A look back at Henrico's 2025
The stories and coverage that shaped and informed Henrico County this year
Table of Contents
Henrico's 2025 began with a water crisis and ended with a watered-down school redistricting plan. At the Citizen, we covered both extensively, along with ongoing debates about data centers and developments, the impact of the federal government shutdown and temporary loss of SNAP benefits for some residents, and the controversial opening of a gambling parlor.
We also welcomed a new Report for America corps member, who examined the use of Richmond International Airport as a hub for ICE deportation flights, took a look at the many planned enhancements at the airport, broke the news of potential direct flights to Europe and explored transportation and health issues countywide.
We explored what life is like for some of the immigrants and refugees who have made Henrico home, covered statewide elections that impacted the county and spotlighted Henrico small businesses as part of an ongoing series.
We wrote about potential changes to the Lakeside community and reported on the county's efforts to push back on vape shops. We explained the meaning of Diwali to the many county residents who celebrate it, showcased the efforts of the Henrico Christmas Mother program and described plans for a new historic trail, among many other pieces of coverage.
We provided a calendar of events happening throughout the county and region, weekly updates about crime, business, pets in need of adoptive parents, restaurant inspections and community achievements.
Our daily weekday email newsletter grew to more than 28,000 free subscribers, and more than 1 million people visited our website.
We wrote more than 280 original articles and published more than 4,000 individual pieces of coverage.
And as has always been the case throughout our 24 years in operation, we provided all of that coverage for free. (All you need to read many of the articles linked below is an email address – no payment.)
More than 900 of you made contributions to support the work we do, allowing us (for the first time) to fully fund the salary of a full-time employee with those funds.
What follows is a list, by topic, of some of our most relevant, most read and most talked about stories of 2025.
Thank you you for trusting the Citizen for the coverage of Henrico County that matters to you - we'll see you in 2026!
Business
Henrico Small Business Spotlight - Henrico Citizen
Abigail Seaberg, Special to the Citizen
Community
Henrico: County of Refuge - Henrico Citizen
Citizen Staff Reports
Henrico Christmas Mother program brings ‘a lot of hope and comfort during the holidays’
For families that have filled a cart with books, clothing, toiletries and toys at the Henrico Christmas Mother warehouse during the past two weeks, the gifts they receive makes this time of year happier and more festive.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
To grow or not to grow – Lakeside residents take on a future vision of the area
About 200 residents and business owners came together at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden to discuss what the Lakeside area should look like 15 to 20 years into the future.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Diwali observed in Henrico County through religious, cultural and culinary practices
Thousands of people celebrated the pinnacle of Diwali – a five-day festival that honors the goddess Lakshmi and light over darkness – Oct. 20 throughout Henrico County with food, worship, community events and family observances.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
Across Henrico, SNAP cuts create uncertainty, increase hunger
Last Wednesday, a steady line of at least 25 people – Black, white, Afghan, Hispanic, Asian, young and old – stood in the parking lot outside ICNA Relief Food Pantry at 3009 Lafayette Avenue in Henrico’s Lakeside community.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
Inaugural seeds planted at new Henrico County community farm groundbreaking in Varina
The 1,052-acre Runnymeade property, located on the eastern side of Willis Church Road, will take on new life as a partnership between Henrico County and the nonprofit Happily Natural Day to create a community farm.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
‘Grief is a lonely thing’ – Henrico homicide vigil remembers victims
Dozens of families and friends of people who lost their lives to homicide gathered Tuesday night at Henrico’s Western Government Center to recall those they had lost, during an annual vigil for homicide victims.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
Data centers
Developer withdraws controversial data center proposal for Darbytown Road site in Varina
Local developer Wagner Urban Logistics has withdrawn its proposal to construct a one-million square-foot data center off Darbytown Road in Varina, according to an Oct. 13 announcement by Varina supervisor Tyrone Nelson.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Proposed data center incites opposition from hundreds of Henrico, Hanover residents
A crowd of several hundred people packed the gymnasium of South Anna Elementary School Nov. 17 in Hanover to push back against the Hunting Hawk Technology Center proposed on the Hanover-Henrico border.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Education
More than half of Henrico’s public schools ranked as ‘off track’ or in need of ‘intensive support’ by new state system
More than half of Henrico schools fell into the bottom two performance categories – “off track” and “needs intensive support” – under the state’s new accountability system released Dec. 9.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Henrico School Board passes redistricting plan, but unaddressed concerns linger
In a 4-1 vote on Thursday, the Henrico School Board approved a redistricting proposal that would shift an estimated 661 students to different schools starting next fall. The attendance boundary changes would move 274 students from J.R. Tucker High to Hermitage High, 181 students from Hermitage High to Henrico
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Henrico’s Top Teachers - 2025
The 13th edition of the Henrico Citizen’s Henrico’s Top Teachers section, highlighting the work and efforts of 20 outstanding teachers in Henrico County.
