richmond's water treatment plant is only producing "22% of the daily demand," and speculates that full water pressure might not be restored until late Wednesday.
richmond.com/news/local/g...

Richmond's annual financial report — due Dec. 15 under state code — has not been completed or submitted to the state.

Officials fault RPS and the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority for the delays, saying both agencies missed their audit deadlines.
richmond.com/news/local/g...

The city of Richmond is once again being sued by an ex employee alleging retaliation.

This time, it's a former Finance Dept. worker who says she was placed on indefinite, unpaid leave for reporting improper cash reconciliation to the inspector general.
richmond.com/news/local/g...

The city of Richmond does not expect to choose a developer for the Coliseum project until after Mayor Levar Stoney leaves office, missing the administration's goal.

richmond.com/news/local/b...

After an investigation found Keith Balmer had abused his city p-card and vehicle, Elections Board Chair Starlet Stevens sought to have both revoked.

That sparked a legal threat from one of Balmer's employees, who said Stevens is "overstepping her bounds."
richmond.com/news/local/g...

Registrar Keith Balmer has resigned — effective 12/31 — after the Richmond Board of Elections stated their intent to dismiss him.

Deputy Registrar Jerry Richardson has also resigned. She did so before today’s meeting.
richmond.com/news/local/g...

At Monday's City Council meeting, Councilwoman Trammell and former Councilwoman Mosby clashed over state funding for Mosby's nonprofit.

Trammell has argued that government funding for the nonprofit — which in 2022 paid Mosby $72K — is a conflict of interests.
richmond.com/news/local/g...

Wrongfully towed? Charged illegal fees?

For years, Richmond residents have complained that local towing companies routinely break the state and local laws that exist to limit them. So we decided to investigate.

Here's what we found 🧵
richmond.com/news/local/g...

In June, Deputy Registrar Jerry Richardson flatly denied that she and Registrar Keith Balmer used p-cards to buy alcohol: "we'd be fools to think we could do that," she told me.

But in his report, Richmond's inspector general says that's exactly what they did.
richmond.com/news/local/g...

Mayor-elect Danny Avula tells me he will resist “whatever immigration policies emerge with (Trump’s) administration” and will not cooperate with mass deportations.

“We will not participate with ICE,” he said.

richmond.com/news/local/g...

“‘This back-and-forth is not necessary,’ Judge Cardwell said. ‘We’re all grownups here. You’re attorneys.’”

It took several months, multiple hostile motions, and a highly contentious hearing, but we finally have a court date in the Connie Clay trial.
richmond.com/news/local/g...

If you were planning to walk anywhere in the vicinity of East Broad, East Grace, North Foushee or North 1st streets … well, too bad.

I wonder what considerations for pedestrians were made when these construction permits were approved and city projects scheduled.

This year's City Hall performance review, commissioned by Mayor Stoney, found major progress over the last 7 years.
One catch: the consultants based their findings solely on comments from department directors, and did not interview any frontline workers.
richmond.com/news/local/g...