Latest news with #VCU
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Boil Water Advisory in Place for Richmond, Virginia
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Multiple neighborhoods in Richmond, Virginia, have been told to boil any water they consume or use bottled water after the city's water treatment plant experienced an "operational issue." Richmond's Department of Public Utilities issued a Boil Water Advisory on Tuesday, and it remains in effect until at least midday Thursday. Why It Matters People throughout Richmond are affected by the advisory, which means they may be at risk of consuming contaminated water. They have been advised to buy bottled water or boil their tap water for at least a minute; this includes tap water used for dishwashing, cooking, or teeth brushing. People have also been advised to refrain from drinking from water fountains in parks, public or private buildings, and to avoid using ice made from contaminated water. What To Know The advisory applies to all residents served by the Ginter Park Tank, including Byrd Park, Brookland Park, Carver, Carytown, Chamberlayne, the Fan, Ginter Park, Jackson Ward, Laburnum Park, the Museum District, the North Side, Oregon Hill, Randolph, Scott's Addition, VCU's Monroe Park campus and parts of the city center. It was later expanded to include Ancarrow's Landing, Bellemeade, Blackwell, Commerce Road Industrial Area, Hillside Court, Davee Gardens, Manchester, Oak Grove and Windsor. City of Richmond map showing which neighborhoods are affected by the boil water advisory. City of Richmond map showing which neighborhoods are affected by the boil water advisory. City of Richmond The advisory was issued after the City's Water Treatment Plant experienced an operational issue in the early hours of Tuesday morning. "The filters reclogged after running at full production for over an hour," city officials said. "The resulting issue diminished pressure in the distribution system and has impacted the Ginter Park Tank." In an update issued on Wednesday morning, officials said that the city is "getting closer to the end" of the advisory, which can only be lifted after two water sample tests taken 16 hours apart show a negative result. The first water sample, taken at around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, came back negative. The second water sample test was taken at around noon on Wednesday; results are expected early in the afternoon on Thursday. What People Are Saying Richmond Mayor Danny Avula, in a statement: "I'm encouraged that the first round of water sample results has come back with a negative result. Some parts of Richmond are still under a Boil Water Advisory as we await the second sample test, but this is very promising. We're hopeful for full clearance soon and are so grateful for everyone's patience and care." The City of Richmond's advisory: "The Boil Water Advisory was issued to protect public health due to low or no pressure in parts of the distribution system. The advisory will remain in effect for the impacted areas until two consecutive rounds of negative water sample tests." What Happens Next The city awaits the results of the second water sample test. Mayor Danny Avula said on Tuesday night that the earliest the advisory could be lifted would be midday Thursday, WTVR reported.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Boil Water Advisory in Richmond, VA: City Releases Map & Timeline
The City of Richmond, VA, has issued a boil water advisory along with a map of affected areas and timeline. On the evening of May 27, 2025, the city wrote in a statement that the "two zones impacted by the Boil Water Advisory have returned to a safe pressure," and noted, "The Department of Public Utilities took the first water samples from both zones around 7 p.m. Those results will come back in approximately 24 hours." Lifting the Boil Water Advisory "requires two negative tests taken 16 hours apart; we plan to pull the second set of samples around noon on Wednesday, May 28. That set of results will also come back in approximately 24 hours," The city noted: "In the meantime, Boil Water Advisories remain in effect for residents in the neighborhoods highlighted on this map." According to Axios, the boil water advisory was initially issued on the morning of May 27 and covered "nearly all areas north of the James River, including the Fan, Museum District, VCU's Monroe Park campus and VCU Health, Scott's Addition, Jackson Ward and parts of downtown." It was then expanded "to parts of South Richmond," Axios reported. "This advisory comes after the City's Water Treatment Plant experienced an operational issue in the early morning hours on Tuesday, May 27, and after the water system had been restored to full production. The filters reclogged after running at full production for over an hour," the city wrote.. At 6:44 p.m. on May 27, the city wrote, "The City of Richmond, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, has expanded the localized Boil Water Advisory immediately and until further notice. This expansion now impacts residents served by the Cofer Road Tank on the Southside of the City." The map "includes (among others) residents living in communities or portions of Commerce Road and Richmond Highway corridors, including communities of Ancarrow's Landing, Bellemeade, Blackwell, Commerce Road Industrial Area, Hillside Court, Davee Gardens, Manchester, Oak Grove, and Windsor (NOT Windsor Farms)," the city wrote. "Some customers in these areas may experience a total loss of water service, while others may experience varying degrees of loss in water pressure," the city noted. "Impacted residents are encouraged to take conservation steps immediately, and boil water before consuming it. The list of impacted residents may continue to expand as water usage continues; residents in all neighborhoods are encouraged to conserve water and to stay up-to-date at or on the City's social media pages." Boil Water Advisory in Richmond, VA: City Releases Map & Timeline first appeared on Men's Journal on May 28, 2025
