News
Canadian and western wildfires bring hazardous smoke to Virginia
“It’s basically all over the state at this point,” said Virginia Department of Environmental Quality meteorologist Dan Salkovitz. “All the monitors that we’ve got in the state are elevated today.”
Massive wildfires near the Ontario-Minnesota border, as well as blazes farther west in Canada and the United States, are bringing smoke throughout Virginia, causing state officials to issue a health alert Wednesday morning due to high levels of particulate matter.
“It’s basically all over the state at this point,” said Virginia Department of Environmental Quality meteorologist Dan Salkovitz. “All the monitors that we’ve got in the state are elevated today.”
State air quality monitors registered the highest levels of fine particulate matter in Winchester and the lowest in Hampton, although all of the reports were higher than normal.
Particulate matter is a mixture of solid and liquid droplets in the air that can be inhaled. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to these particles can aggravate respiratory systems and heart function and can exacerbate existing conditions such as asthma.
Much of the smoke seen in Virginia is coming from a plume generated by hundreds of fires in Ontario, said Salkovitz, although blazes along the West Coast are also contributing. While earlier this week the effects were mostly seen in hazy skies and brilliant sunsets, smoke began mixing with air closer to the earth’s surface today, driving down air quality.
A cold front behind the plume is expected to bring clearer air, Salkovitz said, but “unfortunately that front is taking its sweet time to get here.”
Smoke from the western and Canadian wildfires has caused problems throughout the East Coast this week, triggering officials in numerous states to issue health alerts.
While wildfires are driven by a variety of factors, scientists have linked their increasing incidence and intensity in the West with climate change, which has been driving up temperatures and changing precipitation patterns.
Virginia residents can sign up to receive air quality alerts from DEQ here.
From Richmond Police:
[Tuesday], at approximately 5:13 p.m., Officers of the Richmond Police Department working off duty at the Huguenot High School graduation responded when gunfire was heard in Monroe Park at North Laurel and West Main Streets. Multiple RPD units responded with VCU Police to assist on scene. Officers located five individuals who had suffered gunshot wounds. They were transported by ambulance to a local hospital. A short time later, two additional victims arrived at an area hospital; they were self-transported.
Two adult males, ages 18 and 36, succumbed to their injuries.
One sustained a life-threatening injury, and four sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Other injuries include:
One juvenile was struck by a vehicle, was treated on scene, and later transported to a local hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.
Two individuals were treated for falls.
Nine individuals were treated for anxiety and minor injuries at the scene.
Two individuals were quickly taken into custody by VCU Police. After consultation with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, one of the individuals detained will be charged with 2nd Degree murder (x2).
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact RPD Major Crimes Detective J. Crewell at (804) 646-5324 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones also may be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous.
Information is fluid at this time as the investigation evolves.
Statement from Richmond City Council:
“This evening, Richmonders are once again devastated by senseless gun violence. At a graduation ceremony, a tradition rooted in honoring a milestone achievement, has been marred by an act that has taken lives and left many others injured.
Those who were able to survive without visible wounds will likely be forever impacted by this violent event.
The thoughts and prayers of all members of Richmond Council and all Richmonders are with the students, parents, families, teachers, friends, and loved ones of those whose lives were taken from us and were injured tonight in this terrible tragedy.
During this difficult time, we know that each person will draw on their personal strength and the strength and faith of their friends and community. We join tonight as one family, one community, and one Richmond.
As a family in Richmond, we lend and extend our friendship and hearts to our Richmond family during this difficult and challenging time.
We don’t yet have all the answers to this senseless act of violence, only that it should never have happened and that is has no place in our society.
Richmond City Council also wants to recognize our first responders who act every day to save lives and restore order and put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of our community.
We ask that everyone join us in keeping all the families in their hearts, thoughts and prayers and ask that all Richmonders observe a moment of silence tonight in support, respect, and condolence to all those impacted by this unspeakable event.
Richmond City Council does do not condone or stand for senseless acts of gun violence. Richmond is a resilient and strong community. While our hearts are heavy for the loss, the unanswered questions as to why linger. We will heal and we will grow stronger.
For those who wish to engage with caring mental health professionals, Richmond offers the following services:
- Lifeline – Call or Text 988 or Chat 988lifeline.org
- Mental Health America – Text MHA to 741741
- Warmline of Virginia – 866.400.6428
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 877.622.4327
Thinking of everyone in our City tonight. We will heal, we will recover.
We will continue to keep our community updated as we learn more.
— Mayor Levar M. Stoney (@LevarStoney) June 7, 2023
This is heartbreaking. My staff & I are closely monitoring this situation. Praying for the safety of everyone involved.
