Luca Powell

3 days ago | richmond.com | Luca Powell

For several years, Virginia’s halfway homes for recovering addicts have been managed by an independent, non-government group. That will soon change, to the dismay of some local recovery home operators. Language in this year’s budget takes nearly $2 million away from the Virginia Association of Recovery Residences, or VARR. The organization certifies group homes, of which there are more than 100 in Richmond and Henrico.

4 days ago | starexponent.com | Luca Powell

Last week, the federal government warned more than 500 cities and counties across the country: comply with the Trump administration’s immigration policies or lose federal dollars. This week, the webpage created to showcase so-called “sanctuary jurisdictions,” including Rappahannock County, Manassas and Fairfax is offline. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return a request for comment on Monday morning. A news release announcing the list remains online.

4 days ago | richmond.com | Luca Powell

Virginia's legislature is seeking an investigation into the Virginia Birth Injury Fund, a troubled state agency that was recently robbed of nearly $7 million by an insider. The Virginia Birth Injury Fund is meant to help the families of children who suffered devastating injuries during childbirth. Many are incurred as a result of mistakes made by doctors. Children in the fund live with expensive, lifelong disabilities.

4 days ago | richmond.com | Luca Powell

Last week, Virginia’s prison system announced it had achieved a “best-in-class” recidivism rate. Compared with 31 other states across the United States, Virginia announced the lowest rate of prisoners committing new crimes and returning into the prison system. Of the more than 12,000 individuals released from prison, 17.6% had returned to prison within three years, the Virginia Department of Corrections said.

4 days ago | richmond.com | Luca Powell

A person died at the Richmond City Jail on Monday, according to a statement released by the city's sheriff. "The Richmond City Sheriff’s Office reports that an inmate passed away on June 2, 2025," the sheriff's office announced in an emailed statement on Tuesday afternoon. The department did not name the individual who died, and said that an investigation was underway in conjunction with the Richmond Police Department.