PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) — Petersburg residents are weighing in on the casino that could be on their ballots this November after the city's decision to choose the Cordish Companies to operate it. In a unanimous vote Wednesday night, Petersburg City Council chose the Baltimore-based company as the developer. Back in 2022, Cordish proposed a casino in Petersburg. That project never moved forward, but after the Virginia General Assembly approved a bill which could authorize a referendum this November, the City of Petersburg is once again paving the way for a gaming casino to be built. Cordish says ..read more

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A body in an "advanced" stage of decomposition was found in the woods in Henrico County near Richmond Thursday afternoon. According to the Henrico County Division of Police, officers were called to the 4300 block of Carolina Avenue after a person was walking in the woods nearby and found a dead body at around 4:30 on Thursday, April 25. Police described the body as being in an "advanced" stage of decomposition. The department was not able to provide any information regarding the person's age, race, identity or circumstances of their death. This is a developing st ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginians are invited to the Virginia State Capitol in Downtown Richmond on Thursday, July 4 for an Independence Day celebration. According to the organizer, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, Capitol Square "will transform into a vibrant hub of activity, bursting with the sights and sounds of Virginia’s diverse communities" on the night of the event. The event starts at noon on July 4 and ends at 11 p.m. and is free and open to the public, but those interested in attending are asked to RSVP. The link to RSVP to the event can be found here ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond man was sentenced to two years and three months in prison for firearm possession as a convicted felon in federal court Thursday. According to court documents, at around 10 p.m. on Aug. 3, 2023, Richmond Police Department officers saw an Instagram story posted by 25-year-old Walter Lavelle Allen at around 8 p.m. that evening in which he displayed a firearm. Later, at around 11:30 p.m., a Richmond Police officer on foot on North 25th Street in the city's East End saw Allen asleep in the passenger seat of a parked car. A loaded 9mm pistol was found underneath Al ..read more

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The LEGO Group, which is building a 340-acre manufacturing facility in Chesterfield, has announced an effort to revitalize several parks across the county. The LEGO Group funded the planting of more than 1,440 trees comprising of 17 native species in the following parks in Chesterfield: Huguenot Park Rockwood Park Horner Park Goyne Park R. Garland Dodd Park Ettrick Park Matoaca Park The LEGO Group said this effort is part of the company's effort to minimize its environmental impact on the central Virginia region. “We are proud to partner with Chesterfield C ..read more

DETROIT (WRIC) -- The Washington Commanders have selected Jayden Daniels, a former Louisiana State University (LSU) quarterback and winner of the 2023 Heisman trophy, with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A southern California native, Daniels transferred to LSU from Arizona State University for his senior year, during which he won the Heisman Trophy, the Davey O'Brien Award, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the AP Player of the Year Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and SEC Offensive Player of the Year Award, among other honors. The Commanders do not currently have a ..read more

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- Last week at Capitol Square, the potential for a casino in the City of Petersburg sprung back to life. Now, just one week later, Petersburg City Council has already landed on a developer for the high-stakes project. Back in 2022, Baltimore-based Cordish Companies conceptualized a casino in Petersburg. The project never moved forward, but after getting the greenlight from the Virginia General Assembly to hold a referendum in November, the City of Petersburg is laying down the cards once again. This time around, leaders appear to be moving particularly quickly – and qui ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond woman spoke out after she claims her family's emotional support dog was stolen.   Antonia Brown said her family's 8-year-old pit bull and bulldog mix named Brixx was taken from her yard on Wednesday, April 17. She said Brixx is her cousin’s dog that she’s been caring for since January. She said Brixx disappeared in the evening. "The dog kind of wandered. And next thing you know the dog was gone,” Brown said. “We'd searched up until 3 a.m., from about 9:15 'til 3 a.m. We searched the neighborhood everywhere, screaming and yelling.”   Anton ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Minds in Motion students are preparing for a big performance at the Dominion Energy Center this week. More than 700 fourth grade students from 15 Richmond elementary schools will take the stage on Thursday and Friday to showcase a routine they've been practicing since September. "Through dance, we're teaching self-discipline, self-awareness, self-confidence, teamwork," Katherine Smothers, Minds in Motion artistic associate, told 8News. The Minds in Motion program by the Richmond Ballet is in its 29th year, and allows instructors to go into Richmond elementary schools to ..read more

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 North in Richmond is causing significant backups across the city. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, the crash took place at mile marker 78.5, near the Arthur Ashe Boulevard exit. The northbound right lane is currently closed. Northbound traffic on I-95 is currently backed up to the Downtown Expressway interchange and westbound traffic on I-64 is currently backed up to the Mechanicsville Turnpike interchange. Drivers are asked to use alternate routes and expect delays ..read more