I encourage everyone who can to avoid the area. https://t.co/kqofnDMAuq
— Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (@RepMcClellan) June 6, 2023
All RPS schools & offices will be closed tomorrow, June 7. All high school graduations have also been canceled. Further updates regarding rescheduling will be shared soon. pic.twitter.com/AAFum2TdcB
— Richmond Public Schools (@RPS_Schools) June 7, 2023
Business
Local restaurants slinging cocktails, supporting LGBTQ organizations in support of National Pride Month
More than 25 restaurants in the Richmond Region are celebrating National Pride Month and supporting local LGBTQ organizations through the Dine Out For Pride campaign on June 5-11.
More than 25 restaurants in the Richmond Region are celebrating National Pride Month and supporting local LGBTQ organizations through the Dine Out For Pride campaign on June 5-11.
With every signature cocktail sold at participating restaurants, $1 will be donated equally to VA Pride and the Richmond Region Tourism Foundation’s OutRVA campaign.
Dine Out For Pride restaurants include:
- Bar Solita
- Bell Cafe
- Cabo Fish Taco
- Casa del Barco Canal Walk
- Dave & Buster’s Glen Allen
- eazzy burger
- Heritage
- JewFro
- Main Street Steakhouse
- Ms. Bee’s Juice Bar
- Papi’s Downtown
- Pinky’s
- Restaurant Adarra
- River City Roll
- Sam Miller’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar
- SB’s Lakeside Love Shack
- SB’s Main Street Love Shack
- Shagbark
- Soul Taco
- Southbound
- Tang & Biscuit
- Tarrant’s Downtown
- Tarrant’s West
- The Locker Room
- Three Notch’d Brewing Company
- Wok This Way
- ZZQ Texas Craft Barbeque
VA Pride is a program of Diversity Richmond and produces dozens of events annually including VA Pride Fest on September 23. The organization also provides grants, sponsorships, and scholarships to support local LGBTQ people, organizations and allies.
Richmond Region Tourism’s OutRVA campaign has been promoting the Richmond Region as a welcoming destination for more than 10 years.
Business
WATCH: Richmond Region Tourism’s new marketing campaign proves Richmond “speaks for itself”
The campaign will run June 1, 2023, through June 2024, and is expected to reach more than 80 million potential travelers through connected TV in selected markets in the East Coast and southern United States, as well as on social media, digital display ads and out-of-home digital billboards in select markets.
Richmond Region Tourism has launched a new, multi-channel $2 million marketing campaign to inspire travel to the destination. “Speaks for Itself” is a first-of-its-kind campaign for the Richmond Region, targeting potential travelers in East Coast and southern U.S. markets through an unconventional, sound-focused video approach centered around the genuine and authentic character of the region. It also marks a historic opportunity for Richmond Region Tourism to invest more than double its normal budget for tourism marketing.
A 60-second video preview was unveiled to the local hospitality community at Richmond Region Tourism’s 2023 Tourism Awards and Annual Meeting on May 11. The campaign video takes inspiration from popular ASMR content on social media to communicate what it’s like for visitors to experience the Richmond Region – a destination marked by an understated authenticity that even locals find hard to define.
“The Richmond Region speaks to every visitor in different ways,” said Jack Berry, President & CEO of Richmond Region Tourism. “Trying to find a pithy slogan to sum up the region simply wouldn’t do it justice, which is why we’re so excited by this campaign—it provides a platform for local voices and experiences to shine and encourages visitors to take in the many diverse sides of the region.”
The campaign also reflects an effort of community collaboration across the Richmond region. Six jurisdictions including the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Colonial Heights and the Town of Ashland contributed funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) via Virginia Tourism Corporation, which must be used specifically for tourism recovery efforts.
“It’s the little moments that make a visit to a destination special, and this campaign embraces and celebrates those experiences in a uniquely Richmond way,” said Richmond Region Tourism Board Chair Dan Schmitt. “They could happen at a buzzy restaurant downtown or in a peaceful park in Henrico. This campaign is remarkable in how it can be embraced and adapted across the region’s many jurisdictions.”
Richmond Region Tourism partnered with ChamberRVA and the Greater Richmond Partnership to review a competitive set of proposals from more than a dozen marketing agencies and selected Richmond-based agency Padilla to create and deliver the campaign.
To ensure that the campaign authentically reflected the Richmond Region, Padilla interviewed more than 60 local leaders and community members during campaign concepting including the BLKRVA and OutRVA committees, business owners, government officials, museum staff, college administrators and more. Keeping with the “Speaks for Itself” theme, local influencers also are being tapped to create unique ASMR-style videos that will be promoted in the campaign’s target markets.
The campaign will run June 1, 2023, through June 2024, and is expected to reach more than 80 million potential travelers through connected TV in selected markets in the East Coast and southern United States, as well as on social media, digital display ads and out-of-home digital billboards in select markets.
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