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New boil water advisory issued in Richmond, months after January water crisis
Anna Wilson fills jars and bottles from Wayside Spring in the Forest Hill neighborhood during a citywide water outage in Richmond, on Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for the Virginia Mercury) Richmond officials issued a new boil water advisory Tuesday for large swaths of the city, less than six months after a catastrophic water crisis left much of the region without safe drinking water for days. The latest advisory, announced by the city of Richmond in coordination with the Virginia Department of Health, affects residents served by the Ginter Park Tank, including neighborhoods such as Byrd Park, Brookland Park, Carver, Carytown, Chamberlayne, the Fan, Jackson Ward, Oregon Hill, Randolph and the VCU Monroe Park campus. Some customers may experience total service loss or low pressure. Others may not notice a change, but officials urged all residents to conserve water immediately and to boil water before consuming it. 'This advisory comes after the city's water treatment plant experienced an operational issue in the early morning hours on Tuesday, May 27, and after the water system had been restored to full production,' the city said in a statement. 'The filters re-clogged after running at full production for over an hour.' The pressure drop has impacted the Ginter Park tank, and while the city says it is monitoring efforts to restore full pressure, no timeline has been given. The city warned that the list of affected areas could grow if usage continues to outpace supply. 'As a cautionary measure, all residents are asked to conserve water to ensure all needs are met during this time,' the statement said. 'We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates to our customers as new information becomes available.' Officials urged residents to avoid drinking tap water, making ice, brushing teeth, cooking, or washing food or dishes with unboiled tap water. Full water safety guidelines and neighborhood maps are available at The advisory is likely to draw renewed scrutiny to Richmond's water system, which remains under investigation following the massive January breakdown that left thousands without water or usable water pressure for nearly a week. In April, the Virginia Department of Health released a scathing 314-page report on the January event, calling it 'completely avoidable' and the result of 'a long chain of preventable failures' at the city's century-old Water Treatment Plant. 'This crisis could have been prevented with better operational decisions,' State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton said at the time. 'Our goal now is to ensure corrective actions are taken swiftly and effectively, so Richmond-area families can trust their water supply.' The report, based on an independent probe by the engineering firm Short Elliott Hendrickson, detailed a cascade of failures, such as untested batteries, broken valves and neglected emergency protocols. When a winter storm knocked out overhead power lines on Jan. 6, the plant's backup systems failed, flooding underground equipment rooms and halting production. The city's response was slow and, in many cases, ineffective. By the time Richmond issued a boil advisory that afternoon, pressure had already dropped dangerously low. Water systems in Henrico, Hanover and Goochland counties, which connect to Richmond's, were also impacted. Full restoration didn't come until Jan. 9, and the boil order wasn't lifted until Jan. 11. Gov. Glenn Youngkin called the disruption 'unacceptable' and said, 'It should never happen again.' As a result of the January failure, the city received a second formal notice of violation and is now under a mandate to develop and implement a corrective action plan. The SEH report identified over $63 million in additional needed improvements, on top of $60 million already proposed in the city's capital plan. Those upgrades include modernizing electrical systems, automating emergency operations, and redesigning the clearwell overflow system to prevent future floods. While Mayor Danny Avula said he was 'incredibly proud' of the work done so far by the Department of Public Utilities, the VDH's findings painted a picture of what one official called a 'culture of complacency,' where temporary workarounds were the norm and long-standing vulnerabilities went unresolved. Now, just weeks later, the system has suffered another setback. The city said it will continue to post updates on its website and social media platforms. Residents are encouraged to check those resources regularly and to follow all water safety precautions until the advisory is lifted. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘I'm willing to do it again': The students who could lose their diplomas due to pro-Palestinian activism on campus
