🌱 RPD Identifies Found Body + Richmond Housing Market

Hello there, Richmond. I'm here in your inbox today to get you caught up on everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, today's weather:

Cooler with periods of rain. High: 58 Low: 51.

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I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories in Richmond today:

1. Richmond police have identified an adult female found dead with an apparent gunshot wound on Hobbs Lane near Gillies Creek Park on Monday morning. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death, and police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously. (Press Release Desk)
2. The Richmond Police Department demanded a $7,873.14 fee deposit from OpenOversightVA for their Freedom of Information Act request for the department's general policies, but the website did not pay. Many other police agencies in Virginia provided the policies for free or a nominal fee. Richmond was an outlier in its high fee deposit, which was based on 151 hours of work at a rate of $52.14 per hour to read the policies for possible redactions under FOIA. Virginia FOIA allows for reasonable charges for public records, but public bodies must supply records at the lowest possible cost. (Subscription: Richmond Times-Dispatch)
3. The 2020 pandemic housing market caused property values to increase across the Richmond area, leading to a bump in property taxes for property owners in the region. Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, and Richmond all reported an increase in assessments, with varying tax rates and values. However, local experts say the Richmond area is poised for stability in the near future despite fears over a national housing slowdown. (Subscription: Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Today in Richmond:

• Richmond Home + Garden Show At Richmond Raceway (10:00 AM)
• Library Transcribe-A-Thon At Montpelier Branch Library (3:00 PM)
• Alan Doyle Band At The Tin Pan (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• After a three-year break, Richmond's Easter on Parade tradition is returning to Monument Avenue on Apr. 9, featuring live music, arts and crafts, vendors, and pastels and bunny-inspired outfits! This year's event is sponsored by Kroger Mid-Atlantic and the Black History Museum & Culture Center of Virginia. (WWBT)
• Are you looking to fill your social calendar this weekend? Check out the list of events happening in and around Richmond this weekend at the link! (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• Richmond Parks and Recreation is hiring lifeguards for the summer and has increased salaries to combat staffing shortages that led to reduced pool hours last year. Lifeguards can now earn at least $17 an hour, while head lifeguards and pool managers can earn over $20. You can learn more about the opportunities here. (WWBT)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! I'll be back in your inbox soon with another 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.