VPM Daily Newscast: June 16, 2023
The VPM Daily Newscast contains all your Central Virginia news in just 5 to 10 minutes. Episodes are recorded the night before.
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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of June 16, 2023:
Richmond City Council still tinkering with wild animal rules
Reported by VPM News’ Patrick Larsen
Maybe you’ve heard: The city of Richmond is pursuing its own ban on owning certain wild and exotic animal species. If passed, anyone found with an outlawed animal without a state or federal permit could be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor.
Pitched by Richmond Animal Care and Control officials as a simple fix for people taking in venomous animals and other common, rabies-prone critters without proper training, the resolution was expected to pass quickly.
But it didn’t.
New hotel tax revenues to promote regional tourism
Reported by VPM News’ Sterling Barbett
Richmond City Council passed an ordinance this week joining a newly formed Tourism Improvement District, which will allow regional tourism organizations to collect more money.
Richmond joins Chesterfield, Henrico, Hanover, New Kent, Colonial Heights and Ashland in the effort to increase tourism. The revenue increase will come from a new tax on hotel stays in these localities.
Starting July 1, hotels with 41 rooms or more will add a 2% fee to their nightly rates.
In other news:
- The last traces of Richmond’s legendary ‘true reformers’ (The Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
In case you missed it:
- Youngkin will travel to France to pay respects, visit air show (The Associated Press)
- Virginia eyes soaring college counseling demand as an answer to workforce shortages (Virginia Mercury)
* This outlet utilizes a paywall.