With graduation season underway, universities across the country are taking action against anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian activists who speak out at commencement ceremonies and during the final weeks of classes, in some cases threatening to withhold their degrees. Administrators accuse the students of breaking campus rules and marring graduation festivities, while activists say the punishments are the latest way school officials are demonizing pro-Palestinian views and repressing students' rights to political expression. The controversy all happens in the long shadow of the Trump administration, which has stripped universities like Harvard and Columbia of millions in federal funds over alleged failures to stop antisemitism during the protests, while detaining campus activists and revoking the student visas of non-citizens involved in the Palestinian cause. At Virginia Commonwealth University, two students' diplomas are on hold after they took part in a modest gathering in late April that the school says was not permitted. VCU senior Selma Ait-Bella, 21, one of the students facing discipline, described the situation to The Independent as a massive overreaction meant to deter future activism. 'They're using these bureaucratic methods to scare other students,' the sociology major said. 'If we're paying thousands of dollars to go to this university, get an education, and build a community, if they can take that away, for speaking out against a genocide, it leaves everybody feeling like their situation is increasingly precarious.' The campus action began on April 29, the last day of classes, she said. A group of about 40 students gathered informally to sit and talk on a lawn, marking a year since a multi-agency group of riot police used pepper spray, and tear gas to clear a student Palestinian protest encampment, while authorities and school officials say protesters threw objects and used chemical spray on officers. This time around, there weren't any speeches or chants or tents, though the participants did use cloth protest banners from past events as picnic blankets. Eventually, school officials and police arrived, telling the group the gathering wasn't allowed, but that they could relocate to a campus 'free speech zone,' Ait-Bella said. Organizers began telling students to leave, fearing another police crackdown. However, in the ensuing confusion, some remained. A student holding a sign that read, 'Gonna gas us again, you f***ing monsters' was eventually arrested, Ait-Bella said. 'Despite multiple warnings over a three-hour period from Student Affairs, security personnel and VCU Police that VCU policy did not authorize events on the lawn — but would have permitted the event to relocate to the Park Plaza Amphitheater just a few hundred feet away — many of those assembled refused to relocate,' a spokesperson told The Independent via email, conduct they said broke the school's campus expression and space utilization policy. 'Bottom line: if the event moved to Park Plaza Amphitheater it would have been fine,' the spokesperson added. The Independent has also contacted the VCU police department for comment. Ait-Bella was able to walk in VCU's commencement this month, but her degree is on hold, pending an investigation. The situation has left her with unanswered questions beyond her grad status. Will she be able to travel freely? Will she be able to get a job? Will she or her parents, Moroccan immigrants, face any repercussions, given the Trump administration's immigration dragnet? Still, she knew the risks she was incurring by being an activist, and says she doesn't regret taking them now. 'Everybody that is a part of this movement understands there is something to risk,' she said, adding, 'I'm willing to do it again.' For many involved in the campus push, the status quo is a risk, too. The other VCU student whose diploma is in limbo, Sereen Haddad, is a Palestinian-American who has lost over 200 family members in the conflict. 'My activism isn't a choice—it's a duty,' Haddad told The Independent. 'As a Palestinian, I carry generations of resistance in my blood. I've watched my people be dehumanized, displaced, and massacred while the world turns its back...I will never be silent while this is happening.' Clashes have also taken place over commencement ceremonies themselves. Two people were arrested this week at Columbia, where protesters booed the university president, burned diplomas, and shoved police, just weeks after over 70 were detained for occupying a library in the run-up to semester finals. Across town, at the May 14 ceremony for New York University's Gallatin liberal arts program, student-selected speaker Logan Rozos used his brief remarks to address the war as well, which has killed over 1,000 Israelis and over 61,000 Palestinians, according to their respective governments, stretching into a brutal stalemate in which the Israeli government is accused of blocking aid and causing mass starvation in Gaza. The conflict was sparked by the bloody Oct. 7, 2023 incursion into Israel of Hamas terror squads who slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis and kidnaped about 250, taking them back into Gaza. Rozos, a filmmaker and actor, told the crowd he had been 'freaking out' about what to say, but ultimately concluded, 'My moral and political commitments guide me to say that the only thing that is appropriate to say is in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine.' His remarks were met with some cheers from the crowd, but the school swiftly condemned Rozos for having 'stolen' the moment by sharing 'one-sided political views.' 