🌱 Richmond Adds 13 New 911 Operators + Programs For Utility Relief

Hello again, everybody! I'm back in your inbox this winter morning with your fresh copy of the Richmond Patch newsletter, fresh off the presses. Here are all the things you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Cloudy with a shower or two. High: 54 Low: 45.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and warmer. High: 69 Low: 37.

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Here are the top three stories in Richmond today:

1. The city of Richmond added 13 new staffers to its 911 operator team, the largest class in seven years. The department increased the salary by 15 percent and added mental health days to stimulate increased interest in the role. The goal is to eventually have 85 dispatchers, and the team is actively seeking to fill about 28 vacancies. (WRIC ABC 8News)
2. The Department of Public Utilities in Richmond held an event on Saturday, Feb. 25 to provide support for residents struggling to pay their utility bills, which have increased due to cold winter temperatures and fuel shortages, as well as other factors such as late fees and lifestyle changes. Around 120 residents attended the event, where the department highlighted two new programs aimed at providing relief – the "Low Income Housing Water Assistance Program" and a partnership with "PromisePay" to reduce outstanding balances through digital payment plans. (WRIC ABC 8News)
3. A woman was stopped at Richmond International Airport's TSA checkpoint for having a loaded handgun in her carry-on luggage. This is the third gun-related incident at the airport in 2023 and follows a record-breaking 24 incidents in 2022. Last year, the TSA found 6,542 guns at airport checkpoints nationwide, leading to an increase in the maximum civil penalty for a loaded firearm to nearly $15,000. (Subscription: Washington Times)

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Today and tomorrow in Richmond:

Monday, February 27

• Monday Madness Game Night At The 4 Cyber Cafe (5:00 PM)
• Virginia Wine Expo At Buttermilk And Honey (6:30 PM)

Tuesday, February 28

• Geeks Who Drink Trivia Night At Dave and Buster's - Richmond (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Fairfield Elementary fifth-grader Jamaia Scott won Virginia’s 2023 National Missing Children’s Day poster contest! The contest promotes child safety by creating an opportunity to discuss the issue of missing and exploited children, with this year’s theme being “Bringing Our Missing Children Home.” Scott will represent Virginia at the national level in Washington D.C., and the winning poster of the national competition will serve as the inspiration for the National Missing Children’s Day poster and artwork for the following year. (WWBT)
• New homes have been listed for sale in the Richmond area! Get all the property details at the link. (Richmond Patch)
• Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Cole surprised his children at Quioccasin Middle and Skipwith Elementary Schools after being overseas for two years. Cole, who was stationed in Germany, expressed his nervousness and excitement and hoped to get the same reaction from his children. You can watch the video at the link! (CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR)

That's it for today! See you soon for your next update.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is a freelance copywriter for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism. She is a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.