Citizen Staff Reports
Henrico’s hard-to-staff ‘Opportunity Schools’ are showing some early progress
After almost two years, Henrico’s “Opportunity Schools” are showing progress, with the majority of schools seeing a decrease in teacher vacancies, according to Henrico Schools officials.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Henrico’s Chatsworth School, a one-room schoolhouse during segregation, celebrated as a National Landmark
Lloyd Gregory Smith has many memories of Chatsworth School – the desk near the window where he would sit and watch planes fly overhead. The smells of pork chops and bologna sandwiches that would fill the one-room schoolhouse during lunchtime.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Long after his death, Highland Springs HS band student’s legacy of love and music lives on
If you walk into the band room at Highland Springs High School, you will pass by a large mural of 16-year-old Landon Artis playing the tuba. The image was spray-painted by Landon himself back in November, to the amusement of his band director, Davon Yonkers.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
‘Stretched beyond our limits’ – Henrico teachers detail hours of unpaid work
Nearly 100 Henrico Schools teachers and staff took to the Henrico School Board’s March 27 online public forum to voice concerns about extra work they said they are expected to complete outside of their contract hours without compensation.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Heated discussion erupts at Henrico Board of Supervisors meeting over school redistricting, disparities in schools
Henrico Board of Supervisors members criticized the school board’s decision to hold off on a high school redistricting plan and urged board members to “do more” to address disparities between schools across the county at a joint budget meeting.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Henrico’s Black History ‘Soul Bowl’ highlights local trailblazers, emphasizes substance use prevention
Who was Virginia’s first Black governor? When did the University of Virginia admit its first Black student? Who founded Henrico’s Ziontown Community, a settlement built in the Tuckahoe District after the Civil War, that was home to generations of Black entrepreneurs?
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
One year in, Henrico CARES has provided students more than 400 mental healthcare appointments
Since its launch in March 2024, the Henrico CARES program has been able to provide Henrico County Public Schools students more than 100 free teletherapy appointments and about 300 mental healthcare appointments, according to school system leaders.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
‘Come as you are’ – Henrico Schools’ Becoming Kings program creates a brotherhood for high school boys looking to belong
In the Varina High School library, about a dozen high school boys gathered in a circle around four firefighters in plain clothes, talking about everything from future careers to saving up for college to high school friendships.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Election 2025
‘Let your rage fuel you’: At Eastern Henrico campaign stop, Spanberger calls on voters to flip statewide seats
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger greeted a small crowd of voters at the Eastern Henrico Government Center Sept. 19, celebrating the first day of early voting in her “native” Henrico.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Government
Hidden in plain sight: Richmond International Airport is ICE deportation flight hub, according to human rights organization
Hidden in plain sight, behind the Richmond Jet Center and less than a mile from the Richmond International Airport terminal, throngs of shackled people have been loaded onto airplanes with no attributed owner about 80 separate times so far this year.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
In push to limit future development, Henrico proposes preservation of one-fourth of county land
In a new proposal from Henrico Planning Director Joe Emerson, about 26% of Henrico’s landmass and almost half of the Varina District would be classified as rural or conservation land, potentially limiting future urban development in those areas.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Local lawmakers, medical officials push back on Wittman’s support of ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
Several Henrico lawmakers and Richmond-area medical leaders have spoken out against U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman’s (R-VA-01) comments supporting the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Youngkin vetoes language that would require referendum for planned Henrico gaming facility
In its seemingly on-again, off-again saga, the planned Roseshire gaming facility in Henrico County is on again, at least for now.
