Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Richmond’s new HR director means for city employees and services

Happening soon: Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer on the Richmond Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Friday January 9th Patch AM
Friday January 9th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning to you Richmond! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • What Richmond’s new HR director means for city employees and services
  • Which Richmond trailblazers will be honored at VUU’s 2026 MLK breakfast?
  • Is your Richmond home on firefighters’ 10,000-door safety checklist?

Also on today's calendar: Zarna Garg: Million Dollar Excuses and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Richmondfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the shovel say to the dirt? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Richmondfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Cloudy; breezy in the p.m., with a high of 64 and low of 56 degrees.
  • Saturday: A shower and t-storm; breezy, temps: high: 68, low: 47.
  • Sunday: Cooler; breezy in the p.m., with a high of 53 and low of 29 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. City names Trinija Martin as human resources director (richmondfreepress.com) — Richmond’s city government has hired veteran HR leader and military veteran Trinija Martin as its new human resources director, overseeing recruitment, training, pay, performance management, and compliance for the municipal workforce. With experience in Fortune 500 firms and local governments, she says she’s honored to serve Richmond and aims to build a strong, equitable, high-performing organization for employees and residents alike.
   

2. Abigail Spanberger to Serve as Keynote Speaker for VUU (praiserichmond.com) — Virginia Union University in Richmond will host Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger as keynote speaker for its 48th Annual MLK Community Leaders Breakfast on Jan. 16 at the Richmond Marriott. The event will honor numerous Richmond-based churches, civil rights groups, and leaders whose work has advanced justice and opportunity across the city and Virginia.
   

3. Fire crews go door-to-door after 5 deaths spark safety concerns (wtvr.com) — Firefighters are canvassing Richmond neighborhoods after a string of recent house fires killed five people in three weeks, offering free smoke alarms and safety checks. Crews aim to knock on 10,000 doors, stressing working detectors, safe heater placement, and proper wiring. Nearby Chesterfield has also seen serious fires, underscoring the push for better home fire safety across the region.
   

4. Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Bureau of Labor Statistics Reports Increased Payrolls of 8,600 in November; Unemployment Rate Steady at 3.5 Percent (virginia.gov) — From Richmond, Governor Glenn Youngkin reports that Virginia added 8,600 nonfarm jobs in November while the unemployment rate held steady at 3.5%, below the national average. The announcement highlights strong private-sector growth, a slightly smaller labor force, and explains how federal data delays from the 2025 shutdown affected this jobs report. Richmond residents can see how statewide trends may shape local opportunities.
   

📸 Around Richmond

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Richmond

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Richmond Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Richmond PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • New Exercise Classes Are Tailored to Residents' Abilities —Elizabeth Fabiano Read on Patch
  • Missing Person Report: Richmond, VA.
    A 15-year-old female name zabrielle was last seen on January 5th around 1:00 AM getting into an older model white Cadillac. Off williamsburg rd If… (Nextdoor Fulton)
  • Good morning to all, I’m posting today asking if anyone has seen my cat that got out.
    He’s been adored as a kitten and has a loving family. If anyone has seen him at all please respond! Simba (Nextdoor Jeff Davis)
  • Acosta posted a job opening for Grocery Reset Specialist in Richmond. Apply here.
  • Aerotek posted a job opening for Shipping/Receiving Clerk in Richmond. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Richmond here.

Ok Richmond! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I really dig you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

Support These Local Businesses

+ List My Business

More from Richmond