'He lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated the commitment he made to comply with our rules,' the school said in a statement. 'The University is withholding his diploma while we pursue disciplinary actions.' The Independent has contacted Rozos and NYU for further comment. Outside reaction was split, with groups like the Anti-Defamation League claiming Ross made Jewish students uncomfortable with 'rhetoric that promotes harmful lies about Israel,' while some faculty members criticized the administration for what they saw as a heavy-handed attempt to avoid scrutiny from Trump. 'They are bending over backward to crack down on speech that runs counter to what the current administration in Washington espouses,' Andrew Ross, a professor of social and cultural analysis, told ABC News. Even those who have already graduated are feeling the consequences. Three days after Rozos's speech, George Washington University graduate Cecilia Culver, who received her degree in December, told a commencement crowd to 'withhold donations and continue advocating for disclosure and divestment' of ties between the university and Israel. 'I am ashamed to know my tuition is being used to fund this genocide,' she told a crowd of about 750. The school soon announced that Culver was banned from its campuses and events, saying she had been 'inappropriate and dishonest' and veered from pre-rehearsed remarks. In an interview with the school paper, the economics and statistics grad said she had no regrets, either. 'There was just never any point where I was not going to say something,' she told The GW Hatchet. Culver declined a request for comment from The Independent. She has retained legal representation from Palestine Legal, which has defended her remarks. 'Students are harbingers of how future generations will view this historical moment and the role of universities in it,' the group said in a statement to The Washington Post. 'History will celebrate principled students like Logan Rozos at NYU and our client Cecilia Culver at GWU.' Whatever history thinks of these students, the institutional conflict over how to treat them shows no signs of abating, even as the school year comes to a close. On Thursday, Trump's feud with Harvard escalated, with the administration attempting to pull the university's ability to enroll any international students, the same day a federal court in California temporarily barred the administration from the revoking visas of a wide swathe of international students. Even after all the lawsuits, investigations, dueling protests, and immigration arrests on campus, there are those like Ait-Bella and Haddad determined to keep sharing their perspective on campus, come what may. People in Gaza are starving and eating grass, with children writing their wills and parents writing their names on their arms so their bodies can be identified if they get bombed in their sleep, Haddad says. 'Compared to that, what do I have to fear?' she said. 'If you're someone staying silent, I ask you—who is your silence benefitting? It's not the people under the rubble.'
Axios
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
VCU set to turn Siegel Center into city's largest indoor concert venue
VCU will soon start hosting concerts and other ticketed events at the Siegel Center to help raise money to pay its student athletes, the Times-Dispatch reports. Why it matters: The move would make the Stu, by far, Richmond's largest indoor concert venue. The big picture: Last spring, the NCAA and its five power conferences voted to let schools pay athletes directly. The challenge for schools was finding the money to pay them, which VCU estimates will cost around $5 million a year, per the RTD. With an estimated 30 events a year at the Siegel Center, including concerts, private events and family shows, VCU estimates it could bring in $650,000 a year to put towards paying athletes. The intrigue: Concerts at the Siegel Center aren't new. Since it opened in 1999, the Stu has hosted Drake, Sheryl Crow, Ludacris, Trey Songz, Dave Matthews and many, many more. President Obama and Hillary Clinton, then-presidential candidates, spoke there, too. It seems that the basketball arena hasn't hosted any big public non-sporting events in the past few years beyond high school graduations. What's different now is that Richmond has been without a large, indoor concert venue since 2019, when the Richmond Coliseum, which could hold around 13,000 people, closed. By the numbers: At roughly 200,000 square feet, the Siegel Center can seat just over 7,600 people, or around 5,500 for concerts if they block one end, per the RTD. Altria, comparatively, can only hold around 3,500. Dominion Energy Center can do 1,800. The National has a capacity of 1,500, and The Broadberry 500. Yes, but: Richmond's outdoor venues can still hold a lot more concert-goers than the Siegel Center will be able to. Brown's Island has room for 16,000. The new amphitheater will be able to do 7,500, and Virginia Credit Union LIVE! at Richmond Raceway can hold 6,000.
