Keep Virginia Beautiful will be awarding 35 grants in 30 days during June for environmental improvement projects, and it’s seeking applications for those awards. The 30 in 30 Green Grants Program is open to businesses, schools, counties, towns and service organizations looking to make a positive environmental impact in their communities. “Our Green Grants Program is an opportunity for everyone,” said Mike Baum, executive director of Keep Virginia Beautiful. “We consider grants ranging from restaurants that want to start their own backyard gardens, to libraries that want to introduce programs to teach kids about recycling, to nonprofits that need fluorescent...Article Link

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Henrico County reported 61 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, according to the Virginia Department of Health. After reporting a slight increase in cases during the past week, the county has settled at a seven-day moving average of 68 daily new cases. During the Easter weekend, there were a total of eight virus-related deaths and four virus-related hospitalizations among Henrico residents, according to VDH data. With the slight increase in new cases came new outbreaks. After the total number of outbreaks in Henrico County rested around 185 for weeks, the county reported several new outbreaks during the weekend, reporting a...Article Link

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In the months since her mother was killed while walking through their western Henrico neighborhood, Laura Pho has been marking the spot where she died with flowers, chalk drawings and messages. Because her mother, Lucy Le, was hit by a neighbor backing out of a driveway, Pho has also become an advocate for cycling and pedestrian safety. Both the chalk art and her activism serve as ways for Pho to honor and remember 76-year-old Lucy Le and her kind and gentle ways, gracious spirit, and compassion for others. Last week, like so many others in the community, Pho was horrified...Article Link

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An Eastern Henrico woman pens a children's book in time for her daughter's first birthday; statewide honors for a Deep Run High School student; a COVID-19 update; more cases in Henrico schools prompt additional quarantines; the Henrico NAACP will meet this week. (Today's Henrico News Minute is brought to you by Henrico County's COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance program.Article Link

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11800 block of Chase Wellesley Drive – Police arrested and charged a citizen with non-aggravated assault at an apartment complex Mar. 26 at 8:57 a.m. 4500 block of S. Laburnum Avenue – Police arrested and charged a citizen with shoplifting and possession of cocaine at a department store Mar. 26 at 6:57 p.m. 7000 block of W. Broad Street – Police arrested and charged a citizen with trespassing at a convenience store Mar. 26 at 11 p.m. 7700 block of E. Parham Drive – Police arrested and charged a citizen with driving under the influence at a vehicle accident Mar....Article Link

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A Deep Run High School student is among 10 winners of the Virginia Council on Women’s 10th annual STEM Essay Contest for young women in their junior or senior years of high school. Ritika Allada was one of two winners from the Central Virginia area, along with another student from Emporia. The organization chose two winners from each of Virginia’s five regions. The awardees will be recognized at a virtual reception hosted by Governor Ralph Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam later this month. “This annual contest is one important way that we are working to encourage more girls to...Article Link

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In March 2020, the month that the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, 27-year-old Eastern Henrico resident Jasmin Merdach gave birth to her daughter, Lilly. Just a year later, she has written and published a book in time for her daughter’s first birthday. Just before becoming a mother, Merdach (a biology major at Virginia Commonwealth University) had left her job as a lab technologist at Salveo Diagnostics Lab. "I went to school with the intention of studying pharmacy," Merdach said. "I realized halfway through the semester that it was not for me. My experience as a pharmacy technician helped...Article Link

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All Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority stores will be closed on Sunday, April 4, in observance of the Easter holiday. The retail outlets will be open Saturday, April 3, from noon to regular closing hours and will reopen after Easter at noon on Monday, April 5. April 5 is also Mini Monday, when customers can receive a complimentary 50 ml bottle of Jameson Cold Brew Whiskey & Coffee with any purchase (online or in-store) of or more in spirits or wine. Customers can shop ahead of Easter Sunday in-store or online with curbside pickup or home delivery in select...Article Link

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Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam amended legislation to accelerate the legalization of marijuana possession and home cultivation in the state to July as opposed to 2024. “Virginia will become the 16th state to legalize marijuana—and these changes will ensure we do it with a focus on public safety, public health and social justice,” Northam stated in a release. The governor proposed changes to House Bill 2312 and Senate Bill 1406, which passed earlier this year during the Virginia General Assembly’s special session. The bills legalized marijuana possession and sales by Jan. 1, 2024, but marijuana legalization advocates and Democratic lawmakers lobbied...Article Link

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The number of first-time unemployment claims filed in Henrico County during the most recent reporting week jumped to its highest level in nearly three months, according to data released Thursday by the Virginia Employment Commission. A total of 510 Henricoans filed initial claims during the week of March 21-27 – the most since 587 did so the week of Jan. 3-9, and a jump of 63% from the previous week (when 313 people filed). Though Henrico’s jump was significant, the county – Virginia’s seventh-larger locality – still fared better than the 11 others that witnessed even more initial claims, led...Article Link

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