Tom Lappas, Citizen Publisher
Health
‘This is a public health emergency’ – Henrico forms task force to address illegal vape shops
Henrico County will be getting more aggressive with its crackdown on vape shops, starting with a new county task force and more action from police to shut down illegal activity.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
At Regional Recovery Day, attendees find resources, experts and support
At the second annual Regional Recovery Day Sept. 3 in Glen Allen, community resources, experts and those with lived experiences rallied to discuss addiction, the toll it takes on users and the community, support and solutions.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
Trinity Care grand opening turns a family’s fatal addiction battle into critical health services in Henrico and beyond
The Nov. 15 grand opening and naming ceremony for Trinity Care’s Taj & Najee Callender Crisis Receiving Center, marks a new site in Henrico for critical addiction and behavioral health care.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
Housing
At Henrico town hall, VanValkenburg pushes for a statewide policy that would create more housing
Both Virginia and Henrico County are facing a major housing shortage, and increasing the housing supply is the “ultimate answer,” according to Henrico state senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-16th District). At a Dec. 17 town hall held in Henrico by the Hamkae Center – an Asian-American advocacy group based in Virginia – VanValkenburg
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Henrico supervisors shoot down 370-home development proposed near Wyndham Forest, citing area’s overcrowded schools
Westford Glen, a proposed residential complex of 370 townhouses and single-family homes in western Henrico, will not see the light of day after the Henrico Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected the plan Dec. 2.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Proposed housing developments strike continued debate over Henrico’s population growth
More than 280 new homes were proposed to the Henrico Board of Supervisors at its meeting Nov. 12, but the board approved only 41 housing units after hearing arguments from both developers and concerned residents.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Henrico Board of Supervisors approves new townhouse development in push to create more affordable housing in Eastern Henrico
Henrico’s Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning request that permits a new development of as many as 99 townhouses east of Sandston in a 5-0 vote at their July 22 meeting, with Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson saying the development will serve “everyday, working people.”
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Henrico Planning Commission endorses first development proposed in new small-lot residential zoning district
The first residential development proposed under a new small-lot zoning district in Henrico County earned the unanimous endorsement of the Henrico Planning Commission Aug. 14.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
Public safety
‘No units available’ – Henrico EMS is facing an increase in emergency calls, and staff can’t keep up
At least once a week since this past January, Henrico County’s EMS system encounters a “no units available” situation, during which emergency calls are still coming in, but no EMS units can respond.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
At Henrico’s ‘biggest block party,’ a desire for better police-community relations
About 50 communities throughout Henrico County hosted events for Tuesday’s National Night Out, an annual nationwide celebration that aims to improve the relationships between local law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter
Transportation
Could flights to Europe be in RIC’s future? Airport official thinks so
Could Richmond International Airport have more flights – including international flights to Europe? And does RIC want to portray itself to passengers disembarking from flights as a college town, a river city or both?
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
Richmond International Airport plans 24-foot-tall dogwood sculpture, enclosed rental car garage connector, native plant garden
A 24-foot-tall dogwood blossom sculpture, a garden of native and regional plants, and a new enclosed connector for the rental car garage are among projects totaling nearly $30 million that are being planned at Richmond International Airport as a way to make the facility greener, artsier and safer.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
Do you think VDOT should close Exit 80? A survey lets you weigh in.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is asking the public to have its say on an often congested exit off of I-95 North that serves Henrico’s Lakeside community.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
GRTC board takes issue with ‘financial cliff’ narrative, projects confidence for expansion and growth
At the December Greater Richmond Transit Company board meeting, members dismissed the public narrative that the transit company would be facing a “financial cliff” in six years.
Dina Weinstein, Community Vitality Reporter
Planned shared-use Henrico trail would follow historic Civil War path
The 3.2-mile paved New Market Heights Trail will link Deep Bottom Park with Four Mile Creek Park at New Market Road and Interstate 295 in Varina, connecting to the existing Four Mile Creek trailhead of the Virginia Capital Trail there.
Tom Lappas, Citizen Publisher
Water crisis
Report finds Henrico’s water restoration efforts hampered by lack of communication from Richmond
Despite a “Herculean effort” to maintain water service to its residents during last month’s water crisis, Henrico County’s attempts were hampered at various points by a series of errors by – and lack of prompt communication from – City of Richmond officials, a report concluded.
Tom Lappas, Citizen Publisher
Henrico’s water treatment facility could be equipped to serve all of the county within 5-10 years ‘or sooner’
Henrico County should have the infrastructure in place to supply all county customers with water from its own treatment facility well before 2040.
Tom Lappas, Citizen Publisher
Henrico water crisis - Henrico Citizen
Liana Hardy, Government and Education Reporter