Virginia lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a budget agreement Wednesday that would send an additional $645 million to state public schools and give teachers a two-percent raise — on top of the five-percent increase approved last year. After state regulators suspended Dominion-imposed requirements for connecting certain solar facilities to the grid, some developers are optimistic — but unsure of how to move forward.

Lawmakers are returning to Richmond today to pass a long-awaited update to the state budget; Tenants and housing activists rallied this week outside the Red Oak Apartments in Richmond's Ginter Park neighborhood; The operators behind Richmond’s new proposed casino have offered the city new incentives – in the form of childcare subsidies- in their final push for a $562 million dollar resort in Richmond’s south side.

Hampton resident Linda Janet Holmes studies alternative birthing methods and the Black women behind them.

Shake Shack is making it a double in the Richmond market; the CEO of Commonwealth Autism discusses a deal to purchase Good Foods Grocery in Bon Air; A Mechanicsville coffee shop is branching out in Hanover; and other local business stories.

After 18 months of input from county residents and committee members, Hanover’s Board of Supervisors adopted a framework that paves the way for solar power to brighten up the county, Central Virginia Transportation Authority names first-ever executive director; and other stories

Virginia is cracking down on the sale of intoxicating hemp products like delta-8; Some state retirees and beneficiaries may have had their information leaked during a cyber-attack earlier this year; A VCU Health program is one of six recipients splitting a $5 million-dollar grant to help sustain the work of hospital-based community violence intervention programs in the commonwealth; and other local news stories.

Since the General Assembly established the CVTA three years ago, Chet Parsons has served as the acting executive director. 

The city of Richmond may soon force the sale of multiple properties because of unpaid taxes; Richmond-area members of the world’s largest union of performers and broadcasters rallied in support of fair contracts over the weekend; The commonwealth’s last U.S. Army installation named after a Confederate figure has a new designation.

Hopewell Public Schools now requires middle and high school students to keep their cellphones locked away in magnetic pouches during the school day — and other divisions in the commonwealth are following suit.  

Megan Pauly with VPM News reports. 

An upstart Fan bar is looking to the court system for help in its battle with the state health department; Stone Brewing is in production expansion mode at its massive East End Richmond facility; and a 4-acre food truck park is moving into the former Innsbrook After Hours location.